A Test of Faith

Not that I'm complaining because I am proud to say I am kind of winning at this point. We didn't really pay any tithing last year and so that was one of my personal resolutions since I'm in charge of the finances. I handed in our first tithing check after receiving our first paychecks for the year and then the next day, received two bills totaling almost $300 in medical expenses for Scott. The second tithing check I handed over about a week later, I received another medical bill totalling about $40 and finally today, I received yet another medical bill totaling...wait for it... $2.85! Wow! I know it could have been a lot worse, but geeze people! Was the paper and postage really worth it?! And yes, I did actually hand in our tithing check on Sunday. I think we're in for a long ride, but I will still continue to pay tithing (and may perhaps splurge on some NERDS or Junior Mints to help keep me sane).

This doesn't help after the long, tough weekend I battled. Thursday night, Scott had to take me to the ER because I couldn't breath very well. First time in my life that I have had a reaction to bad air. I managed to get myself to work the next day after stopping by the pharmacy to fill my prescriptions and pretty much crashed the whole weekend. I know I should be thankful for insurance, but I know that eventually I will get yet another medical bill. **Sighs** Oh well, at least I am double covered...for now.

Scott called the Union and has been informed that he is #46 (or close to it) on the out-of-work list. Down from about 48 within a week. I hate to say it, but I feel like we are going to hit even more rough times over the next few months. My faith in the commercial market picking up anytime soon is very little and I think that this is primarily due to consumer confidence. With more and more reports of companies expecting cut more jobs, builders and investors are holding tight to their money and postponing any unnecessary projects, which doesn't help Scott's industry. This may sound drastic, but I am seriously considering taking any tax refund I get and finishing up our basement and putting our house up for sale...before our credit is recked. We refinanced last year (March maybe?), so I'm not sure what our options are to try and refinance again. We're already getting a decent rate of 5.5% and I'm not sure we can do any better now that Scott is jobless.

Seriously, I just don't think work is going to pick up for Scott for quite a while. Am I panicking too much? I guess only time will tell...I feel better and think that I'll go read now.