Phone calls, emails, hopes and prayers

Today I am thankful for Bluetooth technology that allowed me to talk with Emily at District 19 while driving home from NC. (Last night I had the privilege of spending time with my friend, Kristin, and her kids in Greensboro and finished my trip home today.) Emily was calling to tell me that there will be a meeting tomorrow to discuss a possible DAP funding plan for Mike. Honestly, I do not understand how there is any money for Mike since previously I was told it was all already earmarked for other people. She tried to explain it to me, but truly it didn't make sense to me, so I am just trusting her and being thankful it's not a lost resource yet.  She called to see what Mike's current income sources were and what portion of those could be used to supplement any DAP funding that might be available. She is really trying to get him funded so that he can go to Golden Pond.

Lori from Golden Pond went to see Mike yesterday and Mike is excited about the possibility of going there. My Mom and I are going to go visit Golden Pond tomorrow. I visited with Mike tonight and he prayed that it would be God's will for him to go there. Before I left we prayed together asking the Lord to provide the funding necessary for Mike to go where God wants him to go. If that is Golden Pond, it needs to happen soon. Lori has others asking about the 1 room she has available, so the funding is a deciding factor. Please, join with us that God's will be done and if this is the right place, that the meeting tomorrow will result in the necessary funding.

As I drove down to see Mike tonight, tension started to build between my shoulder blades. All of this up and down stuff is stressful, plus it's never easy to see Mike in this type of facility. I wondered if he would be upset that I had been gone, but he never mentioned it. We had a good visit, but it is heart-breaking. He can be so sweet and child-like and I just want to wrap him up and bring him home. Want him to have the comforts of familiarity, favorite foods, family. He has lost so much more than I have. I refrain from telling him all that I do because I don't want to rub salt in the wound. Yet, he's so.....I'm struggling to know how to describe him.....he's so blank, or unaware, or self-absorbed that it doesn't seem to matter what I tell him. It's hard to explain. Tonight he got upset a couple of times - fretting about his supper and snack money - reasoning with him doesn't work and he only gets louder, so the best is to abruptly change the subject, play a game, or some other distraction. This works for a time, until the thought resurfaces and then we go through the cycle again.

Tonight he was telling me about exercising and that he was up front with the leader. I said is that because of your Physical Education background? Mike said "It's because I'm a smart guy." and then he grinned real big! LOL!

The social worker said he's been harder to redirect and has been "targeting" some of his peers. Not aggressive just.....annoying. Like telling others to take their medication, taking their seat when they stand up, etc. I think it's an attention thing. He seems to do well when he's getting plenty of attention, but when left to his own, he gets into mischief or repeats or tries to get out. Same as when he was home. So, although there are moments when I want to bring him home, I know I just can't. It took 3 people to redirect him one day they said. He can be very stubborn and willful and overpowering.

Please, please pray that God makes a way for a great placement for Mike. Golden Pond would be so accessible for me to continue to be in his life as much as possible and is much less costly than the TBI specific facilities, is a home, not an institution, and really is our only hope at the moment. This is a very important meeting tomorrow. God is in control. Praying, seeking and trusting.