Working Mother

I am one of those people who has always chuckled inwardly (sometimes I laugh outright) at the term "Working Mother". I've yet to find a Mom who doesn't work! I guess that is why they call the beginnings of physical motherhood "labor". From the moment that baby is brought into the world, there is always something to do. I could make a very long list here of all that mothers do, but I'd probably crash my computer, and maybe even bring down the whole worldwide internet. I really don't want to be responsible for all that. Suffice it to say that the words work and motherhood are synonymous.

That being said, work has a new meaning in the Grove household. Our finances have dictated that it will be necessary for me to work part-time outside of the home. I had an interview this morning and have been hired at Hawley Assisted Living, where I will be starting out in Housekeeping, then getting training and moving up to Home Health Aide. I'm excited and scared and happy and apprehensive, all at the same time!! It's been quite a few years since I've earned a paycheck, so this will be a leap for me. For so long, my focus has been husband, kids and home (and it will still be my first priority) but now that I'm "branching out" and adding more responsibility, I've had to switch gears in my mind.

Kyle and I have come to this decision with much prayer and contemplation. Thankfully the director who hired me is sensitive to my need to keep our home and homeschooling my first priority, and she is willing to schedule me on the days that Kyle will be home, for the most part. Things One and Two can handle the occasional times that both of us will be gone.

I'd appreciate your prayers as I find the balance with my new schedule, and that we'll all make a smooth transition to me working outside the home.

By the way, this is all D.M.'s fault, because she pursuaded me that there is better coffee out there than Folger's Black Silk. The real reason I need to work is to be able to afford my addiction to Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

So it's all her fault. ;)

A Russian Princess

Ten years ago today, in Russia, there was a baby girl who was born. Her mother named her Ekaterina.

Half a world away, in the United States, lived a family of three. Two loving, dedicated parents and one son, born into the family through adoption. The couple was thrilled to have their son join their lives in 1994. He made their home even homier. Yet something was calling to the couple from afar - and as time went on they knew that somewhere out there was a little girl who belonged with them.

So the couple visited a Russian orphanage. They saw different babies - but one knit her way into her future Daddy's heart the very first time he held her. It was in those moments that little Ekaterina joined our family, although it would be a couple of months before she was able to come home.

The couple I speak of are my beloved sister and her husband - and the son they adopted is my dear nephew, now fourteen years of age. He is the same age as Pickles and it's been a joy to watch him grow up. He has the most beautiful blue eyes you have ever seen and is probably going to be even taller than his adoptive Daddy.

The sweet little Russian Princess was dubbed "Katy" by her late Grandmother - although her parents did formally change her name. We all call her by the nickname "Katya" that was given to her in the orphanage by her caregivers. Today is Katya's tenth birthday - or "double digits" as she has enjoyed saying.

Katya, I am so thankful that God wanted to have you join our family. Writing this has brought tears to my eyes. I remember when your Mama sent me the first pictures of you when you were still in the orphanage. I loved you before I had ever even met you!

Happy Birthday darling Katya. I hope your day is as special as you are!!

Singin' the Blues

Hi kids. Have you ever had a day, week, month (year?!?) where you just felt blue and out of sorts? Well, I'm there. I know I seem incessantly sunshiny and all, at least my friends tell me that, but the truth is, I'm bummed.

Does it seem to you like the whole world is insane right now? Most newscasts have something depressing to ruin your day, so I've even been avoiding the news, for the most part. I can't get away from it completely, of course - I'd have to live in a cave. But the thing is, living in a cave is sounding better and better all the time.

There are moments I think to myself that we need to move to a remote area, off the grid, and start a farm where we can be totally self-sufficient. Raise or grow all our own food, put up a cabin, sew all our own clothes, just us and the critters and the land. Can you say, "Wilderness Family"? Remember that movie? I love that movie.

The thing is, that most days, I really like people. I NEED interaction with others, at least when I am well-watered and fed, and have plenty of coffee in my system. (You do not want to see me in the morning BC - before coffee.)

So, what am I trying to say? I don't know what I am trying to say. Actually I do know, but in this blog I don't reveal ALL. That is only in my other blog. Don't bother doing an internet search to find it, because the other blog only exists in my mind.

Neener, neener, neener. ;p