Miss Monica

I just went back to my blog's beginnings to see if I'd ever posted about Miss Monica. I realized that I started the blog just as we moved back to Mississippi, and I'd never introduced her to you. Miss Monica is our angel! (Well, she's the closest thing to an angel we'll know on earth, at least.) We met right after Anne Parks was born. It was June, and I was due to start back to school in August. I called the daycare where I'd had Anne Parks signed since early in my pregnancy and was told that she wouldn't ge tin until January. In a panic, I called the Florida Dept. of Children and Families who licenses in home childcare. The woman I talked to told me that she wasn't supposed to give recommendations, but that her top pick for her grandkids would be Miss Monica. She also told me that I was in luck: Miss Monica lived right down the road!

Monica took care of Anne Parks for the first year of her life as if she were her own. It was definitely hard to go back to work, but knowing that Monica was taking care of my baby made the transition easier.

Monica is a mother of six kids from age 5 to 23. She not only ran an in-home day care, but home-schooled her own kids up to 5th grade. I would arrive at her house to pick up Anne Parks, and she would have the kids each working on age-appropriate projects or school work, the house would be tidy, and dinner would be on the stove! When I'd ask her how she did it, she would answer, "Prayer."

Monica took great care of Anne Parks, but I got so much more than that from her. During that year, I was blessed with her spiritual example and humble devotion to God. What a wonderful role model during my first year of motherhood! There is no better lesson, especially for a new mom, than to turn to God with your worries.

Moving away from Monica and her family was hard for us. I had a hard time believing that anyone else would take care of Anne Parks like she did, and I have certianly missed her motherly wisdom.

When we were in Florida last week, we got to stop in for a visit with Monica and her family. What a happy reunion! Anne Parks had been too small to really remember them, but she loved them immediately and has been asking when she can see Miss Monica again.

Anne Parks and Faith

Christopher, Faith, and AP
We can't wait to visit again!

By the way, Monica is now working as a nanny for vacationers in the Destin area. If you're going to be vacationing, I highly recommend her!