Do You Miss It?

Every once in a while, someone thinks to ask me what I did before Noah. Their reply to my answer is usually, "Do you miss it?"

Before Noah, I loved my job. I loved working for a cutting-edge Christian publisher producing books that influence contemporary culture. I loved working with a strong women's organization that sees thousands find faith every year. I loved being a pragmatic professional who analyzed spreadsheets and art to make concrete decisions about the future. And I loved the people I worked with. I miss them, and if I think about it very long, I miss the role I used to fill.

But...I rarely think about my old job, mostly because I LOVE my new job. I love being home with Noah - watching Sesame Street together for the first time, playing in the rain, singing him to sleep, knowing where every bulldozer is parked in Franklin, building deep friendships with other moms, managing our household so it runs at a mellow pace, spending evenings reading, writing, or watching movies with Josh...I would never trade my current job for any other.

I have been able to keep a toe in the publishing world as a freelance writer. But I don't depend on that. It's fun when it happens, but I have such unexpected peace that I am doing what God wants me to do, that I don't miss it between projects.

For now, I write my blog, manage our finances, organize our house, help coordinate our Sunday school, exchange parenting ideas with friends, debate book merits with fellow readers, cook "creatively," and generally apply my MBA skills in less conventional ways. But mostly I just enjoy Josh and Noah and these fleeting moments when our family is young and growing and the world is full of discovery.

Some days I might miss my old job. Someday I'll definitely miss this job.