Dennis used his vacation time last week to finally complete our washer drain project! It turned out to be a large, complicated procedure and took almost all week (along with installing a new garbage disposal). He recessed the whole apparatus into the wall behind the dryer, which meant cutting out studs and framing and finishing out the area. Then he had to join together two 6-gallon plastic containers and install an automatic pump to drain them. He got everything completed on Thursday night but ended up cracking the pump while installing it. He had had to go to FW to buy the thing. Since he was REALLY wanting to go visit his mom before her surgery, I told him just to pick up a new pump on his way up to Arkansas, and he could finish the job when he came home. (He only had one day to spend with his mother, as it was!) So he got up Friday morning, cleaned up the garage, and went to Arkansas. He enjoyed a good visit with Maxine and the rest of the family, and then got home about bedtime Saturday night. Got the pump replaced Sunday afternoon, and now I have a fully automatic washing machine again! Hallelujah! After 2 years of babysitting my washer every time it drained (2-3 times a load), it is SO wonderful to just put on a load to wash and forget it!
I stayed pretty busy with CASA last week...and this week. I was given a new case last Monday. I went to see the kiddos and foster mom on Wednesday. It was an hour and 45 minute drive to get to the foster home, so it took up a good half-day. They were having a visit at CPS the next day which I wanted to observe, too. I've also been working on applying for crime victim's compensation for my baby. He and his sister will soon be leaving the state to live with a family member. She is low-income and will be responsible for paying for all the therapies that the two little ones will continue to need (until she gets them on Medicaid). This program will pay for the baby's physical, occupational and speech therapies that he will need to try to get him "caught up" in his development (we HOPE!). It will also help with childcare expenses that she incurs while she has to work. I met with the victim coordinator at the DA's office Monday, and she helped me get everything filled out. Hopefully by the time the children are moved, the benefits will already be approved and available.
Saturday, Sheila and I attended our monthly roundtable meeting for CASA. We had a program on human trafficking. It was very informative...and eye opening. It is such a tragedy that so many people have such little regard for others...that they will place vulnerable people into what amounts to modern day slavery. The program not only raised awareness of the problem, but it also taught how to look for and recognize those who might be trapped in those situations. It not only involves the sex trade (that is commonly talked about), but also the labor trade: placing people into bondage in agricultural jobs, domestic jobs or industrial jobs.
I feel almost like I'm back in the cake business for the next week! I am doing a cake today for the post office. One of the long-time clerks is retiring, and they are throwing her a party tomorrow. Then next Tuesday is my teenager's 16th birthday. I'm planning to make her a cake and take it to her. She really wanted to be able to have her parents be with her on her birthday, but I don't think CPS will allow that. So I wanted to make sure that I could be with her and help cheer her up a little. Then I'm doing a small wedding cake for next Saturday (small but complicated!). This is the most cakes that I've done in 10 day's time since I left the business.
Speaking of which...I guess I had better get to work! Hope all of you are surviving the harsh winter weather of this past week!
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
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