As I'm sitting here getting some work done this morning, the view in front of me was incredibly symbolic. I got that mug in NY when I was working out there after Dex was born. Every month I would travel to my Hudson Valley territory and leave my little family for several days. I even experienced Dex's first day of daycare via a text and a photo because I was attending a training in Boston. I spent the first several years of Katey's little life traveling across the country as well. I missed the first time she rolled over, her first steps, she thought I worked on an airplane. I've missed too much.

A few months ago I hit a wall. A BIG, brick, "go ahead and try to break through me - you'll just hurt yourself" wall. I couldn't do it any more. I couldn't do the 60 hr weeks. I couldn't experience the important moments through a picture sent to me in my absence. I just couldn't.

So I prayed. I worried a ton, I cried a lot, and I prayed. Could I really quit my job, give up great money and pursue a career path much more suited for quality time with my family? Was it reasonable to go out on a very sketchy limb and trust that these convictions that I'm feeling are truly from God? We'd have to cut WAY back. I've got a masters degree, would that even matter now? I've spent so much time building up my career and was actually recruited several times by various large companies to take a shot at titles and salaries that so many people work decades for. Could I really turn that down?

I prayed and I did. God had me so convicted that I couldn't ignore His calling. It was time - time to put Him first, put my children first, put my marriage first. It. Was. Time.

And thank you Lord! These past few months have been an adjustment. They've been a challenging learning curve with many more lessons to learn, but I LOVE the freedom of not chasing an annual income. I have gotten more snotty-nosed kisses than money can buy and I cherish them more than gold, more than a title, more than any success I could ever achieve. God has blessed this path and I am eternally grateful.