Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand for Thankful Thursday.

A Successful Group Activity: So I tried something new this week. I took two of my clients bowling and to lunch at the same time. They are both high functioning (a condition of being allowed to take both) and both are in situations where they are living in private homes, but they are still a bit isolated and lonely or bored. Client one is a 26 year old man and client two is a 38 year old woman. Both agreed to give it a try and they had a blast bowling together and chatting. They want to do more together.

Daughter's Big Heart: If ever there was anyone plagued by stress and anxiety, it is our daughter. Her emotions are on the surface and she wears her heart on her sleeve. Absolutely EVERYTHING is a big freaking deal. It can be exhausting for an introvert like me, but I am so proud of her for stepping up in a difficult situation. 

Our son-in-law's brother has been having some very serious health issues for at least a few months. He is also pretty severely depressed. He has a 4 year old daughter who he has had the sole responsiblilty for since the mother abandoned them a couple of years ago (and she really wasn't much of a mother before that). Unfortunately, with the state of his health and his mental state, he has not been being a good parent, either. The little girl has been neglected and left to run wild much of the time. She is smart as a whip, but behind in many ways. She is also completely resistant to rules or being told "no." She hasn't been seen by a doctor for at least 2 years and there is some concern that there may have been some abuse in the past (not by the father...he does love her, he is just overwhelmed).

Anyway, knowing all this and already having her hands full with her own 2 1/2 year old and 5 year old, our daughter pretty much begged her brother-in-law to let her take the girl in. To everyone's surprise he agreed. The grandmother bought some groceries and said she'd help, but she's already grumbling about having to watch her for an hour or so tomorrow. 

Our daughter and all three kids have spent several hours here the last two days. It gets a lot chaotic. A lot. But the girl is adapting and she is so eager for positive attention rather than neglect. She pours over books, loves to sing songs, and she's just jumped right into letting us know she wants something. She gives us hugs right along with Colton and Leah and today she started calling us Pappy and Memaw (even though I am Nanny...Megan said she only recently began to call her actual Memaw anything at all) and she calls Megan and Cody Mom and Dad. 

No one knows how long it will last, but my bet is on a while. Her dad was supposed to come visit her today and didn't bother. He also hasn't brought any clothes (says he can't find them) or brought her car seat. She is so happy and thriving after just 3 days. Getting to stay with Megan would be the best thing for her. If it turns out that she stays with them, the next step will be trying to get the father to agree to allow them legal guardianship so they can take her to the doctor and enroll her in school.

Pretty Good Weather: We've had some pretty yucky weather this past week, but we've had a couple of days that felt like spring, as well. It was 55* today! It's sort of a roller coaster. Tomorrow will be 40* and Saturday is supposed to be in the mid-50's again, then Sunday we hit the deep freeze and might see snow Sunday night or Monday. I hope the last of the old snow and ice finally melts before we get more.

Strong Bones: This past Sunday I took a crash landing on some black ice in the church parking lot. It was seriously sneaky stuff. Even as I was sitting on it, I couldn't see it, but couldn't get any traction to get up. I had to scootch off of it first. No one was around to help me up, but that means no one was around to see me go down...and that's another thing I'm thankful for. I'm pretty sure there was nothing graceful about going down or coming back up. lol  Anyway, in spite of landing on the same knee I messed up falling on ice several years ago, other than being a little stiff and sore I am fine.

Plans Coming Together: The marriage conference is this Saturday at church. We've been working hard on it and praying just as hard. Everything is coming together and it's so great to be able to see God at work in it all. I can't wait to see what He does at the conference!

I guess that's about it for now. I have to work first thing in the morning and then go pick Colton up from school, so I am posting tonight and I've stayed up way too late doing it. You all have a blessed and thankful day!