Live Simply

"Live Simply So That Others May Simply Live"

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This past month has been a stressful one.

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While Minnesota was a welcome break from the day to day worries, the same situations were of course waiting for us when we got back.

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And poor Andrew didn't even get a break from it at all.

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It all started a month ago when my car stopped in the middle of the highway right in the middle of Andrew's hour commute to work.

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One car down.

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$700 and two weeks later, we picked the car up just in time for Andrew's truck to go out.

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Two cars down.

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Andrew's promotion has been a great experience, but the stores they put him over were less then desirable.

He is busting his butt 60 plus hours a week, driving an hour to and from work, and making about the same he did with only one store.

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Stress city.

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I do my very best to remain positive.

I want Andrew to be able to lay all cares down at our doorstep and just relax when he gets home.

But household duties sometimes call for his attention. Choices have to be made that require both of us.

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And sometimes, I just have to breakdown too.

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Yesterday, I woke up discouraged.

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One month of needing to get a ride anywhere I need to go, having to follow a strict budget, and watching my husband work himself silly was all I could take.

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And then Mr. Terry told us it looks like it's the trucks transmission that's out.

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Great.

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It was right in the middle of my pity party that I looked over at Andrew, and then back at Josie, and suddenly realized that I have it pretty dang good.

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Sure, I can't just up and go for a drive, but we do still have a car.

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And maybe I can't go on a shopping spree everytime my heart desires, but I do have a home full of beautiful things.

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My family is healthy, my friends are supportive, and I have nothing to complain about.

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When I shared with Andrew that I was having a change of heart about our situation, I could see his spirits lifting too.

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His temporary commute will be over next Wednesday, and he will be back working 5 minutes up the street. He now knows what questions to ask before his official promotion this Spring. As crazy as these past three months have been on our family, it was a good experience.

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And thank God it's almost over.

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I have a new outlook that was confirmed and sealed solid this morning at church. (Which by the way, is the best and most real church I have ever seen)

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I am choosing to live simply.

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I will find beauty in everyday things.

I will find things to be thankful for everyday.

I will be resourceful and wise with what I do have.

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God is good. All the time.

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I have been looking at our situations through Worldly Eyes and not Godly Eyes. What looks hopeless (no way can we afford another car, and no way are we taking out a loan for one), is totally under God's control.

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I want to live simply, and not extravagantly, so that when Andrew and I are making more then enough money, we can give and help others who need it.

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I want to live simply, and not extravagantly, so that when Josie grows up she understands the idea of saving up for the things we want and so she knows the reward that comes from helping.

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Yes, my family may not be rich, but we are richly blessed.

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And we have a lot to be thankful for.