Decisions, decisions...

Sometimes living the homesteading life is no fun. Sometimes we have to make tough decisions. But we are always counting our blessings.

Last week our family was offered a free above ground pool with all the trimmings. This sounded like a dream to the kids. Who wouldn't to spend the summers of their youth around a pool? I spent all of my vacations as a kid and teen at the pool, whether in my neighborhood or at my grandparents and I can verify that it definitely made my summers sweet. Collapsing at the end of the day, shoulders and nose pink from the sun and body drained of all energy. It was lovely. The idea of having the same for my children always motivates me so I said yes, we will take the pool.

The a bit delayed as usual reality sets in. Keeping a pool is an expense we are not prepared to undertake. Chemicals to buy and hours to spend over our new free time activity overwhelm me with our already gigantic list. I begin to weigh the convenience and luxury of having a pool over the alternative, starting to build a barn and keep animals.

With such unimaginable destruction in the country due to both flood and drought, lives and dreams are being uprooted. It seems silly for me to be fretting over whether or not to get a pool when so many are going without basic needs. Food prices and gas prices rising compromise my daily decisions. Not in a worry sense but more of just being aware. Aware of the possibility and responsibility I have to do serve the best of my ability to those around me. I have six acres and instead of my gut chanting "pool," it is saying "provide." Plants, seeds, animals,... Whatever I can do, I will do. Save more seeds. Scavenge for supplies to build a barn. Barter for quality animals. Spend my summer and fall, winter and spring with my family on my mind instead of my body relaxing in a pool.

Living a homesteading way of life is sometimes an escape and sometimes a healthy dose of reality. I have given up plenty in my mind to live here like convenience, concrete and city water. Fun stuff often ends up on the bottom of our list with other "more important" chores. In the end, I know the pool was a distraction, and a valid one. However, in this case the right thing and the hardest thing are the same. So even though it kills me to say this, we will be forgoing a free pool at this time and instead choosing more work. I know it sounds contrary to everything our culture and generation believe but I still have a smile across my face. I am making a good choice.

Yes, we are always adding to our work, but it also adds to our blessings. Rummaging through old pictures of our life here so far remind me of all the great things the country life has to offer...

Like my kids growing up with chickens and unlimited fresh eggs...

Boys covered head to toe in mud...

The family gathered in the garden during harvest...

Hosting all kinds of parties with plenty of parking...

Campfires, hot dogs, s'mores, music and wine...

Baby animals, so cute!

Having the resources to plant, harvest and can a garden this size...

And of course views like these...

Rather than dwell on what you want and what you are going through, take a moment in your life today to be thankful for all you have and what you have gotten through. I guarantee that list is going to be pretty uplifting and we could all use a few more reasons to smile today!