Holding on...by a thread!

I'd be lying if I said things were not stressful here. They are beyond stressful. I can't even put it into words!

Tim and I had a lengthy chat today about how we planned to handle everything. While it's not an easy feat, I think we handled it the best we could. We didn't disagree over anything and actually were on the same page as far as everything we covered.

I know that there is a plan for us. What it is, I am not sure. And right now, it really doesn't seem like a plan I want to follow. However, I know that everything will be okay. We will remain strong. Our children will be protected, happy and healthy. Our marriage will remain strong and intact. Our lives will adjust to whatever changes lie ahead.

We will stay strong!

So far, we have been told pretty much nothing. We have a website that we can check for updates but they are very vauge. For example, this evening it said that they were still at the bargaining table. That's it.

No clues as to how long this will continue. In my opinion, it's been two days too long already.

There is talk that we will lose our medical, dental and vision insurances at the end of the month. Apparently, they said they can get COBRA but I have no confirmation on that. We won't know anything regarding that until Thursday.

Pay is indeed $200 a week. How anyone is suppose to sustain on that is beyond me.

The guys are not even fully informed on why they are striking. They know the broad basics of what has been said on the news and radio but nothing has come down from the Union to let them know exactly what they are fighing for. It's so unbelieveable to all of us.

I take peace and sorrow in the fact that we are not the only ones that are dealing with such a hardship. We know other families who are struggling, living paycheck to paycheck, and now are put in a jam just as we are. One person I spoke with said, "I am just like everyone else. If I don't get a check that week, I don't eat." At $200 a week, I understand exactly where they are coming from.

So, as of tonight, the strike continues. We are still in the dark. We have no other information to provide to our mortgage company or those holding the vehicle loan. In return, they have nothing they can offer to us to help ease our minds during this whole thing.

All I can say is this strike better be worth it. Because in the end, there will be so many families in turmoil. So many homes will be lost. Bills will pile up. Vehicles reposessed. And ultimately, bankruptcy cases will increase.

I know there is good reason to strike. I know they must stand for what they believe. I know that if they don't stand up for the retiree's then there will be nobody that stands up for them when they are retired. I get all of that. What I don't get is how (and who decided) that making $200 a week was going to be sufficient enough to sustain a household.

And so, I share with you the thought of the day that we shared with our children.

A house is just the shell. A home is made up by what is inside it. If it comes down to it that we must lose our house, we will still have eachother. And we will create a home somewhere else. This is just an adventure.

May each of your hearts find peace tonight.
-B