I have been hibernating lately...I've been here, but not really in the mood to post.....I've been doing some "soul searching" so to speak.
When I made the decision at the age of 41 to leave work and stay at home with my children, I did not do it lightly...I had been at the job for 20 years, but I KNEW that the time was right, and it was what was needed to be done. I had wanted to do that the entire time I had been married.....fast forward 11 years.....I am still a stay at home mom, with the exception of a 3 year stint as a school lunch monitor at my childrens' school (again I felt it was needed for a couple of reasons).....and now I am at the age where had I stayed at my origional job of 20 years, I would be 3 years away from retirement. Do I think I made the wrong decision? Not on your life, but there are times when I wish my future years were more financially secure. I think what brought this on was a change in one of the jobs that DH does. We thought it would always be there....it is no longer going to be there after next week...and it was a shock to us. Not the end of the world, but it was the job that paid our medical and dental benefits, and therefore we must (and have) search out alternate benefits. I don't like change...I am the first to admit it! I have been thinking that maybe I should start looking for a part-time job, now that my youngest is almost 13....but at what? I am not trained for anything anymore and the thought of a department store makes me gag (sorry if any of you do this...I admire you, I could not do it)...so....I have been doing some soul searching and whining! When I read Katy's post today I realized how selfish I had been...and how fortunate I am......thank you Katy!
I guess we all have days/weeks where we feel unsettled, discouraged, etc...
I took a couple of photos, (borrowing from Katy's idea)...of the wonderful things in and around my home, and yes, I am truly blessed.
My doggy...Nallie...who is 12....and my daily companion:
Looking out my large kitchen window to the back deck and back yard...
My other kitchen window...looking towards the road that passes by our home....
AND.............TA......DA.......
Here it is in all it's glory!!! I love it!!!! "STILL WATERS"
I truly love this piece and am so glad I decided to stitch it (and finish it! LOL)
Have a great evening everyone!! Maybe you each can tell me one thing you are thankful for in your life today!
Marion
13 comments:
Marion, I can totally understand how you are feeling. I'm still a SAHM with my youngest being 16! And I feel scared at times when I think about what jobs I would be qualified for now. I need to get back into the world of jobs so I'm in the same boat as you. Sorry to hear about the job with medical benefits being gone. Not a good thing. Anyway, I hope you're hanging in there -- know you're not alone in how you're feeling.
Your Still Waters is beautiful!! Great frame choice! Your sweet companion looks so comfy in that chair too. :D
I can imagine your scared feelings, Marion. I made the other choice - to go back to work after being home for three months with each of them. I sometimes think I made the wrong choice. My kids are fine - but what might be different for them had I stayed home? I wonder. Although - I don't know that I would have been a good SAHM, so maybe my choice was the right one. I'll never know, I guess.
I hope things turn around soon! You are in our prayers. I am thankful for all the obvious things, of course - but I am also thankful for the many friends I've made thru this blogging, stitching group of women! It is a blessing. And, on a not so serious note, I'm thankful that I don't totally lose all that's in my bladder when I sneeze, cough, run, jump etc. - I just lose a little. :-)
Forgot to say how gorgeous Still Waters is - stunning!
I can understand how you're feeling too. I had my son and worked until I got pregnant with my daughter. Even though I miss the office and the friendships I made there, I think I made the absolute best decision to stay home with my kids. I know that they appreciate me being home for them and just being there.
I hope that everything works out for you. That is such a loss with the medical benefits. I hope that you can find some solution to that. The way things are these days, we can't count on anything can we?
Your Still Waters looks absolutely wonderful. The frame is perfect for it!
Marion, you had me at "Lake of shining waters" it brought back to mind my dearest friend and I falling in love with Anne of Green Gables and having all the best lines memorized...then reading on, that sense continue, of touching friendship. I would bet you're qualified for far more than you give yourself credit for. Whatever the next step is, it's just ahead of you, waiting for you to arrive.
You have it framed already? How gorgeous is that?!! I've missed seeing you around blogland! Don't leave us!
So good to see you post. I too know how you feel. I quit work 4 yrs. ago. I'm still a Nurse but am unable to work right now because I have Fibromyalgia. Some days are worse than others. I'm grateful to have my husband and we do have health insurance. What the future brings I do not know. I think about it but I try not to worry because I've found it only gives me a headache and doesn't solve any of my problems. I pray a lot. I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Maybe they will have found a cure for what I have by then.
I hope your husband finds a good job and you will not have all this worry. It seems that all of a sudden the entire world is in dire staits.
I love your sampler, so pretty and the frame goes well with the piece.
Great photos, I agree, we should always look around at our blessings.
Thinking of you and your family.
Oh Marion - hang in there girl! I hope things look up for you soon.
Love your Still Waters finished and framed. It is wonderful.
I am grateful for the smiles on my grandchildren's faces
By reading all the comments from your blogging friends, it is obvious you have friends who care and support you!
I hope things work out for the better soon! Stay strong and positive!
I love that you looked around your place and took photos to share with us of things that you feel blessed to have! That is uplifting on its own!
Sending a hug your way!
so sorry to hear about DH's job shock... i will pray that your family stays at peace through this time of transition!
a PT job might not be a bad idea... have you considered doing the "home party" type job? i was just at a Spa Party at my sister's and the woman said that she quit her FT job because she was making more doing 2-3 parties a week. also my aunt sells Premier Jewelry (thru parties) and it has really upped her income and she LOVES being around the people (and Premier is a Christian Company). Just some thoughts! I know that it will all work out in God's timing!! :)
I hope you and DH can find something that's a perfect fit with the benefits needed.
Your SW is just beautiful!
I've wondered what I'll end up doing in the future when my kiddo is old enough. I left working a decade ago and all my old training and experience is outdated now to do me any good and honestly I don't want a corporate or office job any more. I've hoped that I could find a simple low stress job in a library, book store, or some such thing like that. I don't know. It's a way off yet, thank goodness.
Your Still Waters is lovely! I've seen it several times unframed but now that I have seen yours framed I want to stitch it!LOL! I too was a stay-at-home mom for many years now I try my hand at painting and jewelery making for extra income. Hubby makes enough for us to get by and we let god provide the rest. Happy stitching, Rosa in NS too!
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