My husband of 2 years, best friend of 5, is writing a book. For as long as I’ve known the man, he works harder than most, is more honest than GENEROUS than anyone I’ve ever met, and seems to have the worst financial trouble of anyone that I know. He wasn’t always, but now is a church-going, God-fearing man. He started his own carpentry business a few years before he married his first wife, and it has kept him afloat for the last 16 years. But just barely. Fighting overdraft fees, not getting paid when or what he was promised, and other obstacles have most definitely hindered his success. I remember him telling me a story of how he sub contracted for a larger framing business here in town. When the project was finished he was offered an amount at just 25% of what he was promised. His options at that point were to take the money, or take them to court. He couldn’t afford to do the latter, and was forced to take a major paycut. another one. and it didn’t even come close to covering the bills.
He also couldn’t afford the luxuries his wife required. so she eventually left him, and took most of what finances he didn’t have already.
Before my son and I came along, my husband was living only with his two daughters. He gets them for part of every week, and the rest of the time they spend at mom’s. The girls share a room upstairs, while hubby has been trying so hard to get the basement done to give them each their own space. They’re teenagers now. My son who is turning 8, is sleeping on the couch in the living room. The girls have a bunkbed, one of which just broke. Finding time to fix it hopefully this weekend while the girls are at their moms.
Meanwhile. the rest of the home is falling apart. We are currently battling a shower leak that drips into the downstairs and is also seeping into the master bedroom. With only one fan available, we have to choose which one is worse that day and put the fan on it, leaving a rotton-mildewy smell in our bedroom.
We married two years ago, and hoping to cash in on a break from real life almost a year later, we planned to FINALLY honeymoon using flyer miles given to us by his parents. we had money saved from wedding gifts for hotel, we had our flights booked and we were ready to go. Then covid hit. like i said, if it’s not one thing, it’s another.
Hubby’s book he was writing was based on how you can manage everything in this world on your own. However, since we have been together, he has learned (and painfully so) that it is near impossible to navigate the waters alone. Although he has sought help, both from his peers and from above, things are still falling apart. He works long and strenuous 15-hour days, weekends at times, all just to catch up. in what spare time he does have, he spends it coaching his daughter’s sports so he is making sure to have quality time and life spent with them. It’s hard to find any spare time, but he does when he can, for us. We don’t go on fancy dates, we watch a half a movie here and there while he does his business paperwork. (we can’t afford to hire anyone else.) And I help where I can. We’ve snuck out for a few successful 30 minute meals since we’ve been married. Whatever we need, though stretched incredibly thin, he finds a way to make it work.
What I’d like to do the most is support my husband’s book writing, which he has no time to do. At all. If I had the money (I work 50-65 hours a week myself) I would pay for him to work on our home, and give him time to write his book. Where it used to be about doing everything on your own, I believe a generous donation from strangers could help him ease his mind as well as give his book an entirely new perspective on what life is really about.
TOGETHER, we want to be able to spend quality time with our family. We want to go on mission trips to help others who are less fortunate. I have a dream to help addicts in recovery and abused women and children. He has a dream to build and to help others succeed in life. Together, and with the help of added finances, I know we can accomplish so much.
If everyone who read our story donated the minimum, and shared about us, it could easily change so many lives, just like that. Thank you and God-Bless