Isaiah, Micah, Elijah... (L to R)

Playing behind the couch- with all of the open spaces where our children could choose to play, they always choose cosiest spots. I was reminded of my childhood house in Rosedale this week. The little bungalow where my brother and I grew up. By all comparisons to today's standards, it was a pretty small house. But it never felt small to us. I remember feeling like we had all of the space in the world, and when I visit that house now, it seems really small.

It makes me wonder why we seem to think that having more children means moving into bigger houses with more bedrooms, playrooms and bonus rooms. Do our children really require all of that extra space, or is it just more convenient for us- for me? And what are the implications of living in a smaller space with a family of 5? Certainly we hear and see more of each others' business. At first I thought it would deter us from entertaining, but that has not been the case at all. In fact last Sunday we had 8 adults and our 3 children here quite comfortably. We may try to get out more often to escape our four walls. I think we go to the park, library, mall, store, walks, and bike rides more often now than we had, but is that really so bad? It has just gotten me thinking that in two years when we are transitioning to a new town, home, house once again, it would be valuable to remember our happiness and contentment here in this small house with the small yard. Someone please remind me of this when my greed tempts me to want bigger and better, always bigger and better. Why the need to buy homes that are at the upper end of what we can afford? Why not buy a house whose payment is only half of what we can afford? Just imagine the good we could do with the other half of all of those house payments- not for ourselves but for others.