Enjoying the simple things

This is going to be a deep one... just a warning :-)

This morning I was cleaning my kitchen, and my two children (aged 3 and 5) were outside playing in the fresh snow with their doggy... I heard peels of laughter that I haven't heard in a long time. I looked out to see the kids laughing and the dog hurtling herself along full speed ahead, tongue out, looking as happy as I have ever seen her. I was content to have a few moments of peace from the kids and dog (knowing of course they were happy and safe) to put my kitchen back in order.

It hit me hard, the feeling of gratitude for having healthy happy children, a home to raise them in, the ability to feed them well (which was the cause of the kitchen mess) and the knowledge that we are secure enough in this lifestyle to not worry about foreclosure on our home, that we can always buy groceries. Also to be able to afford to live in a safe area, that our kids can play outside without fear( we do use common sense, our backyard is fully fenced and they were with the dog, plus I can see them and hear them) that the air is clean. To be able to e-mail my husband and say "our kids are happily playing outside with the dog, while I am cleaning up" and knowing he would smile on the other end...

All this is what is important, having a home (no matter how modest) to call your own, having a family that is taken care of, providing our children with security.

How money ties into this is that yes, it does cost money to live like this, but I didn't spend anything extra today (above utilities, mortgage, and food), I didn't have to buy them something to make them happy, they were not decked out in the latest greatest clothes, just warm ones. They were able to come in and have a cup of hot chocolate, some lunch and are now ready to watch a movie (an old VHS one at that), all of these things are just us enjoying what we already have.