Thoughts on becoming a STATISTIC

Well, it's been three weeks since we found out John's company is letting him go in November (as well as two others). Turns out the company has been affected by the recession more than was thought at first. The first week, we were so shell-shocked, we just sort of sat around for a couple of days and let ourselves feel numb. Well, at least I did. John, however, got cracking around Day Two by tweaking his resume and making phone calls regarding our new tight budget.

We couldn't even really tell family for a while--it seems like every person you tell makes it more real, you know?

I don't think I've ever had so many questions about the future:

* What will we do about insurance?

* Will we need to get on unemployment for a while?

* Will we both need to work 1,000 jobs to make ends meet?

* Why did this have to happen before Christmas, of all things?

* Where will we be living 6 months from now? Will I like living there though I'm once again, far from kith and kin (aka: my mommy and daddy)?

* Will this help me truly realize how dependent I am on God, that I am nothing, and have nothing, without Him?

I guess the last question is really and truly the only one that matters in His book. In the last three weeks, I've heard some awesome, encouraging sermons, heard about others' plights that are FAR worse than our own, read Scriptures that just really seem to hit on what we're going through, and best of all, have not had the DEEP DARK depression that has so often plagued my existence. In the face of a stressor such job loss, that, my dear ones, is a miracle from above.

I don't know the future, but I know we are in his Almighty, capable, providing hands. And there's no place else I'd rather be.

Tribute to Nancy A.

I lost a dear friend and family member last week. A wife, mother, grandmother, friend and so much more, Nancy A. was such a precious woman. She was the epitome of a Proverbs 31 woman, and was someone who represented the Light of the world. She was gracious, humble, kind, giving and the most loving person you will ever meet.

These words are a comfort to me, found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

I loved you, Nancy, and I will miss you dearly. I look forward to seeing you on the Resurrection day. I commit to being a prayer warrior for your husband, parents, children and grandchildren until the day He comes.

Tricia W.