I did a thing

Storytime got a little rough Tuesday at school. I was doing a two-year-old story time on fire safety. We were playing a little game practicing stopping when we heard the word hot. One little friend got behind me and in my attempt to prevent stepping on him, I ended up landing on the floor, left wrist first. It appears to have a fracture. I am back at Guilford Urgent Care this morning for a follow-up.  Experience on Tuesday, had me renaming it Guilford "hope you have all day" Care and other creative names. I couldn't help but wonder if it being a workman's comp case made it slower. I was to be referred to ortho but waiting on workman's comp. So today, Friday, I am here for follow-up at the Tuesday's doctor's request.  I have seen the xray as a coworker pulled it up on the computer and my untrained eyes say it's not that bad. But it does hurt, is swollen and has made life more challenging. Its definitely harder to multitask.

So I got to see the doctor. I really do like him. He was surprised that I had not gotten into an ortho and expressed that I really needed to see one. Meanwhile the claim adjuster reached out to my boss. I spoke with her and she made things happen today. I have an appointment with an orthopedic doctor Monday morning. So I am grateful and hopeful for monday's appointment.

I am so grateful that I didn't break a leg, hip or tailbone. As a righty, a fractured left is also better. Yet I didn't realize how Involved my left hand is in everything I do. I am having to rethink most things I do. The kids at school have been very concerned and sweet. My co-workers have been helpful at work. I came home yesterday to find 2 friends washing my dishes and having brought prepared food. And mom and Peter have been understanding of my needing to change plans and being less available. Its interesting how exhausted a simple wrist injury has made me. Maybe this is part of the answer to my desire to slow down a bit! Thank you for praying that I will know how to navigate it well.

Hurricane Helene

 We are safe and dry-ish!

Thank you to all who have checked on us.  It appears that the storm veered east and was way less traumatic than was expected earlier in the week.  It started raining back on Tuesday and things are very wet.  So our community took a lot of precautions.  The city and county schools closed on Thursday and Friday.  My preschool followed Georgia Government recommendations and closed for Friday (today.)

So on this Friday morning I am here, sitting at Mom's house watching the news of the hurricane's aftermath.  Due to all the trees surrounding my house, the saturation of rain, and the threat of high winds, I spent last night (Thursday) at Mom's house. As far as I know, my trees are standing and there is electricity at my house.

I am grateful that this storm was light for us personally and pray for those who have been greatly affected in areas it did hit so hard.

a month later

So much for a weekly post!! Things have been active of late but nothing particularly note-worthy or crisis-feeling. I enjoy writing and sharing my stories. It does require time and energy that there isnt always a surplus of. This post was written last week and well I forgot to post it.  I finished it and am posting it now.

Today I am sitting at Discount Tire awaiting a tire repair and thought this might be a good time to jot a few lines.  Peter seems to be doing well. We were at a very exciting Braves game on Saturday. Peter had one eye on the Braves game and the other on his phone showing the UGA -Kentucky game. Attending the Braves games with Peter has been "our" thing this year and we have made up for not attending any of the 2023 season. We also have a regular Thursday or Friday outing to breakfast and the grocery store before I go to work. Most of my time spent with him is pleasant. Peter works 3 nights a week unloading trucks and stocking at Lowe's. He goes to church and has lunch with Mama Millie on Sundays. Avita continues to provide housing and support. For all these things I am very grateful. yet I don't travel this ride without concerns and needs that I am concerned over. If led you can pray for an attorney to help him through bankruptcy on old medical bills, someone to help me with a psychiatry power of attorney for the future "what ifs", and continuation of SSI (he's recently received confusing letters of its status). I would love to see him have some friends or a social network of support. Of course, the great desire is for his greater understanding and acceptance of the gospel.  

Mom continues to bake cookies, organize her files (and sometimes mine), work on her bible study, tend to her flowers, and spread kindness to others. Occasionally she gets obsessed with a puzzle or two then decides she needs a break. Recently we added a cat door to a window so that her cat Penny can come and go outside. That has added another layer of interaction and entertainment. Mom will be 88 on October 1st For each year I am grateful. Her brother will be 91 and her sister is 95 so I am hopeful for  more years  of good health and mind

I continue to try to figure out how to balance all the things I want to do and the motivation behind them with a growing desire to live by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  

Thank you for caring for us.

Dancing

Did I tell you I danced at the wedding of my mom's 75-year-old water exercise instructor and her 80-year-old groom?  They had this dance floor, a great DJ, and the desire for people to dance.  Getting the dance party started was slow.  The crowd was on the more mature side.  Mind you this was a party at 1 pm in the afternoon.  It started with one lady out there on the floor. She was fantastic and didn't seem to care she was alone  Then a couple more people trickled in and out.  Did I say the music was great dance music?  My super uncoordinated feet were itching to dance.  But I don't dance in public unless the crowd is 5 years old and under.  But I so wanted to and Mom was encouraging me to go out there.  I heard the lady next to me tell her husband she wanted to dance but no one was on the floor.  I told her, if she went, I would go.  And so we did.  More people began to join us. I think the biggest crowd we had on the dance floor was about 12 people.  But we were surrounded by a crowd of people who though not able or willing to dance on their feet, were obviously dancing in their seats.  In fact, one lady brought her chair out to the dance floor and joined us.  It was one of the most fun parties I have attended.

Here is what I decided.  I still am as uncoordinated as I have ever been. I don't dance gracefully.  But I love music and I love to dance.  And I have decided to make it a point to dance more.  So as we finished up "Music" week at the preschool this summer I hosted a big dance party with a hundred 1 to 5-year-olds.  A co-worker made an awesome kid-friendly dance party playlist and we had a ball.  Yesterday I decided to listen to some Carolina Beach music.  Then I decided I needed to know how to move my feet with some semblance of order.  I spent an hour googling Caroline Shag steps and trying to get my feet to follow the sequence.  With repeated practice, I think I finally have the basic steps.  Shag is a couples dance and I don't have a dance partner.  But that's okay.  I don't really care I can dance by myself, in my living room.  I have just decided to no longer let fear and lack of coordination stop me from trying to dance.

A test

 This is a test.

1) I am challenging myself to post something weekly.  You see, I am a rather undisciplined person.  I have spurts but consistency in disciplined routines is not one of them.  I am trying to create more small daily and weekly disciplines.  There ARE SO MANY I would love to tackle.  One that I am starting with is a weekly post here even if it is small.  So this is this week's post.  I am going to share a few random recent pictures.  

2) I am not sure if I am receiving the recent post via the Follow It feed.  Thus I am questioning if you are.  So if you get this post, could you send me a brief text, e-mail, or sticky note on my door to let me know you are getting it.  I also realized people have posted comments and I don't see them.  I scavenged the site for a way to get notified of them but don't see it.  So thanks for the comments over the past years.  I am sorry I didn't respond!

Quick update.  Peter received a check for Jun, July, and August SSI.  Yay.  He has switched the timing of his meds to see if it helps with the hunger cravings.  Currently, he is working 3 nights a week at Lowes.  He meets with his psychiatrist (meds) doctor on Tuesday to discuss his medication.  I am praying that the Dr. will be cautious and thoughtful in any medication changes.

Last weekend my friend Tammy was here from Pennsylvania for her annual Georgia tour.  It was fun to have her stay a night in my spare room and make our traditional trip to the Gainesville branch of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  It was Hot but the flowers are always fun.  We followed it up with food at Hello Hilo, our local Hawaiian restaurant. 

Last weekend we celebrated Mom's neighbor Miss Nelda and her upcoming 90th birthday.  Nelda and Mom share a duplex and I call them two peas in a pod.  They are both widows who are loved by all and love their flowers.  They watch out for each other of which I am very grateful.

Recently, my friend Jade and I went out for Menchie's yogurt (our current favorite outing.) When we returned to her house the sky was putting on a display.  As it got dark the neighbors were trying to put on a fireworks display but it paled in comparison to God's!

During the week our school was closed, Mom and I drove up to Greenville to see Anna and the kids.  We had a fun afternoon hanging out with these Princesses.

Early in June, we went to the wedding of Mom's water fitness instructor.  She has been leading water aerobics classes at our local aquatics center for 15 years.  She is beloved by the many who attend her various classes.  She is 78 and her groom was 80 and it was one of the sweetest and most fun weddings I have ever attended.  95% of the 100-plus people in attendance were members of one of her water exercise classes. And I was one of the youngest people there! 

One of the fun things I get to do at school is decorate.  During the summer weeks, I change out the entryway photo booth every Friday to fit the upcoming theme. Sometimes they are time-consuming and tedious (like the circus tent) and others are as simple as throwing up a backdrop and adding a few props. This summer there has been a lot of collaboration.  Daisy the resident balloon artist put together the party display for the church's VBS.  Vita made the amazing flower blooms for our garden week.  And Emily put together the beach and the dinosaur displays as I was traveling. It is so fun to see the kids interact and pose in front of the displays on their way in and out of the school. Also makes me think that the Visual Merchandising class I took in college was a valuable part of my experience!

SSI not lost

 I am good about sharing requests but don't always follow up.  I am trying to remember to let you know the outcomes.  Peter went with his representative to the Social Security Office last Monday.  He has not lost his SSI disability.  They were told there was a glitch with the Federal treasury. So hopefully he will receive his checks soon.  That was a relief to all of us! Thank you, Jesus.

Peter asked me yesterday about contacting the doctor to change his medicine.  He is convinced that it is the reason he is gaining weight.    Peter shut me down when I proposed that it's not the medicine but his diet of white bread, lunch meat, pancakes, and Diet Coke.   He wanted me to call the doctor and I told him they don't respond to my inquiries (which is true) and sent him all the contact numbers.  My desire is that the nurse will work with him on diet and he will listen.  This medicine has worked the best for him mentally and past medication changes have been less successful.  A change without some thought and consideration does make me a little nervous. Pray that the agency working with him will wisely guide Peter. 

Thank you so much for your prayers on Peter's behalf.

Peter July 2024

I have not written about Peter in a while.  He has been doing really well for which I am grateful.  We have recently attended another Braves game and a Fourth of July event.  He has been fun to be with.  His roommate's situation seems to be okay.  He doesn't talk much about it.  I think they coexist without a lot of interaction. I am delighted to see how Peter keeps the apartment clean.  Peter and mom have lunch about once a week followed by a grocery store run.  Peter also goes to church with Mom on Sundays.  I am grateful for Mom doing this for him.  I know she is a significant person to him. Peter is taking his medicine and lets me know when he needs a refill. These are all good things

There are a couple of concerns that have prompted this post.  Peter appears to have lost his SSI benefits as he has not received any checks in the past two months.  Originally when he started working at Lowes they were giving him too many hours.  The guess is that this is what prompted the loss of benefits however no letters to this effect have come to the house.  He is going to the Social Security Office today with an ACT team member to see what they can find out.  Meanwhile, Lowes cut his hours (as he requested to keep his SSI benefits) and has been cutting them drastically.  Peter requested to work an evening unloading job which is three nights a week but it appears he is only being scheduled once a week.  The loss of SSI income and Lowes' pay has of course been discouraging to him.  His housing cost is dependent on his income so currently there is little concern about being kicked out of his apartment.  However, Peter has become quieter over the past few days which indicates he is concerned.  And his falling into depression is a concern for me.

Peter also needs the work otherwise he sits at home on his phone.  Peter has been gaining weight.  This is I am sure partly due to the medication and how it makes him hungry.  With fewer days of walking the two miles to and from work, he is getting less exercise.  I also have watched him shop and his food choices are easy-to-heat meals that are high in carbs and sugar and low in fruit and vegetables.  There is the concern of health risks with weight gain but even more the fear that this will trigger his going off his medication.

Just wanted to share the update as many have kindly asked.  I want to share that there is so much that I am grateful for.  He has come a LONG way since a year ago when he was living on the streets in Athens.  Yet I appreciate continued prayers for increased stability of work and income, positive relationships and a receptiveness to the healing work of Jesus.