I can’t emphasize enough the importance of simple living to achieving many, many dreams and goals. But simple living is something we associate with the past, not the present. Ending the Day on a Good Note, original oil painting by Steve Henderson.
Sixteen years ago, my husband the Norwegian Artist and I had an improbable dream: we wanted to find a place in the country and raise our kids there.
I say improbable because 1) we had four kids and 2) we lived on one extremely moderate income. Most people we knew had half the amount of progeny and twice the number of jobs, and they were barely making it: lower middle class families with too many children need not apply for improbable dreams.
But the dream wouldn’t go away. Early in our search, we found the perfect piece of land, unfortunately beyond our economic reach. Today, however, I write you from our house — mortgage free — set on that exact piece of land. The realization of this dream achieved impels me through the next stage of my life because — you guessed it — we’ve got another wildly improbable dream in our lives, and we are approaching it with a similar mindset.
Most of us are ordinary people, and we’re not going to get rich anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn to use what we have, wisely, for a decent lifestyle. Paperback and digital at Amazon.com.
If you’re like us, and you’ve got a dream that won’t go away, maybe these five thoughts will help:
Please read the rest at Five Steps to Achieving Your Impossible Dream at my BeliefNet column, Commonsense Christianity. As regular readers know, I am able to provide only a teaser, but the full article does address five lifestyle choices you can follow as a Christian as you pursue that dream you just can’t get rid of.
Because money is such a factor in so many of our lives, this is a good time to mention my book, Live Happily on Less — it chronicles the lifestyle we pursued, and still live, as we sought to buy, build, and own our place in the country. Speaking from experience, not having a mortgage is an incredibly liberating thing.
This article is linked to Raising Homemakers, A Little R and R, Wholehearted Home, My Daily Walk in His Grace, A Wise Woman, We Are That Family, The Thrifty Home, True Aim, Ducks in a Row, Adorned from Above, Moonlight and Mason Jars, My Disorganized Life, The Life of Jennifer Dawn, Thrifty Treasures, Life with the Crust Cut Off, Hip Homeschoolers, Time Warp Wife, Titus Tuesdays, Golden Reflections, Share Your Stuff, Kathe with an E, Turn It Up Tuesdays, Serving Joyfully, Graced Simplicity, I Choose Joy, Hope in Every Season, Jenni Mullinix, Shine Blog Hop, Growing in Grace, Over 50 Feeling 40,All Things with Purpose, Mom on Demand, A Life in Balance, Living Well Spending Less, Christian Mom Blogger, Missional Woman, Simple Moments Stick, Essential Things, Christian Fellowship, Family Fun, Bacon Time, Weekend Wind Down, Freedom Friday, Dash of Diva, Flash Blog, A Look at the Book
This Woman Writes by Carolyn Henderson 
Good for you. Money is not everything. There are numerous ways to barter without a lot of money.
One of the most frequent things people do when they’re short on money is to figure out a means of making more. Obviously, when one cannot buy food and pay rent, this is an emergency situation. But we know far too many Christians — quite middle class — who just can’t figure out how to make it. These people would benefit from the concept of spending less. It seems so obvious, but actually putting it into practice is challenging, because the entire U.S. economy — its Christians included — is based upon spending.
Congratulations that is definitely something to brag about. Thanks for sharing with us at the #WWDParty. Have a wonderful weekend.
Owning your own home is a huge accomplishment. Well done.
This is such a great post! Thank you for sharing your post with The Natural Homeschool and The Life of Jennifer Dawn Linky Party. 🙂 See you next Wednesday! 🙂
Thank you. It is my hope that, as our economy continues to falter through the unwise decisions of the people we have elected to represent us, that people will take as much of their own lives in their hands as they can, and step by step work toward independence, as opposed to continuing to believe in something like the American Dream. (Aren’t dreams something we experience when we are asleep?)
But alas — most people, I fear, will continue to think that “things will be as they used to be,” and will remain focusing on seeking “the good life” — trying to imitate the lifestyle of the wealthy and looking at this for their goal. There is a great security in owning one’s own home, but the pull for it isn’t strong enough for most people, many of whom have the ability to work toward the goal, if they would only make it a goal.
Congratulations! Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesday’s Adorned From Above Link Party.
Have a great week.
Debi @ Adorned From Above