Posts
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sensitive post. Be careful when you read this.
I don't often like to think, talk or post about things like this. Unfortunately it's a reality when you have a child. Much more so when you have a child with a disability. This is disgusting and I for one want people to make calls to New Hampshire, officals etc. urging them to throw the book at this poor excuse for a human being. I have no mercy for anything like this. Thank God HE does. His grace is sufficeint, thank you.
How do you manage the stress?
Here a I am. I had a great weekend with a fabulous kid and a wonderful husband. BUT....(as their always is with our kids), C kept ticking all weekend long.
I think it started again on Saturday at his soccer game. People were yelling for him (go Cary! Way to pass, etc) but I think all Cary heard was yelling. He couldn't differenciate good and bad. All he heard was yelling. Poor kiddo.
Also, it was so sad (atleast for me) to watch as Cary diassociated about half- way through the game (they have enough kids to trade them out so they won't get tired). A ball would pass right in front of him and he would be looking elsewhere. So hard to watch. He didn't care. I just hurt for him. Worried about what other people are thinking. I get so tense. I want him to fit-in so he won't be bullied or ridiculed but not so much that he "follows the pack."
I want that individuality that I know he has. To celebrate the beauty, uniqueness and joy that is Cary. Maybe it is just me, my perceptions. I grieve though. I want to shield him from everything that might remotely hurt or stress him out. In turn, it may be that very struggle going on inside of me that causes the stress ticks in him.
Like Jenny McCarthy said; Evan will probably come to the mall to ride the escalator after prom. Sounds like a fun date. Appreciating our kids for what and who they are, not what we think (or society) thinks they should be.
What do you think?
I think it started again on Saturday at his soccer game. People were yelling for him (go Cary! Way to pass, etc) but I think all Cary heard was yelling. He couldn't differenciate good and bad. All he heard was yelling. Poor kiddo.
Also, it was so sad (atleast for me) to watch as Cary diassociated about half- way through the game (they have enough kids to trade them out so they won't get tired). A ball would pass right in front of him and he would be looking elsewhere. So hard to watch. He didn't care. I just hurt for him. Worried about what other people are thinking. I get so tense. I want him to fit-in so he won't be bullied or ridiculed but not so much that he "follows the pack."
I want that individuality that I know he has. To celebrate the beauty, uniqueness and joy that is Cary. Maybe it is just me, my perceptions. I grieve though. I want to shield him from everything that might remotely hurt or stress him out. In turn, it may be that very struggle going on inside of me that causes the stress ticks in him.
Like Jenny McCarthy said; Evan will probably come to the mall to ride the escalator after prom. Sounds like a fun date. Appreciating our kids for what and who they are, not what we think (or society) thinks they should be.
What do you think?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Autism and Disability Advocates
Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get......
Truer words were never spoken. Let me tell you. I have recently been laid off and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
As a result, I have birthed my own non-profit organization. It has been marinating for about a year or so. I was afraid to get started. I guess God needed to give me the ultimate push. Ahhh!!
Please welcome Autism and Disability Advocates. Our mission is to be there, hold the hand and walk through the journey of Autism with the child (or adult), parents, family and friends.
We do this by being a "clearing house" of information and support. We offer a comprehensive plan to clients (at no-cost to the family) for everything that will touch their lives on this journey. (Financial, Social, Emotional, Services and Service Providers, Doctors, Support Groups, Treatment etc)
The biggest thing we offer is understanding. We know what it is like to wake-up at 3am, (wide-awake) thinking about what is to become of our child? The family? What do we do? How do we afford it? How can I spend time with my other children when this one is so needy?
Don't hesitate. Share with a friend.
Truer words were never spoken. Let me tell you. I have recently been laid off and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
As a result, I have birthed my own non-profit organization. It has been marinating for about a year or so. I was afraid to get started. I guess God needed to give me the ultimate push. Ahhh!!
Please welcome Autism and Disability Advocates. Our mission is to be there, hold the hand and walk through the journey of Autism with the child (or adult), parents, family and friends.
We do this by being a "clearing house" of information and support. We offer a comprehensive plan to clients (at no-cost to the family) for everything that will touch their lives on this journey. (Financial, Social, Emotional, Services and Service Providers, Doctors, Support Groups, Treatment etc)
The biggest thing we offer is understanding. We know what it is like to wake-up at 3am, (wide-awake) thinking about what is to become of our child? The family? What do we do? How do we afford it? How can I spend time with my other children when this one is so needy?
Don't hesitate. Share with a friend.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The Art Gallery of Life
The Art Gallery of Life.
The individual is like a unique one-off painting, a masterpiece on canvas.
But its individuality is dulled or altered when others come along and add their own swish of paint to make it something different, adding their own vision of what this unique painting should look like or be.
Someone may not like the original circle painted to one side, so they add a square on top of it. Another prefers to add their idea of the perfect shape, a triangle and another takes the paint brush and loads it with a different colour and scrawls a star.
Before you know it the original painting has become a mishmash of others visions; the original circle is now just visible beneath the added layers of others preferred colours.
Now the unique canvas is unique no more. It is coated in others dreams of what the painting should be and the intruding artists are all standing back arguing about what they each see as to what should be appreciated by the other.
If each ‘artist’ wanted to visualize their own masterpiece, each ‘artist’ should have painted their own shapes and dreams on their own canvas.
Then the gallery of life could display each unique shape, on its own unique canvas, belonging to each unique individual.
The variation of subjects in this ‘exhibition’, within this gallery, can then be the masterpiece of an example of the diversity of the passions of the painters.
Copyright of Louise Page 2011
The individual is like a unique one-off painting, a masterpiece on canvas.
But its individuality is dulled or altered when others come along and add their own swish of paint to make it something different, adding their own vision of what this unique painting should look like or be.
Someone may not like the original circle painted to one side, so they add a square on top of it. Another prefers to add their idea of the perfect shape, a triangle and another takes the paint brush and loads it with a different colour and scrawls a star.
Before you know it the original painting has become a mishmash of others visions; the original circle is now just visible beneath the added layers of others preferred colours.
Now the unique canvas is unique no more. It is coated in others dreams of what the painting should be and the intruding artists are all standing back arguing about what they each see as to what should be appreciated by the other.
If each ‘artist’ wanted to visualize their own masterpiece, each ‘artist’ should have painted their own shapes and dreams on their own canvas.
Then the gallery of life could display each unique shape, on its own unique canvas, belonging to each unique individual.
The variation of subjects in this ‘exhibition’, within this gallery, can then be the masterpiece of an example of the diversity of the passions of the painters.
Copyright of Louise Page 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
God is so good!
God is so good. When I have the darkest days and my thoughts can't get out of the muck and mire; HE brings something so sweet and so special as a gentle reminder to me.
I was putting Cary to bed and reading out of "365 Devos for Boys" (with Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber) on the front. This particular day, #76 was so special to me. It was titled "Hopes, Hopes and More Hopes."
"Make me hear joy and gladness." Psalm 51:8 NKJV
Hope is a very good thing to have...and to share. So make this promise to yourself and keep it: promise yourself that you'll be a hopeful person. Think good thoughts. Trust God. Become friends with Jesus. And trust you hopes, not your fears. Then, when you've filled your heart with hope and gladness, share your good thoughts with friends. They'll be better for it, and so will you.
A Timely Tip: Think about all the things you have (starting with your family and your faith)... and think about all the things you can do! Believe in yourself.
A bedtime prayer:
Dear Lord, I have so many reason to be happy. Let me think good thoughts and look for the good in other people. And, help me be a joyful person now and always. Amen.
Talk about out of the mouths of babes.... I never expected to be blessed, corrected, convicted and moved reading and talking about the devotional with Cary. God can and will move, if we let him. What a blessing. I am so grateful. It absolutely blessed me and lifted my spirit. It was and is beautiful. I still cary that feeling with me now. I'm humbled and thankful.
As a bonus, Cary actually got some of the text (the book is a little beyond him; late 2nd early 3rd grade level comprehension). When I asked him about things he had that were good, he said "bowling lanes, pins, baseball and that's it." It's cute and funny as well as part of his obsession; but he recognized those things were good, made him happy and he could share them. I was so pleased when I saw that.
Many of you who know us would say you've seen this all along. That Cary gets this. But I opened my eyes today. I'm always looking down the road and wondering what the next mountain is for me to climb or valley to walk through. This gave me HOPE. It gave me JOY that all is okay. That it will be fine.
I forget so much sometime. I'm always worried and I forget to trust God. I am so blessed that HE is revealing Himself to me the way HE is now, I'm hearing it and receiving it. It is a fresh breath to my soul. I"ve been dark for far too long and these fresh breaths across my life are restorative.
I'm meant to do what I"m doing. Helping, guiding, researching, bringing people together, marketing what I believe helps these kids, etc. I can take it now because I'm not doing what fills me up in ways that God should; I"m doing it because God is filling me first and I'm letting myself be broken bread and poured out wine.
To God be the glory! Sleep tight tonight! Blessings and peace from Above.
I was putting Cary to bed and reading out of "365 Devos for Boys" (with Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber) on the front. This particular day, #76 was so special to me. It was titled "Hopes, Hopes and More Hopes."
"Make me hear joy and gladness." Psalm 51:8 NKJV
Hope is a very good thing to have...and to share. So make this promise to yourself and keep it: promise yourself that you'll be a hopeful person. Think good thoughts. Trust God. Become friends with Jesus. And trust you hopes, not your fears. Then, when you've filled your heart with hope and gladness, share your good thoughts with friends. They'll be better for it, and so will you.
A Timely Tip: Think about all the things you have (starting with your family and your faith)... and think about all the things you can do! Believe in yourself.
A bedtime prayer:
Dear Lord, I have so many reason to be happy. Let me think good thoughts and look for the good in other people. And, help me be a joyful person now and always. Amen.
Talk about out of the mouths of babes.... I never expected to be blessed, corrected, convicted and moved reading and talking about the devotional with Cary. God can and will move, if we let him. What a blessing. I am so grateful. It absolutely blessed me and lifted my spirit. It was and is beautiful. I still cary that feeling with me now. I'm humbled and thankful.
As a bonus, Cary actually got some of the text (the book is a little beyond him; late 2nd early 3rd grade level comprehension). When I asked him about things he had that were good, he said "bowling lanes, pins, baseball and that's it." It's cute and funny as well as part of his obsession; but he recognized those things were good, made him happy and he could share them. I was so pleased when I saw that.
Many of you who know us would say you've seen this all along. That Cary gets this. But I opened my eyes today. I'm always looking down the road and wondering what the next mountain is for me to climb or valley to walk through. This gave me HOPE. It gave me JOY that all is okay. That it will be fine.
I forget so much sometime. I'm always worried and I forget to trust God. I am so blessed that HE is revealing Himself to me the way HE is now, I'm hearing it and receiving it. It is a fresh breath to my soul. I"ve been dark for far too long and these fresh breaths across my life are restorative.
I'm meant to do what I"m doing. Helping, guiding, researching, bringing people together, marketing what I believe helps these kids, etc. I can take it now because I'm not doing what fills me up in ways that God should; I"m doing it because God is filling me first and I'm letting myself be broken bread and poured out wine.
To God be the glory! Sleep tight tonight! Blessings and peace from Above.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
celebrating our kids
The Art Gallery of Life.
The individual is like a unique one-off painting, a masterpiece on canvas.
But its individuality is dulled or altered when others come along and add their own swish of paint to make it something different, adding their own vision of what this unique painting should look like or be.
Someone may not like the original circle painted to one side, so they add a square on top of it. Another prefers to add their idea of the perfect shape, a triangle and another takes the paint brush and loads it with a different colour and scrawls a star.
Before you know it the original painting has become a mishmash of others visions; the original circle is now just visible beneath the added layers of others preferred colours.
Now the unique canvas is unique no more. It is coated in others dreams of what the painting should be and the intruding artists are all standing back arguing about what they each see as to what should be appreciated by the other.
If each ‘artist’ wanted to visualize their own masterpiece, each ‘artist’ should have painted their own shapes and dreams on their own canvas.
Then the gallery of life could display each unique shape, on its own unique canvas, belonging to each unique individual.
The variation of subjects in this ‘exhibition’, within this gallery, can then be the masterpiece of an example of the diversity of the passions of the painters.
The individual is like a unique one-off painting, a masterpiece on canvas.
But its individuality is dulled or altered when others come along and add their own swish of paint to make it something different, adding their own vision of what this unique painting should look like or be.
Someone may not like the original circle painted to one side, so they add a square on top of it. Another prefers to add their idea of the perfect shape, a triangle and another takes the paint brush and loads it with a different colour and scrawls a star.
Before you know it the original painting has become a mishmash of others visions; the original circle is now just visible beneath the added layers of others preferred colours.
Now the unique canvas is unique no more. It is coated in others dreams of what the painting should be and the intruding artists are all standing back arguing about what they each see as to what should be appreciated by the other.
If each ‘artist’ wanted to visualize their own masterpiece, each ‘artist’ should have painted their own shapes and dreams on their own canvas.
Then the gallery of life could display each unique shape, on its own unique canvas, belonging to each unique individual.
The variation of subjects in this ‘exhibition’, within this gallery, can then be the masterpiece of an example of the diversity of the passions of the painters.
Monday, March 7, 2011
It's good to be back
I don't think I mentioned it, it's good to be back. I know I need to write and that God has a bigger plan for me; I just haven't made the time for it. I am know It's such an extension of who I am. I "get it" more than I ever have before. :) Cheers! More tomorrow. Happy Monday and blessings to you are yours.
The Day!!!
What a week it has been!!!! We are still so blessed but boy howdy........ Damn!
I went to a leadership and advocacy conferencece and 20 minutes before I had an appointment with my state representative, Chris calls me and tells me his position (because of budget cuts) has been eliminated. Joy!!!
All went well. My state rep. (Dan Huberty - R) was awesome! He is a freshman and fresh from being on the school board (that helps) and his son has IEP's as well. For what, I don't know.
Point being, it was a wonderful and productive day! Still, God's grace is so evident.
I had a great time at TALAC (Texas Advanced Leadership and Disability Conference). I met some amazing people, true trailblazers. I also had a chance to tape most of the workshops and key note addresses.
The biggest thing I came away with (and knew academically) was how "normal" they were/are. They arem't any different that you and I; they just get to the same place going a different way. That's all. Once of the coolest guys I met had CP, He looks on what he does (public speaking, advocacy and such) as story telling.
Isn't that what we are all here to do; tell a story? :) Anyways.....
As the story ensues.....I'm looking for another job, Chris is as well and I'm wondering, worrying (shouldn't be) and praying about how all of this will make sense for Cary. But, it will. My prayer and want is that I can find something that will give the time I need (I'm working on my own "thing" at the moment) and the money we want to get where we need to go. Is that any different than any other mother or father? Hmmm......
I went to a leadership and advocacy conferencece and 20 minutes before I had an appointment with my state representative, Chris calls me and tells me his position (because of budget cuts) has been eliminated. Joy!!!
All went well. My state rep. (Dan Huberty - R) was awesome! He is a freshman and fresh from being on the school board (that helps) and his son has IEP's as well. For what, I don't know.
Point being, it was a wonderful and productive day! Still, God's grace is so evident.
I had a great time at TALAC (Texas Advanced Leadership and Disability Conference). I met some amazing people, true trailblazers. I also had a chance to tape most of the workshops and key note addresses.
The biggest thing I came away with (and knew academically) was how "normal" they were/are. They arem't any different that you and I; they just get to the same place going a different way. That's all. Once of the coolest guys I met had CP, He looks on what he does (public speaking, advocacy and such) as story telling.
Isn't that what we are all here to do; tell a story? :) Anyways.....
As the story ensues.....I'm looking for another job, Chris is as well and I'm wondering, worrying (shouldn't be) and praying about how all of this will make sense for Cary. But, it will. My prayer and want is that I can find something that will give the time I need (I'm working on my own "thing" at the moment) and the money we want to get where we need to go. Is that any different than any other mother or father? Hmmm......
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