We lived comfortably enough to pay our utilities on time, but we certainly did not have spare thousands resting in checking accounts.

Buying that instrument was impossible on a whim, yet we recognized the deep spark of devotion in our son’s eyes.

Owen and I made a quiet agreement during an evening walk to sacrifice whatever was necessary to purchase it.

For eleven long months, we systematically tucked away fifty dollars from every single paycheck into a secret fund.

I volunteered to work four extra hours every Saturday morning whenever the dental practice had a backlog of patient cleanings.

Owen signed up for emergency storm duty, spending freezing nights clearing fallen tree limbs off live power lines.