South Florida is extrememly expensive, yet under the guise of the non-custodial parent assisting, I enrolled all three kids in public school here.  We have lived here for over seven [7 yrs], although I am not quite sure how.  Just after the hurricanes, I lost all child support and took a full-time job that barely made enough to pay the basics....and did not qualify for assistance.  After attempting to work this way for almost two years, I could not seem to actually ever "catch-up".  I lost my job the beginning of August 2007 when I asked for a transfer to a school program in my county [could not pay all the travel expenses and car repairs with no raise in pay].  Thus.....I enrolled in school to get a degree.....basic necessities are piling up, and it is a full-time job to apply at all the different local agencies.  With less than $100 per week in cash and Food Stamps that do not get deposited, the Work Force Agency here is not providing any guidance.  I am really beginning to wonder......are there any local foundations that I might apply for personal grants so we can get through this difficult time and I can indeed finish school and keep my kids in school here?  The unemployment rate here is rising as fast as the foreclosure rate.

I am a single, Christian Mom of three children.  We have been here, in Palm City; this small suburban community on the central/southeastern coast of Florida for just over seven [7] years.  My children had previously attended a small Lutheran school in Michigan in previous years, despite the "battles" that they face in public school, all three [3] have thrived.

I am a former Christian Child Care provider that specialized in assisting "welfare-to-work" families/programs.  Since my daughter's near fatal illness and subsequent surgery, we had to close the Day Care, and relocate to Florida.  Since her health has steadily improved, I became very involved with my local Lutheran Church and the YMCA as a program director that served some sixty [60] or so families with a literacy/mentoring program that was a partnership between the Florida Alliance of YMCA's and the Volunteer Florida foundation. 

I have successfully been a "cog" in the work of the Lord in providing quality programming to our community through church-sponsored programs and community-wide Associations.

I am no one special, and yes; have too admittedly fallen prey to the system to which I have counseled so many other young families to in the past.  My saving grace, is that I know that it is all for a reason, and that valuable lessons are being learned in the process.  Yet, it does indeed take a village to raise a child, and during any one of my children's next performances, I will indeed shed a tear or two, and remember that.