We’ve all got “stuff”

As I write this I am painfully aware that I am not the only one who is dealing with issues. A dear friend of mine has had terrible issues with her disabled child and trying to get him a proper education. I have another friend who recently had an emergency C-section and came close to losing the baby, (and herself for that matter!)It frankly makes my paltry troubles seem, well, paltry.

But this is my blog, and I use it to express my feelings and a place to share. So, share I will. If you don’t want to read my whining, you can always use the little “x” in the upper right hand corner. K?

For those of you still here…(crickets chirping…)

We’ve been through a difficult period in our life. About 8 years now. Well, really since we moved to Washington. Situation after situation has caused deep hurt, family strain and financial burdens. We have been through most of it and come out the other side much stronger and “ahead of the game,” so to speak. The financial stuff is really starting to wear on me. Just when I think we are getting ahead, another thing happens, the truck needs a major repair, the washing machine starts squealing, or a bill comes that depletes the bank account.

Thus far, we have been able to stay afloat, well, at least to have our noses above water, (well, borrowed water…but I digress)--and things are starting to look up. Maybe. I’m always afraid if I say that that things will take a downward plummet and some major appliance will quit or an engine will blow out on the trucks.

Bear is now a reservist, the army doesn’t want him full time, so here we sit. That’s another story for another day!) He’s drawing unemployment, and getting some drill time. But getting in the system in order to get the pay coming in regularly is like pulling teeth, or having your appendix taken out with a butter knife.

We are at the lowest point now hopefully, and things should start to climb, but as I type this, the water is turned off and can’t be turned on until Wednesday; every hiccup in the power makes me think that the power company has finally pulled the plug and I fear my phone will be cut off next.

Bear has about 10 days of drill for which we still have not received pay. It will arrive sometime, I’m sure.

Interestingly enough, this is not what irks me about all of this. I consider the opportunity to evaluate my food storage and water storage a good test of my preparedness. (We don’t have nearly enough water storage for 8 people for one day, let alone a week.) We have been borrowing water from a neighbor with a hose for washing dishes and cooking. As far as bathing goes, well, let’s just say you may not want to visit until the water gets turned back on.

The thing that bothers me is this, why is it that so many people “play” the system?

What I mean is, why is it that others can finagle a way to “piggyback” on their spouse’s training and work out a vacay for themselves, oh, a trip to Cancun here, or a weekend in Chicago, or a 3-day trip to Hawaii? We can barely keep the utilities going!

Bear’s commander suggested that we do just that. There was an opportunity for him to take some training in Hawaii. It was a mandatory training and the next available one on the schedule was at the Army training base at Schofield Barracks. When I spoke to Bear’s commander, he said we should go together and have a little vacation. I was at first floored that he would suggest such a thing, then I explained that financially that would not be feasible.

I really shouldn’t generalize, I do have it good. I have a husband that loves me, strives hard each day to take care of us, and if he could, would give me the world. Just for some reason God has frugality and limited financial “abundance” in store for us right now.

I’m really, really NOT asking for assistance. I have accepted all I am going to accept in this situation. God will get us out of this, or give us the strength to withstand the difficulties. We are learning patience. We are learning frugality, and we are learning to be thankful for what we have.