him. His immediate plans are clear. He wants to find a job, preferably out doors, landscaping or construction are his first choices.

My younger son, Chris is a quiet young man. He has many computer skills and is hoping to use them in his job search. Chris already has his first interview lined up, with Office Depot!

I and greatly blessed with these two sons. I am often told so by other parents. MJ and I love them both deeply. I could not have asked that they turn out better.

Why do I feel so towards my boys? Well take their insistence on getting jobs. They have been working for a local man, helping him clean out his rental homes after the tenants leave. Now most teen guys would spend the money on dates, or other stuff. Not my boys! Instead of spending it on themselves, they took half of the money and gave it to their dad for bill paying. They know how tough things are for their dad and I and how the pennies are much fewer lately and not stretching near as far as we need them too. Then Drew took another $20 and gave it to me and said “Mom this is for you, do not spend it unless you really want to”.

 Another example of the uniqueness of my guys is this. I have a dear friend going through a rough time, and soon she will be a single mom, with 4 children. We have taken a family vote and she will be coming here to share our home! Most kids at this age would be hard pressed to willingly share their home. My boys though just want to know my friend and her precious children will be safe. According to Drew, “Mom, who is safer to stay with than you?”

There are many other things that my boys do that show me daily how blessed I am, either by Drew’s protective manner or by Christopher’s hugs.

Though they do often and sometimes very vocally, disagree with their dad, they love him and worry over him working so hard. Now that they are “grown up” they have decided that they will help, whether he wants them too or not!

Drew himself has decided to pick one bill to pay on his own, though he has not yet determined what that bill will be.

My boys have never complained that they did not have what their peers had, have never asked to shop at the mall. Last Christmas Drew got a pair of jeans from old navy and told me, ”Mom do not shop there, you could get three pairs at Wal-Mart for this price!” He discovered they did not fit and returned them, and went to Wal-Mart to get his jeans! Christopher did the same, opting to return a give to Wal-Mart for a gift card since they did not have what he wanted at the time.

Though times have been tough money wise, our boys have had much laughter. If the only thing they have lacked is stuff and money, I believe they have been blessed indeed. They have learned many valuable lessons from not having much money. They know the difference between wants and needs. They make wiser choices than many of their peers. Choosing to buy items they really want that will last. They also know how to work for their money, and have avoided the bad habits some teens develop. These habits include smoking and drinking, as well as drugs and other risky behavior.

They have also determined to use money more wisely, starting now to save for things in the future, like a car and house.