just because...

After watching a little bit of Oprah this afternoon I saw "tent cities" around our country, even here in Nashville, where what use to be working class families were now forced to live b/c they had lost their jobs and then homes. I felt compelled to write a clarification for my last post.

We did go on what seemed like an extravagant vacation as far as all those theme parks but I want to let whoever it is that reads this blog know that we had free tickets to each of those theme parks and the dinner/show place. A friend of a friend's family gave all of us those tickets. It was a huge blessing that we were thankful for.

We had decided not to go to the beach when given the chance to this summer b/c we wanted to put that money towards our savings and paying off our home loan. We are trying to be smart during this economic time. As most of my friends know we live a simple life...we own a 3 bedroom house and are snug but love our neighborhood and yard and have plenty of room for what we need! We have a car and van both bought used and paid for entirely. We have no credit card debt and only buy what we can pay off by the next month. We are teaching our kids that things in life do cost money and you have to work for stuff but not to covet what that money buys you. We struggle ourselves just like everyone with jealousy at times, comparing our lives to others and wanting the latest and best of things. But we try and we are trying to teach our kids the same.

I just felt compelled to write this. I have many friends whose husbands have lost their jobs and can't seem to find work. It could happen to any of us.