babies, bottles and laundry...a new ministry

Well, not only did I start back to work in March...I also turned in my letter of resignation! Yep, as of May 27th I will be an official stay-at-home mom! You can't even imagine the excitement I have!

I must tell you how we got here...and I feel a need to add a little disclaimer...this is what God has lead Bryant and me to do. We know that this life is not for everyone, so all of this post is what has been placed on our hearts. :) Just thought I should add that...

My dear hubby is a numbers man...he dreams in excel spreadsheets and loves a budget! To him, it just didn't add up on paper for me to do this. A wise and dear friend committed to praying with me that B's heart would change and God would allow this to happen. At the end of January, my precious husband came to me and said he wanted me to be at home, and we would pray through it. Now this was huge, as that Bryant was not for me being a stay at home mom/wife. It amazed me how God can change hearts! We faithfully prayed through our decision, sought Godly counsel and in February realized God had opened the doors for me to stay home!

We so often forget that God gives us what we need. We rely on ourselves, and become fearful of not making it or having enough. Our world tells us to get more, gain more; but yet scriptures tell us not to store up our treasures here, but in heaven. This has definitely tested our faith, allowed us to see where we place our trust and given us a view of how faithful our God is to provide for us!

Bryant asked me to pray through why I wanted to do this, of course I knew why, but he told me to really think about what it would mean for my life. This is what was laid on my heart...

My first ministry is Bryant, my husband. To me, our world had put such a twist on a woman's role in life. She is to support her husband, create a safe haven for him in their home and to walk beside him and encourage him to be the head of the home. We get so busy with work and kids that our first ministry really becomes our last...and it may even become non-existent. Seeing my role as a wife, I want to create that home for Bryant. I want to have the "daily things" done so that when he gets home, our family time is protected. I want to create a home where the gospel can be nurtured and can be sent out through the community. Over the past few years I have realized the need to protect your marriage, and the world, again, tells us so differently. I want to be the woman who builds B up, who pushes him closer to the Lord and who walks beside him in all areas of his life. On this, I will not compromise....

My second ministry is my little boy. In this day in age so many children are not being raised. They are allowed to raise themselves. I see this on a daily basis. William is our heritage, he has been entrusted to us and we are the ones responsible for what he gets and what he doesn't get. Our desire for him is that he become a child of God, that he love the Lord with all his heart and that he would be willing to risk it all for the sake of Him. Knowing that I would only see William for 3 hours of the day made me sick. Someone else would influence him more than Bryant and I could. I know that they wouldn't discipline, teach or train him the way B and I have desired to do so. FOR US, life is so much less chaotic and stable when I am able to be home and we know that this is where God has us now.

My mom asked me why I was working...and if it was to keep our "stuff". This has been a question that has become a rock for us. If I am working for stuff here on earth, I'm spending my efforts in the wrong place. My desire is to build His Kingdom and I am blessed that God will have me at home in this new ministry.
I know that it won't always be easy, and there are struggles to come...but our trust is in the Lord and where He has us!

I look forward to being barefoot and in the kitchen! 
30 days and counting... :)