Where Are the Unicorns?

A while ago, this article circulated around the internet about how my and Ben's generation is unrealistic and unhappy. We believe we're special. We expect to have unicorns and rainbows in our careers the minute we graduate from college. We want a large salary, good vacation time, and professional recognition from the moment we step into our first job. We want to have all our parents have RIGHT. NOW.

The article was a great read for both me and Ben. We found that, although we didn't want to admit it, we sometimes fell into the category of those who wanted immediate career and financial satisfaction. We wanted our rainbows and unicorns from his first real job. We wanted to be able to buy a nice car, a big house, and vacation in Hawaii every year. Not really, but we definitely had greater expectations than we should have had.

Our conclusion after reading the article? Keep working hard, pay your dues, be smart, and then hope for unicorns and rainbows in 20-30 years.

Although, lately I've been aching to be a home owner. I've wanted so badly to be in an established place. I want to paint walls, build shutters and plant a garden. Ben loves his job here, and we've talked about buying, but we just don't think we can afford anything in the area. To give you an idea of how expensive real estate is here in Wilsonville, the 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,400 square foot condo near our home is for sale for $230,000. And no, it's not an anomaly.

Also, it doesn't help to live in a neighborhood with houses like this. This beautiful home is in the process of foreclosure. It's price? $850,000.

Anyway, yesterday I was feeling a little down. It was mostly just pregnancy hormones, but in my glum I sketched this picture:

 

My (feasible) current dream home

I don't think I'm asking for too much! It's just a small 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom house people! That isn't being too greedy, is it?!

The problem is, I know that I'm being greedy. I know that I am asking for too much. Because I'm not appreciating the blessings that the Lord has already given me. 

In perfect timing, yesterday a package arrived from my father with the history of my great-grandmother and her family inside.

After my pity party, I read some of it. It was the best thing I could have done for myself. As I learned of their lives of sacrifice, I realized how much I truly have. Among other trials, they lived in adobe huts, buried spouses and children, lived through the depression and WWI, and worked hard their whole lives. Did they ever see unicorns and rainbows? If you think in terms of worldly wealth, no they never did. But they were happy. They trusted in God, kept his commandments, and were blessed.

I think I've determined that it's okay to be realistic, but not at the expense of being grateful. Yes, our apartment is small, but I'm grateful that it provides us a nice, affordable, warm place to live. Yes, it is going to be a tight squeeze having another baby in here, but I'm grateful for the laundry nook where I can put a bassinet. Heck, I'm just grateful for a washer and dryer. And although we aren't seeing financial rainbows, I'm grateful we have enough to pay the bills and meet our needs.

So in answer to the question, where are the unicorns? I have to respond that they're hidden behind gratitude. And that's truly the only place that I'll ever be able to find them.