No longer deceased...

I know it’s crazy- but Mark and I have been fighting this issues for several (5- a little over) months! Tommy was listed as deceased when we tried to enroll him for his phone through government benefits. It’s such a long, long story, but in a nutshell, Tommy qualified for a phone and when we tried to get this benefit, the phone company that is contracted by Virginia to provide the phone, told me he didn’t exist, he was deceased, he was not alive, etc.

They needed a proof of life video (um... this sounds like a terrorist negotiation), copies of all of his government documentation (social security number, birth certificate, ID cards), a “selfie” (really?), proof that he is living to include mortgage payments, utility payments, etc. (these things are provided by us, because he has a disability, and isn’t this program for people with disabilities?).

I had to use some buzz-words (fraud, taxpayer, registered voter) in a letter crafted to my state district senator, state district representative, Department of Medical Assistance Services, Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Director of Medicaid of Virginia, and then I cc’d my state senator and state representative to the US Congress, just for good measure. Interestingly enough, things started to happen after that letter went out... and now, I’m happy to report that Tommy is indeed alive and well.

Vacation!!

This year we did a full two weeks at the beach! I was beside myself to have so much time off. It’s always a little stressful for me to be away on vacation which is a little weird, I know. It’s being out of routine with an autistic household that makes it uncanny at times. This year, too, the middle is at college, so I was missing her.

So, this was a rather eventful trip! Every year I’ve gone to the beach, several times a year in some cases, and I have lived on the coast my whole life. I know that when I am in the water that there are sharks all around me. I know they are there, and are really not interested in me. However, this year I saw one — right next to me — twice — and I pretty much freaked out about it. I don’t mean close to me, either, I mean, this shark was inches from me. I didn’t stay in the water, but Mark did. We had three people get jelly-fish stings, too. Lots of marine life activity on this trip!

The weather was pretty perfect the whole time we were at the beach. We didn’t have any hurrricanes to worry about this year, so, the whole trip was awesomely great. Now, I’m just trying to get us all back into school and dance routines for this school year! Katie is a sophomore in highschool (gulp), and Tommy is working. Mark is in graduate school and I’m still a teacher, I guess:) Danielle is a freshman in college!

The whole gang

Sometimes, a break in routine looks like a vacation at the beach with your family that includes some of the people that you get to choose to be in your family. God is just awesome that way!

Just a Quick Note!!

I am acting like a writer again... I also got brand new writing technology, so I have to write a quick post.

We have been so busy at our house! Isn’t everybody busy, though? I have a college-going teen, a dancing sophomore and a young man who gets paid to play with dogs (can you say dream job?)!

We’ve been to the beach, to college, and all over our little town.

So, stay tuned... I’m back (finally).