So Thanksgiving has come and gone. It was hard, but not quite as hard as I thought it might be. I gave myself several breaks just to breathe and try to allow myself time to grieve, which I found helpful. My family was wonderfully supportive and helpful.
Still, I suppose there were thoughts of "will we get to do this here next year?" going through my mind all day. Checking the mail today I got yet another package from the mortgage company with the same paperwork I've continued to fill out time and again. I think this marks the 4th time for Homeward Residential I've filled out this particular packet. Dad and I are going to call them on Monday and start harassing them, because of course, the turkey had barely cooled and they've started calling again already, wanting to know about the payments I'm not prepared to make.
The donations have largely dried up. The match period was pretty successful yesterday, with $70 coming in and being matched for a total of $140. I was happy with that.
I'm not sure about website traffic, whether that has dropped off as well. So I'm issuing a plea to re-post links to your Twitter and Facebook and ask others to re-post whether they can donate a dollar or not.
I've had one idea that I would appreciate feedback on! Vista Print has great deals on printing business cards. You can get 250 free. I was thinking of having some made and shipping them to friends around the country and around the world. Would you be willing to put 10 in prominent places where they'd be easily found? It might be a cheap and efficient way of spreading the word by low tech means. Do you have ideas about what else we can do to spread the word and get people's interest again? Use the contact form to submit your ideas or leave a comment on the blog!
In other news, I have been adopted by a secret Santa this year as well. I have been immensely blessed by the contact I've had with this person or persons--I suspect there is more than one individual here at work. We received a package already with some gifts for Leah and a gift card. I know our families are planning on being plenty generous--both Mike's side and my own--but it's nice to know that if I don't want to, I don't have to go Christmas shopping this year and whatnot. Christmas cards were something Mike and I always did the weekend after everyone left from Thanksgiving, so I'm debating whether or not I am going to do them this year. In a sense I've felt that I should return all this goodwill of which I've been a recipient. On the other hand, to do it myself feels heartbreaking and I have yet to finish my thank you notes from the summer, so probably I should consider finishing them off before I stress about them any further!
But my Secret Santa emails me every day with pretty keen insights into my character. Whoever is behind the whole thing is genuinely interested in helping me have a good holiday and beyond and has taken the time to really get to know me--I filled out a lengthy questionnaire about myself, which was hard since I felt like it was a bit "gimme"-ish. But then I figured I would just answer honestly and let whoever is my secret Santa do what they wanted with the information. It really is reaffirming that a presumed stranger cares so much for me right now. It has been a lift to the spirits, to say the least.
So this week, I hope to get the interest back up in the site, get the word out some more. My sister and i have been discussing starting a foundation from this and her goal for us is to save 100 homes for people in similar circumstances to mine. The more we talk to people, the more we realize I am hardly unique or alone in my circumstances. What does make me unique is my willingness to publicly announce that I need help and to accept help in whatever forms it takes. In addition to the financial assistance I've received thus far, I've also received a lot of legal advice, community resources and information, and offers of places to go visit and get away from it all. Dad and I have a lot of calls to make on Monday so that I can find out what else I can be doing about this mortgage situation and hopefully getting it resolved, and lots of ideas that I never would have thought of. (Maybe I'll record my next call to Homeward America so you can all hear the runaround I've been getting!)
I am so thankful to all of you for helping me to get to this point in less than 1 week's time, which I really find extraordinary. In December, I will be able to make my CitiMortgage payment and continuing to keep that current is my goal. I got a letter in the mail from them today that they have received my paperwork and we should hear from them and get somewhere in the next 30 days. I read this article in the Washington Post yesterday, and it really addresses our situation beautifully. I hope the President will address the situation because it is true--underwater mortgages undermine the ability of the mortgagee to do much of anything but continue to throw money into a black hole.
I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and have a great Christmas season--I'm looking forward to the things I'll be doing in December including singing with my choir, going to a bajillion Christmas pageants, and bringing Christmas goodies to the neighbors to thank them for their assistance this year. We are blessed in a million ways.
Still, I suppose there were thoughts of "will we get to do this here next year?" going through my mind all day. Checking the mail today I got yet another package from the mortgage company with the same paperwork I've continued to fill out time and again. I think this marks the 4th time for Homeward Residential I've filled out this particular packet. Dad and I are going to call them on Monday and start harassing them, because of course, the turkey had barely cooled and they've started calling again already, wanting to know about the payments I'm not prepared to make.
The donations have largely dried up. The match period was pretty successful yesterday, with $70 coming in and being matched for a total of $140. I was happy with that.
I'm not sure about website traffic, whether that has dropped off as well. So I'm issuing a plea to re-post links to your Twitter and Facebook and ask others to re-post whether they can donate a dollar or not.
I've had one idea that I would appreciate feedback on! Vista Print has great deals on printing business cards. You can get 250 free. I was thinking of having some made and shipping them to friends around the country and around the world. Would you be willing to put 10 in prominent places where they'd be easily found? It might be a cheap and efficient way of spreading the word by low tech means. Do you have ideas about what else we can do to spread the word and get people's interest again? Use the contact form to submit your ideas or leave a comment on the blog!
In other news, I have been adopted by a secret Santa this year as well. I have been immensely blessed by the contact I've had with this person or persons--I suspect there is more than one individual here at work. We received a package already with some gifts for Leah and a gift card. I know our families are planning on being plenty generous--both Mike's side and my own--but it's nice to know that if I don't want to, I don't have to go Christmas shopping this year and whatnot. Christmas cards were something Mike and I always did the weekend after everyone left from Thanksgiving, so I'm debating whether or not I am going to do them this year. In a sense I've felt that I should return all this goodwill of which I've been a recipient. On the other hand, to do it myself feels heartbreaking and I have yet to finish my thank you notes from the summer, so probably I should consider finishing them off before I stress about them any further!
But my Secret Santa emails me every day with pretty keen insights into my character. Whoever is behind the whole thing is genuinely interested in helping me have a good holiday and beyond and has taken the time to really get to know me--I filled out a lengthy questionnaire about myself, which was hard since I felt like it was a bit "gimme"-ish. But then I figured I would just answer honestly and let whoever is my secret Santa do what they wanted with the information. It really is reaffirming that a presumed stranger cares so much for me right now. It has been a lift to the spirits, to say the least.
So this week, I hope to get the interest back up in the site, get the word out some more. My sister and i have been discussing starting a foundation from this and her goal for us is to save 100 homes for people in similar circumstances to mine. The more we talk to people, the more we realize I am hardly unique or alone in my circumstances. What does make me unique is my willingness to publicly announce that I need help and to accept help in whatever forms it takes. In addition to the financial assistance I've received thus far, I've also received a lot of legal advice, community resources and information, and offers of places to go visit and get away from it all. Dad and I have a lot of calls to make on Monday so that I can find out what else I can be doing about this mortgage situation and hopefully getting it resolved, and lots of ideas that I never would have thought of. (Maybe I'll record my next call to Homeward America so you can all hear the runaround I've been getting!)
I am so thankful to all of you for helping me to get to this point in less than 1 week's time, which I really find extraordinary. In December, I will be able to make my CitiMortgage payment and continuing to keep that current is my goal. I got a letter in the mail from them today that they have received my paperwork and we should hear from them and get somewhere in the next 30 days. I read this article in the Washington Post yesterday, and it really addresses our situation beautifully. I hope the President will address the situation because it is true--underwater mortgages undermine the ability of the mortgagee to do much of anything but continue to throw money into a black hole.
I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and have a great Christmas season--I'm looking forward to the things I'll be doing in December including singing with my choir, going to a bajillion Christmas pageants, and bringing Christmas goodies to the neighbors to thank them for their assistance this year. We are blessed in a million ways.
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