Thankfulness and A Dream

I've had THE hardest time in the last 2 years keeping my house clean. I simply HATE cleaning--especially bathrooms. I'm ashamed to admit that it's been a month (or more) between bathroom cleanings before. I know, gross. It was a constant struggle for me to clean my house, although I LOVE the way it feels when it's done. My kitchen always managed to stay "clean" but not CLEAN. In the last month, with lots of prayer, I've managed to keep my house clean! I decided that the selfish part of me just needed to die. It wasn't fair to my husband or kids (or me, really...). I prayed for a new vision of what it looked like to raise a family. Kids (and a husband!) will follow by example. How could I expect Honour to keep his room clean if mine wasn't? How could I expect Payton to help clean up his toys if I didn't clean up my own? It's not to say that they don't "have" to if I don't because they still totally do, but I find there's less of a struggle to get it done if we are all doing it together. I'm thankful for the renewed sense of vision in my life and am looking forward to this new season for us. I think Tom is too! :)

I was thinking this morning... Well, I think this a lot actually... How great it would be to have unlimited amounts of money. Everyone dreams of this I'm sure, but my dream isn't to drive a nice car, live in an extravagant house, have a maid, personal chef, and a nanny, and not have to watch another kid in my whole life, but to live exactly the way we are now--able to pay our bills and enjoy a few "extra's" every month. Nothing more. Both Tom and I's dream is to be able to bless other people who are living a life of constant financial struggle like we have the last few years, whether it be from a job loss, sickness, or just situations that cannot be helped. I don't believe money can buy happiness, but having lived thru 2 years of financial stress, I know how much relief it can bring. What would it feel like to be able to write a check and pay off someone's mortgage when they had just lost their job so they didn't have to worry? What would it be like to provide a reliable car for a struggling family? What would it be like to "financially set" your overworked parents so they could enjoy the things that are REALLY important? Too bad you have to play the lottery to win it... However, making smart financial decisions now can only enable us in the future to achieve the goals (both financial and personal) we've set for our family. We've decided to take on this motto: "live like no one else so later you can LIVE like no one else." ~Dave Ramsey

It's so true...

And now, the kids are getting crazy-hyper in the house, Ryder just woke up, and I'm off to the reality of lunchtime, diapers, potty training, cleaning, and loving on my kids. :)