Hello? Its Me!!

I was one of those. You know when you hear about someone else losing their job and you say “Oh that’s sad,” but you never think it will happen to you? For months I would tell people that the economy really hadn’t affected us. I was even so bold as to tell a taxi driver in Michigan who was working two jobs to pay his mortgage that Utah hadn’t really been hit as hard as everywhere else. I guess that’s when God decided to teach us a lesson.

Hi, my name is Kattie Mount and my husband is unemployed. Is that some sort of tagline? It seems to be everyone’s update status these days. My husband lost his job last April and has been unemployed ever since. Too bad an insurance company doesn’t count this as a life change because it sure feels like one.   We are going through this crisis wondering where to go from here because the fact of the matter is that Allan is a BYU Econ grad that can’t get a job. I guess I should feel lucky that it happened now and not in 10 or 15 years from now where a lot more experienced workers are also out of work wondering the same thing. They have big families, big homes, and big time debt.

So what’s a girl got to do when her husband can’t work? She becomes the sugar mama. Oh but not me. I don’t make that much - not even close. I loathe it. Not the money but the job description. If you’ve decided to stop reading at this point just hold on! I know now you’re thinking about not wanting to hear about a depressed 20 something and her woes because don’t we all have them?

You notice that the name of my blog is blessings from a recession. The whole reason I started this blog was because of a note I received just a week ago. I was extremely touched by it and it caused me to think of all the many wonderful blessings our family has received during a very difficult time in our lives. This note is one of countless notes/cards/emails of encouragement we’ve received from family, friends, and yes even strangers. So it is my hope that you find a little bit of happy in your day when you read this blog. Its purpose is to give thanks to those who have given so much to us. An attitude of gratitude of some sorts that I can share in blog form.

Before I share the note I would like to give you a few background details. Over Labor Day of this year I found out at 11 weeks that I had miscarried what would have been baby #3. If any of you have been through that you will truly know how hard it is. I thought I knew but once again the Lord knew I didn’t. I take back any thoughts I’ve ever had of “she was only 7 weeks along,” or “it’s such a common thing,” because none of these things make it any better. The fact is that as soon as you find out your having a baby you start planning. You look at baby and maternity clothes. You think of names and print off paperwork for your leave of absence. Women were born to mother because they think of every last detail before a baby ever arrives.

So knowing that here is the note that I received from Allan’s Aunt Georgia who is herself dealing with breast cancer and whom I’ve only seen three or so times.

“Dear Allan and Kattie,

Jim told me that Kattie had a miscarriage. I’m so sorry and I know that is always a great sadness for family. I’m sure you have some medical expenses and I understand that Allan is still out of work. We love you kids and hope for the best in the future. Here is a small amount of money to help toward your expenses during this difficult time.

Love, Aunt Georgia & Uncle Gene”

Just like that I turned in to a sobbing fool. A small amount of money equaled $200 to them but meant so much more to us.

My goal is to tell all of you the many experiences we’ve had over the past 6 months of really living in the thick of all of this. It’s what’s kept us alive in spirit and in physical body. Please feel free to email me with your stories so that I can post them along with mine. I want to hear what you’re grateful for and how this recession has also blessed your lives. Sharing these priceless moments encourage and uplift us all.

Love to you all, Kattie