In which I may be in the market for a cot.
I’ve been thinking about living on my own for awhile now. There’s nothing wrong between me and Katie (other than the fact I’m still totally jealous of her cute jewelry), but we’ve got some reasons we need to give up the townhouse we share now.
She’s going to move in with some mutual friends since she only has a little bit of school left (no reason for her to sign a long lease). And I? I am going to LIVE IN THE STARLITE OFFICE IF I DON’T FIGURE OUT SOMETHING SOON.
Here’s my problem: we live in a tiny town. The apartment complexes here are income-assisted. While I narrowly qualify for it (within about $300.00 under the limit), that’s only because I didn’t take a salary from Starlite one month last year (trust me, it’s a long story — but basically, we forgot to pay me one month).
Yeah. We noticed that one a little too late.
So, here’s my predicament: if I move into one of these apartments (and there’s some nice, lovely new ones), I can’t make any extra money this year and I’d have to actually not take a salary from Starlite for a month AGAIN this year. In other words, should God bless me with a raise either at Starlite or The Other Job I Work To Pay Off My School Loans, I would have to turn down the raise.
My other option? Finding another townhouse (since they aren’t in the income-assisted deal) and trying to figure out a way to pay for it (they’re considerably higher than the apartments). I can’t live with a Starlite leader because we have some rules about that. I also can’t live with the other girls my age that I know because (AND YOU’LL THINK I’M MAKING THIS UP) they’re all engaged.
(By the way, got three more wedding invitations in the mail yesterday.)
(All three are girls who were volunteers in Starlite.)
(BUT I AM BLOOMING WHERE I AM PLANTED. WHICH HAPPENS TO BE SINGLEVILLE, YA’LL. DON’T YOU SEE ALL THE BLOOMING ACTION HAPPENING HERE?)
I was spending time with Allison, my accountability partner, last night and we talked about my situation. What I love about Allison is that she knows exactly what’s about to come out of my mouth, especially when it is something RI-DARN-DICULOUS:
Me: “Allie, what if I had…”
Allie: “Don’t even say it!”
Me: “You don’t know what I was about to say.”
Allie: “Yes I do. You were going to say ‘Allie, what if I had stayed with ——— and we were married by now and so on.’ Sure, you’d have somewhere to live and someone to live with, but you’d also be miserable.”
Me: “Okay, so you did know what I was going to say.”
And so, my precious lambs, I’m in a sticky situation.
I’ve been driving around in the evenings with the puppies, trying to find somewhere fairly decent to live. I found a fantastic place, with certain features that are seriously in my Dream House That Lives Inside My Mind. However, as I explained to the puppies when I got back in the car, Mommy just doesn’t make enough to live there.
After all, a Christmas bonus of a leftover vat of processed nacho cheese doesn’t go that far in the mortgage office.
SHOCKING, I KNOW.
On a positive note, if I do end up setting up a cot in the Starlite office, we can cut down on our phone bill by getting rid of voicemail service since I’ll be there to answer the phone 24/7.
“Good evening, Starlite Ministries slash Amy Beth’s casa slash puppy kennel HOW MAY I HELP YOU?”
Kinda has a nice ring to it, now doesn’t it?
Hi there, Siesta Amy Beth!
I’m going to be praying God will be huge in your home hunt. And, that it will not include a cot… But, c’est la vie. Thank you for the encouraging comment on my blog. I’m so honored to have you visit and post there. I will definitely be back to read more about you.
I worked in youth ministry and felt particularly “called” to high school girls about to graduate. One of the girls I mentored is about to be married on the 21st and the one who is so much like a daughter to me I can’t stand it just let us know she is engaged. Crazy how time flies. I have since moved on to women’s and grief ministry – and am finding the purpose for which God sent me forth.
But, those girls are still near and dear to my heart and most are good friends to my own daughters (ages 16 and 18 – oldest graduated HS last night!).
On my birthday last week, I got four text messages from their friends for my birthday. One told me that I deserve to be recognized because I am like a second mom to all of them. I couldn’t believe it. It made my day. I got a couple of gifts from my in-laws and my parents, but the thing that meant the most was really those text messages from those girls who honor me and the influence I have had in their lives. It is a huge blessing.
You are going to find a “well done, good and faithful servant” when you get home to heaven… of that I am sure. God bless you.
Steer clear of the Louisville Land Company. That’s all I have to say.
Oh how well I know the pain of decision-making/not knowing. Hang in there!! Praying for ya!
Amy Beth,
Your Siesta Donna here… thanks for coming by my blog the other day.
I am so impressed by what I’ve read here about Starlight. What amazing things I’m sure God is doing through all you young ladies.
I just really think God’s going to provide something for you in your housing situation and it’s going to be completely unexpected and better than you had imagined. Praying it is so!
Donna @ Did I Say That Out-Loud?
I wish I were moving back to Cleveland sooner- I have absolutely no intentions of getting married in the next 5 years & you’d be so much fun to live with!
(I actually thought that to myself when trying to figure out who I (emphasis on I) would live with if I moved back- like you said, EVERYONE is engaged/on their way there). Anyway, I’m still on the other side of the globe & will be for at least another year. But i have a really good friend in Cleveland who will be looking for a place in August. Not sure if you can wait that long, but she’s entirely single & is buckets of fun! I may move in with her when I return too….But anyway- I hope you figure it all out! 
Michelle
I have no doubt that somewhere out there is a good looking single man of God with your name on his shirt…God just hasn’t let him find you yet.