My name is Stephanie and I just want to share my families story.

I am a mother of four young boys and times have been tough for  my entire family for about the last year now.

We live in Utah, where the job shortage statistics say we are doing pretty good as a state as far as unemployment goes.

I lost my job a little over a year ago, because of monetary issues. I now work at an inbound telemarketing center making dramatically less than I'm used to, but that's all there is out there in this small town of Ogden.

My children's father (my boyfriend), had his own auto detailing, modification shop for the last three years and has recently shut it down due to lack of customers. What once started out as booming buisness for him, turned into non existent customer demand. He now works part time in the evening at a gas station. He also make way less than what he's used to, but there's nothing out there hiring.

My dad is in the appraisal buisness. He's been doing it for the past 8 years and doing very well with it. He has his own buisness, and recently was forced to go on Social Security because there's very little clientel out there.

My oldest brother recently was laid off due to the economy. He is a computer whiz and has been extremely succesful in his career. He's worked for banks, and energy companies as well as in the real estate buisness and also had a big role to play in the 2002 Olympics here in Utah. He had no choice but to go on Umemployment to take care of his family.

My other brother has also done a lot of great things in his career. He has done many things as an architect/graphic engineer. He's also worked in a very succesful realtor field. He, too, was forced to go on unemployment this last fall just to survive and try to hold on to his house.

My sister has wotked for a call center working as a supervisor for Washington Mutual for the last 2 1/2 years and that was just shut down in November leaving her no choice but to take half the pay and, like myself, work as a phone agent for another company.

My "mother-in-law" works for a vitamins and animal products company  where she's worked for the last 10 years as the executive secretary, web designer, assistant to the VP. They are currently out of funds and there is no longer a customer demand for their products so they, too, will be closing soon. She has been searching for the last few months for other work, but there is just nothing out there right now that would pay close to what she makes now.

My family and I are currently staying at my mother-in-laws house trying to save for our own house, because we were no longer able to make payments for our last house. It looks like, though, we might all be looking for another place to stay soon.

Both my brothers are losing their houses as well as my dad and sister as well.

This is terrifying for my whole family. We don't know where to turn and/or when things will get a little better.

This is a very scary time for ALL of America!!!

We just try to stay strong and stay positive.