It's back to work!

"But... aren't you a stay-at-home mom?" you may be thinking. Well, yes. Kinda. I don't really "stay home" much these days though.

But I do have the blessing of staying home, going to the grocery store, visiting family & friends, going to the gym, taking walks and just enjoying every little moment with my little boy each and every day. It's a blessing that I don't take for granted... AT ALL.

But did you know that 80 million moms do not get to enjoy this? Only 6% of all mothers (in 2010) were stay-at-home moms.

Micah just turned 3 months. He's no longer considered a "newborn" by traditional standards. But I still feel like he needs me. I don't think I could be away from him for 8 hours, without one of us having a nervous breakdown. Most likely both. But truth is, most moms have returned to work by now - the average is 10 weeks.

Do I blame them? No. I understand that it is very difficult in our society to thrive under one income. Um, most of America is having a difficult time surviving with two. So I get that work is needed. And for some women, their job is a sense of who they are. They need a creative outlet or freedom to exercise their gifts and abilities. I get that too.

But here are two ways that I have found help in both of those areas.

1) Staying-at-home allows me to save money.

I now have more time to cook, which saves money eating out. I have more time to cut coupons, which saves on groceries. I can nurse Micah, which saves on formula. I don't waste gas driving to work. I don't pay for childcare. These are just the ones that come to the top of my head. Another task that I am going to be taking on soon, is the budget. In the past, Josh has always managed this for us - but with a full-time job and other ministry activities, not as much detail is always given to it. Hopefully I can help find a way to save us more money by taking on this responsibility.

2) Staying-at-home allows me to be creative.

I have more time to devote to playing guitar and writing music at home - instead of writing ideas down on a piece of paper on a desk (only to end up in the trash later). I can blog more - which for me is definitely a creative outlet. I have also taken a new interest in actually decorating my home. Of course this doesn't save on the money part, but that's where DIY projects come in. :)

These are just a few things that have been true for me lately. I know every circumstance is different and I don't want to come across insensitive about that. But, realizing this makes me challenge the idea that more women can't do it! I have so many friends that have shared how sad they are to work long days - only to come home to children for a couple hours before they are back in bed and doing it all over again.

Micah is only 3 months old. And tonight Josh was holding him and he started to cry. I looked at the clock and knew it was around feeding time, so I asked Josh to hand him to me. When he passed him over, Micah saw my face and flashed a huge smile. He knew he was getting his mommy (and that I would meet his needs!) Nothing could describe the feeling that came over me. That was better than any job promotion, or raise.

And this blog post has gone somewhere completely different than what I was intending.

I started this post by saying, "Maternity leave is over." Because in my heart, it is. I may not be physically leaving Micah for long hours, but I am going to start working harder at my new job here at home. By continuing to save money and finding creative ways to supplement our income. I will definitely be letting you guys know of any tips and discoveries I make in the process!

I'd love to hear from you too! If you stay-at-home please feel free to share how you are making this work for your family. And if you work, please share how you balance it all when you get home. :)

Micah is three months today. Seriously. Wasn't I just sitting here yesterday writing about his birth?! It's crazy how time flies! All those silly people that would stop us in Walmart and tell us that "they grow up so fast" ... okay, you were right.

Micah has been quite the traveler in his first three months of life! Visiting Alabama, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. We've broken him in good! He is a sweet baby, and we're starting to see his sense of humor come out a bit. He has already laughed for us a few times -- and smiles, oh the smiles. It really is amazing to watch a life you helped create grow before your eyes. There is nothing new I could say to describe how much we love our little boy. He continues to be a blessing every day.

So much has happened this past year, that I could not go without sharing just how thankful I am. We spent the week of Thanksgiving in South Carolina enjoying time with my very special in-loves, and drove back on Friday so my husband could prepare to preach at our church services on Saturday and Sunday. I finally had a chance to sit down to blog and I really don't care that Thanksgiving is over and everyone is putting up their Christmas trees (myself included), I'm GOING to write a Thanksgiving post! :)

I think I could sum up this past year with one word: blessed. God has answered so many of our prayers! Last Thanksgiving we were fervently praying for a baby. This Thanksgiving we are holding our baby boy! There is nothing I am more thankful for this year than Micah Jordan. He is a precious gift from God and the biggest blessing to his daddy and I! After he was born and we discovered he had a VSD ("hole in his heart") we fervently prayed again that God would heal this hole without surgical intervention. Church leaders laid hands on him, we pleaded over him here at home and almost three months later he is growing perfectly and the hole is closing!! Thank you Jesus.

There is another miracle that occurred this year - my mom was healed from stage IV cancer!! She was diagnosed shortly after I found out I was pregnant, and in remission a few months before Micah's birth! There was a point when my mom wasn't sure she would get to hold her first grandchild. But she has sure been blessed to give Micah lots of Nana-love! We are so thankful for this healing and continuing to pray it does not return.

Another blessing we are grateful for this Thanksgiving is our new ministry at Church @ the Springs! We are grateful that God has called us back to my hometown to serve. God has given my husband such a gift and passion for students - it is amazing to watch. I look forward to seeing all God will do in the lives of the people we encounter through this ministry! Continue to pray for us and all of those you know serving in ministry. It's a blessing and a battlefield all at the same time.

And all that in one year.

I can't wait to see where God brings our family by next November. I know He has already been stirring some things in my heart and I am beginning to pray for His will to be done. Not every year is going to be full of this kind of joy, I know. There was a year when we prayed for a baby and there was a year when we prayed for healing from cancer without the answers we wanted. Yet through it all, and with each passing Thanksgiving, I am more and more grateful for the gift of a Savior.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Robinson's!

a few family photos taken by my brother-in-law Justin Robinson.