counting blessings

It finally happened...and I've been dreading this day for quite some time...my first student loan bill arrived in the mail. Now, if i were gainfully employed (permanently, cause a 12 week internship with no benefits doesnt count), or weren't paying an astronomical amount in daycare, or well... you know watching more money go out each month than comes in, maybe I wouldn't have had such severe heart palpitations. However, because we are poor students, we qualify for economic hardship deferment. THANK GOD. When I called the loan agency the guy actually laughed at me when I told him our cash flow stats coupled with the fact that Mr. F is still in medical school...and don't even get me started on those loans... It's days like this I question the intelligence of my decision to go to grad school, but then I remind myself that school is an investment and you've got to spend money to make money, right? right?! oh, I hope I'm right!

While we may be the stereo type of the "poor grad student" I know there are countless other people out there loosing their jobs, in debt up to their ears, and loosing their homes. This is why every night before I fall asleep I say a prayer of thanksgiving for a roof over our heads, food on the table, and the love of our family.

I heard on Oprah once about counting your blessings and you'll realize you are rich. I thought that was a bit odd at the time, but now I see the value in it and I hope you feel the same.