Update On Renovations

[CatherineM]

We have finished 95% of the renovations upstairs. I've got one strip of backsplash and some cabinet hardware to replace, but it's too hot right now. His place has air conditioning but the walk up two flights of stairs is hard for me under the best of circumstances.

More importantly, we got rid of Zack's older brother. He had moved into the apartment we originally rented for Zack when he moved into the unit we bought. We thought he was one of the decent people in the family. He's 12 years older so Zack has never really lived under the same roof. All he knew was his brother was a successful dry wall installer with an expensive truck. We recommended him to the owner of the rental unit.

What we ultimately discovered is that he is also a heavy drug user who only works about once a month and financially lives off his girl friend. That expensive truck sat for a year after he got caught driving it 150mph. He got it back about a month ago and promptly did a hit and run over a smaller car cracking a hole in his oil pan. Instead of fixing it, he just let it drain all over the parking lot filling it up with oil to drive it for the day.

He of course was constantly doing drugs and hanging out with scary guys. We even had a visit from the swat team one night for one of his house guests. He had a bad habit of barfing off his balcony onto the ones below. He also stole every single possession of Zack's he could fit out the door. Zack had a lot of his stuff in the storage room upstairs while we were doing renovations. His video games, his movies, his clothes, you name it. All he was left with was an old cell phone, a few clothes and about half his tools which we were using. About $4000 worth.

Zack looked ready to jump off a bridge when he found out. I was so angry that Austin had to restrain me from going upstairs with my throwing axe. I wanted to have him arrested, but it would have been hard to prove and I was afraid he or his friends might hurt Zack if I did. We have replaced everything. Some new stuff, some used, some hand me downs, some from people at church. I did say a few things I'm not proud of, but it seemed to work because he moved out a week later.

Worst of all, when the police came looking for the truck he told the cops his name was Zack. That's why it took us 18 hours last October to get Zack out on bail. Someone had claimed to be him that got arrested before. He had to wait for fingerprints to clear to get out. It's got him so worried that he wants to change his last name. We are going to wait until he is 18 to adopt him so that we don't need his dad's consent. That's in December.

In the meantime, we have him enrolled in a charter school for the fall. It is a small school for kids like him that need to catch up. Most of the girls have missed school because of babies. They keep them until 6pm with after school classes. He wants to take yoga and akkido. Mostly it's for kids who really want to be in school. That was a problem he had at the big high school he went to last spring.

We are still waiting for James to move in full time. He spends about two nights a week here getting used to the place. We have passed our security background checks. Now we are waiting for final approval from the provincial group responsible for his care. We've been told maybe three weeks.

James and Zack get along really well. His most important role is to fill the extra bedroom upstairs so that it doesn't become a temptation for one of his worthless relatives to flop in. James will be a perfect tattle tale. He wanted to make sure he could come over on Canada Day. Having a family to celebrate holidays with is very important to him even if all we did was grill burgers.

We are so blessed to have these boys in our lives. It's never boring.

[MissScripture]

Wow, just reading about it makes me want to find Zack's brother and beat the snot out of him. How can you do that to your own sibling??

But I'm glad to hear renovations are nearly done and that Zack is going to have a roommate!

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

Someday I am going to meet you and give you a big hug. Praying and praying. You guys are so amesome.

[arfink]

If he needs some videogames, just let me know. I have a few classic consoles that don't get any use these days. (Dreamcast and NES)

[PhuturePriest]

Gotta say, I thought my life was interesting and full of twists and turns, but yours has me beat, not that I am envious in any sort of way. I am sorry all of this has happened. It's good that everything worked out at least, though from the sounds of it you still have some more things to figure out (Whether or not to change his name). I'll definitely pray for you.

[CatherineM]

His family is the poster child for dysfunctional. One sister is currently pregnant and still using hard drugs. One just had baby number 5 and the oldest three are all fetal alcohol. One so bad that he's 7 years old and is completely mute. One brother is gay and has aids. He has a total of 17 siblings counting all the half ones. One half brother and sister had a child together not realizing they were related. None of them graduated from high school. His mom had bipolar and refused her meds so she often kept the kids up all night because she wasn't sleeping and then they couldn't go to school. Then there is his closest brother who shot up a neighbor's house wounding a mom. That was when he was 17 so he's out on parole now. He robbed a corner store at gun point at the age of six.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1341890190' post='2454244']
His family is the poster child for dysfunctional. One sister is currently pregnant and still using hard drugs. One just had baby number 5 and the oldest three are all fetal alcohol. One so bad that he's 7 years old and is completely mute. One brother is gay and has aids. He has a total of 17 siblings counting all the half ones. One half brother and sister had a child together not realizing they were related. None of them graduated from high school. His mom had bipolar and refused her meds so she often kept the kids up all night because she wasn't sleeping and then they couldn't go to school. Then there is his closest brother who shot up a neighbor's house wounding a mom. That was when he was 17 so he's out on parole now. He robbed a corner store at gun point at the age of six.
[/quote]

Holy golden calf! I will certainly pray for their family situation.

But really? Holding a store up at gun point at the age of six? I don't think I would have even been able to hold a gun when I was six. They're heavier than they look...

[AnneLine]

And they call ME a crazy do-gooder, Catherine! I am so glad you 'done good' with Zack. tell him we haven't forgotten him & we're all still rooting for him.

[EmilyAnn]

You are seriously the amesomest person ever. Zack is so lucky to have you!

[CatherineM]

The police came by yesterday looking for Zack's brother. Apparently he is dealing now and facing hard time. I explained to Zack that when you get into a dealer for a bunch of money, and they come by to threaten (he got a knife broken off in his door), that's when you start stealing every thing you can to pay them off. Eventually if you don't stop using, you have to start dealing to support your habit. Frankly the brother is too stupid to deal for long without getting caught or being taken out by another supplier. One way or the other, he is out of Zack's life.

[Archaeology cat]

Prayers for all