[crochet2]

Joesbaby:

I know exactly where you are coming from, and I have no husband and/or kids to take care of. When I first moved back here from another part of the state, I was devastated. I wasn't moving for a better job, but because my sister told me that with her new baby (6 months old at the time), a full time job and a mother who wanted at least as much attention as the baby (actually she wanted my sister to move in with her again), that life was just getting to much to handle.

I had a pretty good job with the county at the time, but had no "savings". What I moved into was a nightmare. I moved into my mother's apartment as my sister moved her the day before to an "assisted living" facility. Really it was a big house that a woman who used to live down the street from us opened to accommodate her mentally challenged daughter and several other people she knew in the community who could not live alone anymore. She did have all the proper credentials, and a nurse on duty 24 hours a day to dispense medicine and my mother trusted her. So I got her apartment.

The apartment was a chopped up old home the Germans built when they settled this part of New Jersey. It was backwards. The front door opened into the only room that was appropriate to be a bedroom. The back door opened into the kitchen. Then there was strangely situated living room.

I signed up with a "temp" agency immediately and they put me to work at slightly less than minimum wage. The woman who was renting to my mother, refused to rent to me, because she didn't think I could pay the rent ($350.00 per month for what I just described to you). So we went to another apt. owner in town and for the same money, I got 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room and a dining room.

Anyway, I ended up with $13.00 per week after I put money in the checking account for the rent and utilities and money aside for the bus to work. That $13.00 had to buy my food, my cleaning supplies, my medicines, my clothes, etc. Talk about laying awake at night, so afraid that anything at all would happen, some unexpected expense that would throw everything off.

I did whatever I could - but in this area of New Jersey crafts aren't as big as they are up North, so I wasn't selling anything I was making. I crochet, and have created my own Raggedy Ann and Andy patterns. I used to sell sets of these by the multiples every weeked, if I had them, but not down here.

So I babysat, and people fed me. I had a lot of things, including a sewing machine, and I do sew. I did repairs, for a few coins here and there. And with those coins, I bought a Sunday paper every week for the coupons. And they helped.

As time went on, I got the job I have today with a law firm. It paid better and pays better every year. I am still so appreciative for the fact that he gave me the job. I won't leave on my own, no matter what perks they would offer.

I won't every forget those days, and if I were to find myself in that position again, I know I could survive.

So just hang in there, one day, one day things will be a little less stressful. It comes on very slowly. But one night you are so tired of worrying about everything, and you sleep through the night.
And it happens more than one night in a row. That's when you start to know it is a little less bad than yesterday.

I judge may financial status by my ability to buy asparagus. It is so silly, but I dearly love asparagus. At one time, I could only afford asparagus soup in the can, (and you know there is only a taste of asparagus there), probably on sale. Then I could only afford asparagus in the can. Then I could only afford asparagus when it was in the damaged section of the produce dept. Then I could only afford asparagus when it was on sale. Now I can choose to not buy asparagus, because I think it is too expensive.

I now own my own home, I don't rent. My mortgage is less than my rent ever was. I literally pay $213.12 per month. Mind you my house is small, much smaller than that 3 bedroom apt. But I own it, and I own the lot it is on. It is a house, not a trailer. It is in a decent part of town, right near the police station, town hall, etc. I have nice neighbors, who work a lot too.

But please believe me, faith in what God will do for you, if you ask, and believe, will help you to start sleeping those two nights in a row. But I also don't pray just for me, I pray for those who are more in need than I. And I have gotten a return on praying for others my 10-fold and more.

On to another subject. I have been having left overs all week - either stuffing at work or pork roast from Sunday's dinner. I took the pork, and shredded it, I make a mixture of bottles bbq sauce (free earlier this year from coupons from Carol Ann), and apple butter (free from my sister). I added some of the pork and ate it with some really cheap left-over rolls from Thanksgiving. It was really good - and not that sweet.

Later in the week I had some left over rice. I cooked some veggies from Hanover. It was called Latino mix. It is corn, black beans, onions, green and red peppers. Then I mixed them with some more of the shredded pork. Absolutely wonderful.

I will be off to the market tomorrow in search of some rotissierie chicken that wasn't sold today. They sell the left over ones for $1.99 (whole, cooked roasters). I feel some chicken and rice, maybe with a can of black beans and a little cumin and cinnamon mixed in. Sounds like lunch at work next week.

And I found a recipe for Zucchini Cheese Bread that I want to try this weekend. Also I will start baking cookies to be given away to those who are kind to me all year.

Well, I better go for this evening. Take care all!!!

Norma