President Obama in Orange County, CA

President Obama will be in Orange County attending a town hall style meeting, to be held at the Orange County Fairgrounds tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18, 2008 at 4:00 p.m in Costa Mesa, CA. However, if the strongly based Republican "Orange Countyans" have anything to say about it...their tents will speak loud and clear! Set up outside the entrance to the fairgrounds are several tents with large FORECLOSURE signs posted. The recent rise in tent cities, sprouting up all over the country, not to mention the threat of cholera and other diseases inside these depression based "middle class neighborhoods", should make for a very receptive welcome.

He will be flying into the Long Beach Airport due to his Air Force One 747 being too large for John Wayne Airport (just a few miles from the fairgrounds). He will then have to travel by motorcade, to Costa Mesa. They better plan on shutting down the 405 freeway at that time or he'll never make it.

The tickets are free to the public and will be distributed beginning today at 10 a.m. at: The OC Fair and Event Center (Enter at Gate 1 or Gate 10; park in Lot A.), 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

I did not get my tickets even though I would love to be there to hear the plans regarding bailing out all of us "normal" people who are trying to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and health insurance for our families. While large corporations (ie. AIG thieves) are requesting bailouts to give out large bonuses to their already over indulgent, rich executives, who are investing in foreign countries...we just want a little help saving our jobs, homes and feeding our kids!

PRESIDENT OBAMA....HELP THE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES!

The Final Hour

In our final hour of need, God showed up and gave us the miracle that we had been praying for. We have been trying for over six months to get our home loan restructured. All the reply's we received were, "We are reviewing it." We returned home on Sunday, Jan. 4th, from visiting my dad in Utah. A letter was waiting for us stating that they had denied our request. Our home was due to be put up for auction on Jan. 7 @ 9:00 a.m.

I wrote a last resort letter to the Governor and news channels to let them know that Wells Fargo was not willing to help their customers. I decided to look for the CEO of Wells Fargo's email address (knowing that they NEVER post CEO's direct email's). I tried two times...the second time I stumbled across a random web page which stated, "Here are direct email contacts for the CEO and the top Executive Officer's of Wells Fargo." "WOW, now that's weird," I thought. I figured it would probably get rejected but sent it to all of the listed addresses.

I wrote what had transpired over the six month's and that they were our last hope. I said that I hoped they would be an answer to our prayers. Amazingly, it went through!

The next morning at 9:00 a.m., Anthony received a call stating that the the CEO had received the email and wanted to help us. We received the approval and with a 1:00 p.m. Western Union cutoff time...we sent the payment with only minutes to spare.

I want to remind everyone to NEVER give up, God will stretch your faith to the very last minute. I can tell you that he hears, cares and answers our prayers. Continue to have faith no matter how difficult or impossible your situation may seem.

The Family Side of Foreclosure (Part 1)

So many times we hear about all off the amazing Foreclosure deals...which I remember thinking, "Wow, if only I had a little extra money stashed away, I could become a Real Estate mogul and when the economy turns around I'll be rich!" I often wonder how many people think the same way?

Now my family is at the other end of the Foreclosure deal. We are struggling to come up with enough money to save our home. Our mortgage, property taxes, credit card bills, food and gas is putting us deeper and deeper in debt. I thought I would share our story...a perspective from a family on the brink of losing their dream.

Here's a little background info:

We are currently almost three months behind on our mortgage, property taxes are due, three months behind on our HOA (homeowners association dues), credit cards are maxed out (supplementing our incoming by using them), the boys are eating twice as much, (they're all growing right now), sports for football season alone is costing us $3,300.00 (3 boys play), and GAS (about $200.00 a week). Our home value has dropped considerably, was worth about $650,000.00, now worth less than we owe. Now that you understand the situation, I'll fast forward to our first attempt to make arrangements with the bank.

My husband called the bank today and told them we would make a payment on the 30th (don't know where the full amount is coming from...but I'm working on the faith thing!) Then they asked, "When can you make your next payment?" He said, "I don't know?" They snapped, "You have to give us another date!" "Okay...I guess the 15th". He called me at work and I asked, "How are we going to come up with it at the end of the month and the 15th and still buy food and gas?" He got ticked off, "I DON'T KNOW, I'm trying to by us time." Hmm, that was a great start!

Usually when finances are tight we are arguing all the time, the stress just gets to be too much, especially when we are working more hours, barely see each other, and still not able to pay our bills. Since becoming Christian (we both always believed but had been doing our own thing), we have really been trying to not rely on ourselves to get us through this...faith, hope and trusting that God has a plan for our lives. But of course we are only human...so the stress of our situation takes over and we have really been going at it lately. I try to lose myself in the computer and writing, while he asks every night, "Do you think maybe we can spend a little time together?" I don't know what my problem is, I just don't want to talk, or be around him right now. I know it's not his fault, and he is working his butt off, but I just want to be left alone! This is how I deal with stressful situations...I push all my emotions deep inside, run around like crazy, don't sleep, become emotionally unavailable for my family and stay on the computer writing for HOURS on end. I try to find a place to hide and escape from my reality.

Then off to work I go everyday...to a luxury Newport Beach, CA office where my bosses are Millionaires and don't have a care in the world about finances, while I try to put on my happy face, and act like my life is perfect too, (I'm really good at fooling everyone.) I try very hard not to feel sorry for myself, I pray, do a Bible study and watch Joyce Meyers every morning before I leave...it really does help! But my human side comes back, and I start to struggle again.

Stay tuned for Part 2....

My Journey
By: Lisa Petrarca

Darkness crowds around me
Squeezing out my air
Take in a deep, cold breath
A few more steps, just walk
Look at the light ahead
Faint but steadily shining
Calling out my name
My feet are slowly moving
It seems far away
My strength is disappearing
The light's calling me to come
The darkness is thick and stifling
It never seems to end
The light is getting closer
My feet begin to run
It overtakes the shadows
The light now surrounds me
I've made it through the dark
The light is so amazing my journey has just begun


Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. (Psalm 107: 13-14)

INSOMNIA...

I can't take it anymore...I have had SEVERE insomnia for about 4 weeks now. I always have bouts of it here and there, but this is getting ridiculous. I am running on about 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night, yes, it's definitely stress related, but I can't shut my brain off, I just lay there and think, think, think. I tried melatonin, two different natural sleep aids, and Tylenol P.M. (can't function the next day.) I feel like a sloppy, drunk person trying to focus, drive and function during the day. I have to spend extra time checking and re-checking myself at work to make sure I'm not making any stupid mistakes.





We are in a scary situation right now and I've been trying to have faith, hope, trust and praying that the Lord will see us through this tough time...so here it is, I'm hoping that if I let it out, maybe I will be able to sleep and completely release it and put it in God's hands. We are very close to a foreclosure. If we can't come up with a house payment by the 30th, we will be 3 months behind...and they will start the foreclosure process. I've been keeping it all in and trying to not think about it, but obviously my subconscious is working overtime. My poor husband has been working 7 days a week, overtime and side jobs...but it is just never enough. I've been doing my side job and trying to put in extra hours at work too. I try and put it all in perspective, other people have it so much worse, but I am just sooo scared.

I have waited my whole life to own a home (I was a broke single mom for years), when my dream finally came true at the age of 36...I was an ecstatic and grateful homeowner! A fantasy wish that finally came true!! Now here I sit waiting and wondering about my families future. Never imagining that we would be in this situation, I thought my many years of struggling were over. Now, inching ever closer to the 30th, praying, waiting, hoping and trusting for a miracle.

I hope that this will relieve some of this bottled up stress, it's so embarrassing, but this is my reality...my dream may be coming to an end. Four days till my families fate...will we be able to come up with a payment, I don't know, please remember us in your prayers.

I've been reading this scripture A LOT!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6