We officially started a new year in homeschool this past Monday.
Little brother started kindergarten – big brother and big cousin started second grade.
This past weekend is a blur as I spent most of my time finishing up lesson plans, cleaning and redecorating our homeschool room, buying last minute supplies, and together with my hubby repurposing some materials to serve as a new activity table and desk.
Goodness, I hadn’t planned on that last one. I seemed to forget that little boys grow so quickly as both big brother and big cousin grew right out of their desk from last year.
Seeing the excitement in my children for a new year in education and finding a real God (big brother couldn’t sleep on Sunday night he was so excited), I started to feel overwhelmingly blessed to be at home with my babies.
This is the first time, ever, that I’ve been able to be a full time stay at home mom – an answered prayer from God.
On Being a Stay at Home Mom
I’ve prayed for the past seven years that God would allow me to be a full time stay at home mom without the need of having to generate an income. After much prayer, time, patience, and sacrifice, God made it happen. In his way, not mine.
I’m sure many of you that have been on this written journey with me are thinking, “You’ve always been a stay at home mom.” Since big brother was born, it’s true, I’ve been home with my children; however, I still had the responsibility of needing to provide an income for my family.
I was a work at home mom, doing graphic/ web design work and for the past few years I was also teaching web design courses a couple evenings a week at our local community college.
I’m very blessed and so thankful for the working opportunities that had allowed me to stay at home and raise my children, but with homeschool, the added work was becoming an extra weight much to heavy to carry, both physically and spiritually.
After Gabe lost his job this past February, I honestly thought I would have to work more hours outside of the home. Did God ever prove me wrong.
He found Gabe a great new job. He went from a graphic designer to a foreman.
I know… it’s crazy!
He loves it though. He’s working outside laying architectural panels on buildings. He gets to drive big Tonka trucks and all of that fun manly stuff that my man was built for. He loves reading plans, figuring out how things work together, and visualizing the three dimensional. He loves his big boots, his hard hat, and bright orange shirts.
I couldn’t be more proud of him.
Still Working
I’m no longer working to provide an income, but I am continuing to work sharing posts on this website as it does generate some income for my family.
Just like the Proverbs 31 woman, I plan on continuing to work, as he wills, so that it blesses my family. This website allowed me to purchase all of my children’s homeschool curriculum, supplies, and extra curricular activities.
A true blessing for my family and for that I thank all of you that spend time here and read.
God is so good.
I plan on sharing a follow up post on how I went from work at home mom to stay at home mom. Also, a post on how to make some part time money, blogging. If you’re interested, let me know in the comments below.
Hi Diana, I recently came across your site and enjoy reading your posts. I, too, have been blessed to be a stay at home mom to my 4 children. I now only have 2 at home. One just began his first year of college at DMACC in Ankeny and my baby is a junior in highschool. Three and a half years ago I went to work during tax season for an H and R Block here in town. I would be interested in knowing how I could make some extra money during the year if you wouldn’t mind sharing? I considered looking for full time work a few months ago, but my two kids at home asked me not…they like knowing I’m here for them 24/7 🙂 Thank you…Kim
Kim, thanks for sharing that with me. It is good that there are seasonal jobs like that. I’ll definitely be sharing about this, very soon! Probably next week 😀
Thank you for this post 🙂 We are starting our first year of homeschooling as well, and I would be very interested in part time blogging. A little extra income would be very welcome! God always provides 🙂
Have fun on your first year of homeschool, Amanda 🙂 I’ll be posting about this next week!
What a blessing Diana – so happy for you! I have been praying that this could happen for our family as well. I only work 20 hrs/week right now outside of the home, but sometimes that is just TOO much. But as you know Dave Ramsey has helped us this past year and things are looking brighter!
Ally, I understand for sure! 20 hours outside of the home can be a lot when you have the little that need you at home. I’ll be praying for you, Ally! It’s so good that things are looking brighter. Love Dave Ramsey!
God always has a way of providing doesn’t he? I am so happy for you. I am still praying that a job opp. will come along for Mark to make a move that would allow me to not have to generate income as well. But for now, He just keeps providing ways for me to do that, so I will continue to be patient. Besh wishes for the new school year, you will be so amazing and I know you’ll find more reasons every day to be thankful for the opportunity to homeschool!
Maria, I’ll keep praying for Mark. This year was the most stressful of my life. It was a time of testing for me and God built my faith through it. Things aren’t 100% secure here, but I know that God can get us through anything 😀 It’s such a blessing to always see you so filled with faith. That’s infectious! Huge hugs my friend!! xoxo!!
Hi there! I recently started following your blog which I think I found through Simple Bites. Anyway, I just want to say 1) Congratulations on getting to stay home full-time. That is really exciting. God is so good… 2) Also, just wondering… Whereabouts in Iowa are you guys located? Not to invade your privacy at all, we just moved to Northeastern NE from CO so I’m learning my way around this area. We are looking for great local sources for real food and I thought you might have some suggestions.
Hi Tamara! Welcome to Iowa!!! I’m not from NE Iowa. I live in Des Moines so I’m not too familiar with local sources in that area. I would suggest that you find a local Weston Price Foundation group in that area. Once you tap into a network through them, you’ll find MANY resources. Hope that helps 😀
We’re actually in rural NE Nebraska but Sioux City Iowa is our nearest city. Its funny to me to live somewhere so close to other states. South Dakota is an hour one way and Iowa is an hour another way.
Anyway, I hope your first week home is great! And your peach cardamom jam is next on my list 🙂
That’s wonderful, Diana! I’m so happy for you.
Thanks, Stacy!
I am so inspired by you, by your posts, and by what God is doing in your life and in the life of your family.
I was homeschooling my daughter. I was diagnosed with scleroderma. It was stressful as I was not well most days. As a result of the illness, we got in a severe financial crisis. God has provided. My daughter is now in school. I have a two year old who is very rambunctious. I would love making extra income blogging. I didn’t know how to go about it. Perhaps you are an answer to prayer. God bless.
Genia, I’m glad they can bless you! I’ll be sharing a post next week. I hope you can benefit from it 😀
I am struggling to keep everything going. I left full time employment over a year ago and still can not keep on top of God time, family time, homeschooling, gardening, pets, cooking, exercise, and cleaning, never mind the poor neglected blog I would love to pour more energy in. I would love your tips, suggestions and insights. I really enjoy reading your blog.
Hi Rachael! I understand your frustration. It’s difficult but I’ve found that with listing my priorities and keeping to a schedule I can keep most things in order. I still haven’t managed to fit in the exercise though and my body is screaming for attention! I’ll share a post on how I manage my days as well 😀
As much as I enjoy everything about food, health, and the simple life, it is these articles about how God is moving in your life that is food for the soul presented in your blog. As you write about these things, I am on the edge of my seat and I applaud God with you and share your joy!!! I am SO happy you are able to be with your littles. Truly, there is No Place Like Home! (: I can’t wait to read more!!!! I will set the kettle! Keep it coming!!
Alicia, thanks for sharing that with me 😀 I really love writing these types of posts as well because they truly come from the Holy Spirit. You blessed me, girl! Have a great week 😀
Diana,
I’m so happy, so relieved, so …full inside for you and your family. Sure, I would have loved for you to relocate to my neck of the woods but that would be about me, wouldn’t it? 🙂
This is for you and your journey, and wow to Gabe! Yahoo! “and now for something completely different” as an old Monty Python skit went.
I think your message came in time for me as I have danced back and forth of feeling ok and not ok about being the working for money parent. It’s a long story. The end result is that my husband has figured out what he wants to do, is back in college and acing his classes. I am so grateful! I just have to hang in there for another year and a half until he graduates and finds an excellent job that will enable us to enact our plan: switch. I want to be home for my boy who will be 8 by then and be a FT mommy at home. I have to stop chomping at the bit, be patient, and pray it will work itself out in this way. And yet I don’t hold the keys to this ride, in the end. I am truly grateful for my job which has given us income, insurance and benefits that are harder to come by.
I will keep my chin up, feel the gratitude more deeply, relish my family time and not waste it!, and look forward to the day when my man is doing what he loves for a living and I can do what I love most-at home. I can see I’m not alone by all the posts and I am so comforted right now.
Will be making the pickle recipe this week. Thanks for that.
Oh Joan, you just blessed me, girl! God is faithful, so yes, stand firm! My sister is in a similar place right now. She has to work for about another 9 months. It’s difficult but it will be such a sweet time when you can finally stay home and reflect on how the diligent hard work and obedience has paid off! I’ll be praying for you, Joan! Keep me posted and if you ever run into times that your struggling, let me know and we can pray! God is so good!
If I wasn’t sitting at my desk at work I’d be crying my eyes out right now. Thank you for being there for me Diana. I am really touched.
and your hair looks great.
PS: did you get a hair cut??
I did! It was much too long for the summer 😉
Hi Diana,
Praise God! It is awesome that you get to be a stay at home mom. I am interested in blogging, can you teach me.
Blessings,
Renee
Congrats to you, Diana! I sure wish I could drop the community college classes I teach, too. I just haven’t been able to make that jump. I didn’t know you did website design…..could use your services if you still do a bit here and there! 🙂
Your blogs are always inspiring to me. I’m the Jennifer longing to stay home after one more school year at work. My son will only be 2 1/2 so I’m still going to get to spend a lot of his childhood with him. I’m so glad some others have already commented about wanting to read your part-time blogging tips. I would love to!! I’ve started writing a little, mostly about wellness and self-care/self-improvement topics–I’m a counselor–but I have no idea how to get started and worried that you might have to commit full time to generate any income. So glad to hear that it’s possible even part-time. I’m looking forward to your future post or posts on blogging and about how you organize your days. LOVE your hair. I did the same thing when my son’s little hands were always getting tangled in my strands.
I so love this post! Praising God with you on all the blessings He provides! Love the picture of your and your kids. What a beautiful woman of God you are, I am honored to call you “friend.” Much love in Christ, Kelly
Amazing….incredible….I love our God!! I have still yet to really write about how God brought me home full time back in 2002. He has always been FAITHFUL even when my hubby was laid off fall 2011. We are still walking by FAITH….but HE is good and I know HE is still showing up. 🙂
PS – you look beautiful in the pic!!
I am amazed at how many women desire to be at home. I am so thankful that in this day and time women are speaking up about what their hearts desire when it comes to raising a family. I was raised in a very feminist educational environment. The concept of being a stay at home mom was simply not welcome. I had the privilege of being a stay at home mom for seven years. It took me a long time to appreciate but looking back, it was absolutely the best for my family. I do believe that ultimately in the long term, financial provision for the family should not be placed on a woman’s shoulder’s with the understanding that there are exceptions like being a single parent or transitional periods such as completing school, etc.
Thanks for sharing that, Angela. It is really neat to see so many more woman desiring to be at home. I think the state that our world is in, our children need us home more than anything.
It took the lord a little while for us to find the way for me to stay home with the girls. Now, it’s been 3 years and I can’t imagine if I still had to work 45 hrs a week and travel!