Comments by "Kimberly C" (@kimberlyc84) on "Could you still be happy if you were dirt poor u0026 homeless?" video.

  1. I love sharing bagels, waffles, fresh fruit. I usually make extra sandwiches and extra soup and drop it by a few families from my school who are residing in short term hotels. There is a church that partners with my school and they drop off grocery bags of snacks and instant pop top ravioli, mac & cheese, breakfast bars, etc (about 10 items) in about 60 grocery bags on Thursdays for our counselors to pass to those students that are the most vulnerable. Right now we have about 12 families that are homeless, one of which got burned out the first day of spring break. So we didn't know until they got back in school. The homeless students get double bags. And then the students that are in kinship caregiver status (raised by relatives but no CPS involved), then foster children. The church that delivers them puts together a reusable freezer bag for the extended Christmas holiday. They filled the bag with holiday things and then there's usually a gift card for about 15 dollars to the grocery store for meat or something else for the meal. We really don't realize how close some of us are to one crisis leading to poverty. So much is taken for granted.
    2
  2. You asked for it... I started journaling in 5th grade. It was an assignment given to us by a woman who would become my absolute FAVORITE teacher, Mrs. Glenda Good. I LOVED reading, but writing...not so much, until that assignment. That was the year I saw Marsha Brady (from the Brady Bunch) get a diary. So I asked my mom for one and got it for Christmas! I've been journaling ever since. (I'm 54) Throughout the years, I've written short stories, essays that have been published & helped me earn scholarships, poems that have won contests, petitioned administrators and advocated for my children, contacted omnibusmen/state representatives to help & advocate for elder care recipients, and most recently, addressed board commissioners to reconsider and address rezoning decisions (not completely successfully, but as they say, if ya don't vote, don't complain. At least my thoughts were considered and a compromise was reached). But I have to also share the overwhelming sense of gratitude I have for being able to still LOVE the release it gives me. I get to look back at some of the toughest times and see how things did (or didn't) work either as I thought but went in another direction completely. Words are my love (if you couldn't already tell🥰). I was an official court reporter for 1 year right out of court reporting college in New York. A month after my wedding, all non-salaried positions were frozen. I was let go, I parlayed all of the typing skills and clerical procedures into working as a human resources assistant in a bank. We relocated a year later with a baby in tow to GA. Two more babies, 2 houses, 12 cars, lots of transition, & 21 yrs later, and I made my Exodus from an increasingly tumultuous marriage to start over. I had started working for my children's school system once all of them were in public school. This is my 20th yr. 11 years from that, the two oldest are military, one SpecOps, the other, medically retired working as a corrections officer and just earned a welding certification. The last little birdie graduated Magna Cum Laude last May from the local college that everybody teased her about for going to, less than $3,000 in student loans, earn that bachelor's degree and signed on with an international company, she just bought a home on an acre and a half 2 hours south. I just think back to when we were in an ant infested mold riddled rental and how my school clerk once a month salary left $19.85 a week after every thing was paid. If it weren't for the food co-op, I can't imagine. I made $1.02 too much a month to qualify for food stamps. Through bc, bankruptcy, repos, foreclosure, I am so grateful to be here. I remember getting up pre-dawn on Saturday mornings & driving into neighborhoods where I would see work trucks (painters, plumbers, etc.) parked. I knew the homes were affordable and lots had long term families. I drove around for months, days & hours until I finally found something I could afford. Some days I was so defeated. The approval, funding, & rate were ready...now If only I could find the right one. I'd fired two realtors and was at my wit's end. Then it happened. I found it, called the inspector, made my bid, got it inspected, and three days until next month's rent would have been due, I closed on it! Called up the youth group & family, rented the 26' Uhaul & cleared that rental in one day! Called the sheriff to return his keys and I was outta there!! Now, I'm in a peaceful sticks & bricks. Although it's 50 yrs old and eminent domain is a looming threat, I am grateful to be termite & bug free (except for the ladybugs that seem to love my light blue painted walls🤷‍♀️) and the only mold is growing out back with the moss & mushrooms😁). I returned to school online to relearn my court reporting skill and I recently earned my National Certification. Learning all the new technology is truly Wilma Flintstone meeting Jane Jetson. But it is great to know that I have another technologically challenged trial by fire person in Carol! Thank you!☺️ I've heard it said, and I try not to forget: remember when what you prayed for was what you now have ❤
    2
  3. Me, too! I'm like, well, at least now I don't have to add salt to my soup because my tears have done that!😭
    1