Getting Back In The Game....

Hello! I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! We had a very blessed day with our family and yet a sad day for our community. It was so hard to be joyous when you knew that two families hearts were shattered on a day when we give Thanks for our many blessings. Two young kids, ages 17 & 18 were killed in an accident in the early morning hours. My children knew them both and I knew the one family from when we used to attend the same church. Regardless, it doesn't take an "acquaintance" or a "friendship" to share in a total heart wrenching sadness for these precious children and their families and friends. It made me hold my own a little tighter and made me even more conscious of my many blessings!

I wanted to let my kids know that I was there if they needed me. Bri wanted me to attend the funerals with her. I admit, I was so touched and so thankful that she hadn't gotten too big to not want to be seen with mom and I was so thankful she still "needed" me! It wasn't something I "wanted" to do. It just isn't normal to attend funerals for kids that had so much life left to live! But I was honored to take the position alongside my beautiful daughter! As I looked around the packed rooms, I was one of the few parents who had that honor and privilege. It was horribly sad and something I hope I never have to face. My heart aches for these families.

It has been one of those weeks that you just want to go back to bed, throw the covers over your head and say "wake me up when it all ends"! We got a little bit of a shock on Monday that will be a little bit of a damper on our finances but I am believing that God will supply every need and bring us through it all once again. I realize there are others less fortunate than even what we are so I am trying to be thankful for our many blessings!

My sister's husband went into work on Tuesday to a job that he had for the past 29 years only to be summond to the office and given his "pink" slip along with a packet full of information. 29 years! It is horrible. I am thankful Jeff still has a job and it looks like I am going to start a temporary job on Monday that could turn into a long term assignment so there is another unexpected blessing!

Everywhere I turn I am hearing horror stories of everyday people just like us who are suffering horribly from this financial crisis and who have no where to turn. I am thankful that I have hope and possibilities!

I get so angry at the leaders of our Country who are taking money from "we the people" who desperately need a helping hand, and instead they give it to these company executives who have waisted and squandered millions and millions, who have so much money already that they will never have to know what it is like to worry that they might lose their home, they might not be able to provide a warm, safe home for their children, much less food to put in their bellies. They will NEVER have to live the reality of many of my fellow Americans. Yet, they are being handed millions and millions more to squander on their parties, their cars, their multi million dollar homes and their extravagant lifestyles. Where is the justice? Where is the fairness and concern for us, the ones who will repay that money back regardless of whether we have it or not, regardless of whether or not we will lose our homes or not have food for our family because we are paying the price for others.

It makes me angry at the "system". It makes me angry at what our world has become. I just pray that God will have mercy on those who have no safe, warm, dry place to lay their head, who have no food to satisfy their hunger, who have no one to give them hope, to tell them they matter. Please God have mercy on us, your children! We have failed miserably but we BELIEVE in Your love and in Your compassion and we are thankful You forgive us with no questions, no conditions nothing but UNCONDITIONAL love!

I pray each and everyone of you have a wonderful day! I will do my best to be more faithful in my updates!

Until next time,
Beth