A sober house for women in my daughter’s memory I have been trying to open.
It’s happening,
And it’s scary.
What if enough women don’t come?
What if I am stuck with a $280,000 mortgage that I can’t pay?
Or worse, my dad is stuck with the mortgage he’s co-signing?
And I tell myself;
‘Self, Rely on God.’
And it calms me. Because I know if it isn’t His will,
It wouldn’t happen.
And if it is, then there’s nothing to worry about.
It almost didn’t happen.
My dad was set to cosign the loan (which is a miracle in itself!),
When a business problem came up & the bank said it couldn’t approve the loan;
Because they are so tight they squeak when they walk now on home loans,
After being so loose with home loans that we’re in a housing crisis like none other.
So when he told me that, I started scrambling to come up with a way to get the loan.
Not much luck there.
Then my dad called me yesterday to tell me he was going to pay for the house himself with a home equity loan and also taking some from his business.
And we will try to refinance it again in a few months so my name will be on the mortgage;
To help me re-establish my credit.
My dad is going to pay for a $280,000 house out of his pocket to help me open Joy’s House.
This man who wouldn’t let me in his clubs 2 ½ years ago.
How unbelievably cool is that?
Is he?
Is recovery?
Is God?
I talked with SP, my partner in JOURNEY (SP is our nickname for him – Silent Partner!) & I am going to sell him 5% of my share of the magazine,
So we will now be 50/50 partners,
And I have some money to nicely furnish & set up Joy’s House;
Including a beach sand volley Ball court & BBQ area (with 9/10 of an acre – there’s room)!
2 1/2 years ago I was a night tech at a detox center after finally giving up, getting a sponsor & doing the steps.
The year before that I played tournament poker for a year.
The 8 years before that I ran a night club in Miami Beach.
The 2 years before that I DJ’s at that same club.
The 10 years before that I was in a maximum security prison.
Recovery is incredible,
And the promises are true;
“If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through.”
Below is the text we are working on for the ad we will be putting in Journey,
And in the clubhouses around here.
It will look so much better when Joel, my art director, gets done with it.
If anyone has any ideas on what it should say, please let me know –
I can use all the help I can get.
peace
“Comity”: A state of mutual harmony, friendship & respect between people.
Joy’s House is a beautiful, upscale 4 bedroom/3 bathroom home dedicated to bridging the gap from early recovery to independent living. Located on 9/10 of an acre in the heart of North Miami , Joy’s House is limited to only 9 women for your comfort. We strive to achieve a close, family feeling where a small, intimate group of women can be there for one another. An atmosphere of mutual support and accountability allow an opportunity for the healing process to begin.
Our house is based on 12-step principles & Joy’s House is located near 5 different "12 step meeting rooms". Attending a 12 step meeting daily is required in the first 3 months (90 meetings in 90 days) . Transitions, Holistics & The Village are among the treatment centers conveniently located near Joy's House; a plus for women still attending outpatient therapy.
Amenities include:
Wireless internet
House Computer
Big screen TV
Comcast Cable Service w/all premium channels
House Phone w/ free Long Distance
Large, comfortable rooms
Washer and Dryer
Beach Sand Volleyball Court
BBQ Area
Acupuncture, Massage & Tai Chi available.
Joy’s House
The Joy is in the Journey
