At the end of October we received a postcard from the agency. It was simple with just a couple options to check. Were we still interested? Did we want our names taken off the list? etc. I checked, "yes, we are still interested" and added a little note that our lead paint situation hadn't really changed but had any of the regulations about it.
Two days later I got a phone call from Cindy. She said she'd gotten our response and asked me to refresh her memory on the lead paint issues.
Well, our entire front porch is in severe disrepair and is covered with lead paint, our third floor is yet untouched, there is hallway trim that is half striped. She took notes then said she'd talk to so and so higher up and get back to me and she did.
Well, our entire front porch is in severe disrepair and is covered with lead paint, our third floor is yet untouched, there is hallway trim that is half striped. She took notes then said she'd talk to so and so higher up and get back to me and she did.
In the time since February, many regulations had been relaxed and they'd slowly started to peel back the layers of the blanket laws that had once been put into place.
The new requirements? Put a lock on the door going to the third floor, finish striping the trim in the hall and paint a strip of paint on the porch floor going from the stairs to the door. None of this would cost us any money and could be completed in less than a days work.
Wow...it felt like the parting of the Red Sea! What had seemed impossible was suddenly very easy and doable. Well...at least the home inspection part!
There was to be a training class starting up in a week and could we commit to that? Ummm...ok! So, twice a week I went to training and Shaun also came when he could. To be quite honest, I expected the training to be a typical state-mandated thing...lots of "fluff" and useless information to fill a requirement.
Quite the contrary, it was very informative. The facilitators were direct and honest about what we'd be getting ourselves into. There was no sugar-coating and very little of the information was "frilly". The training sessions were intense, heart-breaking, rigorous.
They also left me questioning God a little. Why us? We're not equipped for this. What effects will this have on our own children? Can we handle one more thing?
But with all the questioning and pondering we did during this process, the questions that came out on top were How can we not? If not us, who? If not now, when?
There was to be a training class starting up in a week and could we commit to that? Ummm...ok! So, twice a week I went to training and Shaun also came when he could. To be quite honest, I expected the training to be a typical state-mandated thing...lots of "fluff" and useless information to fill a requirement.
Quite the contrary, it was very informative. The facilitators were direct and honest about what we'd be getting ourselves into. There was no sugar-coating and very little of the information was "frilly". The training sessions were intense, heart-breaking, rigorous.
They also left me questioning God a little. Why us? We're not equipped for this. What effects will this have on our own children? Can we handle one more thing?
But with all the questioning and pondering we did during this process, the questions that came out on top were How can we not? If not us, who? If not now, when?
I'm really excited about this!
ReplyDeletethis sounds like an amazing journey, lisa!
ReplyDelete"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." Psalm 25:9
ReplyDelete