What a year it has been so far. It didn’t really start off on a good note. Being let go after only two months on a job, spending most of 2011 without full-time employment and having one of the roughest years at school; I have to tell you I never thought I would get through it all.
Looking back over the past 17 years of my life I have had good times, really good times and some really HARD times. For John, the kids and I 2011 was the hardest by far. When doing our taxes this year I couldn’t believe the figures I was seeing. My curiosity had me digging through old tax files; pulling figures from the past 17 years. I started writing down our annual income for each year. What an eye opener this was.
In 2011 John and I made less money than we did when we first got married. I was in shock. If that doesn’t put things into perspective for a person, I don’t know what will. I started looking at the years we did well. I remember those days. Those were good vacation years full of lots of memories, years when things didn’t seem so bad. Our best year was 2006. I had been at the library a year. I loved my job and John loved his job. We went to Disney world and Daytona for two weeks that year. Life was good!
Fast forward to 2012; I am working for a family business I never ever thought in a million years I would ever agree to work for. I got through another year of school, with good grades I might add. Volunteered with Matthew Kelly Foundation, The Women’s Connection and will be doing the Butterfly Walk for Cancer Free Kids on Saturday. I received a service award from my college, passed Algebra and I am going to Ireland. I really can’t believe it myself! I am going to Ireland.
At this time last year I didn’t have enough money to even volunteer. I remember being embarrassed I had to turn people away because I didn’t have enough gas money to get back and forth. I didn’t take classes for the first time last summer because I couldn’t afford the gas. The high gas prices didn’t help either.
By no means have I suddenly come into money. Not even close. What I can tell I have come into is perspective. A lot of it! Money isn’t what gets you though the hard times (although don’t get me wrong it helps). What gets you through is LOVE, FAMILY and most of all FAITH.
John, the boys and I never lost faith in each other. We never stopped loving each other and we remained strong as a family. It was hard at times. I can remember being so low I wasn’t sure who was going to pick us up. Somehow God made sure our low days were not on the same day; and with that, John and I took turns picking each other up. But do you want to know who was the best at picking John and I up? It was our boys. I don’t know how they remained so kind and understanding through it all. I know I say it a lot, but I will say it a thousand times……………………………. God gave me the best gifts life could ever offer when he gave me my boys.
John and the boys encourage me to stay in school and are excited when I do well. I know they wish they could go to Ireland with me, but are so excited I am accomplishing my dreams. I believe it encourages them to dream too!
Don’t lose hope, stay strong in the fight, have faith God is there with you, bring love into everything you do and always, always remember “God’s plan is coming together”.
Luv, luv,
Julie
