You Never Know What God Has Planned

Have you ever lived with someone or had someone live with you? It is hard either way. And then mix in a disability, not just any disability, but one everyone is trying to adjust to and you have potential disaster.

When I got word that Merrym was ready to live on her own, I was very excited. I called Mom and my step-dad, Dave, and asked if they wanted to go to Seattle and help me find a place for Merrym to live. I had no idea what I would find when I got to Peggy's house:

• Peggy and Jim were exhausted and I believe at wit's end.


• Their kids needed to have their rooms back.


• Merrym was frustrated because she was still learning how to deal with her disability.


• Asab, Merrym's son, was in a psych hospital for children (he had been threatening to kill himself).


• I found 8 people living in a small 3 bedroom house. It was hard to keep up with the laundry, the cooking, the dishes, the cleaning and other housekeeping matters.


• Merrym felt she had no control over her own life.


• Peggy felt she didn't have a life any more.

I knew something had to be done fast for every one's sake. (I was also feeling guilty because I had been in my own little selfish world, while these guys were dealing with everything. What was wrong with me?) Of course that selfish part of me was determined to find an answer that would keep Merrym close to Peggy, so they could still take care of her and I could just go on my merry way.

We (Mom, Dave, Merrym and I) started looking for places Merrym and her children could live: handicap accessible, inexpensive, clean and in good repair. Low income housing or as we now call it 'subsidized housing" was filled to the brim and had a 2 year waiting list. I knew that Peggy's and Merrym's families could not last that long, with no real guarantee that there would be something available. "What were we going to do"?

Then I knew the answer. I owned a rental house about 40 feet from my house. The renters were not paying the rent and were usually behind when they did. I said out loud, without even taking time to think, "I'll take Merrym back to Utah and I will take care of her." Believe me, I really did not know what I was saying, I just knew that God wanted me to do this.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12: 10

Love, Mother Hen, Glory