Friends and Family, a bunch of picturew

This is mainly pictures.  There is little biological family in these pictures. Yet some are people who have grafted me into their families.  All are dear people to me.  I just wanted to share these special people and fun moments.

My friend Jade and I had our annual pre-Christmas outing to hear Karen Peck and New River.  It is always a toe-tapping and uplifting event.

I met Abby at church. She then came to work at my preschool. For the past several months she worked in the kitchen/laundry room next to the resource room where my "office" is.  We became friends.  This was our outing to Trader Joe's.  She had never been and was very excited when I offered to take her.  We also wore the same T-shirt one day and took a twin photo. Very recently, Abby moved several hours away with her parents .  I will miss our food tastings in the kitchen and our conversations.

One day, Mom ended up at my house for an impromptu meal.  My house is much colder than hers.  I loaned her my Georgia sweatshirt.  (A hand me down from Peter.)  We took the picture for him because we knew he would be so proud to see her sporting his team.

Last weekend was the Adam's girls pre-Christmas getaway.  This is the family that grafted me in 34 years ago.  May (a resident of NC) has been my dear friend all these years. This year, May and I with Daughters Anna and Haley, DIL Ava Taylor, and 6 of her 12 grands met up at the mountain house near Galax VA. (Kelsey, I missed your being with us!) 

I met up with Anna and the kids in SC to make the rest of the journey.

May and I on the porch

Beautiful view from the house.

Loved chatting with the girls, 

and crafting. 

Haley, Avery, Livie, and I walked to an old church nearby

And it was so fun to play with the little people

I loved seeing the cousins love, big ones playing with the littles.

The exciting thing about this goodbye hug is this time it was a "see you soon."  Mom and I will join May and her husband Kevin in just a few days at Litchfield Beach for our 2nd annual Christmas beach trip.  

Pertaining to Peter

Yes, Peter got a car.  He got a Hyundai Genesis. It has the look he wanted.  Its longevity is unknown but that was less important than how it looked.  It rides pretty decently as it is a "luxury car".  I drove it in Atlanta for him on Black Friday and on the highway, it felt a bit shaky. However, so far he is getting from here to there ok.  His insurance is very high.  Miles per gallon is low.  Both of these may help keep him reigned in from "driving just to drive. "I see him less now that he has his own transportation but he does call and text a fair bit.  This evening, we have a Christmas outing planned to see FBC's Living Christmas Tree and go to dinner.  He picked out from my offerings what I am to wear.  He is quite the fashionista. Or at least he thinks so. Our styles are NOT the same. I appreciate his, minus a few "inappropriate T-shirts.".Yet I am pretty sure he wishes mine was more refined and less "hippy." But funny enough he picked out the one dress I almost didn't show him because I couldn't imagine that he would approve. Back to the car.  I am grateful for it.  It has lightened my load a bit and has given him some freedom.  With the colder weather, and his two-mile commute to work I am grateful he is no longer having to work. I do pray for his safety, his restraint from going at the speed he was born with (VERY fast), and that he will maintain it so it lasts a while.

I think I mentioned before that there is SSI and SSDI.  Both come out of the Social Security office but are 2 different things.  Peter no longer is receiving SSI which is based on income need.  This is because he is receiving SSDI which is Insurance for disability based on his work history.  The amount he receives from SSDI is significantly greater than the SSI.  This is good.  However, the transition from one to the other meant the loss of Medicaid which helps with medicine costs and other medical needs.  It is requiring him to go to DFACS to apply.  His case manager at the apartments was to meet with him yesterday to make a plan.  I have not heard anything regarding this. 

Peter seems good.  He is quirky about some things.  Yet he has housing, a car, a job that he seems to do well, and he gets along with his roommate.  He attends the gym and is generally pleasant to be around. There is much I am grateful for especially when I think about where we were last year. It is an amazing change.  As you think of us,  there are a few things I appreciate prayers regarding:

• Peter to receive Medicaid or some reasonable insurance
• Peter's safety with his car.
• Peter to have a positive friend or mentor.
• His medication will be effective.
• He can lose some weight through diet and exercise so not to stop taking the medication because he doesn't like being heavy.
• Mom and I will be gone Dec 19-23.  For his protection and provision, we won't be around.
• A softening in his heart to Jesus. 
  
  
  
• Peter recently sent this photo.  I thought it was a good one.