Living in a Hee-Haw Song

I swear, I'm living in that Hee-Haw song:

Gloom, despair, and agony on me,
Deep dark depression, excessive misery.
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all,
Gloom, despair, and agony on me.

We sent the Honda to the shop to get a tune-up, but of course, it couldn't be that simple. Going to cost more than we thought it was. And the same day Josh's truck acts up and needs work on the rear-end.

I'm so glad it's Friday and I have a 3 day weekend without anywhere to go (except church).

Solving Worry Situations

Last night, I started re-reading the Dale Carnegie book: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. I highly recommend this book! Anyway, in it, he has a chapter on solving worrying situations. The thing is, when one is worrying, it's harder to focus on a solution.

Step 1: Ask yourself: "What is the worst that can possibly happen?"
Step 2: Prepare to accept it if you have to.
Step 3: Then calmly proceed to improve on the worst.

Okay, so what's the worst that could happen with the lawsuit? We lose and have a judgment against us and they garnish Tom's paycheck. That's pretty bad, but we could somehow survive. With Tom's hours the way they are, he could possibly take an evening job. I could take evening or weekend kids or look for an extra job if the worst happens. How can we improve on it? We can talk to the lawyers and try to work out a payment arrangement that is satisfactory to both parties.

As for what we can do RIGHT now. We've done that. We responded to the summons, now we pray and work on the next step.

Our main business is not to see what lies at dimly at a distance, but do do what lies clearly at hand-Thomas Carlyle.

Responding

We have prepared a response to the lawsuit (basically a request asking for them to provide proof of the debt, etc.). We will be mailing that out today and then we'll go from there.

I am angry and tired. I am angry at myself for living like this and I am tired of living like this. We have dug ourselves out of holes before only to end up back there in a bigger one. It's like every time I lose weight, I gain it back. Then I feel kind of stupid, why can't I learn? And I wonder what the point of even trying is. Then I realize that everyone messes up. Obviously, some of us more than others. The only real failure is to give up. So I pick myself up, keep praying about, and keep trying. Dave Ramsey says you have to get really angry before you'll get yourself out of your mess. Well I'm angry! Now it's time to get to work.

Joy in the face of Adversity

Last night in Discipleship training classes at church, we were reading about Paul when he was writing to the church at Philippi. Paul was in prison, but still managed to have joy because his heart was centered on Christ. In fact, Philippians is the site of one of my favorite Bible passages, chapter 4:11-13

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

See, that's what I want. I want to be content whatever my circumstances. I don't want to be rude and hateful to my husband because we're in a stressful situation.