Faith Through the Storm: Support for a Mother of Four

I never thought I would be writing something like this. My life changed with a simple phone call at midnight, a call that turned our entire world upside down. Due to my husband’s long battle with gambling addiction, he made choices that resulted in an immediate and unexpected crisis. Overnight, our home went from two incomes to one, and everything shifted in an instant, with no time to prepare.

With four children, including twins who require before and after-school care, as well as full-day care on no-school days. The financial strain has been overwhelming. My savings have been completely drained just trying to keep up with childcare, groceries, gas, and monthly bills. I am now living paycheck to paycheck, praying each month that my income will stretch far enough. Along with my kids, I also have three rescue dogs who depend on me for safety, food, and stability. I earn slightly above the cutoff for SNAP food assistance, which means I don’t qualify for help even though feeding four growing children on a single income is extremely difficult. It’s a gap many single parents fall into, and it has made this season even more challenging.

I am navigating a divorce and the legal fees that come with it. Because of the ongoing circumstances, child support will not be available for quite some time, leaving me to carry all financial responsibilities on my own. As the holidays approach, several caring friends, coworkers, and family members encouraged me to create this GoFundMe. I have worked incredibly hard not to ask for help, but I’ve learned that sometimes God sends people to lift you up when you cannot keep doing it alone. After much prayer and humility, I finally agreed to open this page.

But even in the midst of this storm, I know God is with me. He has carried me through the nights I cried myself to sleep and the days when I felt like I had nothing left. He is my strength, my provider, and the reason I can keep standing for my children. I believe that even this painful and unexpected season will be used for His good and His glory.

HOW YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US

Your donations will go directly toward essentials during this emergency period, including:

-Daycare fees for my twins

-Groceries and household necessities

-Gas and transportation

-Monthly bills to keep our home safe and stable

-Legal fees related to the divorce

-Food and care for our three rescue dogs

Even $5 or $10 makes a difference. Small donations truly add up and help us breathe a little easier each month.

WHAT I’M DOING TO REBUILD

I want everyone reading this to know:

I am working extremely hard to stand on my own two feet.

I have already:

-Taken on additional responsibilities at work to increase my income

-Sold and selling personal items

-Cut out all non-essential spending

-Working to sell assets

-Explored every possible resource to stabilize our home

This GoFundMe is not long-term support; it is a temporary bridge to help us survive this sudden and unexpected crisis while I work toward a more stable future for my children.

WHY THE NEED IS URGENT

The next few months are the most difficult because:

-Child support is not available due to current circumstances

-Legal fees are active and unavoidable

-I am transitioning to a single income

-Childcare and before/after-school care are necessary to maintain my job

-Work promotions and income changes take time

-The financial shock of losing half our household income was immediate

-This help will keep my family safe, fed, and stable during this transition.

MY GRATITUDE

I want to say a heartfelt thank you to those who have already stepped in with:

-Donations

-Warm cooked meals

-Encouraging words

-Prayer

-Kindness

-Support for my kids

-Help with the dogs (food, etc.)

You have no idea how deeply your generosity has impacted us. Some days, you were the reason we made it through. Your support reminded me that God sends the right people at exactly the right time.

A WORD OF FAITH

I hold onto this verse daily:

Isaiah 43:2 — “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

Even though life changed overnight, I know God is walking with me. I know He sees me, He knows my heart, and He will make a way even when I cannot see it yet.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you feel led to support — whether through:

-Donating

-Sharing this page

-Praying for my family

-Offering encouragement

I am deeply and sincerely grateful. Your compassion means more than words can ever express.

For those who have asked about sending direct support, my CashApp is $JRHighland. Your kindness in any form, prayer, sharing, donating, or simply sending encouragement, means more than you know.

Thank you for reading our story, lifting us up, and helping us through one of the hardest seasons of our lives.

With love, faith, and gratitude,

Jess