Tahnadonotwannastruggle:

I know this may be of little consolation for you at this very moment in time, but I thought I would share my adult beginnings, as a means of encouragement to you. At age 18 my father disowned me and forbade Grammie from offering me any assistance. Much like you, I was raised in an upper middle class family and had enjoyed a comfortable life. In the blinking of an eye, it was all gone. I was forced to try and make my way with a new wife and a soon to arrive baby Louanne (an awesome woman today).

I got a job at a Circle K Convenience store making $2.10 an hour. After a few months living
with my grandparents, we moved into an apartment in a very Dangerous part of Albuquerque which I would describe as the ghetto's ghetto. I had no education and no money, but I did
have hope. A hope for a better life for my family, perhaps one like I was blessed with growing up. Little did I know what God would work in my life as I laid awake many nights wondering how I would be able to provide food, shelter and security for a fledgling family.

We started attending a great community church and I made the decision that I would give 10%
of my paltry income in tithes (How much is 10% of nearly nothing). It was the very first time that I totally stepped out in blind faith. Two weeks later I met a wonderful couple at church who insisted that we move out of our dangerous apartment immediately. They helped us move into a brand new apartment coincidentally named, "Candelaria Manor". This was possible due to their assistance and then the husband helped me get a job working with him as a meter reader for the electric company. In less than a month, I went from really struggling to mostly struggling (improving greatly), but in a new job with great benefits and a huge $570 per month salary (nearly doubled my previous income). I will not bore you with the detail
from then until now, but suffice it to say, God put progressively better opportunities in my path and the rest is, as they say, history.

The point is, God intervened in my life in a powerful way back then and I have been a prodigal son to God numerous times since. Each time, God has shown me great mercy, love and grace. Part of His grace has been giving me the honor and the privilege to be your dad. You have grown into a beautiful, loving and TALENTED young woman. I will be forever grateful that God allowed me to be "Obnoxious Cheerleader Dad of the Year", and for allowing me to catch an early flight home so that I could surprise you by wearing the Cheerleader Dad sweatshirt I made, all the while walking along the sidelines with your coach and waving to the crowd. And for Chattanooga, Chattanooga, YA! And for a THOUSAND other things that have more value than any job I have ever had or any "success" I have known.

God started a great work in you before the very beginning of time. Trust Him to take you to the end of a blessed journey. Joseph will get a job and you will sell more art and photography than you could have ever imagined. As Holly said, do not buy the lies of the enemy for he comes to steal, kill and destroy. You will be victorious and you should never stop hoping and believing in the living God.

I leave you with the words from James 1:

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and
tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Tahnzella, stay strong in the Lord and the power of His might!

I Love You,

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