Sometimes the picture in my head is so clear, I can actually see it.  A wrap around porch where Mark and I can sit in our rocking chairs, sipping coffee and talking about our day.  Four bedrooms – not huge – but big enough for five growing kids.  Land…one, two, maybe three acres…plenty of room for a big garden and for my kids to run and play.  We’ll set down roots, see our children into adulthood, and stay in one spot until we’re old and gray.     

All summer long, I tried to convince God that the time for this move to our “forever house” was now.  I started nitpicking the details of my current home, avoiding new projects (because, you know…resale value), and truly believing that all of our problems would be solved if I could just get us into this new home. 

And all summer long, God replied with a big “Not Yet”.  

This experience has laser-pointed an area in my life that I guess I haven’t wanted to see: I struggle with contentment.  I used to believe that contentment simply meant not comparing myself to others, but I’m realizing that there may be so much more.  Maybe this is the piece of the puzzle that explains why I keep stumbling with the concept of thriving?  

For the next 31 days, I will be digging deeper into the idea of contentment.  What does it mean?  Is it something that you can really achieve?  What role does contentment play in having a thriving life?   

Here’s what to expect the next 31 days:
+ I’ll be exploring eight different “steps” to greater contentment and wrestling with what that looks like in my life.      
+ I’ll be actively completing and sharing home projects in an attempt to embrace the home I’m in.
+ I’ve got two awesome giveaways in the works!!
+ My weekly Around Here posts will continue to be in Friday’s slot.

I hope you’ll join me all throughout October as I dive into the idea of contentment and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas too.  Here we go!