My name is Mercedes, and I live in North Bend, Washington. My husband and I have been married for 3 wonderful years, though our 'honeymoon" stage didn't last for long. Just a few weeks before we were married, my dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer; a devastating blow to our whole family. The summer of 2008 came and both my husband and I were very excited to spend our first summer together as a newly married couple, when my husband endured a crippling work injury that kept him out of work for 3 months. Our mortgage almost fell into foreclosure, our power would be shut off and I our home was bitterly cold because we were unable to pay our bills. A few family members and a few loans later we were able to gain our footing again. It took us the better part of two years to regain our financial stability, and in the winter of 2009 we were set to go on a small vacation with my husbands parents as well as mine. On October 6th, 2009 my father in-law and mother in-law embarked on a week long cruise to Alaska. I spoke to her a few days before she left and set up a lunch date to go over our upcoming trip together. On October 8th, 2009 we got a call that we change the course of all of our lives. My mother in-law had fallen ill on the ship and was not responsive in the morning when her husband attempted to wake her. She was rushed to a hospital in Victoria, BC where my husband and I drove to be by her side. On October 11th, 2009 my husband lost his Mom. Tragedy tore through our hearts as we'd all lost an amazing woman so unexpectedly. In the wake of the last few years, my husband and I are deeply in love, and have a renewed sense of appreciation for life.
We enjoy our backyard, as it is our sanctuary when we get home from work. Our deck is falling apart (literally) beneath our feet because we do not have the money to build a new deck. It was a priority in a savings account at one time, but that money has long vanished due to my husbands work injury, and the time we've both taken off for my dad's illness, and my mother in-laws passing.
I hope and pray that you will see this as a new beginning for my husband and I and an opportunity to enjoy our parents and family on a beautiful new deck for many years to come.
I appreciate you taking out the time in your day to read this, I wish nothing but the best to whomever wins.
Sincerely;
Mercedes in North Bend
