SAHM I Am

The bible study I've been attending is called Summer Scramble and each week a new leader discusses a different topic; today's topic was scrambling to be more than ordinary by Karen Powers.  I truly believe God put me in that room today as a reminder to trust in His plan and ensure I stay on the path He has designed uniquely for me. Karen used the story of Daniel to explain how we can be extraordinary during our time on earth. As she talked she used the acronym M.O.R.E. to show us the path to be more than ordinary. M stands for motivated, O for orderly, R for risk taker, and E for extraordinary. As we went through each point we learned that Karen is a teacher and prior stay at home mom. She explained that before she had children she had so many of her OWN hopes, dreams, and desires in the teaching and writing field, but that she had to listen to GOD when it came time to have children and His plan was for her to stay at home.  I easily related to her story as that is precisely the track I am on at this time in my life.

Growing up, I never really thought about being a stay at home mom (SAHM) as my mom was a working mother, and that's what I was familiar with. Tim was also raised with a mom who was a professional and I assumed that's how we would raise our children.  We both admire our mothers' dedication and ethic in the workplace and have learned invaluable lessons from their examples.  Five years of college and a degree later I assumed I would spend my future utilizing the knowledge and skills I had gained in the classroom, but then I heard Dr. Laura on the radio one morning and I knew God just asserted his plan for my life--to be a SAHM when we had children. Dr. Dobson, radio host of Focus on the Family, interviewed Dr. Laura for three days about the importance of being a SAHM and I listened eagerly each morning as I drove to work in Alabama. After hearing the series I knew this was God's way of speaking to me and telling me that this would be my future at some point. I spoke to Tim about what I'd heard and the biblical principles the talks were based upon and initially he did not understand my desire to be a SAHM. For Tim, I think it was the endorsement Dave Ramsey gives in the Financial Peace video series that finally got him thinking about the benefits of this new plan for our lives. The more couples we met in the various churches we've attended that discussed the importance of SAHMs, the more he liked the idea of providing this blessing for our children.  And then one day Tim gave me the go ahead, and we started planning for a family and my future as a SAHM.

When we moved to Alabama I became a stay at home wife (SAHW) since we were only in the area for six months and I was unable to teach or find any other relevant work to my field. It was fun putting our home together and getting involved in our church, but I missed teaching and the impact I had in the classroom. Then, we moved to El Paso in the middle of the school year and again I was unable to teach or find employment, although that was a blessing in disguise since I was so sick during that part of my pregnancy. I've been feeling a lack of motivation and purpose in being a SAHW, but I must trust this is where God wants me. Last week I got a call for an interview for a full time teaching position in the fall (I applied before I knew I was pregnant) and it was terribly hard to turn down the opportunity to return to teaching, but I knew I was doing what God wanted as I told her I was withdrawing my application. As our little one gets closer to arriving, I am eager to go from being a SAHW to a SAHM! I think my purpose will be reinstated, as it's something I've been looking forward to ever since I heard Dr. Laura's interview. From everything I've heard it's the most exhausting and difficult job in the world, but I can't wait to start this journey with our baby and my husband.

All of this was running through my mind as Karen spoke today about being extraordinary in whatever God calls you to do. She explained that once her kids were grown and she had fulfilled her God given duties to her children she went on to teach again and is currently working on a book deal for a bible study she has written.  God used her to remind me that just because I choose to be a SAHM now does not in any way mean I'm wasting my education or talent in the classroom; it's something I can return to when our kids are older. Plus, I'll be utilizing my educational skills every moment with our children as I lovingly teach my little classroom of one, and maybe two or three of four as our family grows.

Lastly, I want to thank Tim for allowing our family this opportunity. This choice comes with monetary sacrifice, but in making this decision and being faithful to His financial commands (tithing) God has provided abundantly for us. I trust that the blessings of being a SAHM will far outweigh the challenges.  And I trust God with this plan for my life. 

---