ereks mom Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 I am very discouraged right now, and I would really, really appreciate your prayers. Dh is our main breadwinner, and he is the owner of a small business which now seems to be struggling more than ever before. There's dh and also 2 part-time employees, and right now, there's not enough money in the business account to pay salaries or expenses. It's the same story as just about every other small business in this country that has had problems: increasing expenses plus decreasing revenues. Dh has poured himself into this business physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially, and just doesn't have anything left to give. <sigh> Just when we thought we were finally about to be out of the woods--2011 was our first year in the black--things are topsy-turvy again. We have no savings and no other employment opportunities that we can see. In short, we are in need of God's miraculous provision. Please pray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Praying. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 :grouphug: Praying for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Bless your heart. Praying. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Praying for you and :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 We are in the same boat, I will pray for you if you pray for me. (well... I'll pray for you either way) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Praying for both you and Lara. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celticmom Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2boysmom Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Praying here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzymom Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 :grouphug: Praying this turns around for you and for Lara. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 :grouphug: and prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 :grouphug: My dh is a small business owner, as well. We have been through the fat and the lean times. I understand the burden of an uncertain income. Prayers. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenL Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Prayers are with you and Lara. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Praying that things start looking up for both you and Lara this year. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Would love to send prayers your way. Please keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Praying for you both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 praying for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Praying for you. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and it is very discouraging to hear this over and over. Hoping things turn around for you! Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Praying for you. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thank you all so much for your prayers. I am blessed to be able to have a community of friends-I've-never-met where we can all share one another's burdens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 We are in the same boat, I will pray for you if you pray for me. (well... I'll pray for you either way) I will certainly pray for you too, Lara. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I will certainly pray for you too, Lara. :grouphug: How are things going you all today???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Praying for both Lara and Erek's mom as well as all small business owners. In our household, the prospect of sequestration is an impending concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I am very discouraged right now, and I would really, really appreciate your prayers. Dh is our main breadwinner, and he is the owner of a small business which now seems to be struggling more than ever before. There's dh and also 2 part-time employees, and right now, there's not enough money in the business account to pay salaries or expenses. It's the same story as just about every other small business in this country that has had problems: increasing expenses plus decreasing revenues. Dh has poured himself into this business physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially, and just doesn't have anything left to give. <sigh> Just when we thought we were finally about to be out of the woods--2011 was our first year in the black--things are topsy-turvy again. We have no savings and no other employment opportunities that we can see. In short, we are in need of God's miraculous provision. Please pray. Praying God does a miracle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdalley Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 :grouphug: Praying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 How are things going you all today???? We are hanging in there. Dh's employees have expressed their support for him and their belief in the company, in spite of the financial situation, and that means the world to dh. Dh also serves as pastor of our very tiny house church, which is really more of a Sunday Bible study group. However, that position is not salaried; he receives some pay for this, but not anywhere near enough to support our family. His business is what has paid our bills for the past few years, supplemented by the little bit that I make teaching other people's children in our homeschool. Dh's business provides courses in personal & professional character development. He has written curriculum and also teaches classes in which he helps his students (teens and adults--he has two different programs and is working on a third) examine the causes and consequences of their behavior patterns. Most of his students are mandated to attend (at their own expense) by the local court system as a result of misdemeanor offenses, including shoplifting, underage drinking, assault, battery, etc. He helps the students determine their core values and gives them guidance in becoming persons of integrity in their dealings with others and within themselves. We live near a college town, and there are some shoplifting or fighting incidents and a lot of underage drinking, and up until about a year ago, most of these cases were referred to dh. Lately, however, fewer arrests are being made (we've heard various reasons for this) and most of the violators who are arrested are being sent to other programs instead--programs which are the pet projects of some of those in the local legal arena or their friends. What got dh started in this type of work is that he worked as a chaplain in a prison in our area, where he wrote and taught a character development class for the inmates. Other people heard about it and encouraged dh to rewrite the curriculum and offer it in the community, which he did. Dh's classes have been very popular with the students as well as the court system. The state prison system and juvenile justice system have each expressed interest in purchasing dh's programs and having him train their staffs to implement it, but so far, nothing has happened except talk, but we are still hopeful. Just yesterday, dh received further word that one of the state institutions is preparing to move forward, and they want him to submit a proposal. He has submitted previous proposals which were shelved or ignored, but his contact person says this time appears to be different. That gives us a ray of hope, and incentive to continue to pray and not give up. FWIW, if anyone is interested in knowing more about dh's programs, PM me, and I'll link you to the company's website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 I am very discouraged right now, and I would really, really appreciate your prayers. Dh is our main breadwinner, and he is the owner of a small business which now seems to be struggling more than ever before. There's dh and also 2 part-time employees, and right now, there's not enough money in the business account to pay salaries or expenses. It's the same story as just about every other small business in this country that has had problems: increasing expenses plus decreasing revenues. Dh has poured himself into this business physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially, and just doesn't have anything left to give. <sigh> Just when we thought we were finally about to be out of the woods--2011 was our first year in the black--things are topsy-turvy again. We have no savings and no other employment opportunities that we can see. In short, we are in need of God's miraculous provision. Please pray. We are hanging in there. Dh's employees have expressed their support for him and their belief in the company, in spite of the financial situation, and that means the world to dh. Dh also serves as pastor of our very tiny house church, which is really more of a Sunday Bible study group. However, that position is not salaried; he receives some pay for this, but not anywhere near enough to support our family. His business is what has paid our bills for the past few years, supplemented by the little bit that I make teaching other people's children in our homeschool. Dh's business provides courses in personal & professional character development. He has written curriculum and also teaches classes in which he helps his students (teens and adults--he has two different programs and is working on a third) examine the causes and consequences of their behavior patterns. Most of his students are mandated to attend (at their own expense) by the local court system as a result of misdemeanor offenses, including shoplifting, underage drinking, assault, battery, etc. He helps the students determine their core values and gives them guidance in becoming persons of integrity in their dealings with others and within themselves. We live near a college town, and there are some shoplifting or fighting incidents and a lot of underage drinking, and up until about a year ago, most of these cases were referred to dh. Lately, however, fewer arrests are being made (we've heard various reasons for this) and most of the violators who are arrested are being sent to other programs instead--programs which are the pet projects of some of those in the local legal arena or their friends. What got dh started in this type of work is that he worked as a chaplain in a prison in our area, where he wrote and taught a character development class for the inmates. Other people heard about it and encouraged dh to rewrite the curriculum and offer it in the community, which he did. Dh's classes have been very popular with the students as well as the court system. The state prison system and juvenile justice system have each expressed interest in purchasing dh's programs and having him train their staffs to implement it, but so far, nothing has happened except talk, but we are still hopeful. Just yesterday, dh received further word that one of the state institutions is preparing to move forward, and they want him to submit a proposal. He has submitted previous proposals which were shelved or ignored, but his contact person says this time appears to be different. That gives us a ray of hope, and incentive to continue to pray and not give up. FWIW, if anyone is interested in knowing more about dh's programs, PM me, and I'll link you to the company's website. Dh teaches a class that meets each Tuesday evening for one month and another that meets each Saturday morning for one month. He needs a minumum of 21 paying students per month in order to meet the company's bills, salaries, and expenses. 24-25 has been the norm until fairly recently. This past Tuesday was the first class for January. He had 4 scheduled to attend, and NONE showed up. Today (the first Saturday class), he had 7 scheduled, but only 5 showed up. So that means he has 5 students this month when he needs at least 4 times that many just to meet January expenses. <sigh> Please keep praying. It doesn't look good right now. He hasn't been able to draw a paycheck in 3 weeks, and we need to buy groceries, not to mention pay other bills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Praying for a miracle. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I'm still praying for you and your finances. Lara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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