Erin and the No Good, Very Bad May

It is what it sounds like. But we actually have to back up to the end of April.

We had a fabulous vacation to Disneyland. I went to IKEA with my parents 2 weeks after we got back. It was relaxing and blissful. Sigh.

I got home. That is when it all came down. Matt got fired. For being a nice guy. After 10 years. UGH!
I cried. I blogged. We survived....but barely. Come the following Friday, I burned my hand. Decided NOT to go to the doctor....I was having a party. Hand HURT. I went to doc at the urging of 2 friends ( you know who you are) and found out I had 2nd degree burns. OUCH. Did I mention that at this same time we were planning our oldest daughters wedding??!

Daughters wedding began coming together. On a zero budget! It can be done, people! It took a lot of people and their generous supplies/help/love. Anyways.....someone offered to pay for cake. Then, decided not to pay for cake. Okay. I can deal. Not so much, actually. I cried. EVERYTHING made me cry. I couldn't talk to anyone without crying. If anyone even asked how I was, I cried. My daughter said that every time she looked at me, I was crying.

Back to the cake: Someone else called and said not to worry, they had the cake covered. Guess what! They ended up not being able to do the cake thing either. A week and 1/2 before the wedding. Went to my moms, fought with her. Sat in my car and cried. For an hour. Talked to my friend while crying in the Starbucks parking lot. They were closed. Like I didn't have enough to deal with. (I may be off a smidge in the chain of events)Finally, the cake was taken care of. For real. And it was yummy....and ended up being a gift of love.

Found out Matt was denied unemployment because the state agreed with Wal-Mart. He was a BAD, BAD employee for helping someone on his lunch. They said his "work had fallen below the standard they expect". Cue the crying. Just when I had stopped. Eeeesh!

And before this becomes the "light at the end of the tunnel" blog, I have one more thing. The day before Hillary's wedding.....we found LICE in Harley's hair. HOORAY! I told her if she agreed to shave her head, I would shave mine. I just COULDN'T DEAL WITH ONE MORE THING! As you can see in the pictures, she opted not to go that route, much to my dismay. We washed and deloused her hair. And washed (treated) everyone else on the just in case mode. No one else had any buggies. (FYI: she is louse FREE) We stripped and bagged beds and animals. Bug sprayed brushes and combs. All the day of the wedding rehearsal. I kind of laughed, crazy like.

However, here is the light at the end of the tunnel part. Matt got a job. We had some money come in. AND! we survived. I graduated, Emily graduated and Hillary is married off. And so as I look back on my No Good, Very Bad May I realize:
Matt had all the time off he would need for that very busy month
I was able to dedicate time to my EOC so I could graduate (due to him being home and helping with girls)
We were able to spend time with our pregnant daughter and new son in law
He helped me with it all, because he was off
He put in Savannah's garden
We reconnected....had been feeling distant
We rethought our finances
Friends gave him odd jobs....brought in a little income
People prayed
I prayed
We relied (rely) on God.....it is all Him

I believe Matt will do well in his new job. He's a good man, and nice to people. We will see what God has in store. I know that he is more valuable than Wal-Mart ever recognized....and know he is too good for them. His ego took a hit, but his faith grew.


"Go, Fight, Win" words my friend says sometimes when we sign off....."I will if you will"....from a card a friend sent me (and I WOULD).....and numerous other words of encouragement came my way. I didn't always acknowledge them, but I always heard. Thanks friends, for sticking with me in my time of lunacy and crazy laughter. And incessant crying.


June is already better.....but I have a tip: Never put corn in hush puppie batter then deep fry them. The kernels become little BOMBS....ouch!

He has never left or forsaken me...I am His beloved. He knows my name.