Since we have moved back to the States and the land of commercials, I have noticed that my precious little Syd's wanter has been stuck in the on position.  Of course Steven is no better I told him about a hand held leaf blower that is also a vacuum.  He said we need the vacuum attachment for the riding mower.  It broke my heart to tell him we didn't have a riding mower.  Chase has every gaming system out there not to mention a cell phone and anything else a 13 year old boy could want.  Okay I know what you are thinking what about me.  Well of course I am the perfect one in this family and only get what is needed.  What do I need you ask?  EVERYTHING!!!! And because of this need for every new thing that comes on the market I decided to go back to work.  I got my real estate license and set out to make beaucoup bucks. 

I put my baby in day care.  Paid my son to watch her when I had to work in the evenings and on weekends.  I was tired and cranky and unplugged from my family.  Syd was learning all kinds of wonderful new things at the day care.  And Chase was being a surrogate parent because mom was too busy with work.  So for all of this how much money was I bringing home...Zip, zilch, nuttin.

Well I am that girl that a gentle nudge from God just doesn't seem to work so he pulled out the big guns.  Every sermon at church, every whine from my daughter, and every sad look from my son was telling me I needed to be at home.  I ignored it.  Thank God for that one friend that will tell you like it is.  I called her and was telling her the whole awful story when she said Melissa have you prayed about it.  Well know I already know that God's will for me is to stay home and raise my children.  To wich she replied if you know you are outside of God's will why are you still there.  I love her for just telling me like it is.  So I have returned home to be a wife and mother.  The only problem is we still want every new thing.

This is where our little social experiment comes in.  Steven and I have decided that for the next 6 months we will only spend money on necessities.  We all define our own necessities so please no snide remarks.  We will not be eating out,  since we couldn't cancel our cable or cell phones ( under 2 year contracts) we have set them to the cheapest plans, no more just running to the store for a candy bar, pop, movie, ect.  TV is set to 1 hour a week each, Chase and Steven will take their lunches, np more shopping for entertainment and the biggey.....cigarettes are not a necessity.  We hope that this experiment will show us how much God truly does provide for us, bring our family closer together, and bring us closer to God.  I can't wait to see how this all plays out.