The Recession & The Reality

There's an old country song that has a line in it that goes something like this..."someone told us wall street fell, but we were so broke that we couldn't tell". Up until this week I understood this line so much. I mean, that's us! When the whole county has been facing this recession for MONTHS, my family has been blessed enough that we hadn't exprienced too many effects. We don't have money invested in the stock market, the FDIC could probably LOWER the insured limit to almost nothing and we'd still be covered, and our gas and groceries have always killed our budget. That's just life for us. We make it...we're happy...we enjoy family time together...we're fortunate enough to have good health, great families, nice home, two vehicles... We're not privileged, but we are thankful for the good things we do have. One of those things, unfortunatly, is changing. I received notice this week that my salary was being decreased dramatically as of March 1st. As of July 1st, I will be unemployed. It is not certain, yet, but it is a very VERY likely possibility. This means I loose my retirement, health care, and life insurance on the entire family PLUS loose my income. I am trying to grasp what this change will be like. Can I get another job? Will it pay enough to cover the daycare? Can I go back to school? How can I afford to? Just so much...



I have thought for years about getting a second B.S. degree in Elementary Education. This seems like the perfect opportunity to be home with Michael through the day and go back to school at night to get my degree. The only problem I have now is whether or not I can afford to do it. FAFSA (financial aid) is based on LAST YEAR'S SALARY...not the fact that I may be laid off half of this year!

Even with the odds against me, I still feel like God will provide the right path. Maybe a better job opportunity will arise, or maybe teaching is the path I was really meant to take. I'm just finding it hard to accept that whatever will happen, will happen. Just keep our family in your prayers if you don't mind and any ideas or advice is ALWAYS appreciated! I pray for our country and the shape we've let our economy get into. My situation is very minor compared to some right now. Please keep those families in your prayers as well.

Rodeo 2009

Once again, Dustin and I along with some family and friends, took Michael to the Bull Blowout Rodeo in Murray, Kentucky. It ended up being on Valentine's, so that's how we celebrated this year. Michael had so much fun. Last year we sat through quite a few of the events; this year, we stayed from about 7pm until around 12:30am! The only reason we left then was because Dustin was tired! Michael wasn't ready to go anywhere! He loved the horses, bulls, games...just everything! He rode in the first round of Mutteon Bustin' (riding sheep) and did great. He was so excited. When a second round came up, he wanted to go again! I couldn't believe it! When he got inside the chute, he started saying "No, Daddy ride". He did good the second time too although he got a little more upset that Dustini wouldn't ride with him. After the sheep, he ran around with Dustin and our friend's youngest son, Lane in the Calf Scramble. They were too funny. Lane almost caught one! Anyhow, it turned out to be a great Valentine's Day at the RODEO!!!