Falling into my lap, or, thankful for what we have

I got a phone call from M of M and Lee last night. Remember them? Yeah, I know, it's been a long time. He's in another state working, she's working at My Town SDA School, and they have even started attending another congregation which has activities for their kids. Our lives have followed different paths.

Anyway, she called me last night. Her life continues to be full of trials. A house not selling with an ARM mortgage, a business that fell apart (lost $40,000), a job in another state, .... and the list goes on. Last night I heard that Lee's pay was cut by about 35-40 percent; so they are tightening their belt even more; no more Internet, cell phone use only (because of contract), insurance changed to just the minimum allowed by law, etc. etc. Then Lee's vehicle breaks down giving him a $500 towing bill. And, the asking price on the house is now so low that if it sells, they will still owe money to the bank.

Back in September I may have mentioned something about the Oldest J wanting to go with his class to the East Coast, but not being allowed to because of family rules; no J child will go anywhere in public without one of his/her parents present. That means M or Lee. Oldest J is now 14 years old. He gets to go to the East Coast, but only because M has made arrangements to go along. That leaves Middle J and Little Miss J without a place to stay. So last night M called me.

About an hour into the conversation, she finally asked me if it would be OK for Middle J and Miss J to spend a week with us while she and Oldest J go on the trip. I looked at my calendar and discovered that of all the weeks, the one she was referring to was the best one. They would come over either on the 18th or 19th of April; (Tony's birthday is on the 19th.) and would leave on April 24th when their dad drives in from the other state. Tony's been asking me for a birthday party, and now one is in our laps.

Angelo will drop off Middle J at school as it is right on the way to work; Little Miss J will home school with me. (There is a whole story in just that statement right there!) Miss J will participate in our activities and will come with us to choir practice, and both may go to Tony's concert the evening of the 24th.

So, April will be an interesting time. About a week after they leave Nana and Papa show up, and will spend a couple weeks here, attending Tony's Spring Concert, and celebrating two birthdays a couple weeks late.