Deep thoughts...

Wow, with all my new followers I feel so obliged to blog. I should have all these interesting things to say and words of wisdom to impart.

Nothing earth shattering to share, just continued tightening of our financial belt. Not sure how much more we can squeeze before we really feel some major changes around here. News from my husband's work is not good and getting worse. It seems they may need to shut down for a month or more.

On the upside of all this, we are aligning our priorities and seeing things as "needs" and "wants" more clearly. Somethings will have to go and that is OK. The kids are great and even my teenager gets it now. I love that they are being more thoughtful with their requests, but I do not want them to feel guilty if they do need something. We can do what we need to do and will always make it work, but no extras, no "wants".

I am sure that in 10 years or so, we will look back at this time in our family's life and see that it strengthened us financially, spiritually and emotionally. I don't think we are going through anything unique or even that tough compared to the struggles of others. I do think that it is a challenge that we are up for. I hope that we will come through this time better for what we have learned and that the worst we will have to endure is no satellite tv and a less than lavish Christmas. But if in fact things become bleaker still, I am confident we will come up with creative solutions and will find that some of our current "needs" may actually be unnecessary luxuries.

Cliches again abound in my thinking, "all that glitters is not gold", "true wealth is measured not in dollars and cents", "you cannot buy happiness" and on and on...I think we all believe these sayings to be true, but few live them out loud. We pile on "things" to make us look and feel better, possibly because we are scared to judge ourselves and let ourselves be judged for the person we are. I feel like peeling back the layers is freeing, the layers of STUFF that weigh us down. Removing all our adornments, to reveal what is beneath. Scary? Yes. Liberating? Absolutely.