The Farm Wife Sagas

When I was younger, being rich meant having more than $100. I mean, the amount of things $100 could buy back in the early 2000s! It felt like a fortune.

As I got older and started thinking about a career, I first landed on becoming a veterinarian—partly because I loved animals, and partly because I thought they made good money (you know, maybe after all the student loans). But somewhere along the way, I realized biology wasn’t my thing… and more importantly, I wanted to do something I enjoyed every single day.

That’s when I found recreational therapy and senior citizens—my “extra grandparents,” as I lovingly called them. I loved every minute of it. Did it make me rich financially? Not really. But I was oh so happy.

Then came my favorite job of all: Mama. Becoming VJ’s mama changed everything. That’s when it hit me—being rich isn’t about a dollar amount. It’s not your paycheck or what’s in your bank account.

Rich, to me now, is seeing life through a little girl’s eyes. It’s dance parties in the living room, cuddles on the couch, holding her daddy’s hand on the porch, and making memories that don’t cost a thing.

Do we worry about bills? Of course we do. But I also know that somehow, it always works out. And she only gets one childhood. I’m not going to miss it chasing someone else’s version of “success.”

It’s true what they say: money doesn’t buy happiness. Because it can’t.

Happiness is handmade—and until you realize that, you haven’t truly felt rich