This Growing Bad Feeling...

Have you ever had a bad feeling.  One that keeps growing and won't go away.  No matter what I've done in the last month my stomach keeps getting tied in knots.  It feels like my way of life is going to hit the end of the road.  For weeks I've been praying to know what to do.  I've soul searched, and meditated.  Researched, and read and I think I'm finally ready to share with you what I've found.  If you look at the stocks as of yesterday(Jan. 15, 2016) this has been the worst beginning of the year for stocks.  The market has been sliding since the middle of last year.  I won't tell you that we are going into a Great Depression, but I will tell you that in my part of the country things are looking like they will get bad.  Check out my post Death of a County.  Coal mines are shutting down and the price of oil is the lowest its been since 2001.  It doesn't look good. 

With the bad comes the good.  Have you ever noticed that you rely on God more when things get tough?  Or that Family really is more important when you know that is who you can count on?  Beauty really is all around.  Books are amazing for entertainment.  Looking for the good helps soften the hard reality of the bad. 

I do feel that God wants me to share what I've learned these last few weeks.  So look foward to me posting more in the future.  I know that I have a mission, and what it is.  Let me help you through some tough times that are to come. 


Elizabeth~

Death of a County

This had been on my heart for a while now so I hope you don't mind. 

First let me give you some background.  I've worked retail for 7+ years.  Officially I worked in a retail situation for 7, but if you count having my own business I've been working for the last 18 years in retail.  That is enough hours to be considered an expert.  An expert has had 10,000 hours of practice in any given field.  I've put in 14,560 hours in just my official employment history.  I've done everything from stock shelves to being a CO-Manager.  I know retail.  I also know that our economy depends on everyone.

 Doctors and Lawyers couldn't be doctors and lawyers if there wasn't a cashier.  Their couldn't be a cashier if there wasn't backroom associates.  Stores couldn't run if there were no farmers, and factory workers. 

We all need each other!


No ifs and or butts!

So whats my problem?  Why am I in an uproar?  The mines that fuel our economy are shutting down.  The stock market has driven the price of coal into the ground, and there is no money to be made.  What's the problem with that. 

The economy of my area depends on the coal miners.  Let me sketch it out for you.

Coal miners make about $18/hour.  They are young men with young families.  Young families need Doctors and Hospitals.  Young families send their children to school.  The wives of the coal miners buy cows and pigs ready to butcher and put into their freezers.  Wives of coal miners also shop at the local stores, and boutiques.

If the coal miners go, then so will part of the hospital and other health care staff.  They won't have families to take care of.  It then gets worse.  With the coal miners and health care staff gone, the schools will not need as many teachers.  The children will be going with their families.  The farmers now have fewer people to feed, and the boutiques now have fewer shoppers. 

There we have it.  Now my little county in Colorado is gone.  Several ghost towns could be in the making. 

How do we fix it?  Can it be fixed?  That is a question worth looking into.  I do know I would like to keep this area alive.

Keep people like this face painter painting.  Keep the farmers growing, and the boutiques open. 

There are blogs dedicated to the economy and there has been plenty of professionals stating the we are in an economic recession.  I don't know anything about the stock market, except that when the numbers go down fake money has been wiped out.

I just want to keep living in my beautiful area, with amazing hard working people.

Apple Fest!

The first weekend of October Cedaredge, Colorado holds their annual Apple Fest!  This years Apple Fest was amazing.  First we toured Pioneer Town, then we looked at the Car Show.  Little guy was even lucky enough to sit in one of the cars!  Then we walked Main Street and the Park looking at all of the vendors.  Plus they had amazing food.  If your up for some adventure check out Apple Fest next October!  I can't wait for next year.