Larry turns 50!

Larry turned 50 yesterday and thanks to many friends and my mom's planning, it was two days of lots of grins!  Larry received somewhere around 70 cards/emails.  He is still going through them. And as was hoped he is having fun remembering stories written as well as other memories!  He remembers a lot for an "old guy!" I've had a lot of fun reading through the cards myself. On Sunday he got to go on his first outing since entering the nursing home (7 months!)  He and I had some close brother sister time as I maneuvered him (following careful instruction and practice with therapist) in and out of the car. We went to a Mexican restaurant.  Peter came.  The offer of free food is motivational! Larry  got to wear the sombrero and have fried ice cream.  He was grinning the whole time!  On Monday (the actual birthday) there were surprise visits (including one from a favorite cousin who lives in Kansas), decorations, and lots of teasing.  Thanks to all who sent birthday wishes!  It was indeed a pretty special day.

Postcards from anywhere

So I had this idea to collect postcards and create an album for my preschool class as part of preschool social studies.  We can match the cards with the locations on our world map.  I had mentioned this to a few folks and we have received postcards from Alaska with ones from India hopefully on their way. I am not sure how much my preschoolers will "understand" but hopefully as the year progresses, it will be something they enjoy. Meanwhile my after school boys really enjoyed hearing what my friends visiting Alaska wrote as well as looking at the pictures.  So though this began as a preschool project, I think it is one that will be enjoyable and beneficial to my after school program as well.   I would love to receive postcards from wherever. So wherever you reside or travel, if you would like to send a postcard my way, I will include it in the "Postcard Book" - a photo album with a cool world map cover!  This will then be used to share with the kids I teach.  The preschoolers will love the pictures and whatever information you want to share about the place of origin will be educational for the older kids. Thanks in advance.  I am excited about all the places we will "see!"

It's me again

Okay so I blog the way I do many things, with considerable inconsistency.  Well at least I am consistent about that! As some folks would tell you (or you personally know) sometimes I am not heard from unless I need something.  It is not one of the traits I am the most proud of but at least I admit it. Today I need some things, so here I am.

We need prayer. So speaking of inconsistency; Dad's memory, mood and energy level continues to swing.  It appears to be less related to the medicine than we thought.  Mom said he was more like his old self this week regarding doing task and projects and his humor seemed good.  Last night however I observed some significant memory recall problems. And this morning he didn't want to get out of bed because  he was depressed.  That seems linked to the fact that I had questioned the wisdom of a 10 hour driving trip that he has planned with my mom. (I offered to take him at a different time but that does not over ride the offense of implying he can't or shouldn't do what he has always been able to do.)  So I am asking for prayer for my dad, mom and myself.  Dad's safety is a concern as well as just the emotional side of aging that strongly effects him.  Mom deals with  him and the variances in his mood and memory daily.  I have volunteered to contact his doctor about our concerns regarding his memory. I also want to treat my dad with dignity. However I tend to get frustrated with his stubbornness and unknowingly offend with my responses.

We need memories.  Larry is turning 50 years old at the end of the month.  Mom and I are trying to plan some special events to commemorate it.  Knowing how much Larry loves to recall favorite memories, we are creating a "50 memories for Larry" book.  (And yes we borrowed this idea, it is not an original to us.)   We are asking for friends and family to send Mom or I (via e-mail or snail mail) memories of Larry.  We will compile a book with the memories.  Pictures are an added bonus if you have any to include.  Our target date is to have memories collected two weeks from now, September 22nd so we can get the book together by his birthday on September 29th.  I know it will be fun for Larry to hear from a variety of people from a variety of times in his life. 

I need children's NIV bibles.  I have some Ugandan friends who are wanting 3 NIV children's bibles for their children. They mentioned the New Adventure Bible: the NIV bible for kids. However I do not think they are limited to that.  Any extra childrens NIV bibles I can find I will send as I am sure they will know of others who would like to have them.  Books like that are not easy to find in Uganda and are expensive when found. Before I purchased any, I thought I would ask if anybody had a good condition NIV children's bible collecting dust on a shelf that they would like to donate.  If so, please let me know as I hope to send them to them next month

Now I just need a few minutes to gloat.  Today I ran 9 miles.  Yep, I who was always picked last on teams and failed jump roping in the 9th grade, am 9 miles into the target of 13.1  I am running a Half Marathon down at the beach October 11th.  I have been training for a couple of months. Each weekend I add a mile to my "long run."  Every run, I question my sanity. Then I reach my goal and wonder what I was whining about.  I realize that today was like running 3 - 5K races in a row.  Not too shabby for a non athlete.  I am not fast but as the saying goes "I am faster than the person on the couch."  The other evening I was running and startled when a lady came running up beside me.  As I was recovering and she was apologizing we began chatting.  I ended up running 3 miles with her.  She is 20 years my junior and an athlete.  Keeping up with her was pushing me.  Fortunately she was chatty and I was just spurting out stuff like " great" pant pant pant "wow" breath breath breath "really" huff huff huff.  At one point when I said I was going to have to quit she offered to slow down a bit so we could keep running together.  Lets just say her definition of slow down and mine were not the same.  Needless to say I finished my 4 miles faster than ever and I was too distracted by the conversation to realize how hard I was working. Haley seemed happy to have someone to run with and  I was excited to be "pushed beyond my comfort zone.  I had a better run today just knowing I could run a little harder than I thought I could.  

So that is pretty much what a I needed.  I will add that Peter is back at Military School.  He has been home this weekend.  He has not been a happy camper so fortunately for me, I get to take him back in an hour : )  This school year is wild and crazy.  My fabulous co worker of the past four years took a job at another preschool the week before we started back.  Shelley was my left brain and right arm. She made me look good. Add to her absence the fact that I have a full class of sweet but "busy busy busy" kiddos, school has a bit of a crazy feel to it. 

Well that is it for now, you know until  I need something else!

A Tuesday Tangent

Today's discovery  - I do not relax well.  

So I declared today my "day off" - a "do nothing day." Though I have only worked part time this summer (mornings at a preschool) the days have felt really busy with going here and there and doing this and that. Tomorrow I take Peter to boarding school for football camp. The day is full with social and work plans. The next day our city schools return thus the After School Program I lead will commence.  And since we start work at the preschool next Monday, I am trying to get a head start. All of that to say, things are gearing up. I did not work at the preschool yesterday or today so I got this great plan.  I decided to work hard yesterday to clean house, get needed school work turned in, and run errands so that I could hang out at home in my PJ's and do "nothing."  So yesterday I worked on school work, bought school supplies, and tackled the house including Peter's laundry.  I felt that the locker room aroma of his room required that it ALL be washed!  Okay so I was up into the wee (and I mean wee) hours of the morning cleaning house (baseboards, laundry, self cleaning the oven, vacuuming, etc) all with the goal of " I am going to do "nothing" when I finally wake up tomorrow!"  I had visions of lounging on my bed watching Netflix, reading, eating whatever didn't need cooked and having no time commitments all while clad in my PJ's.  Nice dream but the reality is that I just don't know how to do that.

I woke up and thought "let me just finish up Peter's Laundry." Followed by "let me put the dishes on the counter away so it is really clean looking."  This was soon followed by "ought to paint my toenails." I told myself that was leisurely right.  Those "just let me do real quick" was followed by cooking breakfast, putting soup in the crock pot, hanging a new calendar, making my bed, responding to e-mails, checking my bank statement, and well you get the picture.  I need to go to the post office before 5.  I tell myself walking would be "leisurely." And oh I am waiting for this guy to come buy the old lawn mower.  He was to be here earlier but was delayed so I am "waiting."  At some point Peter is going to need a Pizza.  And I get that need as it is his last night at home before going to school .  I am too cheap to resort to delivery and will probably go out to get one. I should go for a run because you know I am in "training."  And it just goes on and on

I have concluded that the problem is not that I have too much to do.  The problem is that I don't know how to stop doing.  I don't know how to stop and relax.  There is something that tells me I have to be doing.  I often blame it on others - too much work, Peter's request, etc - but the problem lies within.  I can even tell myself that "I want to do these things."  I will say "well it makes me feel better when the house is clean, recipe files organized, people's needs met.".  And it does but why do I need to "do these things" to make myself feel better?  

So next time you here me say how busy I am or that I never have time to relax, you will know the truth.  I just haven't figured out how to stop doing.

Since even writing this post has an element of doing something to check off my list, I think I will close.

Oh but can I tell you one funny thing?  I have always thought that  Peter and I are so opposite in every way. This summer though I have begun to realize that there are more similarities than I realized.  One of them is that neither of us likes to go to bed.  We are night owls who fight observing a descent bed time even when exhausted.  I slacked off with his bedtime curfews this summer because well I "get it."  Last night when I told him I was going to get the house cleaning done even if it meant staying up late, he asked if he could stay up all night.  Peter and I started the tradition of "all nighters" when he was about eight. It involves the TV and junk food.  He always looked forward to his one all nighter during the summer.  I know he does it now when staying at his friend Abe's so I didn't think much about declaring it an all nighter.  I said sure, especially since I was determined to get my housework done before going to bed.  At 3 AM he was watching TV and I was vacuuming.  I got to hoping that we weren't keeping the neighbors awake.  It was funny that when I had run the vacuum cleaner just a little too long for his preferences (I was deep cleaning), Peter said "Mom, are you done vacuuming.  It is 3 AM."  For some reason It struck me as funny.  We are so different and yet here we were two night owls acting like it was daytime. 

In Case you were wondering II

Yes Peter is returning to Military School for the 2014-15 school year.  As in similar fashion to last year, with only two weeks until Peter starts school, the money for this years tuition has shown up.  I am extremely grateful to the school and individual friends and family who have contributed.  And once again I am also in awe of God's provision of something that always seems so out of reach.

Larry is doing well.  Hey has recently traded in his nightly DVD watching for Hide and Seek books.  He is even checking off the found ones with a pencil.  Holding a pencil and maneuvering it is big progress for Larry. For the most part he seems happy.  Just last week I had two staff members tell me how much they loved my brother.  Knowing he is loved where he is makes it all so much easier to leave him at the end of a visit.  Some progress with the finances has been made but there is still hoops that need to be successfully passed through.

Recently Mom and I were quite concerned about my Dad.  He was struggling with health, energy and memory in a very significant and noticeable way.  The last two weeks he had a variety of doctor's appointments.  In this process a couple of medications were removed with another decreased.  This week, the "old" Dad emerged. He has taken on projects he wouldn't have considered last week and is not showing the memory problems either.  Wow. So it looks like maybe what was going on was related to being over medicated.  For those who have heard of my concern for my Dad, you know that this is a real relief.  We are hopeful that the renewed Dad will continue through future medication adjustments.

You would think

You would think that with Summer's less demanding work schedule that I would have

• deep cleaned my house
• my yard in well groomed shape
• all thank you notes written
• crafted all the things I had been waiting for summer to craft
• visited all my dear friends
• written weekly blog post

  . . . . .   you would think.

Three more days of summer job with just a few days off before my afternoon job starts soon followed by planning days for my preschool job.  So much for the summer "to do" list!

In case you have been wondering

It has been a few weeks so just just in case you have been wondering, here is a little update:

How was the Beach with 2 teenage boys?

 It was suprisingly easy and enjoyable.  I was really glad we took Abe as he pushed Peter to get out of the hotel room and is more chatty with me than Peter.  They had a good time and I had a good bit of down time.  Only regret was that we had to come home too soon! This picture was on the last evening. After late night TV and two days at the water park, we had to nudge Peter to keep him awake.

How is Larry?

My thoughts are that he is doing well.  He seems to be content in his new home.  We revisited the outdoor table for a Father's Day Chicken Dinner.  Between Mom, Dad and I, we try to visit at least once a day.  He has some really good care givers for which we are grateful.  There are still some unresolved financial issues.  Prayers that things will be sorted out in his favor soon is appreciated. Please pray that the paperwork will go through quickly at each crucial step and red tape wont hinder him getting the needed aid.

Are Mom and Dad settled in their new house?

I think one can honestly say that progress has been made. The boxes have diminished, one car fits in the two car garage, and we hung dad's dozen plus clocks along with a few pictures. They have phone and internet. As of this past week they have a working TV and after my emergency visit to their house, they now know how to work it.   Currently there are plans for some new laundry room cabinets and a re-do on the shower doors.  They are also looking at changing some flooring.  It is this last possibility that has stopped mom from unpacking any more boxes. There are few other purchases that are being shopped for. Things are settling and we are all very happy about their new home.  However Moving and settling is just a process and one that takes longer than a week! That is a fact that Dad often forgets.

During this move, mom traded in her desk top computer for a laptop.  And in that process, her contacts were lost.  So if you are a correspondent of my mom's - drop her a note so she can add your address back in!

Am I working this summer?

Yes I work mornings at a church preschool.  It is a fun and low stress job.  I actually serve as an aide for a three year old who was in my class this past year at the Special Needs preschool.  It is so fun to work with her as well as to help educate children and staff who are not as familiar with children with special needs.  It is fun to see the other children embrace my young friend.  Though I technically work 28 hours a week, I seem to be working all the time! I am not exactly sure doing what but I am constantly on the go putting gas in my car more frequently and wondering how I got things done during the busy school year. It has been fun to get my yard back in order and decorate my front porch. My house is in order at last.  Just needs a good deep clean and a few more cabinets and drawers sorted through.  I willingly am taking on a few "gigs" to supplement the income.  Later in July I will be dog sitting.  Last weekend, I had a new experience.  I can now add to my resume the job of "Cow Sitter."  Beings that my friends were only gone for the weekend, the essence of my job was to  stay in their beautiful farm house with the gorgeous view and periodically count the 15 cows, 1 bull and 1 donkey down in the field below the house.  It was a pleasant way to make a little money for porch decor and groceries to feed my ever hungry 15 year old.

How is Peter?

Peter is easier this summer than last but not without it's challenges.  He has been working out with the few other local students and coaches at the military School this summer in preparation for Football season.  I am grateful for this activity.  Funding for the upcoming school year is still incomplete.  Even though we did not know the money would be available until a week before he started last year, I find I am more anxious about the financial detail this year.  After having experienced the benefit of the Military School for Peter last year, I feel a desperation this year that he be able to return.  In spite of how God so marvelously provided for school last year, I do struggle to believe that he will do it again this year. 

Anything Fun Planned?

I plan to run the Atlanta Peachtree Road Race this Friday July 4th.  I had to cancel plans to run it last year so am excited to try again.  I am not near as prepared this year but am excited none the less.  Hopefully it will be the boost to keep me working towards the Half Marathon at Jekyll Island in October.  With that said - I better head to bed so I am rested come Friday.