It is a darling home built in 1934 and has a HUGE yard with 50 foot tall Pecan trees and plenty of spots for chickens, veggie gardens and running around. I love it. 

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately in my loneliness while Josh is gone to football camps and workouts in Agra all summer and it got me to thinking again about money, things and our purpose in life. 

What brings true joy? I mean, that is what we have all been seeking isn't it? We just want peace in our lives and joy. 

I have been reading the books "1000 gifts" and the biography of Mother Theresa lately and am really coming to the personal conclusion that joy does comes in thankfulness and helping others, loving others. I have had a lot of material possessions in my life, I've tried on the "you are what you wear and drive" hat in life and it was exhilarating for a flash and then it would always come up wanting. It never satisfied. Ever.

I was alway the one-upper among my friendships, thinking that more money and more pride would bring lasting, loyal relationships. I was looking through the world for true, lasting joy and none of the stuff that the movies, ads or marketing ploys told me would make me happy ever did, they just stole my money and left me with their empty promises! 

So we are downsizing again and I have never been more excited to get out of debt, and find joy in the "boredom" of living in a tiny town. People from larger towns keep asking me, "What are you going to DO there?" and I have been thinking about it... people need a job to do or they are bored. People were CREATED to work. I am totally bored without a purpose and I think that most of the modern teenagers are bored also because they don't have a job to do and so they get into trouble. I will keep busy working with my hands in my garden and finding ways to help people in the community, try my hand at what Mother Theresa said brought her true joy, loving people as if they were Christ Himself. It's a good thing that my husband is in a "helping" kind of job, because that will give me many opportunities to stay busy helping people and teaching my son that joy doesn't come from money or things, but in the simple experience of showing love and helping, forgiving and working for other people's betterment. Service. Service and hard work are what I'm after in this next chapter in life. I need refinement and I'm sure that this will do the trick.

I've also just started reading a book called "The Joy of Less" written by "Miss Minimalist" and it is totally opening my eyes from a secular point of view of what the Bible says about "things" and the love of money. Things don't make you happy, relationships and experiences of beauty (seeing God's creation and standing in awe and thanksgiving) are what truly make you happy. 

I am excited for this new journey to see the struggle of getting rid of my "old" self who was poisoned with materialism to the person I want so desperately to become, a helper and someone who cares about everyone. You can't take anything with you into eternity but your actions and the state of your heart. I want a good heart and lots of truly joyful experience. Joy is found in thanksgiving.

Small-ish remodel experience coming right up! 

On a business note! I am not quitting photography! I plan on ramping up my business in the Fall in the Oklahoma area and am still taking weddings wherever people will send me! So don't write me off just yet:)