we will make lemonade

Gratitude Project, Day 7: Comfort Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:14:00 +0000

I thought my first gratitude post related to food would be for coffee or chocolate, but it turns out not. Today I am grateful for comfort food. I made Cottage Pie for dinner and am about to eat some yummy Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins. Yum!

Yes, sometimes {alright, most of the time} food makes me feel good. I am not sure I should be grateful for my emotional connection to food, but today I am.

Gratitude Project, Day 6: Family

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:01:00 +0000

Luke and cousin Hannah together

Today we are headed over to my sister's house for a cookout with our two families and our parents. My kids always enjoy playing with her daughter, Hannah (well, Emma is too old for "playing" now). And all the grown-ups in this family enjoy some eating.

I am thankful we all live in the same town and we have the opportunity to spend some time together today.

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Project, Day 5: State Health Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:46:00 +0000

{I actually wrote this entire thing yesterday and forgot to publish it, so it still counts for yesterday's gratitude.}

I guess I am showing the true state of my finances by posting this on my gratitude list, but I am thankful that we qualify for the kids to be covered by our state children's health insurance, Health Choice, and I'm not ashamed about it. When the real estate market started tanking, and my business went from showing a profit to suffering a loss, we suddenly qualified for children's health insurance.

This insurance is free and covers doctor visits and hospital 100% and we pay just $2 per prescription. Just saving on the insurance premium alone saves us $200/month. Then, it saves us doctor copays, usually at least $25/month. Also, it allows us to have Luke's ADHD managed by a therapist that wouldn't have been covered under our individual insurance plan, saving us a minimum of $250 each month but usually more like $375+. Well, it's not actually saving us the therapist costs -- we wouldn't be able to afford that so Luke wouldn't be managed by a therapist otherwise.

We are up for renewal again and I found out today that this year we don't have to submit a new application. No stress over whether or not we still qualify, even though I know we do. We didn't have any changes in income status so we don't have to submit a thing.

Ahhhh!!!! {that's my big sigh of relief}

What are you thankful for today?

Day 4, Gratitude Project: Morning Wakeup

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Day 4: Morning Wakeup. Today, the first day of school for Emma, I am so thankful she and Luke both got up and going without much hassle. Emma woke before me and was dressed before I would have woken her up. I let Luke sleep as long as I could (his school doesn't start until August 29), and then woke him to dress and go. He got up so quickly that he got to have breakfast before we left too. I'm hoping most school mornings can be this easy and I'm so grateful this first-day-of-school morning was.

What are you grateful for today?

Gratitude Project, Day 3: New Listing

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:11:00 +0000

I think most people are aware of the state of the real estate market, but probably not as acutely aware as those of us in the industry or who have bought or sold property in the last three years. I not only work as a Real Estate Broker but I am also trying to sell my home right now.

Today, day three of my Gratitude project, I am thankful for my new listing. A past client called me to sell their downtown condo. I am grateful for their loyalty and I am grateful for new business, just when I need it most.

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Project, Day 2: Health Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:26:00 +0000

Today I am grateful that we had the foresight to purchase individual health insurance eight years ago when we moved to NC and realized Tim's new employer didn't offer health insurance.

The excruciating cost of private health insurance has been a burden but the fact that we got coverage before Tim was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spodilitis was truly fortunate. I am reminded of this once a month when Tim goes to get his Remicade infusion, which costs $5,000 each (no, that's not a typo), as he will do today. Infusions that our insurance pays for in full, despite the fact that our monthly premium is less than 10% of that one cost.

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Project: Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Life is hard. I'm the last person to deny that!

And life has been much harder for our family in 2011. We cut our finances to the quick after battling the public schools to give our son, Luke, who has ADHD and learning disabilities, the support he needs in school to no avail, cut everything and put a year's private school tuition in the bank so we can send him to a private school with a learning environment much better suited. On top of that, Emma got braces this summer and we are now on the hook for the equivalent of a car payment to her orthodontist every month for the next two years. And now, in August, due to this and unexpected expenses, and a continual decline in the real estate market, we'll be choosing which bills must be paid on time and which will have to be late.

We lost a dear family member two weeks ago too.

So life is tough. But I don't want to be pulled down by it. That's tough too.

In an effort to help hope and happiness float to the top, I'm starting my own gratitude project. I'm going to blog here, each and every day, one thing I'm grateful for. My goal is to keep this up for 60 days -- I'd like to do it for 360, but I haven't lost all sense of reality during these difficult time.

I welcome you to join me. You can visit here each day and leave your note of gratitude for the day.

Day 1: Cuddle time from my son. Most kids are too "big" to cuddle with their mom two months before their 9th birthday, but not Luke. He asks me to scoop him up and hold him tight almost every day.

Photos for Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 01:24:00 +0000

I've loaded some of my favorite photos to Etsy. You can now purchase a 5x7 fine art print of my best/favorite photos.

how many rounds are there in boxing?

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Pictures like this are quite deceiving. It takes a lot of begging, sometimes bribing, and at least 50 snaps of the shutter to get just one picture like this. You should have heard her protest when I asked her to put her arm around him.

Sometimes I walk away defeated.

The more mature older my kids get, the worse asking them to do anything within the vicinity of the other becomes. What do I expect putting together a Tween Tyrant and a Tenacious Tigger? I know! I'm doomed to walk through fire, while they expect me to walk on water, no matter what the scenario. With this mix (that's right, think oil + water), nothing will be calm or easy dull.

In one corner we have Tween Tyrant. She's a beautiful girl trying to adjust to the raging emotions of puberty, the maliciousness of middle school girls, and the embarrassment of the gym class locker room. Her internal battle has become external... with mom and anyone else in striking distance. She wants to be kind and good, but can't see how through all the disappointment and disgust of an ordinary life. I thought about nicknaming her Gloomy Gus for the sake of this blog, but I'm not going to saddle her with such a negative label. She's strong and she'll be fine on the other side of this tween/teen/angst phase (although I may not survive the here and now to see it).

In the other corner is Tenacious Tigger. He's neurologically-different, bouncy to a fault, and just wants to be everybody's friend. Everybody except Tween Tyrant, of course. He's obstinate and has zero control of his impulses. But he's also the kindest little boy I've ever met, with an enormous heart and, already at the age of just 8, a real lady's man boy. He too will grow to find his place in this world, despite his different abilities, and be happy and successful (again, hopefully I survive his childhood to see it).

Every day they enter this boxing ring of life with siblings. Each wants the crowd to cheer for them and each thinks they need to eliminate their opponent to make it happen. So they throw punches and sneer and growl in an effort to win over the sole affection of the crowd.

I'm on the sidelines, coaching them both and urging them to take up a different fight. They need to re-allocate all this energy for a more positive cause. But they can't hear me over the war of growing up that has waged in their consciences. 

Tonight their little cousin is here for a sleep-over. A rare treat that only happens a couple times a year. Detailed Darling is an only child and I can always see a look of confusion on her face when Tween Tyrant and Tenacious Tigger begin throwing punches. She can't choose sides because she loves them both and that means she can't understand why they treat the other the way they do either. I think she's happy to go back to her peaceful house after a few hours at ours.

Hopefully she always leaves without battle scars.

I won't tell her that her mom and I boxed the sibling match when we were girls.

huh?

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 21:11:00 +0000

If you ask retailers, we've already entered the Christmas Season. Although I loathe thinking about Christmas before Thanksgiving, thinking about it now affords me the opportunity to post some of my favorite Christmas pics from years past.

happy birthday buddy

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 13:16:00 +0000

My son, my youngest, my baby, turns 8 years old today. It's hard to believe another year has gone by. Each year I post my annual birthday ode to Luke. 

Here's a year in the life of Luke, in pictures. 

Sharing laughs with a sister is always good.

Decorating the tree

Luke and the girls (sister Emma and cousin Hannah)

This was the year of the snow for us. This snowman is taller than Luke!

It was also the year of eating the snow...

Luke, Emma and me in snow so big and heavy you can't see our faces.

Luke's sleepover with his cousin (that's like a sister) Hannah. Two sillies in one room all night!

Peek a Boo!

The art show at the end of Art in the Afternoon, weekly art classes.

Luke started building with Daddy this year. He (and Daddy) love it!

Carefully using a saw.

Siblings get along well running and playing outside.

Luke was obsessed with blowing bubbles this year. It seemed soothing to him.

Baseball 2010. I don't want to talk about it.

Easter ~~Hunt~~ RACE.

Could he BE any cuter?!

Legos on the shirt, Legos in the hand. Nope, he doesn't like Legos at all.

Luke got his first Build A Bear this year (and his second and third).

This boy LOVES the beach. He has the best behavior and fewest ADHD symptoms there too.

The first time Luke played mini-golf. We played twice more that week on vacation too.

Oh, those big blue eyes!

{a picture's worth a thousand words}

New year brought new Wii games.

He got into listening to an iPod this year. He says it calms him.

Science became his latest obsession this year. LOVE THAT!

Music "garage" at the Greenville Science Museum.

Luke drives the fire truck.

It's not all fun and smiles. Sometimes this happens. Luke hides under Daddy on the sidewalk.

I guess this was a year of firsts. He and Emma bowled for the first time this year too.

Even the kid balls are really heavy. Can you say proprioceptive input?

First time on the Lake too. We discovered paddle boats are fun... but really only once.

Luke's first marshmallow caught fire so now he's fretting while Daddy roasts another one.

First for tennis too.

Mmmm.... smores!

First for reading lots and lots and lots. I am thrilled!

And now he's 8!

What a year!

wordless

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:27:00 +0000

I realize today is Friday, not Wednesday, but this blog didn't exist on Wednesday and I'm feeling rather speechless wordless this afternoon. 

Wishing I were there, with plenty of peace and quiet to figure out how to make lemonade out of the lemons just thrown in my lap. I'm juggling, looking for the recipe.

Happy Birthday to Me... and my new blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Penny Williams) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:41:00 +0000

On this not so momentous day, my birthday, I decided to do something just for me and work on something I LOVE... photography. I thought a photography blog might inspire more time with the camera and allow me to participate in all the great weekly photo challenges like Scavenger Hunt Sunday and SOOC Saturday. I am really looking forward to nurturing my love affair... with my CAMERA!

To start things off, I am posting one of my favorite photos that I've taken since getting my Nikon D40 for another birthday just 3 or 4 years ago. 

The spinning swings at Family Kingdom in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Thanks for taking a look. Come back and visit any time!