[Disneycrazed]

I just wanted to share some thoughts....
The other day my dear friend shared with me that her and her husband were buying a wonderful new house.
She was getting all new appliances and also redoing the whole kitchen. ( already a beautiful house)
On top of this they were buying a new 50 inch TV.
Now they had come into some money due to a death in the family so they made these choices. They made the choice some years ago not to have children so it is just the two of them......
Well.. i was feeling pretty darn envious!!!!!!

My husband stays home with our beautiful daughter due to having medical reasons why he can not work. We went through many health issues with him but he is doing great and has been for quite a while now.

I took a pay cut (large one) when we adopted our daughter so that I would not have to work long hours and have more time for my family.

So here I was feeling a little sorry for myself since we aren't able to do these things....
Then I started to really think.....
NEVER ONCE did i ever pray for a new appliance or granit countertops.LOL I prayed for a wonderful husband who would make it through surgeries and be able to get healthy again. I prayed for a baby that we could love and raise. I prayed that we would be a happy family and guess what... my prayers were answered!!!
It's then that I stopped feeling sorry for myself and felt so overwhelmed and blessed.

Now... would you like to know WHEN this all came to me?????
The other day when my husband and I took our daughter to the library for a "family movie day" showing of Tinkerbell. So here we are watching Tinkerbell and my husband says"are you crying"?
LOL
He thought i was crying about this little Tinkerbell movie when I was really getting teary eyed thinking of all of this and feeling very blessed that I was sitting there with the daughter I prayed for and a husband who would sit through Tinkerbell to make his little girl (and big girl) happy!!!!

[shanpine]

Oh Michele I am so happy that you are enjoying your blessings!!! It's so easy for ALL of us to get caught up in so many things...thanks for the reminder to step back and look at the amazing things we have right in our hands.

[stilldeciding]

I loved your story and I will tell you why..I have a wonderful hubby, 2 biological boys and am pursuing an adoption PLUS I have most all the material things I want, including a home we had built... BUT despite what we have accomplished for our family, I realized a long, long, long time ago that things do NOT and should NOT define us...your friend sounds to me like a person who may be trying to buy things to fill a void, like many of us in the world do...why many people are in debt. Even if she got a huge win fall..still many people regret getting that money as they waste it. My brother received a lot of money from when my dad passed away..he was the only unmarried sibling of us 5 kids and we wanted him to get more of the money as the rest of us were already more established. His money that my Dad gave to him and it was a whole lot, is gone..all of it...he squandered away it all..today he is penniless, lives in a motel and is unemployed..all because he thought this money was his ticket to do something with his life and here it turned out to be actually his demise. Money is necessary in life and though it can make life easier, it also can be something that makes life NOT good. He has yet to realize that it's people who make life what it is. All of us have felt envy seeing people have it easier..It's human nature to want things...but if push came to shove and someone came to me and said...hey...whats more important the house, the things or your family..the choice is MY FAMILY! We who are lucky enough to have families have the biggest treasure on earth...no gold, no house, no huge back account, nothing could EVER compare to those times where we sit with our kids, our spouses and realize how blessed we really are! I bet your friend, sees families and even if she does not admit it...feels envy that she doesn't have that...to be alone in life is sad..to have people who love you, that IS what matters...that's what life is about..the love of being a part of a wonderful family...so I am glad you wrote your post..because I think all of us need to hear others talk about THEIR families..if we lived in a world where people we're valued over possessions, then imagine the world we would have today! I am sooo glad you know how lucky YOU are..you ARE BLESSED!

[stilldeciding]

PS..also I am a Christian and very religious myself...so I too have prayed for the important things in life and GOD DOES answer prayers...GOD IS GOOD, isn't he?

[annaguat]

Enjoy your blessings! Happy Holidays and thank you for sharing your sweet story and reminding all of us of our blessings. Anna

[praying4rlittl1]

Thank-you for that perspective.

[shoegirl06]

Michele - What a great realization! You're a very lucky lady and your family is lucky that you realize how special they are to your quality of life!!!

[allgodsgrace]

You made me cry!! I have to remind myself that just because it looks good at what others may have (A friend of ours is military and getting transferred to a huge house in the country, has two beautiful healthy children and job security. but also huge marital problems that need lots of work on both sides)

I wouldn't trade it out for what I have-- a hubby who will work 60+ hours a week if needed (and has) to make it possible for me to stay home with our daughter. A little girl who is so perfect for our family in every detail- including being strong willed which I prayed for! A house that is warm, safe and comfortable. Of course we all want more-- it is our nature. A larger house, better clothes, more money to do things-- but we have a great church, safe house, loving family and so many things that money can not fix.

Thank you for this post! I get teary when my hubby (just last night in fact) said "I wish she would wake up tonight so I can go in and rock her"-- how cool is that???
We still take turns for who gets to go in to get her up in the morning, rock her if she has a dream, hold her if she is sick-- the taking turns is because we both want to do it so badly!!

[Slatond10]

Your beautiful story brought tears to my eyes... and warmth to my heart!

You are truly blessed!!!!

[mommytoEli]

that is cute

[sksnell]

I am sitting here crying at work as I read this... it's exactly what I needed. I too have been feeling sorry for myself: I routinely get very exasperated with our house, which is bursting at the seams since adopting our DD and DS. But, then I'm also so very thankful for my wonderful husband who sits and has tea parties w/ my kids, and couldn't wait to have 'little ones' so we could go to Disney movies and sing along w/ Mickey Playhouse, Barney and Backyardigans. And holds hands and sings the Barney 'I Love You' song at restaurants....

5 years ago I didn't think I'd ever get to have kids, and now I have 2 of the most incredible little blessings... and they are the most precious things in our lives. So when I get disgusted with the clutter, I'll think of this thread and count my blessings. Thanks!

[blueprints]

Awesome perspective, sometimes we all need to be reminded just how lucky we are and that the best things in life aren't material.

[w8ting4Thomas]

Thank you. What a great post, especially as we near the holidays and excess is so rampant.
I am a stepmom, helping to support another household, which means I have to work instead of staying home with DS.
But I also know and am thankful everyday for what we have even if it is not perfect!
Thanks again for your post.

[angel_bayou]

I have had those moments before!! To be honest lots of my friends live in big fancy houses and drive those expensive cars while I am so down to earth it's not even funny! Not don't get me wrong I don't live in a slum, but nothing spectacular. However I know I made this choice because I wanted a family! How blessed am I that I have a roof over my head even if it is smaller than I would want, I have three beautiful and healthy children sleeping under this roof with me and a dear hubby who I love. So does that fancy house mean a thing to me?? NOPE not at all!!

[guatmama2b]

How sweet is that!!!!

It is so easy to get caught up in our material wants and jealousy, especially at this time of year. Your post was such a nice reminder of what is truly important.