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.

Sally Ann has left the premise

Yep - Sally Ann has left the big house signaling the completion of moving Mom and Dad from big house of the past 20 years to the retirement condo of the future.  By the way Sally Ann is my mom's goldfish - a gift from Peter several years ago.  She was the last precious cargo transferred.  We spent four crazy days of loading cars, driving across town, and unloading.  The finale was my yard sale yesterday to sell surplus that needed to go so I could fit the stuff I took from Mom's.  Mom and Dad now have the huge task of trying to figure out what will stay in the condo and what will go into the next yard sale.  My house is still pretty topsy turvey as well but I am going to leave it behind.  Peter and his friend Abe and I are headed to the beach in the morning.  Yep - I am taking two teenage boys to the beach by myself for a few days.  I am either brave or crazy.  Right now I am just tired and looking forward to hanging out on the beach with a book.  It would just be nice if I could find the book I was going to read.  It is buried somewhere in the ruble of my house. Oh well, I guess I will have to read that one later!  

Thanks for all of the support and prayers. Thanks for continued prayers for Mom and Dad as they take care of new house details and getting settled.  And well I must say, I would appreciate prayers for a peaceful few days with the boys at the beach.  Grateful for all your support,

Moving

So on June 2nd, my parents 53rd wedding anniversary, my folks were homeless for about 4 hours.  The former home was sold in the morning and the condo purchased in the afternoon very smoothly.  By that evening we had carted 6 car loads of stuff to the condo.  Yesterday three fabulous movers loaded, carried and unloaded their furniture.  We made several more car load trips as well.  Today is the final push to get the remaining items (mostly pictures, plants and a pantry of food) out of the house.  Tomorrow will be cleaning day.  There is a lot of stuff piled in the garage of the condo.  Some will work its way into the house and some will need to find new homes.  Dad is anxious to see this happen.  Hopefully he will give mom the time she needs to go through the purging process without too much stress. We are all real excited about the new place.  It really is just the right size and the location is great. They are two miles from me and Peter and Larry is a mile on the other side.  And the distance to their doctors, grocery stores, and eateries is even closer.  The move is not over but there is much to be grateful for thus far in how things have progressed. Grateful for those of you who have been praying for us. 

The end of May - more wants

May is about to come to an end and as seems to be the norm for this month, it has been a short yet crazy long month.  I am hopeful that just maybe, June will bring a bit of relief. Knowing that some of you might be curious and that your prayers have made me very evident of God's presence and working in the life of my family, I want to share a brief summary of what is currently happening.

I finished the year at my morning preschool as well as the After School program last Friday. It was preceded by a good bit of paperwork and  one all nighter reminiscent of my college days to get it all done. And yes the all nighter  has definitely lost isn't glamour with age. During the last two weeks of school, it was discovered that I had lice and I broke a tooth which has led to the need for significant and costly dental work.  Peter came home on Saturday.  With that comes the ongoing battle of how to keep him from becoming attached to the living room couch and TV.  He has a little more motivation this summer in regards to working out for Football but I can still tell that it is going to be a struggle.  My house is in a state of chaos due to the craziness of the month and the moving in of things from my parents.  I don't do well with the chaos and find I want to migrate to my room (the one place I have managed to keep organized) and not deal with the rest of it.   I have a tendency to be overwhelmed by it all and thus putting it off so that the mountain grow even larger. This response is the same one that resulted in an the All nighter to complete my school work a week ago.

As for my parents, the closing is scheduled for June 2nd with everything needing to be out of their house by Thursday.  Currently there is a signature needed by someone who is on vacation for the closing to take place.  We have a refrigerator and another major piece of furniture that needs homes.  There is a lot of packing that needs to be done.  Mom and dad just returned from their 60th high school reunion and gratefully got some rest as they were with family for a week.  They have returned with lots to be attended to regarding the move. In addition mom is having to deal with complications involving my brother's Medicaid. Also Larry has shown an increase in seizures over the past few days.  The wear of the move and all that is going on is definitely showing in my dad.  

This week I began my summer job working mornings  at a nearby preschool (the place where I work the After School Program during the school year.) I will take off next week to help with the move. I hope to have a yard sale following my parents move to get rid of stuff so I can have room for things that I wanted to keep of my folks. After that (due to the generosity of my Aunt) I will be able to take two teenage boys (Peter and his friend)  to the beach for four days.  Hopefully following that we will settle into a bit of a routine for the summer.

So here is what I want - what I am asking for:

• Wisdom on how to "motivate" Peter so that he spends his summer productively.
• My own motivation to do what needs to be done and not be paralyzed by the magnitude of it all.
• Financial provisions for the 2014-15 School year for Peter.  To know if there is something God is asking me to "do" differently to bring in the needed money.
• Stamina and health for my mom and dad during the move.
• The Medicare issue will be resolved and Larry's needed care provided for.
• The needed documents for the Closing completed and a smooth closing on both houses Monday.
• The packing and moving to get done in a safe and timely manner
• Wisdom of the doctors regarding Larry's increased seizures.
• My ability to trust God in the craziness of it all and to glorify him and not the problems.

I am sure I could keep the list going but that seems like the basic concerns at the moment. Thank you for letting me share them with you.

Mother's Day

So our mother's day wasn't exactly how Hallmark might portray it, but it was very sweet none the less.  I brought a picnic that we could share in the court yard of Larry's new residence.  It didn't rain, Peter came, Peter was pleasant and we were all together.  It was pretty special.

My Awesome Mom!

Peter's determination not to smile.

Peter's struggle not to smile.

Peter's inability to keep from smiling.  Love that smile!