In 2001, I essentially had a nervous breakdown when my husband lost his job. Some tough times in the mid 1980's made me tremendously paranoid about being poor again. The major depression caused me to quit doing my job, and I was fired.

After that, I was too ashamed and too messed up mentally to look for full time work for about four years. My husband got a job, and I found some part time work, but we were living below the poverty level.

I wrote this essay near the end of that time:

http://www.epinions.com/content_4408975492

In late 2005, I got myself together and got a full time job in my profession. When threatened with a layoff about 10 months later, I managed to avoid losing my sanity, and found another better paying job.

I'm still digging myself out of the financial mess I created for myself. And, my husband is looking at another layoff in a couple of weeks, which has me in a major tizzy. Life never stops dealing the lumps.

If you're posting in this forum, life is probably dealing you one of those lumps. And, you may be making some grilled spaghetti of you own. But, keep babystepping. Life does get better.

Amy

Sounds like you've created a positive outlook for yourself...way to go! Here's praying you will continue to rise above the low tides.

I am so glad to read that you are in a better place than you were earlier. Hopefully dh will find another job soon after the layoff occurs.

Hang in there -- in the meantime I'll be praying for you and your hubby.

Congratulations on picking yourself up and going on after every lump in the road of life as some people never recover!!! :grwave:
I am sending up a prayer for you and hubby.

"A calm sea does not produce a skilled
sailor. We cannot direct the wind, but
we can adjust the sails. Anyone can
hold the helm when the sea is calm."
Tom Culve

It's the lumps in life that show how strong you are.

I love that quote, Pammy :)

"A calm sea does not produce a skilled
sailor. We cannot direct the wind, but
we can adjust the sails. Anyone can
hold the helm when the sea is calm."
Tom Culve

It's the lumps in life that show how strong you are.

I really like that.

Amy you are stronger than you hang in there you survived before you will again

Thank you for sharing your story Amy. You will have lots of valuable insight for all of us. I am glad you joined!

I love the humor that you put into the recipe. I always fall back on humor. I find it can help you through the worst of the worst.

Amy, thank you so much for sharing your story. You have given me lots of encouragement as well. I will pray that your dh does not become layed off and if he does, that you will come out of it strong and happy. God bless! Carolyn :rose:

Amy,
Your piece made me chuckle because I have been there (sadly) on more than one occasion as well! Being bipolar and having been through a divorce (after 13 yrs together), diagnosed with two disabling diseases and becoming unable to work, my dh (db at the time) fired, and of course 3 children in this mix, I have been blessed with 3 emotional breaks (so I have learned they like to call them now...lol) My last was just a few months ago when we decided we needed to file bankruptcy, my mother (2000 miles away) had a major heart attack and 3 surgeries with near kidney failure, and my grandmother (whom she cares for) had a TIA and had to go in a nursing home.

So, you are very right...over the course of 10 years, the lumps and bumps and bangs and whops keep coming and we have to keep bouncing back! Thank God for the support here!

(Sorry for the rant, your story really hit me)

I have a similar version of the quote Pammy posted that I got out of a book written by Robert Schueller many years ago....see my sigg (now I'll have to see which is accurate)

:chef:

I enjoyed that - thanks :)

I enjoyed your recipe too. Having a DH in the construction industry, we have been through many layoffs, some temporary, some permanent.

I can chuckle at your recipe, becuase I have been there too! Coleman stove on the counter in the kitchen...cooking odd things on the grill to get dinner done!

I always try to remember that as with anything, life fluctuates. You have your good and you'll have your bad. The memories of the good hopefully, will get you through the bad times! And a dose of humor, which you seem to have covered!

Amy, I enjoyed your humorour recipe. You have a great outlook on difficulites. You have proven to yourself you are strong and will survive the bumps along the way. Thanks for sharing, you really inspired me.