Happy at Home

It's been eighteen days since my last day working outside the home. I'd like to say that we have settled in to our "new normal", but we have yet to experience what that might be!

So far, I have spent more time driving extended family members around than staying at home. There has been one surgery, numerous errands, an extra person staying with us for a few days, and some scary mental illness episodes resulting in three separate trips to the emergency room, as well as pharmacies and mental health clinics.

Not too fun... and yet I am beyond thankful that I have been able to be there for my beloved nephew as he struggles with psychotic episodes. It's certainly not the way I had hoped to spend my first weeks off of work... but as I sit in the emergency room night after night I continue to be overcome with thankfulness. I'm thankful to be able to sit up with him all night, without having to worry about having to work the next day, or worry about having to take time off the next day in order to sleep. I'm thankful to be available to drive over to him at a moment's notice when he needs my reassurance that what he thinks is happening is really not happening. I'm thankful to be able to drive him to his appointments during the day, rather than having to be at work.

I'm titling this post "Happy at Home". I haven't been home much... and it's not a happy time... and yet, I am happy. Happy to be right where God wants me to be. I never wanted to see my 19-year old nephew walk this road... but I am beyond grateful that God has allowed me to be available to walk that road alongside him.