New Friends....

Well.....things are going really well for the new support group I'm starting! So far I have a co-leader, a place to meet, & a time to meet! Yay! Now, we're waiting to find out if our county's transportation program will transport us. This is a very rural town w/ no public transportation....Unfortunately, visually impaired people cannot drive. I've spoken with 10 people over the phone about the group. Everyone is so excited! I'm so excited too! I have lots of awesome friends, an awesome hubby, & the best family in the world! I'm so blessed! But, something's been missing for years now.... People who really 'get it'!

OK, so what does that mean, Rach? Well, that means people who walk in my shoes. The struggle I face is different than what sighted people face. Yes, we all struggle, that is true. But, I struggle with the same stuff sighted people do & on top of that struggle with sight loss! I have one child with the same heart condition I have & will eventually need open-heart surgery (the same surgery I've had). Two of my kids have asthma. Asthma is sometimes frightening. In high school, I knew a girl who died during an asthma attack.... We go through periods where our nebulizer (machine used for breathing treatments) is going nearly constantly. My father-in-law died last year from lung cancer ...it was so hard to watch him, my mother-in-law, my hubby, his sisters, & my kids suffer thru it....& I was so sad too! We have family problems, I've had my share of misunderstandings w/ others, my husband works a lot! The list could go on & on....just as your list could go on & on! Life is hard! But, on top of all the 'usual' struggles is the all day, in your face struggle of low-vision.

I'm not complaining....Let me be quick to say! I'm so thankful that most of you have no idea what it's like to be handicapped. I'm very glad that my family & most of my friends have been spared from such pain.....it's something I'd wish on no one! But, the something's missing is gone! I now have ladies I can talk to who really know what I deal with! My hope & prayer is, that as we all get to know each otter, I'll encourage my new friends the way they've encouraged me! Pray my friends, please pray.

Vacation

we had a great time on vacation! We hadn't gone to the beach in 2 yrs!

This was the first time 'the Peeps' had ever been to Myrtle Beach....they loved it!

My hottie hubby worked 2 extra 24 hour shifts so we could go.....gotta love him!

We wen to Margaritaville! I love margaritas! They're actually my favorite frozen cocktail.....I really wanted this shirt, but I couldn't afford it....boohoo.....

'The Peeps' loved looking for shells, taking them out into the ocean, & 'cleaning' them.....Dustin had taken his dirty clothes bag (unbeknownst to me) for bringing shells home. He calls his mesh bag, his 'mush' bag.....he has for years. I just can't bring myself to correct that one!

This little one loved the ocean! She kept swimming way out to 'ride' the waves! If they were too much for her, she'd hold her nose, hold her breath, & take the plunge.....she swam right through!

My future biologist! If you ask him what he wants to be, that's what he'll tell you! I pray that he figures out how to heal the retina..... For now, he's just interested in bugs & creatures.

My precious, little sand monkey! She wasn't big on the ocean, but she sure loved the sand!

Well.....hope you enjoyed this short tour of our beach trip! We're so grateful to have been blessed with a vacation this year! We're blessed just to be the E's!

Support Group

I'm starting a support group for VIP's here in my county. What are VIP's you wonder.?...well, very important persons, of course! Well, those very important persons are actually visually impaired persons. I was in a local mom's group last year, & really thought that I'd help coordinate it this year. Long story short & to prevent giving anyone a bad name, it was made clear that that just wasn't the road I was to take. I was really upset! One of the reasons given by someone else was my lack of transportation.....that made me so sad! I hate to ask people to drive me around, but when I need to go somewhere, I have to ask. So, after a month of the 'poor me, pity party, blues', the Lord reminded me that I'm not alone in this world. There are others who deal with exactly what I do! I also thought about the fact that some of them may not know Jesus..... So, upon my mom's suggestion, I decided to start a support group!

I first contacted the social worker for the blind here in my county. She was so easy to talk to, & very helpful! She sent a letter out to all the VIP's telling them about me & my cause. I got several calls right away. So far, I have 8 people interested in joining me in this endeavor. I now have a co-leader & another lady who's been calling around to our local community college & our local libraries trying to find a place for us to meet. We must really be very important persons to our social worker, she's helping me in any way she can! She called the county transportation to try to get us transported....I really think they're going to help us! If they don't, there will be no way for us to meet..... Pray my friends, please pray!

If this takes off like I think it will, this could be a huge ministry. I don't know if y'all know this, but we visually impaired people are lonely & really like to chat! So, my need to talk on the phone, help others, & feel normal will be met....But, on top of that, I'll be sharing the gospel with lots of other lonely people!! I hate that I had to get hurt to come to the realization that I needed to start this, but.....God knew what He was doing, I have to trust that!