Oh how the tables have turned

So because of my current situation in life I have a lot more free time on my hands than I have been used to since well, longer than I can remember. As a result of this, I am learning to enjoy the roles of being a stay at home woman. I am finding that I actually enjoy these tasks much more than I ever thought that I would. I have time to cook dinner for my family on the week nights that my mom is at work. Anna and I decided that we would really like to cook through a cookbook together. It has been fun, some days it is a lot more work than others and I can't say that I have absolutely loved everything that we have cooked- but we have enjoyed trying!

I also got to go grocery shopping with my mom the other day. This task is something that all of us girls grew up doing with my mom but I have missed out for maybe as long as a year. It was good to be able to spend time with my mom. Those moments are few and far between. It was also cool to look at stuff in the store and think about what I need to be able to cook dinner. Recently, I have also had the chance to babysit my adorable cousin Lelia. These tiny glimpses of watching a child have made me appreciate all the WORK that goes into being a mom. I can't wait to be a mom one day.

Why is all this so weird? Well, I have been working since I was a junior in high school. While my friends were all at home learning all the skills required to be a suitable wife and mom I was out dealing with customers and making money. It started with grading papers for a teacher, then child care at the church and then "home care" (or whatever we want to call that) for a lady I knew. This was all before I graduated to my first real job at the Family Christian Stores and then moved to Chase bank for the last four years of my life before I headed overseas. For the longest time, working 40 hours a week was what I thought I wanted. I hardly liked to do anything around the house. I hate to admit that I sometimes even had the horribly sinful attitude that these servant tasks were below me. Now, I really really like them. I enjoy learning how NOT to ruin a meal, how to help teach a child manners and that doing the dishes is in fact exactly what I should be doing.

The Lord has blessed me in years past with many leadership roles. And, all too often I let those get to my head. To lead like Jesus I need to be the head servant. The biggest servant of all the servants. The Lord is showing me how to do this- starting with my family.

So, while my friends and family are out working and getting degrees I am often at home helping with laundry, babysitting or looking at recipes.

Oh how the tables have turned!