Homemaker Versus Working Woman

As I was taking a test this afternoon for a new transcription company I would like to work for, I wondered if this is truly where God would have me to be at this season of life. I enjoy my job in the medical field and the blessing of being able to work from home, but I often find myself still lacking the time to properly care for my home and family. It's so easy to be pulled into the world and the distractions it brings. I don't feel it's wrong to work, but at times I long for those days when I only had my home and family to focus on. Homemaking is where I feel most comfortable. I love doing all the domestic things like cooking and hanging laundry on the line to dry. I enjoy decorating my home; especially with homemade items, but I rarely find time for hobbies any longer. This is a subject I've pondered in my mind many times lately.

I was reflecting on the pros and cons of working.

Pros:
I enjoy working.
The extra income really helps out.
I'm able to work from home and my daughter schools at home, so I'm still here for her when she needs me.
My job is very flexible, so I can still take time off when I need to take my daughter to the doctor, etc.
By working and keeping my skills current, I would have a job if I ever needed to support our family should we ever lose my husband's income due to illness or job loss, etc. By keeping my foot in the door with this type of work, I wouldn't be forced to work outside my home if we were forced into needing the extra income.
Working from home is a luxury! No extra clothes to buy. No gas expense. No going out on cold and snowy mornings. No fighting traffic. Having my own home office decorated the way I want it, with the option of taking breaks when I like or even walking outside for some fresh air. I can play Christian music without offending anyone, and I'm not stuck in a tiny cubicle without windows all day like I would probably be if I worked in an office building. The benefits are great!

Cons:
I don't have as much time to spend with my grandchildren as I would like. This saddens me when I realize how quickly they are growing up.
My job takes away time that I could be using for ministry.
I can't help my oldest daughter or daughter-in-law with the grandchildren as often as I would like to.
Some days I miss just being a homemaker and having time to actually clean and cook without rushing.
My housework gets neglected often due to work.
I always felt God called me to write, and with my job consuming a lot of my time I rarely find time to write.
When I wasn't working I would often spend hours in the early morning just praying, reading my Bible, and journaling. I still try to have my quiet time each morning, but the urgency of work looming over me is a constant source of distraction. I often find myself rushing to finish my quiet time. I truly miss that extra time just to be still before God.

I wonder how many times we get caught up in worldly values and miss out on what we are called to be as women of God. This is something I really need to pray about.

Welcome to my mountaintop nesting place!

Hello! I'm new to the world of blogging, and I am looking forward to this new adventure. My desire is to have a place to share my thoughts along the journey of life, and to glorify my Heavenly Father through my writing. Writing is equal to therapy for me. I've always enjoyed reading books and writing stories and poems since I was a small child. I still love books and writing. I won't pretend to be an expert an anything, because that is God's department. I simply pray that in some tiny way, I might encourage the hearts of others on the journey of life.

I am an avid birdwatcher, so you will often find birds mentioned in my writing. One of my life goals is to write a devotional book for birdwatchers. I hope to learn more about photographing birds. Right now I'm just an amateur, but I do enjoy taking pictures of my feathered friends, though my attempts at photography are pretty humble at this point. I love birds period, whether just enjoying them outside my window, snapping a few pictures, or looking through my many birding books.

I work from home doing Medical Transcription. I love medicine and enjoy learning about new medical treatments, etc. My love of the English language and the written word make this job a perfect fit for me. Each day is interesting and I learn new things.

A new season of life is on the horizon for me. My baby is 17 years old and I can feel the empty nest looming nearer and nearer. After being a stay-at-home mother for over 30 years, I'm not sure I am prepared for this new season. Being a mother is what I know best. It's my comfort zone. It's the place where I know my role and what is expected of me. That is slowly changing as I watch my youngest child become more independent. At times I feel like a stranger in a foreign land where I don't know my way around. It's like learning a new language; at times confusing, and at times exciting. I know God prepares us for each new season and that He has a plan for my life. I simply must pray and trust in Him. I am learning more and more along the path of life that each season has it's moments of beauty and each season has moments not so beautiful. He has never failed to help me through each season of change in the past and He will help me through this one as well.

Joni