That's my gal! - Part 1

I want to take a moment to brag on my wife for everyone to read.

Our lives are exceedingly counter-cultural, even against the popular tide of Christianity in America. For starters, we have 5 kids. You should hear people's reactions at my work when they learn we have 5 kids. (Admitedly, part of the shock comes from the fact that I look so young). This goes so against the grain where the prevailing opinion of our neo-Socialist culture is: "2 kids at most. Population-control!!"

Ok--I'm gonna dive into some deep waters of controversy here and just state my opinions plainly. In my work, I am surrounded by a lot of corporate women. In fact, there is a massive initiative for promoting women and supporting women in the workplace. As a former feminist, this all seems good-and-healthy-and natural, right?

Well, here's where I get to brag on my wife. She is a very smart, focussed, disciplined woman. She could do very well in the corporate world if she put her mind to it, as many women have. In fact, she could probably do "better" than me and achieve far greater success than me.

What has my wife invested all those great talents and energies in? A thankless, disappearing, low-esteemed 7-24-365 job of MOTHERING 5 kids under the age of 9! She changes hundreds of diapers (cloth, I might add, and rinses them out by hand!), fixes hundreds of peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches, listens to and breaks-up hundeds of sqabbles and fights over toys, corrects hundreds of bad attitudes, washes hundreds of dishes, wipes hundreds of runny noses, changes hundreds of sheets that got stained by nighttime accidents,...and misses hundreds of more "fun" and exciting opportunities to see plays, go to beaches or malls, have long visits with friends over coffee, etc. She even misses church when a child is sick and needs extra rest.

Does my wife EVER complain about her life? Does she EVER say, "Dan, I wish I was working back at XYZ corporation, like I was back before Nicolas was born..." My wife is so incredible that she never, and I mean NEVER has uttered a word of complaint, like she feels her talents are being wasted and is simply "withering on the vine" while being "stuck" at home. Oh yes, the days get long---she won't deny that. The weariness is thick, to be sure. But my incredible jewel of a wife has said times without number that she feels "called" to this life, and by God's grace is flourishing and thriving in it more and more each passing year.

Did I mention that on top of all the aforementioned realities, she homeschools as well! So she not only does all the care for the littlest ones (age 1 and 3), but also juggles in teaching and instruction for our 3 oldest (age 9, 7, and 5) to boot.

Ok, are you ready to REALLY get blown away?
She says that she can't WAIT to have another baby!


So, are we nuts? No, I'm just so incredibly blessed beyond anything I deserve to have such a wife.

My time is up, and there is much more to write.
My aim isn't to tear down corporate or career-minded women. My purpose is rather to hold up the stellar example of my wife for all to see and admire. Frankly, I don't think even a CEO can hold a candle to my wife.

More to be said on this subject.