We live in northern Wisconsin, in Forest County. There are a few realities about living where we do that are important to mention.
- Our county is the largest, land wise, in the state.
- Our county has the smallest population in our state, with less than 10,000 people.
- Our county is the poorest in our state, with the average income being just over $32,000 (as of 2013).
- We don’t even have a stop light in our entire county. (Okay, so this fact isn’t really important or relevant. But it’s a neat fact, anyway!)
We live in the county seat: Crandon. The population is 1960 (2010 census). We live in a very economically depressed area, where plenteous jobs don’t exist. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice place to live. A little bit backwards, perhaps, but still a nice, safe place to live. (And the scenery is just beautiful with all of our lakes & forests!!) It’s a typical, small town where you know many people & even more people know you. When we “upgraded” our front porch a few years ago, so many people told me what a nice job we did & how much better it looks. I didn’t know those people even knew where we live! And honestly, I didn’t even know who some of those people were! (Ha!)
It’s that kind-of town.
Yet because of it’s size & its economic reality, businesses aren’t know to flourish here. In fact, more businesses have closed than have stayed open. 7 times out of 10, within 3 years of a business opening, they have to close their doors due to lack of money. It’s a fickle thing, this owning your own business. (And it is in any town or city, really)
This is all to give you the proper background of where we are, the likelihood of any business prospering, & the kinds of businesses that do make it. HInt: a catering company wouldn’t be the first one that comes to mind.
And yet…. we are. We are prospering. We are thriving. We’ve been in business for 6 years & we’re growing. We serve about 2,200 meals a month & have around 8 weddings during “wedding season” (May – September), along with the occasional business meeting. We are out growing have out grown the commercial kitchen, all in 6 short years in an economically depressed area. Economically depressed areas aren’t known for supporting things like catering companies, you know.
How? How are we thriving in such an environment? How are we supporting a large family, on one income? Most people find it difficult with 2 incomes for a family of 4, let alone a family of 11! True, my husband has some fabulous money skills (I do not, ahem…) & can stretch a dollar like you can’t believe. It’s more than that, thought. I mean, you can be as good as anyone with spending & saving money, but if the money isn’t there, there ain’t nothin’ for your mad skills to work with…..
The remainder of our windows were being delivered today at our new house & Adam wasn’t able to meet the delivery guy there. So I went. As I waited, I walked into the house, enjoying the quiet & calmness around me. The snow flitted quietly, gently down. The ridge cap isn’t up on the roof yet (for the east side of the roof doesn’t have the steel on it), so it’s comical to see this isle of snow going right down the center of the house, like a child had carried an opened bag of powdered sugar & had spilled the contents behind them as they walked. I went towards what will be our bedroom & looked out the window. The thoughts that rolled through my mind were simplistic in nature, feeding off the peacefulness that prevailed everywhere. As I looked through the window at the view that would be facing me each morning, tears began to form in my eyes. “Lord, I don’t deserve this.” I don’t deserve the amazing, loving husband He has given me. I don’t deserve the beautiful children He has blessed me with. I don’t deserve the home business you have prospered, allowing us to work together as a family. I don’t deserve the ability you have provided to homeschool our children. I don’t deserve this beautiful house that we have designed ourselves, that we have raised with our own hands ( along with the beautiful hands of our family & friends!), that will give us the privacy & lifestyle we desire. I don’t deserve any of it.
But He has given it anyway. Freely. With no strings attached. And that’s the beauty of it all, isn’t? The incredible outpouring of gifts & blessings He gives willingly. How can you not love a God who gives like that? Who gives you breath each day. Who makes the Earth turn. Who gives such beauty in the rising & setting of the sun. No, life is not a bed of roses. Things don’t always go the way you want them to. Tragedies happen. People disappoint you. Life is hard. Life hurts.
But He’s there. Through it all, He’s there. Here. Everywhere. God loves you more than you will ever comprehend. More than you will ever deserve. More than you will ever understand or see. And He will do so, even when you don’t recognize HIm or give Him credit. God loved you before you were even created. As long as you have breath left in your body, you have the opportunity to praise Him & thank Him for all that He has done for you. You have the chance to love.
God is the true beauty of it all.