No room at the inn
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know there is an …issue… with our plans of going down to Florida for seven months. We are still leaving this Friday. However, someone in the condo building we were renting found out that we had six kids, went ballistic, and now we have no place to go. The family who is babysitting our Kentucky farm will be here on Thursday.
Greg asked me if I thought God was sovereign. Of course He is. But even Jesus had no place to lay his head, and let’s just say, I’m not crazy about the idea.
So just in the spirit of fun—because we are definitely not having any fun here– here’s my version of some Christmas cheer:
Twas the week before Christmas, And I was packing my house
When the realtor called, while I was folding my blouse
“You’re homeless now!”, she said with some care
“The condo hates kids; they don’t want you there.”
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of homeless shelters danced in mom’s head
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, she downed a nightcap,
To ready for scrambling; there’s no winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But the folks moving into this house, loaded down with their gear!
We’re packing, we’re praying, we’re selling the kids
Ebay and Craigslist are taking our bids
Where is the manger, a place to lie down?
No place for six kids in the whole stinkin’ town?
I don’t know what’ll happen, only God has foresight,
But Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Are you going to be staying in Cocoa Beach? Surely, there’s some place there that’ll take all of you? Guess if not, maybe you could rent one of the shuttles or “pods” collecting dust at Kennedy?? =)
God is good…all the time. It’ll work out!
December 14th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Kim,
That question is hard to answer. :) We were going to stay in Cocoa Beach. Our search includes Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, and our old hometown of Merritt Island, plus surrounding areas.
We are trying to find a furnished place, bringing just clothes, homeschool stuff, and odds and ends. I found a 1600 sf house (no pool) that MIGHT be available. We just keep waiting…
December 14th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Have you looked at VRBO? (Vacation Rentals by Owner) It’s a website. You might find something off the beaten track there.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
The problem I’m running into with all the vacation rentals is that they are taken for misc. weeks during the timeframe we need. For example, I found a perfect place, except that it’s not available for two weeks in Feb, May, and a week in June.
The problem with regular rentals is one or all of the following: they only want a one year lease, they don’t want 6 kids in the house, they don’t have an agent or owner who will return phone calls, they sold it, it’s in the middle of a short sale or foreclosure, and/or now they changed their mind and don’t want to rent after all.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Or one more: “It was available but now it’s taken.”
December 14th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
We were “homeless” for two weeks (living in a hotel) between closing on our old house and waiting for the new one to be ready. Even for 2 weeks it’s not fun (or cheap) to be piled into two rooms with 5 kids without a kitchen or laundry room. I’ll be praying for your situation!
December 14th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I noticed that about the misc. weeks when I glanced at a couple of calendars. Maybe you could rent a month at a time… like take that one you found for January, March and April, and find other places where you could stay a full month for the other months. Better than being homeless…
Or you could move in with some old friends. :) Don’t all Floridians expect a lot of out-of-state company simply by nature of their location?
December 14th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Do you think they saw your post about Charlie painting the floor? ;)
I’ll pray that you find something soon, and that God will do more than you asked or imagined He would do for you.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Oh, Amy, if you were coming to my neck of the woods I would offer you a roof over your head. I am praying for patience and peace for you as you wait upon the Lord. I also pray that something even better than what you thought you were getting will be provided.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:05 am
I am laughing at the poem but I am praying for the perfect place for you and the crumb crunchers.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Crazy! What an opportunity to trust. At least you’re not pregnant and vomitous, right? Sorry, that’s just the kind of thing my husband would point out in a hard situation. I’ll be praying for manna from heaven. Our God is faithful; he will provide.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:34 am
I’ll be praying for you guys. It wouldn’t be ideal, but maybe you guys could stay at one of those hotels with a kitchenette that rents by the week? Either way, God knows what you need and it’ll be interesting to see how He moves in this.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:14 am
OH, no~! I’m praying for His last minute provision.
I know what you describe. When we were looking for a rental, one landlord almost passed out. I had gone to look a place and it was GREAT! Tons of room. Beautiful (fenced) yard. A school room. Sigh. Dreamy. WE talked, it was all lining up. Then I made the mistake of going by to show the kids. They unloaded like the VonTrapp family and his face drained. Suddenly, they weren’t available for my calls.
Sigh.
I know He’ll bring you something. Can’t wait to see what it is.
December 15th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Well, I love your poem, but I do feel for you. Y’all will be in my prayers. What a nightmare!
December 15th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
What? You mean there is no law against discrimination against family size?? Gaspchokewheeze!
December 15th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Seriously, isn’t that illegal for them to turn you away because of your kids?
December 15th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
How about an unfurnished place and then rent everything from a big company like Cort. Do they have Cort down there? The company my sister works for uses Cort all the time.
I’m praying for you Amy!
“Greg asked me if I thought God was sovereign. Of course He is. But even Jesus had no place to lay his head, and let’s just say, I’m not crazy about the idea.”
Hahahaha
I had 21 credits my senior year of college in order to graduate and my then boyfriend (now, husband) had 9. I was hysterical during final week and he sat on the couch watching Suns bball. I was crying and he said “now Janet, don’t worry so much, graduating has nothing to do with your eternal security.” :P
December 15th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I feel your pain, Amy. We just rented a house in CA (after looking to buy for several months) and boy was it hard to find a place! No one wanted to rent to a family with 6 kids and 3 cats (outdoor)! We finally rented from a family acquaintance but it was hard on the nerves there for awhile.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I’ll be praying for you and yours.
Hmm, you may just have to buy one of those short sale or forclosures. I know how much you enjoy having a long distance rental. :-)
December 15th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Yes, it’s illegal to reject us based on the kids. My credit score is 800 and we have the income, and we’ve met their terms. It’s just about the kids.
Regarding Cort, I priced that several months ago. It was over $700 just for 3 queen beds, living room group, and some end tables. I figured that I’d do better to buy furniture at Big Lots, save the receipt, and take the tax write-off on a donation. There were enough furnished places (being in a resort town) that I didn’t imagine it’d be an issue to secure a furnished place.
Maybe. But I don’t know anyone with room for 8 people for—and here’s the key—an undetermined amount of time….
December 16th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Your poem made me laugh but your situation makes me sad and kind of growl-y. I don’t like to see discrimination against larger families. It hits home. Don’t they know how WONDERFUL we are? ;)
Somewhere, out there, is a person with a house who would be delighted to know a young family is living and thriving inside.
Praying that you and this person shake hands soon.
December 16th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Just to update: we might have somewhere on December 27. We are still waiting on signing the lease. (Not that having a signed contract matters we’ve learned, but hey, you know.)
December 16th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Update: Scratch that. The owner “changed his mind”. Now we are out again and back to square one.
It is impossible to be because of our income or credit score. I’ve resorted now to begging to provide references for our kids, knowing full well that what they’re doing is illegal by rejecting us based on family status. The owner is a neurosurgeon and we have a case, but I’m not looking for a legal process. I’m just looking for a home!
December 17th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Hang in there. I’m praying too.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Amy, I remember being “homeless” with six kids and my elderly mom who lives with us. We had had a house fire and no one was willing to rent to all of us together. We eventually spent several months living in two apartments side by side. I will be praying that our Sovereign God will show you His plan soon!
December 19th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Poetry of the highest order! Splendid work! You know, you will get to Florida and ask yourself why you doubted God. I am always amazed at His provision, even in my lack of understanding. Very funny poem.
Scott
December 20th, 2009 at 12:19 am
That is not only illegal but it is just wrong, and I think that after you find a place to live you should file a complaint with the state fair housing office.
December 20th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Amy…what’s up? Any news…?
December 21st, 2009 at 12:03 am
me thinkest thou needest an RV…a camper…a motor home …
December 30th, 2009 at 10:16 am
hehe…I am a few days late but darn those Condo Commandos! Lets see if I can explain: people raise their children. Ship them off, marry them off, whatever. Become just the two of them (prefer him & her) and then relocate to Florida. Buy a nice, quaint condo on the water (ocean, canal, waterway, swamp) and declare this to be the retirement community, therefore: NO KIDS ALLOWED … grandkids are the exception with maybe 2 weeks TOPS at a time.
Come on Amy, you couldn’t have forgotten the silly Florida rules already!!
December 30th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Hey, Amy, we own a place that is on the rental market and maybe able to rent for 7 months. It is a 4br. 4ba. You can see it at Cape San Blas Rentals Seacliffs #E26. I know it is not at Cocoa Beach or Merrit Island, but let me know. I would need to talk to my husband of course. We have never rented it that long.