Thankful [Day 8]

LIBBY'S LIFE
I stumbled upon this wonderful blog today.
Between her short, but so sweet, "Thankful" posts,
this blogger had a [beautiful] baby!

Have you smiled yet today?  All 9 "Thankful" posts are listed on the right side of her blog [under November].  Here is the first.

Today I am thankful for choices.  And, for bad chocolate, because bad chocolate reminds me of how thankful I am for good chocolate.

There are times it seems we don't have a choice, or that our choice doesn't matter.  There are times when I wish I didn't have a choice, because it isn't easy to choose.  Ultimately, I'll always be thankful for the choice at all.  And, for moments of clarity when a choice appears where you didn't believe you had one. 

Each day is full of choices...

+  hot or cold water

+  warmer or cooler clothes

+  any choice we have between multiples of one thing, like shirts or shoes.  Or vehicles...

+  the freedom to voice our opinion

+  what to eat

+  what to watch, or listen to

+  where to go for the best price on groceries

  

I wonder how many we could list...have one I haven't listed?

I've made a few key choices in the last two weeks:

+  I voted [and I love that my 1-year-old thinks it's hilarious to stick things to his forehead, because now I have this photo]!

+  I have accepted a new church assignment, and I expect I'll be teaching my last Sunday School lesson this Sunday...

+  I've decided to quit my part-time, home-based job to be a full-time wife and mom.

I realize that this final topic tends to ignite fiery debates. Having a job has certainly afforded me many of the choices I've listed.  And certainly, too many are feeling the negative effects the lack of a job and a dependable paycheck can have.  

Working is just one of those things you do.  It wasn't until I realized how dangerously close I was personally to utter burnout that I had to re-examine just what choices I had...  

Quitting would mean no more drive-thru or impulse purchases...far fewer trips to Target [because apparently I have no self-control there]...fewer outings to places like the children's museum [at least without a coupon]...and even rethinking the holidays...

Even so, the mental and emotional relief that I feel [so soon] is surprising.  Hubby has noticed, and continues to be extremely supportive.  I must be smiling more because I haven't heard one of Big Brother's regular questions recently:  "Are you happy?"

I am thankful to have met a very kind, generous man who offered me a job immediately after we moved into our new home, and who has allowed me to work from home these 4 years.  The added income was certainly a blessing.  

Now, on to learning for the first time how to be a full-time mom!