My Tirade for the Day . . .

Grant and I are on a mission- to spend as little money as possible, so that when the time comes I am able to stay at home with our future kids.

I can't even tell you how blessed I feel that Grant and I do not have the "keeping up with the Jones'" mentality. I just was not raised like that. And I'm pretty sure Grant wasn't raised like that too. In all honesty, I just don't like to shop. I don't care for new cars, clothes, shoes or the newest electronic gadgets. I will spend a little money on crafty things, but not much. It is just not ingrained in me to want to spend money. And this has gone way back-- I was the one who saved her $1 allowance every week-- you can just ask Rhea!!

I think this "being content with what I have" mentality was one of the greatest gifts my parents could have given me. I'm so thankful that I don't have to have stuff to make me happy. I just want food on my table, a roof over my head and a car to get to work.

And I don't want to harp on the economy, but it is tough out there. And we know first hand. Grant is in sales. And sales are down. Way down.

But from the beginning of this year our goal was to solely live off of Grant's salary. My salary was to be put into savings. And we've been doing it. We are doing it. The whole point of this "experiment" was to be able to prepare ourselves for when we have kids, so that I will be able to stay at home with them.

As much as I worry about these things, I'm learning to trust that God will take care of us. I firmly believe that staying home with my kids while they are young is what I'm called to do. It's what my heart desires to do. And I'm willing to sacrifice in order to do it.

But here's my tirade of the day: When I think of how much of a sacrifice it is for a parent to stay at home (including myself) it breaks my heart. When did America get so expensive? When did staying at home with your kids nearly become financially impossible for most parents? Why can't we go back to a simpler time? Why? Why? Why?

I know, it's pointless to wish for something that just isn't so. But seriously, why is it nearly impossible for one parent to be able to stay at home to care for and teach your kids. I believe many of problems in this world can be traced back to this issue-- families don't see each other often enough, kids are left alone during the day, parents are too tired to make a healthy dinner, kids are being taught right and wrong from others, etc.

This country's focus is breaking my heart. I don't want to be one of those parents. I want to be at home with my kids. I want to be the one that teaches them right from wrong. I want to be the one that they can talk to. I want to be the one that greets them when they come in from school. I want to be the one who makes them a healthy dinner (and breakfast and lunch). I, basically, want to be there.

So, I will sacrifice what I need to in order to do that. And I will trust that God will take care of us. And I am thankful that I don't need much to be happy in this world.

And that is my random, long tirade of the day. Back to your regularly scheduled program.