So, since I started my new job today...

I guess I can tell you all about it now that it's like REALLY official. Or at least I guess it's official. Since I did work today. I am very excited about this opportunity. I have always worked full time or part time until we moved here to FL. And even then, I taught a writing class one day a week for the first few months for the homeschool children at my church. So I guess that's still considered part time work. But since May, I haven't been working. Let me rephrase that. I haven't been on a payroll. And I quickly realized that I am one of those women that is just a happier wife and mother when I have something to divert my attention, even if it is just a few hours a week. I love to work. I love having adult interaction. I love the time away to be "Me" and not the immitation June Cleaver, a very very bad immitation, I might add. Don't get me wrong, I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to be a stay at home mom, but I do not feel it's my life's ambition or my calling to fulfill the rest of my days. Some women are designed for that. I am not. God wires us all differently.

So all that said...back in September as I was quickly becoming discontent by not working outside of the home whatsoever, so I began to pray, "Lord, it is my desire to work part time. If this is your desire for me, then you just send the perfect job my way." And then I proceeded to give him my list of criteria. Because although He is the God of the universe, he does have time to listen to even our pettiest requests. I wanted a job that was technology related, I didn't really want to go back into the field of education just yet. I wanted a job that would not require me to put my children in child care because that would defeat the purpose of being a stay at home mom AS WELL AS eat up my whole pay check, and I didn't want a job that would take me away from our family time (evenings and weekends). Oh, and I also threw in a specific salary that would allow us to get into a bigger, newer home. Now, to us humans, that would seem like an impossible list. I even asked myself repeatedly, "Does this job exist???" But nevertheless, I made my requests known and left it at that, feeling a deep sense of peace that God would either find me the perfect job or He would take away my desire to work outside of the home.

Months went by. All the while, I never once searched for a job because I didn't want to take things into my own hands. I knew God had it under control. The only person that really knew of my desire to work part time was my husband. A few weeks ago, he came home from work in the middle of the day and asked if I'd be interested in a job at the church. I quickly replied, "Tell me more." He said that the pastor and head elder had discussed the possibility of me coming on board as the Director of Communications. This would be a new position. My primary jobs would be taking care of the weekly bulletin and updating and maintaining our new church website. I would also be responsible for creating any other forms of media such as flyers, brochures, mail outs and such for special events or for church ministries. (So let's see, criteria #1, technology related...check!) He went on to say I would probably need to spend between 15-20 hours a week on the job, but I could work in the office when I need to, like on the days that the girls are at school or on Fridays when he's off and can take care of them, and I can also work from home, like late at night when the kids are in bed. (So let's see, criteria #2 and 3, not having to pay for child care and not being away from my family too much...check). Then he told me what my salary would be, and it was the EXACT amount I had asked the Lord for in order to budget for a new house. Not a penny more. Not a penny less. (So let's see, criteria #4, salary enough to get house...check!)

And it even gets better than that. The fact that my place of work is an awesome environment where I will be surrounded by wonderful people is just an absolute plus! And not only that, but my work gets to glorify the Lord in a totally direct way! I get to use my skills and talents to bring people to the local church, which in turn brings them closer to the Lord. I just don't think it could get any better than that. I am SO excited! It's such a huge blessing from the Lord. And I pray that I will completely honor Him with every finished product, with every time I answer the church telephone, with every person I greet as they walk through the door, with every request that is made of me, and with every relationship that is built within that body of Christ.