white flag is going up on this subject.

I feel like I need to get this out there. Its been weighing heavily on my mind lately. And quite frankly I've been spending way to much time researching and thinking about this subject. It is time for me to let it go plant my white flag and put my time and effort elsewhere. What has been on my mind? Our own church welfare system The Bishops Storehouse. It's honestly a wonderful program where members pay fast offerings it goes into a fund and "needy" or "poor" members get help with all sorts of bills like mortgage, utilities, medical bills and in some instances car payments. From what i have read and understand most of the time bishops will avoid paying car payments but through a story my neighbor told me when he was a repo man I found that in some circumstances they will in fact pay car payments. Then there is the Bishops Storehouse where members can get basic necessities to keep them afloat. All the blogs I've read describe it as nothing fancy but life sustaining.  One blogger said that a worker would tell her that she wouldn't get enough for five people. She went on to say that she already had 2 frozen turkeys and she had plenty of food. I don't know about you but a whole turkey or any kind of meat right now is "fancy" to me. Fruit such as apples and peaches are "fancy" to me right now. Milk bread peanut butter and eggs would be "fancy" to me.
 I bring this up for several reasons and I have questions for those who have received assistance.  My wife and I have not asked for assistance from the church for our small family mainly because we couldn't justify it. How do you justify assistance?  When does it cross that line where you ask? Is it after you buy a nice new dodge ram 2500 and a nice newer home and unexpectedly your wife becomes pregnant with twins? Is it after you get laid off at your higher than average waige job after working there for several years and didn't live within your means? Is when you couldn't afford to feed your horse? Do you have a garage full of toys? A house full of dogs? Did you just recently return from Alaska Hawaii Ireland and then ask? A few of these examples are true.

I don't have the nicest of vehicles. I don't have a gas gussling high payment truck. I don't have a nice house built in a nice neighborhood I don't have dogs because dogs require vet bills and food. I can't afford that no matter how cute they are.  I struggle to put food in my fridge and to keep my bills paid while others with high mortgage payments ATVS horses dogs nice new gas gussling trucks camping trailers without resorting to selling their posessions  turn to their bishops for help when it was their poor choices that contributed to their bank accounts draining with no savings.  I'm not perfect but my hand is not asking for help out of a brand new van while parked at a 300,000 dollar house either. It seems as if the "needy" are greedy and the "poor" are poor choice makers.

I want to end by this last story and maybe a few pictures.  I am currently on short term disability due to an at home accident. My bishop did check on us but was surprised that I couldn't go back to work. Not once has he asked us if we needed help. My wife even noticed it today. He asked how my hand was but didn't ask if we needed anything. Not that all bishops are perfect but you would think that he knowing I'm out of work would have at least asked. I wish that he would have asked.  I wish more that he would show up at my door with the relief society president with an order in hand and a checkbook. One mortgage payment (which would be half of the average around here) and a food order would help substantly. I think tonight I am going to write down a "when I can justify asking formula" that way instead of questioning we will know. With our current plan of moveing I'm thinking we may need to consider assistance.
 Last question to those who  are currently on church assistance.  How does your fridge compare to mine?

 Just wondering. Mine is mostly condiments (half needs to be thrown away) my fruit compartment is the hardest to keep full. Below is my very lame deep freezer. Notice the fish I caught last week:)

 Time to go grocery shopping!