which will cost us at least 1400 per year more (just considering deductible). After cutting salary last year & then doing nothing all year

to change anything. Like dh said - it feels like they're saying, "Sorry, Pastor, wish we didn't have to do it, but better you than me."

Just frustrating!

I know we're rich compared to many, but we've been going into debt the last year, & this is going to make it worse. We're trying to watch

spending, but we haven't done as much as we need to. Shit!

Ugh

OUCH!

We just had to have a bake sale for a pastor and his wife. She was pregnant and their deductible for maternity was $5000.

Dh is going to look into subbing at the local schools to help make ends meet.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

as a pastor's kid, I know how that can go. People have a stereotype of the rich TV evangelist, but poverty is closer to the reality.

Thanks, guys.

I just started crying about it; it just hit me again. There's nothing I can do; I feel so helpless. And it's not just the money, although

that's a concern; it's that dh feels underappreciated as a pastor. He doesn't know how much any particular person gives, but he's seen the

amounts that are given, & we're among the top 5 in terms of how much we donate. There's no way we're in the top 5 in income, though, so it

just feels like people are saying they wish they didn't have to cut his benefits, but their actions speak louder than their words, & their

actions say that they don't care. As far as I know, not one person did or said anything for him for pastors appreciation month last month.

We'd adopt another infant like we did with dd, but we can't afford it; that's why we're trying to adopt thru the foster care system.

His 40th birthday is Jan. 4, & I want to do something special, but it'll have to be something that costs almost nothing. We haven't gone on

a real vacation since Disney world 2 years ago, & the only reason we were able to afford that was because we inherited money from my

grandmother after she died. Our "vacations" since then have been visiting family & friends & going camping & floating, which is nice, but

other people at our church do much more. We've been trying really hard to remind each other how good we have it compared to some, & how

much we have to be grateful for, & how so many people are struggling so much more, & I'm trying to keep that in mind, but right now I just

need to vent. Dh went through & paid for 5 years of graduate education at the seminary, & he works really hard & tries to do his best, but

feeling unappreciated makes it even harder. And it's really hard for me to not feel anger & bitterness toward some of the people at church.

The president of the congregation is a teacher at our local school, & when dh said something about how hard this pay cut will be, he said

something about how he had to take a 5000 pay cut last year. But judging from the average teacher salary around here, he still makes more

than dh & I do combined, & his wife works a full-time job too. I have too much to get done tonight to be all weepy & sorry for myself.

I'm sorry. Thanks for letting me vent.

Thanks, Thoria. This, too, shall pass. Once I graduate & get a job as a prof., we'll be rolling in the dough!

Its awful to be unappreciated esp in a job like barons where your whole lives are focused on the church. Im sorry that there isnt an

Someone standing up for your family on that board

Thanks, Hethr. There are people on the board who are our good, true friends, but I think they feel like their hands are tied.

Yeah thats a tough situation.