Sometimes I feel very discouraged because our dreams of having a family homestead seem too far beyond our reach. We have a lot of debt--and little savings--and it's difficult to reverse that trend with a growing family and erratic income. We are trying our best--but (and I'm sure most people can relate to this) it seems that as soon as we can save up something, a new expense confronts us. Such as now--with four children we really need a van. Our 1997 Intrepid is getting really cramped!
But although there are days when I feel that we will never save up anything, never get where we want to be, I always feel thankful for all the blessings we do have. Living here, in this small city house, might not be our ideal, but it's still a great place in many ways, and I try to remember that.
For instance, today it's raining cats and dogs, and I have nowhere to go. I feel thankful that I can stay in the house all day. If we had a homestead, there would be chores to do and I wouldn't be able to keep myself dry. Just a little thing, but still.
I'm also grateful for the conveniences that are all so close to us here. We have everything we could ever need within walking distance of our home: doctors, dentists, a library, restaurants, a produce market, a grocery store, an office supply store, a thrift store. Right across the street from us is a Walmart and a Home Depot. Although I'd prefer to see a grove of whispering birches from my bedroom window over the glaring orange sign of Home Depot, it has been very convenient for us to have all this shopping so close by, and has saved a lot of gas over the years I'm sure.
Living here, our family is close by. It's also a plus for us that the kids can easily find other children to play with when they go outside. And one block away is a large park with a big play structure.
Our house itself is comfortable. It has a garage, which has been wonderful for Chris to use as a workshop, a main floor utility room which is nice and bright for doing laundry and sewing, and a tiny back yard where the boys love to play in the sandbox Chris made them--a sandbox which he recently doubled in size. I also love our big master bedroom, and the big diningroom separate from the kitchen which provides a nice place to do our homeschool lessons.
I think it's important for us to count our blessings wherever we are, and enjoy our lives right now. We spend a lot of time dreaming about the country property we'd like in the future, about the gardens, and fruit trees, and all that; but right now we are here, and that's not all bad.
Perectly said Laura...
Posted by: PlainandJoyfulLiving | June 21, 2011 at 03:06 PM
one of the best things about the blog-world is not that we get to share the perfect moments of our lives, but the less than perfect ones, the struggles, the day to day. So many of us are alike in this respect - big dreams, big drive and big obstacles and it's a blessing to get to share this and realize we're not the only ones going through it all.
Posted by: Molly W. | June 21, 2011 at 06:02 PM
I wonder if it's a North American affliction, to always be looking beyond where we are right now to where we hope to be someday. I have to remind myself almost daily to count my blessings, when I have so many of them. I smiled at your post because just today, as I spent a day "stranded" at home (our second vehicle just gave up the ghost and hubby needed the van), I thought about how it wouldn't be so bad if I lived in town and could walk to a park or library. Instead we had a snack on a sleeping bag, and looked at the signs of summer all around us. Our children are fed and healthy, we have a roof over our heads, and live in a safe country with health care and clean water. I sometimes say to myself, "Give your head a shake!!" when I get into a funk of complaining. It's good to have dreams for the future...just a long as it's not at the cost of enjoying right now. Good for you for regaining your perspective!
Posted by: Stephanie K. | June 21, 2011 at 08:46 PM
You DO have so many wonderful things going on! And beautiful children :)
Posted by: Lindsay | June 22, 2011 at 04:09 AM
I think this is very important. In life the grass can always seem greener on the other side. Count your blessings.
There are always compromises and struggles, and blessings wherever you call home. It is good to sit reflect on these to keep in balance.
Posted by: Meg | June 22, 2011 at 07:22 AM
This is a great post- I admire your positive attitude, finding happiness and joy in life.
Practicing gratitude is something I try to be conscious of, because it would be so easy to fall down into that hole of not liking where we are. We are fortunate to have the country house/homestead we want- but I would rather it was even more remote! Also, we too have an erratic income, growing family, a hard time saving money, as there is always somewhere for it to go! Often I feel that I'd like for us to have "more" but then realize that by having less we're really living life as we want to, using our hands to live a simple life.
And you're right about being closer to places you need to go at times, because we have to travel 40 minutes to get to our health care providers, health food store, Lowes, etc. We have to plan those stops into our week, and often will go days without being able to go to them. In the end that is a blessing too, as we are then forced to make do! I guess it's all how you perceive it.
Posted by: Melanie | June 22, 2011 at 09:16 AM
....someone told me last night that I have led a "blessed life", nothing really bad supposedly has ever happened to me. Blessings are often in the eye of the beholder ( now that is original). I count reading your blog as one of the blessings of my life right now. Thanks for sharing your days with us.
Posted by: carrie Drake | June 22, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Hi, I came back because I wanted to respond to your post a while back about feeling an "imposter"- you wondered what you had to offer on your blog: what you have to offer is to show others how to live a simple self-sustaining life, while living in the city. You do not come off at all as an imposter, but rather someone who truly believes in self-sufficiency and is working toward that goal, and not letting where you live get in the way! You're showing that you can still garden and make things such as plantain salve, even with a small yard. I think it is very impressive, and very inspiring!
Someday you'll have your home in the country, and you'll be all the more prepared for homesteading because you're already doing it!
Posted by: Melanie | June 23, 2011 at 06:27 AM
I wanted to thank you for this post. We do live in the country. We have one acre. We would love to have more land in another state and be a little closer to my family. I have noticed that I have been spending more time than I would like feeling sorry for our current situation and everything that comes with it. I am so thankful for your post. You have reminded me to count my blessings. I realize that others would be thankful to have one acre. You are so right. I need to be thankful for all of my blessings and I need to enjoy my life right now. Thank you!
Posted by: Michelle | June 24, 2011 at 10:42 AM
The grass is not always greener on the other side, I've learned! I always wanted a bit of land, where I could grow lots of veggies and have a big compost heap. I wanted chickens and goats, as well as our horses. We tried the goats. They became so attached to me that they just wanted to live inside and stood outside baa-ing all day long. Drove us nuts, and our neighbors too. The previous owner had chickens, until the mountain lion came and demolished the STEEL chicken house and ate all the chickens. Now that we have that bit of land, it's very challenging to grow anything because of the heat. Compost heaps attract rodents like crazy here - pack rats, etc. So I'm still yearning, but also enjoying the now...sort of....
Posted by: woolies | June 24, 2011 at 07:29 PM
Hi..wow what a post..amazing..thanks for putting it down in black and white..i too long for a homestead(smallholding)..but i also relish the home i have now..whilst the garden is big and filled with fruit and nut trees its still a garden for my little ones to play in...we do have 2 allotments 3 miles away..and these provide us with lots of fresh veg and fruits..i have 5 hens in the backyard..6 happy healthy children,3 gorgeous grandchildren and a wonderful husband..who after being out of work for a year has just started a new job this week..i am healthy and fit..only 43 and raring to go..one day i will have a little place for my good life aspirations but for now i am happy and content...
you take care
sara
Posted by: sara | July 2, 2011 at 04:07 PM