Earlier this week a Mom expecting her second child ordered beehive cupcakes for her gender reveal party. Yes, just like the ones I pictured in my own gender reveal. I told her that her timing was uncanny, that I had planned the exact same thing, with the “What will it bee?” theme, except I wasn’t having a party, and was revealing through my blog. It was so neat to have the extra motivation to perfect the honey cake recipe I’ll be submitting to the fair this year!
She wanted the cupcakes delivered and told me their property was gated, so I was semi-prepared when I pulled up to it. It turns out the property was so expansive, you couldn’t even see the home from the gate! I called her to be let in and the gates slowly opened for me.
As I followed the path she indicted, turning left at a lake, I was in awe and a little bit of shock. There are people this rich in my area?
She was very nice, gave me a tip on top of the extra she paid for delivery, and we chatted for a bit. She told me they planned to eventually build their “real” home behind the one they were currently living in. The one they were living in had to be the size of at least ten of mine.
After dropping the cupcakes off, I thought about her baby on the way, and how much easier it was for her than me to be having a child. Lots of space, money to buy whatever they might need, and more. I thought about how Jessie would love running around so much acreage. And how we could never give either of our children (yes, Jessie’s the older sister-lol) what that family could give theirs.
Feeling some envy was pretty tempting, but this quote came to mind: “We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” ~ Charles Kingsley.
I have so much to be enthusiastic about, praise God. I have everything I need, and a lot of things I want. I have a gift (baking) that hopefully will allow me to work from home once the baby comes since my job is going away, and it is pretty neat to be able to make money doing something you truly enjoy. Best of all, God has given me the ultimate desire of my heart, a child. I’m growing a baby, people. Incredible.
I don’t have a lot, but I have more than enough. I’m sure people in needier countries would marvel at my small home, income, full shoe rack, and clean water the same way I marveled at the expansive estate I visited. Once the baby comes there will be many trials and hardships, but I trust that God will provide and I know we’ll always have enough. We may not be wealthy, but we can give Joshua the most important things, namely love, and in abundance.
Life is good, and I am happy. Forget envy, I have too much to be enthusiastic about. :)
Veronica's Cornucopia 
You do indeed have much to be enthusiastic about! A baking business is perfect for you and I wish you much success with it.
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Thanks Tami! It’s my only plan right now so I sure hope it works out.
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Beautiful post – I have been dipping in and out reading your blog over the last few weeks following your lovely journey, but this was so kind worded and thought-provoking!
You will be fabulous, xx
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Thank you Holly. I’m nervous but I’m sure God will see me through my incompetence. And I guess I survived my parents’ incompetence and I couldn’t possibly be any worse than them. I think? lol
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I love your perspective! Praise God…the little things in life really are the big things. And we all know money DOES NOT buy happiness. Great post – thanks for making me smile again today. XO
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That’s true, but it does buy cupcakes. And that’s at least some happiness-haha!
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Amen sister. And just so you know, the grass isn’t always greener – I have friends that live in big houses and they aren’t the least bit happy – but they keep filling it with stuff anyway.
We are both rich – husbands who love us and we have what we need. We are lucky!
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That’s true. I imagine people with money have just as much stress as those without…maybe more! And I agree – we ARE so richly blessed.
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By putting your world in perspective you helped put mine in also. A bit of envy does make one take a better look at what they have. Thanks
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It sure can! And a bit of envy isn’t all bad, it can inspire you to work harder to achieve things.
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Your post made me smile. =) You have a great perspective!
Children remember happiness and joy…”not” what they “didnt have”…
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I agree. We didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up but I never felt “poor.” I had more than enough of what counted. :)
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I really needed this post today- thanks for sharing it! I think so often, we become consumed by what everyone else has or does, we forget to count our own blessings. Loved the honey bee cupcakes!
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What a beautiful, profound life-lesson for us all, Veronica! Thank you for sharing your heart! ~SueLily/Marysue
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Absolutely try and so well put. Thanks for the reality check :)
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Fancy cars and golf club memberships do not happiness make! We all have so much to be grateful for, if we just take the time to sit down and think about it for a moment. Thanks for the humbling reminder. :) :)
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what a lovely post…so true!
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Veronica, thanks for including that Charles Kingsley quote. Great perspectives, great attitude. We have a plaque on our bookshelf that says: “He who is contented is rich.”
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I like that. We are so very rich. :)
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Well, personally I don’t think anyone should have that much space no matter how much money they have because they can’t possibly use it. But that’s probably the envy in me talking. Time to shake it off and move on!
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They are going to use it…by building an even bigger house! Maybe they’ll turn the old mansion into slave quarters. ;)
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You always make me check myself and put things in perspective.
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Aww I loved this post so much. I always find myself being envious of the “more” or the “better” that someone else has. But then I try to remind myself that I have it pretty good, and that there’s always going to be someone richer/better/prettier/skinnier/luckier than myself who I’ll compare myself to, AND someone less well-off than myself who wishes they could have my blessings. And you know what? Even the richest people probably have someone who they look at with envy. It’s just part of human nature I feel. You ARE so blessed and I’m happy you know it!!! Your baby is gonna know the greatest kind of love :)
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