My cinco de mayo
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Today I woke up and enjoyed coffee, played a few games online while I watched T.V. A week ago
I thought this was going to be the worst day of my life. But, it turned out to be fantastic.
A few weeks ago I was frozen in time. Paralyzed mentally to the point all I could do is look at
things and think about what I needed to do. No matter how hard I tried I could not do anything. My
mind raced but my body refused to move. Morning after morning I awoke and counted down the
days I would lose my home. My house was facing foreclosure and I had no idea how I was going
to stop it.
The mortgage company Country Wide was refusing to work with me. I had called everyone I knew
to borrow money. No one could help. I wrote letters to Ellen DeGeneres, Regis Philbin and Kelly
Ripa, Dolly Pardon, Good Morning America and Paula Dean. Paula Dean's people wrote back a
very nice letter letting me know they had other charities they worked with but wished me well.
Dolly Pardons Dolly wood people did the same. I do appreciate they acknowledged my letters. I
also realize with the state of the economy the others are probably so bogged down with similar
request they can only answer so many letters.
Every Sunday morning for about the last 8 or 10 months I have been watching Joel Osteen. I did
not write to him. I did not write to him simply because I was sure even though I did not he had me
in his prayers. I knew from his sermons that I would come across obstacles and I would get to
the point I thought there was no help in site and yet, in the last minute help would come.
Maybe that is why I wrote people I thought might be able to help. No help came but, I pressed on
and new God would show up and show out. I knew I was his child and no matter how bad things
got he had not forgotten about me.
Friday a week ago Brian went outside and came back in quickly. He announced his truck was
gone. My heart what was left of it fell to my feet. I was prepared though. I guess you could say I
had gotten to the point that I would not say nothing else bad can happen. I have learned better.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse it can.
Long story short the truck was repossessed. Inside the truck were tools he needed just in case
he gets a job so I had to call the finance company to find out when we could reclaim them. I
explained to the lady on the phone that I had cancer and that is why I had not been making the
payments. I also explained that making a house payment and keeping the lights on was my
main priority. She pretended to be sympathetic while still badgering me as to when I would be
able to make the rest of the payments. It really did not bother me because by now I just really
didn't care. I know my health needs to be my main concern and I can replace a truck.
The next week on Monday Brian and I went to the yard where the truck was to collect the items he
had left in it. I had such a sad feeling in my heart as I looked around at all the vehicles parked on
this site. This I might add is just a temporary site. This was just a recovery site all the vehicles
go to before they go to the auction. All I could think of is all the families that had like ourselves
lost their vehicles due to circumstances beyond their control.
From there we proceeded on to a friend of his place of business who had a couple of houses for
rent.
Even though I was holding out hope someone would step in and help me I also had to face the
reality that I was going to loose my house to foreclosure. I tried waking up each morning and
thinking positive. I prayed daily most days more than once or twice. I put bad thoughts in the
back of my head and tried to visualize the best. No matter how hard I tried the thoughts of packing
boxes and where I was going to live kept creeping in. I tried to rationalize with myself with the old
adage if you fail to plan you plan to fail. I tried hard to rationalize with myself that what I was doing
was covering all my bases.
While we drove I told Brian I told Brian that I hoped the house we found to rent was not in
foreclosure so we would not loose all our money and end up on the street. He replied back well
that be the icing on the cake. I said back. Nope, we have already got the icing. The cake has
been made and frosted. All we need is the cherry on top.
We went and looked at these two houses. We both had come to the realization that we would
have to move. The only thing we had to do now is find a new place to live.
After returning home and the both of us facing the reality of what was about to happen we met
with what we had been avoiding the whole time. We both were thinking the same thing even
though neither of us would talk about it. The dogs.
When Brian and I met almost 9 years ago he had 2 dogs and so did I. Due to a few accidents
and our big hearts we ended up with a house full of dogs.
We knew we had to find homes for them so we started looking for rescue shelters. We also had
come to the realization that for the money we would not be able to rent a home as large as the
one we are living in now. We took out the camera and started making pictures of everything we
had and posting the items on Craig’s list to sale.
The response was great. I had a little money in the bank and the money we would get for the
items would help us pay rent, rent a truck to move and get us though until after my surgery. All I
wanted at this point is to know where I was going to go when my surgery was over. I have surgery
scheduled for May 28th and all I could see is the sheriff showing up to remove the contents of my
home to the street. I was already embarrassed and humiliated enough that I was loosing my
house. I really did not want to announce it to the world.
One of my most prizes possessions was my pool table. One of the reasons I purchased this
home was because I had a room big enough to make a game room for it.
A few weeks earlier I had called the county lawyers bar association and gotten the name and
phone number of a bankruptcy attorney who worked pro bono or help low income families. The
future was not looking too bright here because the only time he had to see me was on May 1st at
4:30. The foreclosure date was May 5th the following Tuesday. I had also been told what I would
have to do to file bankruptcy to save my house and as it looked I was not receiving enough money
from disability to file. I could not believe my luck. How is it possible you can be so broke you can’t
afford to file for bankruptcy?
Friday morning May 1st Brian and I went and looked at another house. This house was
recommended to us by a perfect stranger. What had happened was in a last ditch hope to sell
our house I called home vestors or we buy ugly houses. One of the guys there listened to our
story. He knew an investor who was looking for a tenant to rent and fix up the place as part of the
rent. We went and looked at this house just before going to see the lawyer. We had decided this
was by far the best house we had seen and here we could make a home.
We talked openly as to what we would do about re-homing our loving animals. We had found a
house big enough to hold most of our stuff and had high hopes the landlord would let us keep 2
or 3 of our dogs.
Our spirits high and facing what we had to do we walked into the lawyers office to find out what
we could do to get a few weeks or maybe even a month to move. To my surprise the lawyer
looked at me a said. “No one is going to take your house.”
Against all odds at the last minute I was allowed to file chapter 13 bankrupt and save our home
and family.
What makes this such a fantastic day is today should have been the day my house was to be
sold. Instead it brings me back to my website that I started to help others who are going through
similar situations.
I thought this was going to be the worst day of my life. But, it turned out to be fantastic.
A few weeks ago I was frozen in time. Paralyzed mentally to the point all I could do is look at
things and think about what I needed to do. No matter how hard I tried I could not do anything. My
mind raced but my body refused to move. Morning after morning I awoke and counted down the
days I would lose my home. My house was facing foreclosure and I had no idea how I was going
to stop it.
The mortgage company Country Wide was refusing to work with me. I had called everyone I knew
to borrow money. No one could help. I wrote letters to Ellen DeGeneres, Regis Philbin and Kelly
Ripa, Dolly Pardon, Good Morning America and Paula Dean. Paula Dean's people wrote back a
very nice letter letting me know they had other charities they worked with but wished me well.
Dolly Pardons Dolly wood people did the same. I do appreciate they acknowledged my letters. I
also realize with the state of the economy the others are probably so bogged down with similar
request they can only answer so many letters.
Every Sunday morning for about the last 8 or 10 months I have been watching Joel Osteen. I did
not write to him. I did not write to him simply because I was sure even though I did not he had me
in his prayers. I knew from his sermons that I would come across obstacles and I would get to
the point I thought there was no help in site and yet, in the last minute help would come.
Maybe that is why I wrote people I thought might be able to help. No help came but, I pressed on
and new God would show up and show out. I knew I was his child and no matter how bad things
got he had not forgotten about me.
Friday a week ago Brian went outside and came back in quickly. He announced his truck was
gone. My heart what was left of it fell to my feet. I was prepared though. I guess you could say I
had gotten to the point that I would not say nothing else bad can happen. I have learned better.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse it can.
Long story short the truck was repossessed. Inside the truck were tools he needed just in case
he gets a job so I had to call the finance company to find out when we could reclaim them. I
explained to the lady on the phone that I had cancer and that is why I had not been making the
payments. I also explained that making a house payment and keeping the lights on was my
main priority. She pretended to be sympathetic while still badgering me as to when I would be
able to make the rest of the payments. It really did not bother me because by now I just really
didn't care. I know my health needs to be my main concern and I can replace a truck.
The next week on Monday Brian and I went to the yard where the truck was to collect the items he
had left in it. I had such a sad feeling in my heart as I looked around at all the vehicles parked on
this site. This I might add is just a temporary site. This was just a recovery site all the vehicles
go to before they go to the auction. All I could think of is all the families that had like ourselves
lost their vehicles due to circumstances beyond their control.
From there we proceeded on to a friend of his place of business who had a couple of houses for
rent.
Even though I was holding out hope someone would step in and help me I also had to face the
reality that I was going to loose my house to foreclosure. I tried waking up each morning and
thinking positive. I prayed daily most days more than once or twice. I put bad thoughts in the
back of my head and tried to visualize the best. No matter how hard I tried the thoughts of packing
boxes and where I was going to live kept creeping in. I tried to rationalize with myself with the old
adage if you fail to plan you plan to fail. I tried hard to rationalize with myself that what I was doing
was covering all my bases.
While we drove I told Brian I told Brian that I hoped the house we found to rent was not in
foreclosure so we would not loose all our money and end up on the street. He replied back well
that be the icing on the cake. I said back. Nope, we have already got the icing. The cake has
been made and frosted. All we need is the cherry on top.
We went and looked at these two houses. We both had come to the realization that we would
have to move. The only thing we had to do now is find a new place to live.
After returning home and the both of us facing the reality of what was about to happen we met
with what we had been avoiding the whole time. We both were thinking the same thing even
though neither of us would talk about it. The dogs.
When Brian and I met almost 9 years ago he had 2 dogs and so did I. Due to a few accidents
and our big hearts we ended up with a house full of dogs.
We knew we had to find homes for them so we started looking for rescue shelters. We also had
come to the realization that for the money we would not be able to rent a home as large as the
one we are living in now. We took out the camera and started making pictures of everything we
had and posting the items on Craig’s list to sale.
The response was great. I had a little money in the bank and the money we would get for the
items would help us pay rent, rent a truck to move and get us though until after my surgery. All I
wanted at this point is to know where I was going to go when my surgery was over. I have surgery
scheduled for May 28th and all I could see is the sheriff showing up to remove the contents of my
home to the street. I was already embarrassed and humiliated enough that I was loosing my
house. I really did not want to announce it to the world.
One of my most prizes possessions was my pool table. One of the reasons I purchased this
home was because I had a room big enough to make a game room for it.
A few weeks earlier I had called the county lawyers bar association and gotten the name and
phone number of a bankruptcy attorney who worked pro bono or help low income families. The
future was not looking too bright here because the only time he had to see me was on May 1st at
4:30. The foreclosure date was May 5th the following Tuesday. I had also been told what I would
have to do to file bankruptcy to save my house and as it looked I was not receiving enough money
from disability to file. I could not believe my luck. How is it possible you can be so broke you can’t
afford to file for bankruptcy?
Friday morning May 1st Brian and I went and looked at another house. This house was
recommended to us by a perfect stranger. What had happened was in a last ditch hope to sell
our house I called home vestors or we buy ugly houses. One of the guys there listened to our
story. He knew an investor who was looking for a tenant to rent and fix up the place as part of the
rent. We went and looked at this house just before going to see the lawyer. We had decided this
was by far the best house we had seen and here we could make a home.
We talked openly as to what we would do about re-homing our loving animals. We had found a
house big enough to hold most of our stuff and had high hopes the landlord would let us keep 2
or 3 of our dogs.
Our spirits high and facing what we had to do we walked into the lawyers office to find out what
we could do to get a few weeks or maybe even a month to move. To my surprise the lawyer
looked at me a said. “No one is going to take your house.”
Against all odds at the last minute I was allowed to file chapter 13 bankrupt and save our home
and family.
What makes this such a fantastic day is today should have been the day my house was to be
sold. Instead it brings me back to my website that I started to help others who are going through
similar situations.
Today Is May 5th, 2009