Tonight the wind picked up and I heard a loud crash.... sounded like glass breaking. Anyway I get my lil one to bed and go outside to see if I see any broken glass, but I notice my round metal chimney rolling around on the roof. I bought a doublewide not too long ago, and so here I am praying that I find someone to help fix this.

It's been a rocky week... an aide at school is leaving and suddenly I am expected to learn her job and she runs the classroom. I'm going from working with one student to overseeing classrooms of kids and there is no pay raise in this. The job pays less than McDonalds but it works for me with my special needs son born with Down syndrome, two holes in his heart, and two holes in one eye. I adopted this little man who is depending on me. Right now I am praying for financial blessings to come, and for the help I need to fix this problem. Every time there is no school... there is no pay for me. We just had a day and a half off. I've been hoping for other opportunities to come to help me better provide for my child. I guess the added experience helps at this time, but I really do need a better paying job with benefits.

For those who were praying about my parents... they did celebrate their 40th anniversary and they renewed their vows in the nursing home. They were reunited, and are doing fine at this present time. My mom has COPD and is dying from it, and my stepdad has dementia... it's been a rough year so far. However, our prayers were answered in that they were placed back together and that they did see their anniversary together and have a fantastic time renewing their vows. My mom is only in her sixties, and it's so sad to see her struggling and in a wheel chair. The good news is she wanted to go and play Bingo last I saw her, and THAT is a huge blessing. For awhile there we thought we were going to lose her.

I do believe in prayer. I asked my son to come and look at the roof, but he certainly doesn't have any experience working with this kind of stuff. I am praying he either finds the knowledge to help or that someone else steps forward.

They say if God brings you to it, he will bring you through it. So here I am praying God brings us through this. I have a lot on my plate right now, and I really could use a little help from the good Lord above.

My little guy has been coughing, and it seems like one thing after another around here anymore.

You might want to call the local 211 resource line and see if there are any programs to help with weatherization of your home because some of those have grants to make repairs for vent pipes because they loose so much heat.

If you know the make and model of your home look it up on line and sometimes they have a help line.

Also your homeowners insurance probably has a help line that can assist you. It is possible it is wind damage that is covered mius a deductible that the repair man will let you put on payments across two or sometimes more months if you ask and over to sign a repayment contract.

Because of your special needs Child you might want to see if you can find a volunteer through Habitat For Humanity or Carpenters for Christ or even the Downs Syndrom Society.

Will keep your needs in my prayers also.

Prayers for you and your family Mysticque...Hope things start looking up for you..

My Prayers are with you.
I would check into the programs PacificStar referd to.
There has got to be someone to help.

{{{{{Suz and Noah}}}}}

You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for your prayers! My son and son-in-law was able to fix the chimney issue this weekend. I'm so thankful for that. I have another issue, which I thought was a simple fix... faucet... turned out behind the wall it was all black mold. However, I'm thankful to know about the problem so it can get fixed. I'm well aware of the health issues with black mold. Boy if it's not one thing.... it's another! KEEPS ME HOPPING! Found out I can not buy a faucet from Home Depot when it's a double wide shower.... they don't even sell a matching one for a stand up shower. I will try and contact the people Pacific mentioned above. Carpenters For Christ doesn't seem to be around here as far as I can tell.

I think you may want to see if Habitat for Humanity or some other houseing program can help you either repair or rebuild on your site a facility that will give Noah an accessible life time residence. There are federal monies, especially in communities like your own that might have precious few "beds" for special populations. It could actually work into a full time employment for you given your special skills but I don't see you minding having some control over the people you care for. It might require a local bank setting up a trust fund that would restrict the ownership but the Association for Retarded Citizens have been doing this kind of creative problem solving for several generations. You are a voter and I would enlist you senator or congressman to instruct his aids to direct you through to these resources. Since you are living in what is called substandard houseing I would think you are a viable candidate for a Habitat home. While I can't speak for your Mingle pals I would think Jaycees, Scouts, your local fire department, your church or even your school district would be excited to help you get your sweat equity hours as well as build your home.

I can only give you both,,my Prayers,,,and love,,
But IF you have a church you attend,,,THAT would be my first there to mention to your minister about? Can't hurt and who knows??
Good Luck,,,

I want you to know that I'm sending up loads of prayers for you ~ your posts always touch my heart.
I hope some of the advice being given here pans out for you and your son.

I looked to see where you were, not quite a day trip for me, or I'da been there to figure out your roof!

Stay strong lady, seems many are pulling for you

There are programs called HEAP it stands for heating engery assistance program usually thru community action they also have a weatherathion (spelled WRONG sorry) program all states have this.It is a federal program.Also check united way they have programs as well as numbers to these programs. I will keep you an you son in my prayers

Great suggestions Luvin. Anyone stuggleing with utility costs would do well to check both programs.

What many people do not understand is all of these programs do not depend only on income or assets or a combination of either. Each program has different income maximums and some are surpriseingly generous or can be qualified for if in fact you do financial "spin downs" if you have unusual medical expenses or other special circumstances. Sometimes supervisiours can help people find the legitimate "exceptions to policy" that the average program worker will not know so if you (the collective you not just Mystic) are ever turn down appeal and make sure there is not some way to qualify. Example a profoundly Down Syndrom child would more than likely Never qualify for a driver's license but by transferring the title of a gas gussleing van into their "trust fund" to be used only when transporting them it would allow a parent to have a second economy car to commute for work and grocery shopping disallowed under some programs. Many older disabled people will their accessible vehicals but restrict them to be provided only to such trusts.

I did not get exactly what kind of part you were trying to find for your home but if you can be specific it is possible that our maintenance team can find one in one of our older homes as they are upgradeing them for resale. I have several companies that specialize in repairs to mobile homes and they might have what you need also. E-bay or Craigs list could possibly be a resource too but again I would check with Habitat for Humanity because they get donated so much stuff. Their Restore thrift store system has had amazeing results of finding things and calling people who are on their wish list. Might only cost a few bucks for shipping and a snall donation.

Everyone braistorms together we can come up with a solution I am sure .

Hope you are staying dry and warm been praying you have good weather.

http://www.whosyourbrother.com/

if you have black mold the water is leaking somewhere

fix the leak and get rid of the mold

wear a dust mask and keep it from spreading

your pipes could need insulation and be sweating

if you lived closer i would come look at it

Hello all.... thank you so much for your support. My son and son-in-law did fix one problem. The shower and mold issue is a whole other ball game, and I have honestly felt so overwhelmed lately that I haven't done too much to fix the problem. This double wide has a stand up shower and you can't buy the faucet at home depot... I know, cus I looked. It's an 8" bar, but what has me concerned is the mold behind the outer wall.... makes me wonder what is behind the knobs and wall behind the shower. I guess I have a bad feeling the whole darn thing.... shower and all may need replacing. I am thankful there are two baths in this mobile home! Praise GOD for that!

As for a local minister, I stopped going to church when the minister got up in front of the church and stated a woman would never be in leadership in the church. I'm sorry but God seems to have put me in leadership of raising this very special little boy I adopted with Down syndrome. So I do believe GOD DOES put women in powerful positions. Weird thing is today he sent me an email saying he is sorry for the spam that was sent.... so I asked him about Carpenters For Christ. That seems to be only in Lancaster from what I can tell online. I'm in northeast PA.

My mom is not doing well, severe back pain with the COPD. I know it's not good and last time she got like this it turned to pneumonia and she ended up in the hospital. It's terrible cus I feel like I'm waiting for a call saying she is back in the hospital. It's hard not being able to be there right now, but I know if I had gone last weekend and she got sick like she did.... I would have been blaming myself thinking Noah gave her his cold.

My job is very stressful right now. I feel like I'm taking a crash course on how to run a classroom in an emotional support classroom, and learning everything in less than two weeks time. It's a LOT and the worst thing is knowing the aide leaving told me that working for this teacher is not easy either. I seem to continue to pray for a job with less stress and benefits. When there is no school... I don't get paid and summer will be here before long. I guess it's a matter of living one day at a time some days.

I don't own the land this trailer is on pacific. I am buying the doublewide for Noah. I feel like I'm waiting to get a second wind of energy here. Tomorrow is the last day for the aide who is leaving, and next week ought to be nuts without her. She really knew her stuff, but she's been with the school district for five years.