Even Puppies Need a Pat

[Hope4us]

Pup, Haven't had a chance to post, but wanted to say THANK YOU for all your support, both for me and everyone here.

I know there are times you've been frustrated with me and my somewhat less than firm stands (except way back in Feb/Mar), but we each have to live out our sitch's our own way.

I understand completely when you talk about the financial situation sucking. IF my W and I end up splitting, my standard of living will go WAY down. But ya know what? I grew up having nothing and early in our marriage we had nothing and those were the happiest times of my life. Early in our marriage, W and I took a trip to the Smoky Mtn's camping on $40. Yep, three nights camping on $40. And we had a BLAST. Cooked all our meals on a Coleman stove. Sat around the campfire drinking some beer we brought with us, marveling at the stars and talking about our future.

I think back to when I was young and the thing I remember most about Christmas/Thanksgiving was that my dad would take my brothers and me hunting in the morning, we'd return around lunch and mom would have cooked a big meal and we'd sit down as a FAMILY and eat, laugh and LOVE. I can remember only one Christmas present I got when I was young and that was because it was the best present EVER. A rubber ball. Yep, that's it. We were so poor that that was the only present I got that year. But I spent countless hours throwing that ball off the garage wall, pretending I was going to be a MLB player. And life was GOOD.

I think about those times and those early in our marriage and I/we were HAPPY.

You will be too. Money isn't what makes us happy. It's family and friends and all the little things that don't cost a dime to do. Like spending a day just talking with your kids. Watching a movie together. Camping in a National Park for $7 a night while sitting by the fire KNOWING that life is good.

Honestly, some times I almost think I'd rather have it that way then to have a nice big house and all the CRAP that goes with it.

Thank you for being a friend. To me and everyone else here you help every day.

I know you've told me you pray a lot. Do you think when you get to talk to St Pete he's going to ask you how much money you made in your life? Nope, don't see that happening. I think we'll all get asked the question, "Were you loved and did YOU love"?

If you can answer those two questions with a YES, then that's all that really matters isn't it? And I think I can say for you, that yes, you are loved (everyone here loves you as well as your kids love you) and have loved (just the support you give everyone here is evidence of that).

I'd tell you to stay strong, but I know you will.

Take care.