Thoughts

There are so many things I would love to talk about but not sure how much I should.  Not just photography related and not OCF related either.  Just life in general.  So from now on I will be posting things about life in general.  I feel bad that I just post a photo every so often and don’t write much so from now on I’m going to be more involved in my blog.

If there are any topics you’d like to talk about too let me know!

Also, if any of you have photos with OCF I would love to see them and share them on my blog too.  Some people send me emails showing me the fantastic shots they’ve taken!  Put your logo on them and then send them to me!  I love it when you guys do that! Seriously, I love it!

I am extending the sale on my online book.

The discount code is: happy…..  I will leave it up until Saturday.

Can I ask a personal question??  How many people out there have no health insurance?  My husband and I haven’t had it for over a year.  We honestly have no extra money to pay for insurance right now.  With all the flu’s going around out there we know that we truly have to trust God to keep us healthy. I was just told that an elementary school that is near us has 28% of the kids out of school due to the swine flu.

My husband was laid off from his job over a year ago.  We had it good.  I never had to ‘work’.  It was just all extra money for the fun things.  Now, I have to make money just to pay our bills.  I can see the pain in my husband’s eyes because I know he feels less of a man b/c his paycheck can’t pay for our bills anymore. I love my husband so much I’m willing to do anything to help him.

Our mortgage went up over 400 a month.  Our van crapped on us and we had to buy a new van too.   My husband worked for a company for over 10 years and he had 6 weeks of vacation, full medical/dental, paid sick leave etc.  Now, we have none of that.  Sometimes it just seems like the bills never end.  So, when people tell me that they are struggling I can totally relate to them.

I hate that we have to struggle to pay bills.  I know we aren’t the only ones out there too.  I’m sure a lot of you are in the same boat.  So, I just wanted to say that I’ve cried the same tears as you have and worried about the same things too.

I’ve written this post about 3 times now and have deleted it b/c it’s so weird to be so personal with people but I sit here thinking people can totally relate to this.  People can relate to just getting by where before a few years ago it wasn’t nearly as hard.

I would love to hear your story.  You are not the only one out there.  You are not alone.  I love you and you are loved.  We will all get through this.  I get so emotional over this.  I have read and reread my post and am now teary eyed.  I hope that by sharing what we are going thru I have somehow helped someone.  To say that, you are not alone.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 11:18 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

10 Responses to “Thoughts”

Angie Kiefer September 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm

Just felt the need to come say that I am glad that you shared some of your personal life. I am so thankful that we still have our jobs, in this ecomony, I really feel lucky. I know so many are going without the things that are really important, like health insurance, because they have to provide food and shelter. Want to give {hugs} to you and I got a little teary eyed too!

Doni September 22nd, 2009 at 12:19 pm

Ali - first - beautiful shot. Second - I appreciate your openness. I have been writing a VERY open blog for many years and I love the way it allows me to connect to people. My life priorities are to love God and love people - photography is one little avenue that gives me opportunities to do that. I think taking this moment on your blog this morning to express your heart was a “love people” moment and that moves me. :)

Camille September 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm

Hang in there and do as you’re doing - Trust in God. We are a one income family but that is a choice we made 3 years ago when I decided to give up my HIGH paying job (with all the insurance under the sun, bonuses that were the size of some people’s yearly salary and tons of vacation) to become a stay-at-home-mom. It’s a choice I still don’t regret, however it hasn’t been easy. Not only did I give up my job, my husband gave up his and we moved back home to E. TX. He found a job here, but our income is now 1/5 of what it used to be. We gave up going out to eat. We gave up cell phones. We gave up cable tv. We gave up shopping. We had no insurance until this year, and it is only on him and our son. He hunts every year during deer season - that took some getting used to, but hey…FREE meat! He started a garden - FREE veggies! I learned the art of “canning” and can those veggies. I make as much as I can “from scratch” to cut down on the cost of groceries. Yes, this was a choice we made - but making the necessary changes to be able to afford to pay our bills was not fun or easy. Now, 3 years later, it is our life and I love it. I’ve learned that I can do so much with what God has given me and I am so much more “rich” than I ever was. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to talk offline. <3

Samantha September 22nd, 2009 at 1:09 pm

I also just wanted to send a hug your way! Sometimes, as scary as it feels, it’s necessary to share how you’re feeling, if for no reason other than to just alleviate tension that we let build up in ourselves. And so I’m not labeled a hypocrite :), I thought I’d share too. I’ve been without health insurance for probably 10 years - as long as I’ve been working full time. This and its consequences weighs on my mind every single day.

I’ll never forget the time that my sister took a job that she didn’t really want. She sounded so distressed about it! I said to her, “It doesn’t have to be your job forever”. Immediately she sounded lighter and thanked me for reminding her of that. :) One of my favorite artists, Mary Engelbreit, said, “If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.”

I feel and understand your frustration and worry and even though I have to remind myself of this A LOT - things will change! And in the meantime, it’s kind of nice to be able to relate to other people at this basic level. So thank you for writing about something personal and reminding us that we’re never alone! {hugs}

Jennie Slade September 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 pm

I am right there with you sister! So much for doing photography for “fun” and for extra cash. It’s a whole different thing when you do it to pay the power bill. I just keep reminding myself to be grateful for what I have: a home, food, a husband and 4 beautiful kids. I guess when I say it like that, what more could I need?

BTW : I am still crossing my fingers for the SLC workshop… keep me posted:)

Russ Climie September 23rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm

First of all thank you for your openness and I’m glad you decided not to delete the post. Don’t ever forget that your struggles today will be someone’s motivation later knowing they can get through their struggles because someone has gone before them. Keep up the great work and know that God is in control.

Tiffany Burke September 24th, 2009 at 11:07 am

You know I love you and commend you for opening up to your readers! I have a sign that hangs in my house that read “One day at a time” that’s all I can do, and somedays it’s only one hour or even minute at a time. If you ever need a shoulder….well you know the rest……..heaven knows, I’ve cried on yours!

Mands September 27th, 2009 at 6:28 pm

I totally relate too Ali, we have been through this numerous times in our marriage…the good news is that when you go through it for the third or fourth time, you look back on the previous times and realise that you made it through, that somehow you held on to yoru home, your marriage, your family and your sanity! ….but you have to have that “history” to strengthen you. The first and second times are the hardest, the third makes you wonder why it seems to always be you…by the fourth your resigned to the fact that what doesnt’ kill you makes you stronger, but also by then you have heard of others that have walked the same path, not only endured it, but come out better people in the end. More able to feel and empathise with others.
I pray you’ll get through this quickly and see some blessings on the other side.

Brenda October 15th, 2009 at 9:14 pm

Just wanted to send hugs your way Ali!!

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