What is Hope?

        I've sat here all day asking my self what exactly hope means...by definition hope

1. intransitive verb

2. 1:  to cherish a desire with anticipation <hopes for a promotion>
3. 2archaic  :  trust

4. transitive verb

5. 1:  to desire with expectation of obtainment
6. 2:  to expect with confidence :  trust

hop·er  noun

hope against hope

1. :  to hope without any basis for expecting fulfillment
   
   I can admit I have felt hopeless several times this year, between the huge cut in our income to fighting the VA for the husband to get his pay fixed all the way to worrying about my mom's health the past few weeks. It's been a rough year for our family and yet we've made it through because we have hope that we will get thru it with each other. 
   A week ago I received an amazing phone call from Hope for the Warriors...through the help of some amazing donors I will be getting a workshop built so I can move all my wreath making stuff and crafty supplies out of our home. Making wreaths help supplement a small portion of our household income so to have a space designated for this is huge! I can admit I cried when I was told that this was happening! I also did a lot of over thinking and felt guilty because I didn't think I deserved such an amazing gift. As most of us in the Wounded Warrior community we also know of a family in a much worse situation and we want to help them. That's why I love this community and all the wonderful people who help us. 
   Over the next few weeks and months I will be updating everyone with pictures and blogs each step we take thru this amazing journey. I am extremely Hope-ful that 2016 will be an amazing year full of hope and joy! 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Creating

A few years ago, before the husband's first hospitalization I worked a normal job...it was a great job being a special education para, I loved the school I was at, the teachers and staff. I was my own person. And than the husband was hospitalized shortly after coming home from his 3rd and last deployment, the PTSD monster had taken over and she was controlling him. I quit my job and started down the road of being a fulltime caregiver. That was a huge cut in our budget but we managed because he was active duty.

Fast forward to 2015 and he's no longer active duty...we live on VA disability at 80% and SSDI which in the grand scheme of living isn't a lot plus we have a 16yr old son who is active in boy scouts and a daughter that goes to college. I tried looking for a fulltime job but when managers hear that I need flexible schedules or that there might be bad days for my husband and I'm unable to be extremely reliable there goes that job.

I've always been a "crafty" person, I can look at a picture and make most things so I would make homemade presents for family members to save money. That's when Dreamin in Burlap came to be...thanks to the encouragement of several amazing women who are in the caregiver community.

 Being able to start a company is amazing for us, my husband helps me by tracking my orders, keeping me on budget and checking my inventory. My daughter when she's home is my go to rag wreath maker and my son helps by making boxes and loading up the vehicle for our weekly shipping day. Not only does this involve our entire family but it helps give my husband the stability he needs with me being home and it helps bring some income to the household so we can afford boy scouts, art supplies or even groceries.

We donate multiple wreaths to caregivers, veterans and other amazing people that just need a pick me up. We want to help others feel better about the new normal of being a caregiver, a disabled veteran or an advocate for the veteran community. We also have donated items to our local YMCA for help with the scholarship program to help underprivileged families have the chance to use the YMCA and the programs that are offered. This is all done out of pocket and it gives us a great feeling to know that make that little wreath makes someone smile when they're having a rough day.