....You have to try to find the silver lining. *Sigh* This is a hard post to write. Last week our lives took frightening turn. Ron got laid off. He is an automotive designer which is a position that is not easily found anymore since CORPORATE GREED has sent all those positions (among many others!!!!) overseas. Michigan's economy is the worst it has EVER been in history. The housing market here is incredibly bad. There are more foreclosures in Michigan than there have ever been history. If you want to sell a house here, you'd better be prepared to sell for $50,000 to $100,000 below value. Houses in Michigan are actually decreasing in value! ....Ron has been laid off.... *Sigh* We are fortunate that Ron also has his own home improvement business. That will help to keep our heads above water for a little while longer. The day after Ron got laid off (last week Wednesday) I had to go in for a root canal (I had an abscess). I still have a crown to prep for and pay for! For some time, I have suffered from TMJ. The combination of the root canal procedure and the stress of our new unemployed position here, has terribly exacerbated my TMJ. *Sigh* Our health insurance ended on Sunday. Thanks a lot Lear Corp. for giving us 3 whole business days of insurance coverage (Cobra is going to be VERY costly)!!!! But we have to find a silver lining right? Well, when I was driving home from Carolyn's house on St. Patrick's Day, I saw the visual silver lining in the clouds as I chased down this sunset.... 
I made myself zoom in on it... 
....and then I began to feel like God was deserting us. I was angry and feeling pretty hopeless. So I began to think, what is my silver lining. Well, there was one within our grasp. There is a very good opportunity for us to go to Sweden for 2 years. There are many men whom Ron "worked" with who have done it, or are currently there now. It is an overall amazing opportunity. The money is phenomal, we'd be able to pay off our mortgage here in MI in one years time while also paying to live abroad. The primary language is Swedish, but they all speak English and love Americans because it gives them an opportunity to use our language. Did you get that? They LOVE Americans! There are not many places you can go in this world where Americans are not despised. Everyone we know who has already done this says abolutely nothing but positive things. They all say there is nothing bad to report. Only how great it was, how big the money was, and how awesome the whole experience was. So what's the problem? Ron won't go. "Come on God! Can't you make him? It is what is best for our family!!!" But just in this very short time of unemployment, he is finding that the few remaining job openings in his specific field, are for much less pay with much higher insurance costs (and also doomed to be lost to a future lay off). God can't make him decide to go to Sweden as He will not interfere with Ron's free will, but He can close other doors for him. Now my silver lining...he now realizes that this would be a great opportunity too. There is some design work available in Sweden. We just need to find it. Ron has a friend down there who is going to try to see if he can find an opening for us. Please, please, please pray for God to open this door for us
. Please pray that a position is open for Ron . Please pray that my jaw relaxes as my range of motion is rapidly diminishing. And on a more personal level, please forgive me Lord for being so angry, and thank you Pastor Kevin for getting me back on track with God. 
Thank you Heavenly Father for this mornings beautiful sunrise. You are worthy of all thanks and praise.
). Never the less, the horses were enchanted by Madeline's presence and it was a very special moment to witness... 
