Just over 15 years ago, I did not have a home. In the span of a couple of months, I found myself divorced, unemployed, and would have been homeless save for friends and family who provided shelter. It was as dark a time as I had ever experienced. It was six months before I finally crawled out of that hole.<\/p>\n
Great support and a general refusal to explore complete and abject failure helped me to persevere. I found a job with an employer who has kept me on for over fourteen years. I met a love that sustains me daily and has literally saved my life. With the support of that job and that love, I was able to pursue and complete a graduate degree. As I finished that education, I was given a son of whom I am very proud. It is a joy to watch him grow into a young man. These among many other things, including photography, gave me renewed purpose.<\/p>\n
Somewhere in the middle of building a new, spiritual home, I found the means to build a physical home. For a man who was all but homeless a few years before, being able to choose a plot of land and a house plan with my wife, this moment was nothing short of a miracle. This is my house. This is my home. It has been just that for over eleven years now.<\/p>\n
I have led a good life despite a couple of harrowing travails. I have lost parts of myself, been shaken to the core, and rediscovered who I am. While there are still struggles, there is no doubt that I am materially blessed. The future being uncertain, I am confident that my lot in life will see me through. None of this means anything without those who keep my heart warm.<\/p>\n
Whatever the obstacles confronting you today, remain focused and persevere. In dark times, we find ourselves, we find our friends, and we find truths. Learn and live again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Just over 15 years ago, I did not have a home. In the span of a couple of months, I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oklahoma","wpcat-15-id"],"yoast_head":"\n