Wow, my family just can't seem to make ends meet (an understatement.)  I am a trained graphic artist.  I lost my great paying job as a graphic artist about 5 years ago.  The short of it is that the bottom dropped out of the industry for designers.  Outsourcing and underpaying foreign artists coupled with all the new design tools for non-designers made my job and many other's either obsolete or with a payscale just above fast food.  I have continued to work doing various jobs; Landscape laborer, construction, house cleaning, window  cleaning, espresso cafe....you name it, I have either done it or applied for it. 

My wife works full time, she is a social worker and is excellent at her job.  We have 2 young boys, amazing but busy.  With all of my "odd" jobs ending in a dead end, I started to rethink my life.  I am nearly 40 years old and I decided to back to college to well, better my self and finally get my education so I can provide for my family.  Not only am I a college student but I am also now a stay-at-home dad, rewarding but very difficult.  Moms, you are my heros.  I tell my wife that every day.

I have always loved helping people and I have a natural ability to counsel.  I am studying to become a marriage and family counselor.  I have a long way to go but my wife is very supportive and is excited for our future.  I do work two days a week for a cleaning service (it's all i could find at the moment) as my boys stay with a family member.  It is just not enough, even with my wife working full time.  We have cut our budget down as far as we can.  No TV, no magazines, we keep our house just above freezing, we take sea showers (turn water on, turn water off, soap up, turn water on, turn water off), we shop at a discount grocery store, we meal plan, no new clothes, we have one car, no frills at all.  I do have an internet connection but I do my school online so I can be with my boys and I save gallons of gas as my college is a bit of a drive.

As I mentioned before, I love helping people.  If you also have a servant heart or know someone who does, you know how hard it is to ask for help.  Well here it goes.....Help, please.  Ok I said it.  Sometimes making the right decision comes at a cost but I am not waivering in my goal to make it through this tough season for the joy of providing for my family again.  I am all about people helping people and as hard as it is for me, it's about time I walk to the receiving end.  There are so many needs here, there are needs everywhere, huge gaping needs.  I am so blessed and feel that my asking is trivial compared to the sick and suffering but I need groceries for my wife and boys.  I need to pay my mortgage (1000 sf home $950 mo.)  I need to heat my home.  I need to buy gas to get my wife and myself to work.  I need to keep paying for school.  I need to keep the lights on and the phone connected.  I need not to get further in debt.  I need the collection companies to stop calling.  I need help.  Help.

If you can pray for my family and situation, I would be blessed.  I love my wife and boys very much and I am working my tail off to try and make things better.