Sunday update - Ice, Cats, Peter, oh my!

This has been a doozy of a week.  Currently, I am hunkered down at mom's condo, waiting out the ice storm.  I would say "storm" is an exaggeration.  There is ice on the roads, the potential of more coming down here in a bit, and it is really cold outside.  Although I don't think it is near what was anticipated, Many schools, including mine has been canceled for tomorrow due to road conditions. The big concern was loss of power.  I don't anticipate that happening now.  I came to moms less out of concern for either of us and more as an opportunity to spend time with her.  It is mid-afternoon, and we are still in our PJs with the big focus being on her latest puzzle. So far, Storm Fern has been more fun than hardship for us. That is a nice relief.

On Thursday, as I was loading my car to go to work, I heard my cat, Lou, "crying" over at the neighbors.  I figured something was wrong, or he would have been at my feet.  I found him unable to stand on his back legs. It appeared he had been run over by a car. So we went to the vet to have him diagnosed with a broken pelvic bone.  I was told he could easily recover with some confinement and TLC for the next 3-6 weeks.  He's a great cat, so I took him home with pain meds and plans to help him recover.  The long and the short of it is that there must have been internal damage, as he did not recover.  I found Lou dead in his crate Saturday morning. I am sad.  I did not choose Lou, but he chose me.  Lou's the best cat I have ever had. He was amusing, cuddly, and low-maintenance.  I will miss him.  And no, I am not in search of a replacement cat at this time.

On Thursday night, while consoling my injured kitty, I evidently hurt him moving him back into his crate.  He thus chomped down on my thumb. I had two punctures that were screaming at me come Friday morning.  So I visited Urgent Care and received antibiotics and a Tetanus shot. Later that evening, Peter called to say he had been in a wreck.  It was a fender bender, doing some damage to his left front lights, but no one was injured.  It was his fault, which he readily admitted to.  He can drive his car, which is good. Yet we know it will eventually mess with his already very high insurance rate. 

My concerns for Peter continue.  He has applied for 23 jobs on Indeed.  He failed the Walmart assessment test.  He said not having work is hard, it make sthe days long.  He does work out 5 days a week, which helps.  I continue to ask you to pray regarding a job, friends, a sound mind, and openness to God.

I will close with a little picture tribute to Lou the cat.  This past Monday, Peter came over to watch a football game.  Lou chose to sit with him.  Considering most cats don't like Peter, and I was also an option, this was considered quite monumental.  Including one of those pictures here.

 

I hope this finds you safe, warm, and with electricity. 

The Sunday update - more about Peter

I am going to make a real effort to post to the blog every Sunday, even if it's very brief or just a picture. And since it's bedtime, this will be brief.

Peter's interview with the truck driving company did not happen due to the Verizon outage. Although rescheduled for this week, Peter decided not to go that route and canceled the interview.  He is still talking about truck driving down the road but for now just trying to get a job.  This past week, Peter broke a tooth that is going to require several thousand dollars to save the tooth.  This is the result of years of neglecting his teeth. There is very likely more dental work needed following this Having it pulled is the less expensive route but will no doubt contribute to other issues down the way.  I have a lot of mixed feelings as to how to help him financially through this.  He is handling it well and has a consultation regarding the root canal this Tuesday. 

Thank you for praying for Peter: a job; the completion of Medicaid forms and its acceptance; wisdom regarding and provisions concerning his needed dental work; wise counsel and friends for Peter; Peter's mind opened to believe and trust in God and his son Jesus.

Cool Story, real quick

In 2004,, while flying on an international flight to the US for summer furlough, I sat next to a young woman, a newly married preacher's wife on the airplane.  We shared stories.  She told of how she was returning home from her honeymoon. I shared of the challenging year we had been through in Uganda. She offered to pray for me.  I oftern recall that prayer and how it is one of those moments when I felt the tangible hand of God comforting and speaking peace over me. It was powerful and impactful. I had never forgotten her,  nor her name. 

This October I saw her name as one of the writers of a popular worchip song. Hoping yet uncertain that this was the same person, I began a social media search.  Finding her, I reached out to her and with multiple delays and messages back and forth we confirmed that she indeed was the lady that prayed with me on the airplane.  Tonight we reunited through a video chat conversation.  We caught up with where we are today and a cliffnotes version of the journey we have been on. She shared her story of how my October 2025 message of gratitude for what she did in 2004 had a similar powerful effect of encouragement to her during a dark and confusing time this fall. It was such a cool reunion.  Not often does one see a random airplane seatmate again, much less reunite with them 21 years later.

Peter

As a teen and young adult, Peter was obstinate about my taking his picture.  He didn't want to be in family photos, and if I tried to sneak a picture of him, he would try to bomb the picture by displaying his middle finger.  I actually have a collection of selfies of the two of us where his middle finger is prominent.  It actually became a joke between us.  Now Peter's elevated view of himself has him sending me pictures of himself frequently.  He is also a lot more cooperative about posing with Mom and me.  This Christmas, he even orchestrated some selfies of the two of us (without the bird flying). I will share a few Peter pictures and an update on him.

Peter called me on Tuesday to say he had been fired from his Lowe's job.  He said the reasoning was a no-show incident, and there had been some issues with not getting along with others.  He has owned it and said it has just pushed up his plan to go to truck driving school.  The positives of this development include his attitude.  He has admitted his own fault and says he will learn from it.  In addition, he has managed his money and has enough money saved up to continue life as is for 2 to 3 months.  He has subsidised housing, so loss of a place to live is not a major concern at this point.  Peter has an interview on Wednesday with a truck driving company that provides training.  He has been using his time to study for the CDL learning permit that he would need if he goes to truck driving school.  His thinking about money and plans often sounds very reasonable. I am so proud of Peter for the way he has handled a lot of things over the last year.  Another positive to the job loss is that his unemployed status will likely be a benefit as I apply for Medicaid for him this week.

There is a flip side that makes me nervous. Peter's actual diagnoses have changed over time.  I tend to believe Peter probably suffers from Bipolar I, which has a predominant manic component.  The medicine dose Peter has agreed to take has kept him from becoming extreme in the areas of mania and depression.  However, he does have a grandiose, elevated view of himself, a tendency to change course fairly quickly, and to obsess a bit over plans or ideas.  The grandiose beliefs are likely what created issues at work and make keeping a job challenging. Although Peter was positive in our discussion on Wednesday and even yesterday, this morning's call had the sound of depression.  All of this is normal for anyone in this situation, but because of Peter's past experience and diagnosis, my mind has a tendency to worry and wonder about what's next.  Peter expressed gratitude for the Avita housing and program, but he wants to be independent.  Again, reasonable thought.  Peter doesn't believe he has a mental illness, but that insomnia is the problem.  His medication helps him sleep, and that is why he willingly takes it. As for Truck driving. . . .  while it freaks me out, I know Peter has to figure this out.  I have seen him change course when he decides it's not what he wants to do.  And who knows, maybe it could work.

So there is a glimpse of what's going on.  I could say more, but hopefully this will give you an idea of how to pray.  There are a lot of good things going on with Peter.  Relationally, we are at our best, and he has certainly matured.  Yet we live on a roller coaster, and I am a bit nervous we are about to go loop de loop!. And it always encourages me to know we have friends praying on our behalf. Thank you!