Starting September

This comes to you from Orange Beach, Alabama. I am starting off September by having a little Vacay with my friend Emily( Snow on the Beach, January/February 2025 post) and her three kids. After our January trip we started talking about my coming with her and the kids (Bently and Conner 5 and Ryleigh Kate 4) on their Labor day week trip to the beach. It definitely has a different flavor than our January trip. That one was cold and very relaxed. This one is hot and a little chaotic. And I am so glad I was included. Today we went to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and Chick-fil-A.  Now is rest time before we head to the beach. I love a vacation with a rest time. One of my favorite things so far is my individual walks on the beach with each child that we did last evening. So fun to see their individual personalities outside the "pack." They really are like puppies when all together.  The kids are already talking about us doing it again tonight. Connor told me HE wants to be first tonight. I work with Emily and her kids attend our school so I interact with them there daily. This is another level. It's been fun to be brought into their family outside of school.

As for other family news. Peter and mom are doing ok best i can tell. I continue to see things in Peter that are concerning yet he seems to be managing his life without too much drama. And for that I am grateful. I do appreciate your continued prayers for him. As a mom we don't want our kids to just survive but to thrive.

Mom seems good to me. This fall she is giving up her flower job in the neighborhood due to balance issues.  She's decided it would be best not to climb up on curbs with the jugs of water to water the flower pots. Yet she will continue to grow her beautiful personal garden around her house.

I had some physical symptoms in mid July and early August that resulted in drs appointments and test. Some appointments remain but so far, test results do not reveal anything significant. I am grateful for that. I see the Lord using it for good as it has been a catalyst for challenging my thinking in several areas. 

Looks like rest time is over. time to go to the beach. Thank you for caring about me and my family. You are a gift I am so grateful for.

PS So I wrote that five days ago, but evidently did not hit the "publish "button. At this point, I'm back home. We had a great week at the beach with beautiful weather. We made it back home to Georgia on Saturday. I spent the seven hour drive throwing snacks and activities at the kids in the back seat to get us home without too much drama.  I will add a few more of my favorite pictures here. 

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I did a 5 - mile round-trip walk on the beach to get to this pier.  It looked
so much closer when I started.  AND there was no open coffee stand! Meanwhile, Emily and the kids went for Doughnuts and Coffee.  So it was all good once I made it back.

Summer Fun

 One thing I love about my job in the summer is the wide scope for creativity.  This year's theme and my two co-workers with whom I collaborate the most have made this summer extremely fun and rewarding.  My two closest working co-workers (and now friends) are both named Emily. Emily Smith (remember the post, Snow on the beach) is the assistant director with whom I work to plan our school activities.  Emily Ludwig does a variety of support staff taskas nd works with me to make the ideas happen.  Emily L is extremely artistic and takes what I often dream up and brings it to life.  You would get bored if I shared it all, so I will show you two things.  The first thing is our entryway photo opportunities.  During the school year, we switch them out every 2 to 3 weeks, but in the summer, they change every Friday in anticipation of the next week's theme. This year, our theme was Around the World in 8 Weeks.  Here are our entryway photo ops.  And to clarify, if it is really artistically drawn or painted, Emily made it.  If it is over the top, it is likely a leftover VBS prop we found in the Mechanical room.

week 1 Adventure Awaits

Week 2 The Bahamas

Week 3 England

Week 4 Africa

                        

Week 5 Australia

Week 6 US Roadtrip

Week off - Gone Fishing

                                                        

Week 7 Mexico

Week 8 Disney

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So each week, the Emily's and I provided one or two craft activities, a food experience, and 2 or 3 special events that included movies with snacks, a special theme party, sensory room experience, or visitors. We also had worship on Wednesdays and the older kids who arrived early participated in morning stretch with theme-related yoga moves.  It is hard to choose my favorites, however,  I am going to pick one or two from each week so you know just how much fun we had. Unfortunately, I can't show you the kids enjoying these activities unless I have some good back shots!

During the first week Emily L and I set up a travel-themed play experience room.

For the Bahama's week, we had a Water Day on the front lawn with activities for babies to Pre-K

One of my favorites was the Tea party we hosted during England week.

During Africa week, we had an African Sensory/Experience room.  This was especially fun for me as we based places and activities on my experience in Uganda.

Australia had two highlights.  The Finding Nemo Sesnory room and a visit from the North Georgia Wildlife Zoo with animals akin to those in Australia.  Tom even brought a baby Kangaroo!

The fish tank  was made from shower curtains and had a gazillion bubbles
Outside it was the fish tank hose sensory play 

Emily's amazing artwork creating the EAC (East Australian Current) complete with sea turtles

The reef with a seaweed crawl

The highlight of forth of July week is always the all-school parade through and around the church and the snow cones that follow.

My favorite Mexico events were the paper Taco Bar and the Fiesta complete with dancing and a pinata made by our talented teacher, Vita.

This coming week we are excited about the annual Day School Dash on Thursday, where the kids run by classes around the gym floor with lap numbers determined by age.  At the end, everyone gets a medal.  This will be our 11th annual Dayschool Dash.  And on Friday, we will have a Disney Dance party with music and glow sticks to wrap up the summer.  This week is also staff meetings and open house, as our new school year will start July 28th.

I love my job!  Thanks for letting me share the highlights with you.

Mid July

I am told it has been almost a month since I wrote an update. I don't mean to leave you hanging. The month has flown by.  Contrary to what one might think, for someone who works in a "school," summer is my busiest season at the Day School.  As a daycare, we run the same schedule from 7 AM to 6 PM all year.  In the summer, the program has a summer camp feel as we have a lot of school-wide activities, many of which I am in charge of. I will make a separate post here in a moment to give you a glimpse of our super fun summer that will wrap up this coming Friday.

Mom had cataract surgery on both eyes in late June, and after a couple of weeks at a slower pace, she seems to be back to her active life, including flowers, cookies, and puzzles. During my week off (my school was closed the week after July 4th), we did a little visiting.  Anna, Tim,  and the kids came to spend the day with us, and one day I took her up into the North Georgia mountains to visit a couple of friends of hers. We always look forward to catching up with friends the week I am off from school.

Peter is maintaining.  He shared with me a few weeks ago that "although he does not have schizophrenia or Bipolar, he does have insomnia."  That is his explanation for some of the crazier things he has done.  One night before that conversion, he had missed his meds and had a miserable night, unable to sleep.  So he is taking the Olanzapine because it helps him sleep.  I am grateful because that 2.5 dose does seem to keep the wackidoodle thoughts and behaviors away.  To most people, he probably appears "normalish." However, I can tell there is a more grandiose thinking and swagger that is not his typical self.  In honesty, I am not beyond the fear of "what if and when" where Peter is concerned. That keeps me prayerful.  However, for the most part, he seems to be doing well.  His job at Lowe's has been changed so he doesn't have to deal with so many coworkers.  He pays his bills and manages his money fairly well.  Peter has routines that he follows. Mom and I are part of those, so we see him weekly. He bought a season pass to a local water park and has been twice.  This helps meet his need for speed and adrenaline rush, which I consider a good thing. We're hoping to attend our 4th Atlanta Braves game of the season in August. After that, Peter plans to be busy following the local high school football as well as college football games.

In May, we met up with long-time friend Jaime and her family. 
It was fun to get a picture of the kids 

In April, a cat adopted me and the neighbors.  He won't tell me who his favorite is; however, when I drive up, he meets me at the car 95% of the time.  Often, he comes under the hedge from the neighbor's house.  The neighbor lady wanted this stray that one day appeared, but the man of the house said they had enough dogs and people to care for.  Both households feed him and love on him, yet I am the one who had Luna (the name they gave her) checked out at the vet to determine it was a Lou and that he had no microchip showing someone else claimed him. Lou is very social and amusing. I think he sleeps in my shed at night and often comes into the house to visit when I am home.  Our favorite spot when it is not too hot is on my porch swing.  He has added joy to my home, and yet I am so grateful to not have the responsibility of a full-time pet.  This weekend, he is miffed with me because he has been displaced.  He will be a full-time outdoor kitty for a week, as I am once again dog sitting for my favorite dog, Lincoln.

                                      

So that's what's happening here! As always, I am grateful for your interest in our lives and stories. And I am extremely grateful for your prayers on our behalf.