Thankful........

Hello everyone, I know it has been a while.  We weathered the last hurricane much better than most.  I had my boys and their significant others here for Milton and it was very nice.  Before the storm I put up all the hurricane protection guards on the windows all by myself, I had one son working and one out of town so it was up to me, and thankfully I could do it.  It was interesting getting them down from the very small attic in my garage but once they were down they were easy to install.  Everyone arrived in time for the storm and we had a good time, playing UNO, eating and maneuvering around each other in this small house.  We never lost power like so many, nor did we have major damage, a tree down in my backyard that was quickly cut up by a neighbor, a small leak in a skylight that was fixed a few weeks after, I had lots of small branches down and a broken light with a sensor that resides on the side of my house but nothing else.  It was nice to see neighbors out helping neighbors and my oldest son's and their partners out helping pick up debris for others as well. I had friends out of power for days, friends with big trees uprooted but for us we were just fine.  It was pretty scary watching Milton swirl out in the Gulf heading towards us, but a late turn south of us really saved this area.  We were blessed when so many weren't, I am grateful and also sad for those still battling to get their homes fixed.

This past month has been about trying to get back to work when I can, I missed 10 days because of Helene and Milton, Little Buddy missed 13 days of school! His school had the gym roof peel back which allowed so much water and wind damage inside.  They opened a week after the public schools in this area.  Still they got his school up and running and they were back in their regular routine which makes all of these neurodiverse children happy, their parent, too!

My favorite place to walk on the beach just opened with limited spaces available yesterday.  As I could not walk at the island I walked on the causeway to the island several times.  This big sailboat blew up in the storm and was just sitting on the sand near the street.  There must have been powerful waves to get this boat stuck way up on shore. My dear Honeymoon Island had devastating destruction, most of the barrier islands did so I am so happy it is partially open now and hope to pay a visit there next weekend.

This week as we celebrated Thanksgiving here in the States, I tried, as I do everyday, to focus on all I am grateful for.  I start every morning with a gratitude practice and end my day with one as well.  I was working on a little 4 1/2 month old baby on Monday and as I helped him fall asleep and began working to shift his skull where it was misshaped due to preference to sleeping with his head to the right, I looked at that sweet sleeping face and was just so grateful I get to do the work I do, so grateful I have my house, family, friends and job of course. Even with the darkness I felt so strongly after the election, I felt grateful for the community I have created that is so supportive of my Little Buddy and his very special and complex needs.  I am not sure those needs will be met in the future with Medicaid reductions and his schooling/scholarship in jeopardy, his educational needs are supported by the Department of Education, the government agency that ensures all children with special needs receive the education they deserve just like their peers.  At this point there is not a lot I can do about it but pray that he and all the children like him are safe with their medical and educational needs.  I often think wouldn't it be nice to not have to pray for these things not to change but to know they are a right that these kids deserve and a right that won't be taken from them.  In the last four years it never occured to me that they would be taken away, but the world we now will be living in will be vastly different from where we have been, and it won't be better in any sense.

I am also grateful that my family was with me yesterday for Thanksgiving.  This is the first time in the last four Thanksgiving's they have been with me.  Thanksgiving has good memories for me as a child but not so good as an adult with the stress it entailed while living with my thankfully ex-husband.  Yesterday was easy and peaceful, the day unfolded with only one behavior issue with Little Buddy and lots of food and conversation later in the day when my older boys came with their significant others, I even quickly spoke to a couple of friends and my sister.  And I am thankful for Zombie masks that help with very bad acne!

I am truly blessed, really and truly blessed and I hope you know I am very thankful for all of you who still visit me here in this space when I can drop in.  Wishing you a wonderful day.  Today we are finishing up decorating for Christmas and going to see Moana 2 at the movie theater, my choice not Little Buddy's, but he is still going along!