One of the most difficult things about our current financial situation is accepting offers of assistance from others. Don't get me wrong, we are truly appreciative of all the help and offers for help we have received, but we are used to being on the giving end, and not so used to being on the receiving end. We have always enjoyed being able to help others when we were blessed with extra income, and it is so strange to be on the other end of receiving that help from others. It is still difficult for us to accept the offers of help when so many others need it more than us. We are fortunate to be getting the help we are with Dan's college tuition, and he is getting an opportunity to do something that he has wanted to do for a long time. I feel guilty about complaining about our challenges during this time. Unlike many others that are struggling during these tough economic times, we are fortunate that I have a good position at work, and fortunate that Dan is working towards a new career.
We are filled with hope and optism. However, realizing those hopes and dreams also requires sacrifices right now for our family. Dan and I are willing to give up just about anything to ensure the security of our family, but we both struggle considerably more with our children having to give up the things they love. For the past two years, we have been able to get by with just omitting the "extra's" in our life. As of July when Dan's unemployment assistance ended, we have had to look at tightening the belt quite a bit more. We remain committed to seeing Dan finish his education, and he is doing tremendously well in school! I don't know how he manages all his roles right now - caretaker for the kids, taxi service to and from school, tutor/homework enforcer for the kids, housekeeper and chef extrodinaire- oh, and by the way - full time college student with 6 classes this semester! Makes my going to work each day seem like an all-inclusive vacation!! I have always known he was a strong man, but I am simply blown away by his dedication to our family and his education.
As we navigate this new territory, we have had to make some tough decisions. One decision recently was that we had to end Sam's piano lessons. This was a tough decision as he has taken lessons since Kindergarten, and I love to hear the house filled with music. In the end though, we just couldn't make it work. We notified the company where he takes lessons, and were shocked when they came back to us and offered to cover Sam's lessons without charge if he was willing to continue to practice and take lessons!! How amazing is that! We will continue to keep track of what we should be paying each month, and hope to return the favor for another student in the future! We are truly humbled by their generosity and kindness. I highly doubt they have any idea just how much this gift means to us. And, this experience has taught us a lesson we will never forget, as we commit ourselves to doing our best to help others, no matter what our circumstances. We have learned that even though we can't afford to give to our favorite charities right now, there are many ways we can still impact and help others, and this Holiday Season we will be doing our best to return the favor!
Here is a quick song from Sam to express our thanks to his piano teachers!!
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