Blessed Beyond Measure

I am feeling so grateful and blessed right now. I know there are a lot of parents that do not have the option to stay at home with children. And I know there are a lot of parents who choose to work because it's what's best for their family. I do not judge. But I LOVE having the freedom to stay at home. Yes, it means sacrifices. Yes it means giving up things (expensive dates, going to the movies, constant adult interaction, the challenge of a satisfying job with a great company, shopping without fretting too much about money.)

But oh, the rewards of today! I got to bake in the middle of the day while my son slept. I made whoopie pies for book club tonight! Then I played with my boy. We played with the shape sorter, the cookie monster, the telephone. We read books and practiced putting books back on the shelf (which he actually thinks is great fun.) We took a walk. Together. Outside in light jackets in January. And he actually walked for a good deal of it before requesting to be carried. We stomped and played with our shadows. We touched a very prickly Blue Spruce. We watched as the dry leaves rattled down the street. We listened to the wind (which was VERY blustery) as it sang through the chimes.

I was just thinking, if I worked outside the home, I would have missed out on a beautiful day with a beautiful boy. It could have been dark or too cold when I got home. I could have been too busy with getting dinner ready to bake or play with my guy.

I am so grateful to have a husband who's willing to forgo the material things a second income could buy. I am so blessed to have a man who's willing to go to work every day in order to provide a nice house, vehicle, food, and other necessities (as well as plenty of niceties.) I am thrilled he actually wants me to stay home and play with and raise our child. I love that we're on the same page. I like that he's happy for me on days we get to be silly together. I love that he comes home to me every night. And I'm blessed that, with all that, he LOVES having time with his little man by themselves. Not only does he "let" me go to things like a book club and have adult time, he ASKS for me to "go away" so they can have that same, precious, goofy, silly time I get all the time.

Life doesn't always turn out the way we plan. We've all been through something. But I'm so glad life didn't turn out the way I planned. Because I am blessed beyond measure.