This land is your land, this land is my land… Until your lender forecloses. Vacant homes, playmates going to other schools, and empty seats at church are signs that lives are being changed by a wicked economy. Yet there is proof that diamonds are created under tremendous pressure.

Older children are moving back in with their parents. Young couples and older couples are sharing a home with Mom and Dad. They are renting their home because they cannot sell it in this market. They do not want to lose it entirely. So the extended family is under one roof for a time.

My father-in-law thought my fitness equipment was a waste of money but found some room for it in the basement. However he surprised us when he asked if he could hold my daughter’s dreadnought acoustic guitar. Then he proceeded to play and actually sing. My mother-in-law is an avid reader and has fallen in love with my wife’s kindle reader.

Our financial difficulties led us home. Not our home but our family’s home. I was not prepared for the surprises. I came home from work and Pop was playing a popular guitar video game with the kids. He was totally jamming and the kids were grinning. Was it possible that we were all changing or just revealing what was already inside us?

My Mom and my Mother-in-law are now own neighboring farms on a popular internet site. My son has been learning to tie fishing flies with his Grandpa. I watched my daughter laughing as she took off biking with her Mom and Grandmother. On weekends the kids have their friends over and I believe it’s making their grandparents feel younger.

Old relationships are being renewed. My wife and I have been visiting with my parents friends and making new connections. It was through one of my Mom’s friends that my wife found out about a better job opportunity. My Dad and I had lots of talks in the workshop that I was not much interested in as a kid.

Wrapping up a day of chasing fish my Pop asked me if I thought the kids might like spending some weekends at their house after we move back to our home next year. He said he was also wondering if we might be able to get together for a couple out of state fishing trips next summer.

The kids laughed at my goofy hairdo and funny outfit. Then my daughter said, ‘You have grandpa’s smile Dad’. I looked at the picture and at my father. Then I looked at my son’s smile. It was a match. That’s when I knew that when a bad economy steals every penny you have you can still wrap your arms around everything you treasure. Guess what? Those kind of riches will hug you back.

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