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Please Help Me Visit My Children

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So...I'm writing this, nervously, at the encouragement of friends. There are 3 things that would bless my life immensely if I could accomplish so I am biting the bullet and asking for a little help.

My name is Wendy, I am a mother, an artist, and have worked in the food service industry most of my life.  At 43 I've been a single mother for most of my life.    My oldest 2 sons ages 23 and 26 and I live,  thankfully, together. I have a daughter 18, and son 17 ( and they have a brother and sister) who live in Virginia with their father, who we have not seen in way to many years.  The picture is one of the last ones I have of the 4 of them together. 

I have, however, paid lots of child support, around 50% of my paychecks most of the time, with my tax refund going to them through their father year after year also because once you get a little behind and interest is thrown in, its hell to catch up.  I've attached photos of my last paycheck stub, a letter showing that my last years tax refund went out for childsupport ( which would have easily covered me seeing my children and them seeing their mother) and I expect the same this year. 



to allow you see that I work, (although recently let go) and do pay, and do my best to remember I am blessed to be able to live on such a tight budget although it doesn't allow for extras like travelling to see my children in Virginia  and it weighs on my heart daily.   You might also notice my former employer charged me to send the childsupport payment also. 

A possible solution has entered my life, a friend of mine is making a drive north and will pass the area in which my children live and has graciously offered a ride and to be there for me on this first visit with my children in many years.  My children and I text, and send pics sometimes, but its not the same, and makes me long to be with them again  and frankly I want to hug them and begin the healing and reuniting process for all of us. It will cost me a bit of money,  I will need a hotel atleast for one  night, airfare to return (as its a one way moving trip for my friend) lite travel expenses and few bucks to do something with my children.   I figure $500 would reasonably cover it.

Next up on biting the bullet.... I haven't owned a car in nearly 10 years. (I sold my old one when I moved from Texas to Florida to be closer to my kids and have struggled financially ever since).  I have been blessed with friends who have loaned me their old cars they aren't using which has greatly helped improve my life, take care of my family and my ability to get out and promote myself as an artist.  Thank God for compassionate friends who understand and see that its a hard hole to get out of, no matter how hard I try.

One such friend has recently offered me the opportunity to purchase her older car. I need $900 to put down on it and can make really small payments after that and with a car I can full fill a dream to open a little art shop at a local hollistic &  farmers market.  

Opening up my own little business  would cost me about $400. I have plenty of art to supply the store, and the will to be independently employed and successful, it's start up that is the challenge for me. The place also has a month to month policy so I am not committed to a long lease creating long term committment and overhead, it allows me the opportunity to try it out, see if I can sustain it and earn all or  part of my living from it.  You can see some of my art in my new blog  about art, and thoughts and feelings on humanity or on my online gallery which I began trying to  sell my unique photography in during 2011 in hopes of earning extra money.  Turns out its kind of challenging online, but I do well when people meet me and see my work in person.  It's why I really want to try having a little affordable shop. 

My friend driving north is leaving sometime in the next few weeks, just waiting for a few last minute details to  to sort out, It would be out of this world if I could accept her offer and ride with her.   I will happily send you a piece of my art or create one specifically for you to share my eternal appreciation and gratitude for helping my family reunite and continue to grow together with the tools I need to succeed in todays society.  This is me with a piece of my art called Door to the Soul currently on display at Shade Post  in Fort Lauderdale.  Thank you for reading and considering helping.  


Organizer

Wendy Figg
Organizer
Fort Lauderdale, FL

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