Being a Stay at Home Mom

So I have made the decision and it's official as of yesterday that I am not going back to World Vision. Micah will have to put up with me all day everyday! It was something I was going back and forth in my mind because I want the best care for my baby, but it was hard for me to give up that aspect of my life. I enjoy working. I enjoy doing a job well, and being appreciated for what I can offer. Being a mother is THE most important job I could ever have, but there's something different about going to a job amongst peers and having that competitive edge to do the best job you can do. I've noticed, for me, that recoginition is an important part of being in the workforce, and I vainly love to be praised for a job well done. Being a mother is often thankless, and you don't see the results of your hard labor for a long, long time. But, it sure is rewarding watching a tiny baby grow and develop, and I'm sure it will be even more rewarding watching him turn into a fun-loving boy and young man. I like working, but I love my son!

I need to make a point to get out of the house every day, whether it's going for a walk or to the store, or visiting with friends... or having friends in. Otherwise, while Micah is still a baby, I can get into the bad habit of staying in my comfy clothes most of the day.

David has shown me some things to do for his business, so I have started learning how to update some of his client's Intranets as well as helping a bit with billing. Soon he will be showing me how to update their websites. It's great to be able to have the choice whether or not I want to work, and also to have an option of working from home. World Vision may eventually be able to accomodate people working from home, but for now, this works well because it frees David up to be able to do more important things for his clients. It's great to be able to do this work from home, but another thing I will miss about working, besides the fact that it was World Vision and I could feel really good about what we're doing around the world, I will miss the friends I made there. I am thankful that a bunch of us still get together for a book club about twice a month, so I am still able to see some of them.

One of the things I am grateful for with being at home is being able to enjoy and celebrate the tiniest moments in my baby's life: his first smile, his laughter, his holding his head up and rolling over for the first time (which just happened, from his back to his front, on Friday!). Probably only those mothers of small babies who read this blog can understand and appreciate how fun it is to celebrate these tiny milestones in the lives of our babies.

Micah has recently been sick (again) with a sore throat, a cough and a stuffy nose, so this is another reason why I am glad to be home with him, and not have to balance finding a sitter, or calling in sick to work.

My Cousin, Jonathan Charles Bishop, 1985-2007

My cousin, Jon passed away Monday morning, February 12th from a brain tumor that took his sight, his balance, his speech, his independence, but as his brother Dave says, it NEVER took his spirit. He was an incredible, handsome young man, always up for a game or telling a joke, and never one to complain, no matter what was happening to him. His brother, Dave, has a wonderful tribute on his blog that I suggest you check out. I was able to see Jon at Christmas and am so thankful for that time. When I saw him he wasn't feeling very well, he was in a wheelchair, but he still had a smile on his face and a willingness visit. I can't imagine what he was going through and how he dealt with it, but from what I saw, he sure handled everything with incredible strength.

I feel so blessed to be a part of a strong, Godly, close-knit family. Most of the family from out of town made it in for the funeral. Sadly, I couldn't be there for the funeral, but as I have heard, it was wonderful. Jon's parents shared from their hearts, his brother, Dan shared how they had a special time these past couple of months first bowling (in which Jon would usually win, even though he couldn't see!) and then later meeting to talk about some seriously deep issues. Dave also shared his thoughts and memories, and Jon's girlfriend shared how they had met and how much love they had for one another. I thank God for giving them strength to get through their speeches so that others could be encouraged by Jon's life.

Jon taught us all a great number of things, including how to handle challenges with strength and dignity. He was the youngest of all the cousins and he will be sorely missed. As much as we wish he was still here, and can't understand why this was his time, we are thankful that we will see him again someday in no pain and with a new, glorious body.

The poor little guy got his 4 month shots today, but he did great! He's a stud. :) Nothing much is new. He has laughed for me a couple times now, but he still prefers to laugh for daddy. He even laughed for the doctor today, and awhile ago he laughed for the Costco checker (before he laughed for me!). But he was cranky, and he sometimes laughs when he's cranky. We are very blessed with such a happy baby. He is so much fun to be around.