9 thoughts on “Prayer Requests 5-2-25”

  2. Janice – Funny you should ask that. I was just coming here to give you all an update. I have not done so before because this whole situation with the house, which includes all the preparations for eventually moving is very overwhelming. (Like going through a lot of stuff that needs to be tossed or donated – and we still have stuff from when my mother-in-law lived with us.)

    It turned out that the extent of what would need to be done was beyond what I would be able to afford, even only paying for materials. (The front and back porches, from which the staging to repair the roof would have to be done are in need of being rebuilt due to the undergirding wood breaking down, and that would add too much to the costs.) My pastor and the contractor were both very disappointed by that, as of course, so was I.

    After hearing that news, I felt extremely discouraged, especially at the thought of losing the house and having to be out of here within just a few months.

    But not ready to give up yet I contacted a local realtor who has an excellent reputation in this area, and she came over the next day to take a look at the house, and to talk about some options. I didn’t even expect to have any options (the house is not in shape to sell as is), but she let me know that there are. What a relief that was!

    Oh, I should probably back up and say, if I hadn’t mentioned it here previously, that if at all possible, I would like to be able to stay here until a place at Woodland Springs, the senior living place, opens up. (I put my name on the list recently, and was told there is a two-year wait list, but that often the wait isn’t actually that long.)

    (The rents are based on income, and will not go up, except if income goes up. These units are relatively new, and very nice.)

    The realtor, Kathy, put me in touch with her husband Steve, who is a mortgage guy. He knows my situation, and is working on getting me a rehab loan that will pay off what I owe on the existing mortgage and for important things to be repaired, especially the roof and also the porches that need to be rebuilt. Then when I am ready to sell, I would be able to pay off the loan from whatever I get for the house.

    Dave, the contractor from my church, came out to get information in order to give me an estimate, which I then passed on to Steve.

    It had also been suggested that we have the upstairs bathroom, which has been unusable for several years, repaired and renovated in order to sell this as the two-family home that it really is. And there was one other situation that I asked him to take a look at. I asked him to give me those estimates separately in case I will not be able to get enough money for all of them.

    In fact, I suspect the third thing will not be able to be repaired because there is so much work that needs to be done on the first two, and I’m not even sure that I would be eligible for enough to include the upstairs bathroom. That would actually also involve putting a new ceiling in the downstairs kitchen due to the leaking from that bathroom above.

    Now I wait for those estimates, then pass them on to Steve, and then wait to see what comes of it. One good thing that has popped up is that Steve found me a homeowners insurance plan much less expensive than the one I have. But the outside repairs will either have to be finished, or at least in full swing before we can make that change.

    Oh, my. This is all so much more than I have ever dealt with before!

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  3. It seems that I am such a “throw back” to the old-fashioned stay-at-home wives and mothers whose husbands took care of important things with the house, handling the various repairmen and such. I am having to “stretch” so far lately. And it is overwhelming at times.

    After talking with Steve on the phone, it hit me that I am doing real “big girl” stuff now. (Or that I am “adulting” more than usual.😄) Since Hubby’s death, I have had the house in my name only, which still seems like such a big thing to me, and now I will be getting this rehab loan on my own (well, with help from Steve) as well as getting new homeowners insurance. And other stuff! (Like eventually selling the house, and all that will be involved in that.)

    This is all kind of scary. Nightingale recently told me that she is proud of me for how I am handling these things, and I am kind of pleased with myself, too. Especially because I know the mental and emotional struggles I am dealing with through it all. But you know what? I am feeling stronger. Not exactly strong, but stronger than I was. And I know that it is God helping me to be stronger.

    I may freak out and fall apart at times, but then I put myself back together and “do the next thing.”

    Sorry if it sounds like I am patting myself on the back. I give the glory to God, and really am very grateful to Him for helping me through all of this. But I’ll tell ya, when I am finally moved into Woodland Springs, and have unpacked and put away everything, I am going to kind of collapse. But in a good way, hopefully!😄

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  4. Those are huge accomplishments, Kizzie! Good for you. It’s great for us to know more about how to pray. You have a lot going on. Will Nightingale and Boy be in an apartment?

    I truly did not know the extent of what all you needed doing. We still need many things ourselves, but it was a huge relief several years back when we got the new roof and some other work done.

    Praying you get all you need in that loan.

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  5. Thank you, Janice.

    Yes, Nightingale and Boy will eventually move into their own apartment. She is planning on trying to do that before it is time for me to move, if possible, so that the two moves don’t overlap. Of course, we don’t know when an apartment will be available for me at Woodland Springs, so things may turn out differently.

    For right now, with Boy’s mental/emotional issues, she has not yet told him about these moves. He knows that we are planning on these improvements to the house, but not that we are eventually going to be moving, and going our separate ways. She will be talking to his therapist about how to handle telling him.

    Boy has lived here, and had me around, from shortly before he turned a year old. This will be a huge, and even painful, change for him, and for me, too.

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  6. There is an ice cream place in the next town over that chooses a “Name of the Day” each day. People with that name get a free ice cream cone. Today’s name is Janice. 🙂

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  7. I’ll be right up there and claim my favorite flavor . . . rocky road or maybe mint chocolate chip or strawberry or butter pecan or peach or . . . wow, I could be up there trying to decide and never get home in time for bed!

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  8. Please pray for Mary and her husband, Terry. Mary is on the threshold of death. Her sister, who plays music with my husband has been with her and will remain until she passes. Another sister died a few years ago, also of cancer. These sisters are very close, and Mary has been a great fan of the music group.

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  9. Kizzie, I totally understand. My husband is still alive, but he cannot do so many things and no longer handles a lot. It is stressful. I especially miss having any of my children nearby. Such changes are not easy for anyone. Prayers for it all.

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