Perspective

The last slide tray I scanned was a group of slides collected from all our slides for a presentation about family preparedness, showing the crazy things we had done.

I found these memories very timely.

Our first home was a 16 X 20 foot garage apartment, very charming, in a great location, but full of waterbugs and we started out with no stove or flushing toilet and never did get hot water or A/C (in the deep south!!!). We lived there for 2 years.

Then we moved to the apartment complex where all the LDS students lived. Fun, but also roach infested. But we had moved up - A/C and flushing toilets!!!

However, as the picture shows, we were short on space and turned our bedroom into a garage, office and bedroom - using wheat buckets! You have to be creative sometimes.

We've never been fans of paying rent nor mortguages, so we seized the opportunity to buy a trailer home - 10' X 50' plus a room add on. This had A/C, a world famous view, flushing toilets, a huge field to play in, and acres of wild dewberries across the street.

We fit us, 2 kids, and even a house guest in this tiny space. And we often had company. Where did our oldest child sleep????

Then we saw land for sale that we could buy and pay off in a few years. It was a big risk. I remember standing at the sink doing dishes and hearing, 'Let me show you a miracle.' Well, we sold the trailer, moved in with Mom and Dad, and the miracles started. It was hard work too. Sometimes we were hungry.
We managed to get the house 100% done (minus A/C) before we graduated from school and sold it.
The point is, we aren't any happier living in our big, air conditioned house now, with the jacuzi, garage door opener, double deck, and freezers full of food, than we were living in the 10X50 foot trailer. Those places we lived were all good times. We never thought of ourselves as permanently poor. (All a matter of who you compared yourself to.) We were sacrificing for a better tomorow and we had a plan.
None of our generation likes the new economic realities facing us. But we can all work hard again and enjoy the journey.

It's the change of plans that is disconcerting. But we can make new plans - and they might be even better!!!

Then I think, but we will be old, and our bodies and minds don't work well. Last night we stayed up and watched this silly western comedy about these creeky old guys that got together and did extraordinary things. We can do that too when we are old. We can use what wits we will have.
(There will definitely be miracles again.)

And what plan is derailed? Missions. What if we all don't get to go? What if we all have to work till we are 80? Well, maybe we should open our mouths right here where we are. Why do we have to go away to open them????

And, again, the economy might change again for the better. Only the Lord knows.