Homemaking and making a home...

First of all, I don't take for granted my cushy life at all. I am grateful that I have a husband that allows me to stay home. I am grateful that I have a home. I am grateful.

This week I had an eye-opening experience. One that made me take a look back and give thanks again in my heart for all that I have.

The other night after the kids were snuggly tucked in their beds, I left Evan to watch the latest episode of MYTHBUSTERS and I went on a night milk run and sanity break. Of course, whenever I need to feel better about my day, a therapeutic shopping trip to the mother ship always makes me feel stellar! Feeling happy and fleeting around the store, I came across a very familiar face, one I see each morning between 7:55 and 8:06,  Sharon, the bus monitor who always greets Sophia by name and has her best safety interest at heart.  Then I realized Sharon was not shopping, but folding a mountain of towels.  I greeted her in my playful Liz way, saying, "Is that my Sharon?!"  She sheepishly looked up and said, "Sure is."  My inquisitive mind wanted to know, "Do you work here a lot?"  She replied, "5 days a week from 5:30-9:45pm."  My mind did a few calculations thinking she is the bus monitor from 7:30-4 and then works here for the duration of her day?  Only to collapse into bed at the end of the day, I'm sure.  I then started thinking who was the real homemaker here?  Was it me, shopping and trying to fill my home up with beautiful things to warm the walls and create interesting spaces for my family or was it Sharon who was working the majority of her waking hours to make ends meet and keep a roof over her kids' heads?  I have pondered this encounter so much this week and can't get her image out of my mind. 

All I want to say is God Bless you, Sharon! You are an amazing woman and I applaud you.