When is Enough Enough????

I have been thinking a lot lately about "stuff". You know, the accumulation of stuff, the desire for more stuff, the need to get rid of stuff to make room for the compulsion to keep buying stuff. Actually, I've really been thinking about the really BIG stuff, like large appliances, homes, cars, etc. And at what cost do we get these things?

When we bought our little home, it was really a miracle, and a huge blessing. We had just had a baby and needed to move out of where we had been living. I happened to drive by our house while on the way to look at another home. Merritt saw the sign and wanted to stop, so we did. I immediately knew it was tooooo small, but I also knew almost immediately it was the home we would be buying. We needed the income from the basement apartment so I could stay home with Eason.

It hasn't been ideal.... no storage- my clothes are in the hallway and in Eason's bedroom, a kitchen meant for a microwaving bachelor- not a gourmet cook, and a less than sound-proof basement- I still have fears the basement renters can hear EVERYTHING! But is has allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom which is what I am supposed to be doing.

It's hard to watch other young couples move "up" to bigger, nicer homes in more desireable areas while we stay put. It's hard to see others getting their 2, 3, and 4 kids while I only have my 1 (who I absolutely adore and wouldn't trade for the entire world!) But I am also blessed with a wise husband who knows that saving money for the future and not getting too much house for our needs is more important. He has worked so hard to put money away for our emergency fund, and to ensure that I can stay home with Eason.

Sometimes I think, well, we COULD afford to move, and then I'd have lots more room. But we would be sacrificing some future security. We wouldn't be able to put as much money away. I have also sometimes dreamed of getting a job and having a "real" life again. I think maybe all stay-at-home moms feel this way sometimes. But then I am reminded of the importance of raising my son and being there for him in an ever-increasing, pressure ridden, evil influenced world. I see how important it is for me to be home when he gets home and discuss with him the things of the day, and choices he's made. I couldn't leave that teaching up to some day care, or neighbor, just so I can have a bigger kitchen and a closet!

My heart hurts when I see people who feel they need a BIG house or nicer cars, and get it at the expense of their children. I see how times are getting harder, how jobs are no longer very secure. The days are gone when a man will choose a career and stay with a company for 40 years and then retire. People are losing their homes because they wanted "more" than they could really afford. People are losing their children because they put "things" at greater importance. The days will soon come when we will need to rely on the money we've set aside, and the food we've stored up. We have been warned about being prepared. The prophets haven't said, "Make sure you have a huge house for the last days", they've said time and again that we need to be financially prepared, and have food storage. I'm still working on the food storage bit, and still working on the financially prepared part, too. I know I could do better.

I may be cramped, and my living room turned into my sewing room, but I am glad for a wise husband, and a sweet little boy, and a roof over my head. I am glad for what I have. Would I like to move? Of course! But I know that if I raise my family right, we will be blessed no matter where we live. For now, I am willing to be where the Lord wants me to be. It may not always be easy, but I will try my best to make it work!