Final Stages

There are two projects that we have been working on as of late.

The first is Karter's transition into kindergarten. The second is the process of grant application for the wheelchair van.

Today at preschool, we had the two resource teachers from James Hill come to observe Karter at preschool. Along with them came someone from the district school board. They all spent about an hour in the classroom observing him and asking me questions.

Because I remained for the observation, I was also able to ask a number of questions about the program, the transition and the various details that we will need to work through before September.

By the end of the hour, I was informed that the district psychologist had given the final stamp of approval, which means now the only thing we need to do is the kindergarten transition meeting. This should happen is the next few weeks. The meeting will involve Kurt & I, his current Supported Childcare consultant, occupational therapist, physio therapist, speech therapist, SEA from preschool, someone from the school board and his teacher from James Hill. It will give us all a chance to talk about what his current goals are and for each of the therapists to give their input and recommendations for Karter's transition into the school system.

At the end of the summer, Karter will no longer be part of the Langley Child Development Program. It will be sad for me to say good bye to all the wonderful therapists that have worked alongside us since Karter was 5 months old. They have been most wonderful to us. They have supported us through the hard transitions at the beginning and also given us the skills and knowledge we needed to move Karter through the various stages thus far. They are all considered friends of our family and we will be forever grateful for them.

I feel really good about Karter's placement for the fall. Although this Mama will be at the curb in tear in the early weeks of September, I know that this next stage will be so good for him and I am excited at the type of support he will receive during the school day.

The wheelchair van process...well, it is still ongoing.

Kurt and I went out to a conversion place in Chilliwack last Friday afternoon, with Karter. We looked and tried out a van in the showroom and received a quote for the entire project. We need a few quotes in order to meet the grant guidelines, so I have been working on that this week. Although there are options out there, the limits on those options are vast. I am definitely being schooled in the conversion process.

When you go out to purchase a new vehicle, you generally look for something that has all the things you need and then make your decision based on what you can afford. With wheelchair vans, there is 1 option in one type of van or another model with completely different options. When it comes to comparing things, each company does it differently and uses different models. Nothing seems to have everything we would like. So at this point, it is trying to determine what is most important to us. The price is astronomical, but we are believing for God to provide.

So the grant process continues...

I am currently working on the three letters of support from our doctor and two therapists. We also need to give an itemized list of monthly expenses, so we are putting that together as well. I have already written our letter and filled out the applications. The biggest thing left is to gather the quotes and finalize the last of the criteria they ask for. I am hoping to have things completed and sent off at the end of the month.

Although the process is extremely time consuming, I know that it will pay off in the end. We are continuing to walk in the promise of God's provision for our lives and for Karter's needs. So we fear not and continue to cast these financial burdens over to Him to carry and take care of. And we wait in expectancy to see what and how God will work this all out.