I have a dream...

 

I don't know about you, but I am definitely a dreamer. I love dreaming about the future- kids, our own house, a new car, traveling to new places, a puppy, etc.

 

Then, reality sets in. Bills come in, cars breakdown, and the school loan is still there. Bummer. Guess the dreams have to go to the back burner...NOT TRUE! You know what the great thing is about a dream? Reality can't squash it! I can still keep dreaming. I have to work on the contentment part when the dream can't come true right away, but I can still dream.

 

As Christmas nears, I become more of a dreamer. Dreaming about the day when we will have our own home with little ones running around the house with shrieks of joy as Christmas approaches! Ahhh, can't wait!

 

I have had this idea for a while and due to a lovely winter cold, I have had a few days off from work to do things for FUN (that never happens!) So, I finally did it. I made a dream board. As a frugal wife and career woman with hopes to be a stay at home mom one day, some of these dreams may be a little far fetched (like the 4 story house with a boat) but I can dream, can't I??

 

It gets hard living on a budget. It gets hard being patient for things you have been working so hard for. It gets hard working day in and day out only to see the check get whisked away to Sallie Mae. This little board makes all of that a little easier!

 My dream of being a mommy some day!! Look at all of those sweet babies!!

 

 

My dream of my own home some day! HAS to have a front porch!

 

 

 

My dream of traveling!! Australia, Hawaii, and Alaska are on the must-see list right now!!

 

 

 

So there you have it- my dream board. I love looking at this as I sit and coupon knowing that someday all of this frugal living will be worth it!

 

Okay, maybe not the boat...and horse...and barn...but I am going to dream it anyway!

 

 

The Genius of Generosity

 

"When people are generous, it produces emotional happiness. That's why people (unless they are stressed) are in a much better mood during Christmas. They are focused on giving to others."- Chip Ingram "The Genius of Generosity."

I absolutely LOVE Christmas! Growing up as a little girl, Christmas was a very important holiday in our home; it still is today. In my home, Christmas was about giving, not getting. We spent many a Christmas making cookies for neighbors, having gift exchanges with friends, and making gifts for Grandma and Grandpa! My parents made sure we knew that the true spirit of Christmas was the spirit of giving. That's the reason we celebrate Christmas, right? Because Jesus came and gave His life for us!

However, the little seeds of greed and materialism always seem to creep in. While shopping for someone else, I will see something that I want and think, "Boy, I hope someone gets that for me." Or worse yet, I will think, "I'll get so and so something that's a little less expensive so I can get that for myself." I am sure I am the only one that has ever thought that!!

 

 

Though those thoughts will creep in, I do enjoy giving gifts...a lot! There is this sense of joy that comes over you when you see someone open something from you and they get super excited! Makes me want to do it over and over again!

 

As one of six kids, we usually got a few presents from our parents and each of us kids would get each other a gift. We always loved shopping for one another...the Dollar Store loved it too! Like I said, my parents instilled in us the importance of giving to others, even to our siblings!

 

 

I am sure many of you have a picture like this- Christmas threw up!!! Wrapping paper everywhere, twist ties from the new toys removed from boxes, candy wrappers, and plastic wrap from that new DVD strewn throughout the living room! That's a lot of generosity!

Looking back at these photos brings back such wonderful memories- the tears, the clapping, the shrieks of joy, the gasps, and the "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you" as presents of hoped for things are opened! Makes me want to give and give and GIVE!

As we go into this holiday season, remember that true joy comes from the act of giving...not getting! The budget may be tight, the gifts may be small, but your heart of generosity can be as big as you make it! True happiness is not found in being a greedy getter; it is found in being a generous giver!