Places Not Things

This past weekend my family made the 6 hour drive to the Mexican state of Oaxaca to relax and join in the festivities of Dia de los Muertos. If you're scratching your head wondering if I just typed Day of the Dead, then you'd be correct. Here in Mexico on November 1st, people set up alters decorated in bright orange and magenta marigolds, pan de muerto (yes, death bread), candles and little skeleton figurines. Along with these decorations, they display pictures of their dear ones who have passed away. 

The holiday is a day to celebrate and honor those who have died; ancestors, revolutionaries, family members and friends. They remember these lives lost whether too soon or well into old age. 

It's beautiful and has always been one of my favorite holidays here in Mexico. 

Oaxaca City is known to be one of the places where the celebrations and festivities are the largest and most intense, and this year it didn't disappoint. The streets were filled with teenagers dressed as skeletons, and girls dressed in the traditional Katrina outfits (my daughter included), colorful banners filling the skies and countless alters lining the roads. 

Being here with my little family reminded me why we do this... this traveling thing.

We do not have a lot of money, and there are times when I wish we did. 

There are times when I wish I had new jeans, or pretty couch covers; when I wish Morgan had new shoes or Isa had that cute sweater I found online.

But these are not the things my family has decided to spend its money on. As soon as James and I got full time, secure jobs, we decided our money would be spent on experiences, not things. 

We decided a weekend trip to the mountains was more important then a new kitchen appliance or new clothes.

This was an idea we embraced before having kids and it has stuck with us throughout this journey of parenthood.

The thing is, my kids love it. They don't feel like they are living without. Their smiles as we stand on the top of an ancient pyramid speak joy. 

They fully embrace this life we have made.

It is not them who struggle in their desire for "things," it is me.

I cringe even writing that sentence, because it is so hard to admit.

You see, I used to be the girl who would spend money like it was no big deal. I would buy new clothes almost every weekend, even if I didn't necessarily need them. I was selfish and unwise when it came to my spending.

And them my life changed. I married a man with an adventurous spirit and moved to a foreign country with not much in terms of resources and student loans that were beginning to pile up.

We got by with help from family and friends and I began to be transformed. I was humbled by the air mattress we slept on and the plastic crates we used for storage. 

I quickly learned as a 22 year-old newlywed that the only really secure thing I had control of in my life was my commitment and love for my husband and my relationship with God. 

Our relationship grew and our stuff became smaller. 

And life went on.

Not only did it go on, but it became fuller. We got full time jobs with health insurance, moved into a bigger place and had a baby. 

We began to travel for fun and had another baby.

Now, we live comfortably. We always have food in our refrigerator and can even afford dance and swim lessons for our oldest.

And we go places.

We do not buy things, we do things.

And my desire has become less.

I'd be lying if I said I no longer found myself wishing for things, or daydreaming about a trip to Target, but it is far less today than it was 5 years ago and even less now than it was 3 months ago.

As I enter into this season of thankfulness, I find myself overcome with gratitude for this change in my heart; for these places and not things.

For my kids who don't care about the clothes they are wearing and a husband who reminds me why it is so incredible and worth it to live simply. 

It is a constant prayer of mine that I continue to grow in gratitude for the fullness in my life and that my desire for these things continues to dwindle.