I started a part-time job last week for the first time as a mother.
After three and a half years at home with Henry and Eliana, I felt we were all ready for it.
At least I was.
I am teaching at the same school I was teaching when Henry was born.
It fits like a pair of old jeans.
I keep learning about myself in this new role of mom.
I think working a bit suits me.
It's not too much, about 15 hours a week.
I wanted to post a before and after piece.
Our basement has been an albatross, sticking to my worries and annoyances and to-do list like spider man's web.
Before:
After:
Growing up and dealing with yourself and your stuff feels good. It has taken many years to "deal" with the "myself bit." The basement was easier, but significant.
Tonight though I have to write about the woman who helped me deal with myself the most over the last 13 or 14 years.
Marie.
I like this picture of her and her husband and their daughter. I wish their son was in it too.
Here is one from when she helped me with a wall hanging.
She is the single most influential woman in my adult life.
She discipled me and helped me learn more and more about Christ, and our Father's grace.
She hung in there with me, my grossly self-centered self week after week, month after month, year after year.
I have learned so much from her.
In a few days she and her family are moving.
There is nothing I won't miss about Marie.
Not one thing.
Here is her dog in the moving truck with our friend, Holly.
One of my favorite studies we did together was Ecclesiastes.
I remember like it was yesterday sitting in her kitchen (she has a groovy house) and discussing the over-arching message of that book.
Apart from God, life is meaningless.
God gives life its color and shape and rhythm and sweetness and depth and beauty and hope and inspiration.
He gave me that and more through Marie.
I suppose there is a time for everything.
But I don't particularly like this time.
