I have the BEST friends!

As you all know, things have been crazy around here lately with the whole employment (or lack thereof) thing. I've been stressed, freaked out and downright mean at times because of it.

About two weeks ago, I put out a prayer request to my closest friends because I was feeling such despair. I knew I wasn't being very kind or patient with Frank and I felt bad about that plus we had a ton of bills that needed to be paid. So I sent out the request because my girls are awesome prayer warriors.

Not long after I sent out the e-mail, I received wonderful messages of how they were praying and offers of assistance -even if it were just to buy me the little things :). I love them all for this and so much more. I felt a bit embarrassed that they even wanted to do anything for me other than pray. After than, one dear friend came and took me out to dinner and movie. It was so nice to just get out and get away from my troubles for a little while! Then, one of my dear girls gave me some groceries. What a blessing! We dug in to them right away. Then another friend, my BG, called and invited me to go out for coffee. The local gas station around here is affiliated with the grocery store it is next too and you earn gas points every time you shop. She offered me her gas points so I could fill up my tank! THAT was a blessing.

And then, just when I felt that my girls could not possibly love me any more, they did something truly amazing. While filling up the tank, I was handed an envelope. In it was a beautiful card that said "Keep Smiling" and inside was money to pay our bills. There are no words to describe how I felt at that moment. I mean, we are all struggling right now and yet these amazing women took from their families to help mine. I'm still in shock and reeling from it. I told them all that "thank you" seemed like such a small way to express how I felt.

Bottom line is that they love me. They care about me and my family. I cannot believe my good fortune in having these people in my life. For more than 14 years I have experienced the love of wonderful friends all around me. These gals know that I love them, equally, and that I would do whatever I could to help them if the situation was reversed.

I love you, guys!!! I thank GOD for blessing me with your friendship. And to quote a recent quote that I used as my status on Facebook that very night:

"Remember, no man is a failure who has friends" - Clarence, "It's a Wonderful Life".

Slowly going insane...

So you know how a week and half ago we got snow here in North Carolina? Well, it's pretty much stayed cold and miserable since then. We've had a LOT of rain, too. Frank had a couple of jobs lined up - all outdoor jobs.

He's been home now for twelve days. Can I just tell you how CRAZY I am going?? Besides the fact that we have had WAY too much time together, financially, this is killing us. As a painter, it's not like he can just go out and find a job - he kind of has to wait for the phone to ring.

My frustration level is with the lack of motivation to TRY and find something else to do to bring in an income. I went on Craigslist today and there were several jobs offered for painters - just looking for day workers. To me, this would be perfect. Sure, the pay rate isn't as great as when he's working for himself but some income would be better than none. Apparently, I am the only one in this house that sees it this way.

I LOVE my husband. I love the fact that we have always encouraged one another to work in fields that we enjoy and are okay with not trying to keep up with the Jones's - but times like this really irritate me and I can't help it! I don't enjoy having someone sitting next to me all day long. I don't enjoy having to explain my every move every time I move. I don't enjoy watching documentaries or Turner Classic Movies all the live long day!!

I am slowly going insane...not the kind of insane where I would send inappropriate e-mails to people I am related to or photocopy someone's blog and send it out to people they are related to, just the kind of insanity where I need to be able to pay the bills. That's not too much to ask, is it?

It's Been Two Months...

Okay, so I've been unemployed now for two months. I have to admit, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Things - financially - have been okay, but now we are hitting that point where it's time to really consider what comes next.

Anyone? Anyone?

That's the thing - I have NO IDEA what to do next! We have a situation that I am sure is common to families in the same position as we are AND have kids. Michael is too young to be home alone. He is in year-round school which means he gets a three-week vacation every nine weeks. The cost of "Track-Out Camps" is astronomical! I would be working JUST to pay for the camp! That is not an option. So I would like to find something that I could do part-time or at home. I was telling this to a friend the other day and she was like "Well, what are your hobbies that you could turn in to a business?" Try this little exercise yourself and play along!

I read a lot. Not much of a call for that one.

I scrapbook. Yes, there is Creative Memories consulting but they are really expensive to start up with and everyone that I have ever known that has sold it, got out of it because there was no money it. I could try for a "Do your scrapbook for you!" type of a thing, but in this economy, are people really going to want to pay for that?

I cook. I don't measure anything and it annoys me when people are in the kitchen with me asking me questions.

NEXT!!

What to do? What to do???

I went on line the other night and looked up being a Disney travel consultant. How much of a dream would that be? Um, huge, but the point is, I would have to be a regular travel agent first and THEN apply and PAY to become a Disney travel consultant. And even then, that is no guarantee of an income. Bummer. Yet another balloon deflated.

So here I sit friends. Sure, I've gone swimming several times a week, I've hung out with friends for lunch and whatnot, but I've got about another month before things start hitting the fan.

Any creative at-home job suggestions?? Anyone? Anyone?