Letter sent to Family and Friends

Dear Family and Friends (hope I got this to everyone, if you notice someone is missing please forward),

The Harris Family needs everyone's thoughts and prayers for the upcoming months.  As many of you know, we absolutely love North Carolina.  The people are friendly.  We have a wonderful small farm that we all enjoy.  Christina loves your job at the VA.  The homeschooling community is supportive.  We have found support in the local Girl Scouts troop.  We are near Christina's family and enjoying visits with them.  Many, many pluses for our decision to move here.

We are experiencing some very large minuses as some of you know.  Christina took a pay cut to become a federal employee.  This wouldn't be such a big deal except for the other big minuses.  Mark is struggling to find a part time job in this area.  He has applied recently for three positions with two of them being federal also (yeah, Fort Bragg).  When we took our information in for taxes, we realized the really big impact to our finances and family.  CHRISTINA'S HEALTH!

In the last 18 months, Christina has been sick with her environmental bronchial asthma six times.  I know that doesn't sound like much but think of the dr appts, medicines, time off from work, missing overtime that could have been.  She gets a small reprieve during winter so in essence, Christina is sick during spring, summer and fall every 2-3 months.  Her primary care provider indicated that she is a highly complex case which is the reason for being referred to an allergist.  This current sickness resulted in double dosage of antibiotics and prednisone.  A referral has also been made to the insurance company to try to get on a once a month shot that possibly won't be covered totally by insurance as it is so new.  A financial statement had to be completed in case there is needed financial support for this shot.  In other words, serious stuff, trying to keep me out of the hospital stuff.  Yesterday, Christina's primary care provider indicated that a drier climate would be beneficial.

This is where you all come in with your thoughts and prayers.....

Christina is applying for a position in (name of town) CA.  It is a promotion and a drier climate which are definite pluses.  The minuses are we will not be able to transport our family farm, goats and cat back to CA.  We will have to sell everything again to fit into our small trailer and van.  We will be returning to apartment living for at least the first year.  It costs to move a family across country.

With that all said, please have us in your thoughts and prayers as both options are just that good options, good directions. 

With love,

The Harris Family (names of family members, 4 goats and 1 cat)