Roommate and I are just done shopping for food for the church and now we are at krogers, b/c we BOTH had a hankering for a steak...

we are in the parking lot, eating our chocolate candies, finishing them up and there is this lady that roommate knew at the Christian center and she (roommate) hollars,  "hey Crystal, who are ya doing????"

the lady comes up to the car and she says to roommate that she is with hubs and she is h omeless now, living in a tent, and "can ya spare some change????"

I was skeptical, but roommie said that she was a "true person"  so we dig into our pockets and we laid some money on her, not much, but enough to get something to eat

I am watching my roommate and shes looking lost in thought...I go into Kroger, she follows, we get our steaks and we leave...

We get home and she is STILL quiet, so I am going about my business and she said she wanted to say something b4 I went out to tackle the lawn

She told me that she was quiet because she was busy thanking Jesus that she still has a nice place to stay in and loving/kind/good landlord and she does NOT want to lose her home and she wants to make amends and help out with the housework and be a blessing to me, not a source of frustration....She said that she is gonna make a list of chores that she can do and DO THEM....She said that Crystal really made her think big time how lucky she is......I just listened

Then when it was my turn to talk, I told her that IF she can get a portable room AC, and  (shes always been honest and sincere)  IF she pays the extra electricity  AND----IF she and I BOTH can STEP UP and we  BOTH do our parts to take care of this little home, I will be a happy camper.....I made it really clear that up to now, I have felt not only do I have the Usual work, but MORE work because of her and "I am not willing to work MORE in my OWN home"   she nodded and agreed that she had not been holding up her end of the deal.....I told her that I am willing to observe and see her efforts.....

I went out and began the yard work and i come in and shes in the kitchen, cleaning and sorting and DOING some effort to help

She brought it up again about Crystal and how SHE is so grateful for me and this nice little home and she said AGAIN, she does not want to lose her blessing......I just said  "do your part---do what you can---Dont ADD to my already big enough workload--pay the rent on time---just be a GOOD tenent and all will be good"   She thanked me for considering a second chance

I remember when I came to MIP in the biginning...i was a ball of anger...I was telling people on here what to do and how to do it...Oh yea, miss pushy, PITA know it all, big time and I was a nuisance and John banned me....

Betty in her Angelic love and kindness kept in touch with me, and she said she saw a ton of good in me, and that I was very worth her efforts to guide, mentor, encourage me....All she wanted out of me was EFFORT and WILLINGNESS to do better, to BE better and I did as I was told...I married the steps, I did step 4 over and over and I humbled myself in that I SAW what a pain in the rear I was and how I was pushing MY anger and MY agenda on others, and I saw, "no wonder John aced me"  I deserved it...I needed that wake up call....and Betty allowed me to come back when she saw my actions matching my words and my efforts to do what was right...STAY in my own lane, and work on me...share my ESH, keeping "I" statements, share what I did and what I experienced and LET THEM make their OWN choices....Oh yea, I'll never forget...

Betty gave me a 2nd chance and even when another member and I "got into it" with another member, I took the side of the one I felt was in the right,  NOT minding my own business and staying in my lane, John suspended me for a week, I think and the other gal up'ed and quit...but I was not gonna quit on me, so I  saw AGAIN....my addiction to control,  having to "fix" another when I had all I could do to fix me....and AGAIN, Betty let me back on, chastened, I came back and to this day, I owe her my progress and growth here because SHE gave me a chance.....What if she hadn't???  I dont' want to think where I would be w/out MIP and the love and support I have gotten over the years....

So I am not as able to work so much,  not as able to meet my needs, financially in this changing, scary world, so I am gambling on the roommate because , in all honesty, we BOTH need each other and maybe HP put us in each others paths....I know I am a good influence on her re: good eating habits and getting exercise,  working her OA program as I work my Alanon/ACA program....I know her rent is going to help me "relax" a bit...and she IS willing....

had she not been humble and open with me about her mistakes and had she NOT been willing to do and be better housemate, I would have chucked this and stayed with the eviction notice and then the financial fear would be on me like white on rice.....I think she is a half way decent gamble...Hell!!! she is already "half trained" by me already....If she can score on a AC unit and step up, help with the housework, I am good to go.....

That homeless lady really gave roommie a big thing to not only think about, but to be grateful that SHE has a nice place to stay and its best not to blow it because I won't try again if this fails...I'll just have to either sell out and downsize to a mobile home somwhere, or what., I don't know....