And so it begins...

Hi All!!!  It is time for me to take my own medicine because we are in the midst of a really tough situation with Nathan at school right now.  When God has you in a situation but doesn't open any other doors you realize there is something to be learned, done or taught in the process.  I believe in my heart that we are where we are to effect some change in our preschool to benefit others in the future.  We will stand strong!

My job has also been quite tough and last week was especially stressful. Politics, politics... it is NEVER the kids that push me over the edge!  In all, I am thankful for God's peace: staying calm, only crying a little bit and remaining objective towards achieving my goal!

Unlike similar situations in the past, I am at peace.  It must be that "tough skin" I was talking about in my last post.  I have my ducks in a row, my home team is lined up and we're ready to take this on head-on!!!  I have an amazing couple as my faith partners and prayer warriors. It never ceases to amaze me how God always moves them to act right when I need it when they live miles away and we barely speak. Just yesterday, as I finished firing my emails to the "powers that be" getting ready for another crazy week, I get an email from my friend sharing this link... another family on this path. And there it was: I'm not alone and God is with me!  I share this wonderful website with you: http://thepacepack.com/index.html

I am happy to report that our new special needs ministry, CLJ Buddies, started this past Sunday and was successful!  I am so thankful to God and continue to pray that this will all move smoothly. So far we have 11 people interested in working with us! And God continues to give me peace.  Please send me a message if you want more information!

I am also happy to report that our walk for Autism Speaks is this Sunday and our team has raised almost $5,000!!!!  Praise God!!!!  I can't take any of the credit because one family did the most amazing job at fundraising that I've ever seen!  I am so proud to be on their team! If you are interested in making a donation, please feel free to visit our team page: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/greaterboston/peaceinthepuzzle

This is not my most eloquent post, nor do I have any witty prose to share with you because I am spent. Our God is an awesome God and He is there to pick us up when we fall down... and when we feel most lost and alone is when He is right by our side.  When the world is crumbling around us we are in His pocket of protection and stand firm holding on to His promises.  This, too, shall pass.  I choose peace, determination and faith. Who's with me???

Blessings!
DC

Old Shoes

Ok, so we all have them...our favorite broken in old shoes that our feet just slide into as if they were a custom-made second skin... You know the ones!

I LOVE my old shoes!!! I have loved and worn them so much that they are no longer wearable. Yes, it is very sad. I hate change! I liked how these used to fit! They were perfect! I didn't even have to lace or buckle them anymore... they beckoned to be worn like slippers made in Heaven!  But those same comfy familiar old shoes now actually hurt my feet. I keep trying to convince myself that it may be my mind playing tricks on me.  "Maybe my feet are just swollen," I try to reason, or "it was just more humid today"...they were still my same old friends! Yet each time I attempted to wear them I felt that same pinch, poke or rub from the worn down materials, telling me they were ready to move on to retirement.

So it's time find a new pair of shoes...not pleasurable but necessary. After what seemed like an endless endeavor I found some I liked. They're not bad... they're actually pretty good! Then it happens: the blisters! A couple of bandaids later I realize these new shoes actually feel pretty darn good, maybe even better than the old ones ever felt...and suddenly my feet have made new best friends!  Those of you who are regular readers of my blog probably know where this is going, but here's a curve ball: sometimes those new shoes don't stop hurting for a long time.

One of my favorite secular singers, Sade, has a beautifully poignant song called "Pearls" that I'd like to dedicate to every mom of a child with special needs. Listen closely to the words. The lyrics are so multidimensional that it may stir a potpourri of emotions and feelings about yourself, about all mothers who struggle, about families in Africa...it may even make you see your life from a different angle and put things into perspective.  I purposely chose a video that has peaceful images unrelated to the song. I'd like for you to create your own mental images as you listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC4jU6dk1oE&feature=related
Hearing Sade belt out that prayer from what seems like the innermost parts of her being stirs my soul every time I hear the song! Did you catch the part that says "Hurts like brand new shoes"?

This week our little man went back to school. Last week he started with a new "teacher" at home. All that was familiar to us is changing at it "hurts like brand new shoes." I've been reflecting on this. Much like the woman in the song we also "live a life we didn't choose" but "it's a force stronger than nature that keeps (our) will alive."  Now, don't get me wrong, I am NOT saying that having a child with special needs even comes close to what these women in Africa must endure to ensure the mere survival of their families. I just like the lyrics and can identify with certain parts of the song.  Let's all keep praying for the terrible famine in the African Horn. How many of us have found ourselves crying out to God in that moment of despair? "WHY?!?!?" is the default response when things don't go our way: bad things happen, plans change, etc.

Or lives are like those old comfy shoes. We'd stay in that same comfort zone forever... why even think of change? As parents of kids on the autism spectrum, it is SO easy to fall into that trap of just staying home where everything is safe, no one is judging or giving unsolicited advice, things are familiar and so much easier to control! But we inadvertently feed into our kids' rigidity and social disconnection, making it even harder to try something new and different or attend social events in the future.  I admit I fall into this trap quite frequently. Thankfully I am blessed with a husband who repeatedly gives me reality checks and pushes me to try things outside of my comfort zone. And guess what? More often than not, our little guy has loved it and so have I! When he hasn't loved it, we've at least tried something new and can chalk it up to experience! I am reminded to the beautiful book Dancing with Max by Emily Colson. She shares her experience of reaching that point in her life with her son, Max and describes the freedom and joy they discovered together.

When we get too comfy, God tosses little things in the way to get us to move, to change. But just like those old shoes you keep going back, convincing yourself that it's fine and that "things will go back to normal." Until the situation, much like those old shoes, becomes unbearable. God will keep sending louder messages until you have no choice but to dump the old and try the new. I'm sure you've heard the term "thicker skin." Well, thicker skin is officially/technically called a callous. Do you know how callouses develop? They are a result of repeated irritation, a sort of skin's defense mechanism of growing extra layers to.. guess what? PROTECT that same spot from harm the next time it's irritated. Hmm... you still asking "why?"

I can't say that our "new" right now will become "the" comfy place to be... we are still in the "oh, this is not so bad" stage.  I know there will be blisters, things that rub the wrong way and readjustments to make. But like the woman in the song, I will cry out "Halleluiah" to "the Heavens above" even when I feel like "there is a stone in my heart."  I'm "living a life (I) didn't choose... and it hurts like brand new shoes" but my song doesn't end there because I am trusting in God's promises: Hebrews 10:36-39, 1 Kings 8:56, Hebrews 6:13-20 .

Even if ultimately those "new shoes" don't end up as cozy as the old ones... be sure that God will toss in some "gel inserts" to help cushion your walk until your next new pair of shoes!

Have a blessed day!

Oh Love! (Reprise)

Hi everyone! In all our hectic lives, I realize my last post may have been way too long for most of us to read.  So I am reposting an abridged version of it today... If you read it and want to know more, check out the original post!

Have you seen the Disney/Pixar movie Rattatouille? There is a scene where Remy is trying to explain to his brother, Emille, how he sees colors and fireworks when he savors delicious food...and how the joy, pleasure and experience are enhanced by the complexity of combining certain flavors together (though his brother prefers to gulp down garbage).

Yes, I admit I am a foodie, or "food snob" as some have called me. My favorite pizza is called Figaro and is a coal brick oven roasted pie with no sauce but a delectable combination of prosciutto, fresh figs, shaved aged Parmesan cheese, gorgonzola and topped with fresh arugula. It's a meal I am just not able to experience without closing my eyes to savor every single one of the unique flavors that come together in such beautiful harmony that even after a few slices each bite is as good as the first.

This is exactly how I feel when I hear certain praise and worship songs. There are certain songs that I am just not able to fully appreciate without closing my eyes and reveling in every note that blends together with the others in a beautiful tapestry of expression towards our Lord Jesus Christ. By far, the song which inevitably triggers this effect is the Gaither Vocal Band's rendition of the classic hymn "Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go." I can't even listen while I drive because I have to stop to close my eyes and savor every note in the tantalizing arrangement of harmonies.

I decided to do some research online about the lyrics and history of this hymn.  The author, George Matheson, was going blind yet was said to have written this hymn in 5 minutes the night before his sister's wedding while he recalled being deserted by his fiancee who "refused to live life with a blind man."  Here is some of what I learned: Looking back over his life, he once wrote that his was “an obstructed life, a circumscribed life… but a life of quenchless hopefulness, a life which has beaten persistently against the cage of circumstance... How could he maintain quenchless hopefulness in the midst of such circumstances and trials? His hymn gives us a clue. “I trace the rainbow in the rain, and feel the promise is not vain” The rainbow image is not for him “If the Lord gives you lemons make lemonade” but a picture of the Lord’s commitment that he is with us, even through the flood!


WOW!!!! That is an AMAZING testimony of true peace in the midst of one's struggles. Today I leave you with a link to a fabulous interview with one of my favorite Christian artists, David Phelps, who just happened to begin his career with the Gaither Vocal Band and arranged their accapella version of this song. Towards the end of the interview he talks about the joy he felt creating this arrangement, taking every note as a different color with a paintbrush combining them into beautiful harmonies...WOW! Right after the interview you can hear them sing the song live...double WOW!!! Take a few minutes, turn up the sound and enjoy the beautiful masterpiece in honor of our Lord and Savior:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKAmREH5btQ&feature=related

Like Remy taking time to "savor" and truly experience every aspect of the art of food, we as Christians need to take the time to seek out, "savor" and truly experience our time with God.  This is what truly bring us to the place where we can experience the absolute joy and peace that only He can give us, like in the case of the author of this hymn.  Too often we are like Emille, gobbling down garbage that we think will feed our souls and bring us peace when it's just not what we need... or worse, to just "dabble" in our time with God and only get to see a mere glimmer of the beauty in the experience.  Our lives are crazy, our lives are stressed... and the only way we can make it through is to seek His face, intimate time with our Lord, in order to get the peace we need and recharge our batteries to take on another day.  I pray this brief anecdote will help you reflect in the time you share with God.
Have a  blessed day!

Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Have you seen the Disney/Pixar movie Rattatouille? There is a scene where Remy is trying to explain to his brother how he sees colors and fireworks when he savors delicious food...and how the joy, pleasure and experience are enhanced by the complexity of combining certain flavors together.
Remy seeing colors
Remy teaching Emille

Yes, I admit I am a foodie, or "food snob" as some have called me. My favorite pizza is called Figaro and is a coal brick oven roasted pie with no sauce but a delectable combination of prosciutto, fresh figs, shaved aged Parmesan cheese, gorgonzola and topped with fresh arugula. It's a meal I am just not able to experience without closing my eyes to savor every single one of the unique flavors that come together in such beautiful harmony that even after a few slices each bite is as good as the first.

This is exactly how I feel when I hear certain praise and worship songs. There are certain songs that I am just not able to fully appreciate without closing my eyes and reveling in every note that blends together with the others in a beautiful tapestry of expression towards our Lord Jesus Christ. By far, the song which inevitably triggers this effect is the Gaither Vocal Band's rendition of the classic hymn "Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go." I can't even listen while I drive because I have to stop to close my eyes and savor every note in the tantalizing arrangement of harmonies. Today I decided to do some research online about the lyrics and history of this hymn. Here is what I learned...lyrics AND history:

O Love, that wilt not let me go
by George Matheson

O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

History of Hymn
“O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” written on the evening of Matheson’s sister’s marriage. His whole family had gone to the wedding and left him alone. He writes of something which happened to him that caused immense mental anguish. There is a story of how years before, he had been engaged until his fiancé learned that he was going blind and there was nothing the doctors could do. She told him that she could not go through life with a blind man. He went blind while studying for the ministry, and his sister had been the one who had taken care of him all these years, but now she is gone. He had been a brilliant student, some say that if he hadn’t gone blind he could have been the leader of the church of Scotland in his day. He had written a learned work on German theology and then wrote “The Growth of The Spirit of Christianity.” Louis Benson says this was a brilliant book but with some major mistakes in it. When some critics pointed out the mistakes and charged him with being an inaccurate student he was heartbroken. One of his friends wrote, “When he saw that for the purposes of scholarship his blindness was a fatal hindrance, he withdrew from the field – not without pangs, but finally.” So he turned to the pastoral ministry, and the Lord richly blessed him, finally bringing him to a church where he regularly preached to over 1500 people each week. But he was only able to do this because of the care of his sister and now she was married and gone. Who will care for him, a blind man? Not only that, but his sister’s marriage brought fresh reminder of his own heartbreak, over his fiancé’s refusal to “go through life with a blind man.” It is in the midst of this circumstance and intense sadness that the Lord gives him this hymn – written, he says, in 5 minutes! Looking back over his life, he once wrote that his was “an obstructed life, a circumscribed life… but a life of quenchless hopefulness, a life which has beaten persistently against the cage of circumstance, and which even at the time of abandoned work has said not “Good night” but “Good morning.” How could he maintain quenchless hopefulness in the midst of such circumstances and trials? His hymn gives us a clue. “I trace the rainbow in the rain, and feel the promise is not vain” The rainbow image is not for him “If the Lord gives you lemons make lemonade” but a picture of the Lord’s commitment! It is a picture of the battle bow that appears when the skies are darkening and threaten to open up and flood the world again in judgment. But then we see that the battle bow is turned not towards us – but toward the Lord Himself!

Matheson said about this hymn:

My hymn was com­posed in the manse of In­ne­lan [Ar­gyle­shire, Scot­land] on the ev­en­ing of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s mar­ri­age, and the rest of the fam­i­ly were stay­ing over­night in Glas­gow. Some­thing hap­pened to me, which was known only to my­self, and which caused me the most se­vere men­tal suf­fer­ing. The hymn was the fruit of that suf­fer­ing. It was the quick­est bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the im­press­ion of hav­ing it dic­tat­ed to me by some in­ward voice ra­ther than of work­ing it out my­self. I am quite sure that the whole work was com­plet­ed in five min­utes, and equal­ly sure that it ne­ver re­ceived at my hands any re­touch­ing or cor­rect­ion. I have no na­tur­al gift of rhy­thm. All the other vers­es I have ever writ­ten are man­u­fact­ured ar­ti­cles; this came like a day­spring from on high.

WOW!!!! That is an AMAZING testimony of true peace in the midst of one's struggles. Today I leave you with a link to a fabulous interview with one of my favorite Christian artists, David Phelps, who just happened to begin his career with the Gaither Vocal Band and arranged their accapella version of this song. Towards the end of the interview he talks about the joy he felt creating this arrangement, taking every note as a different color with a paintbrush combining them into beautiful harmonies...WOW! Right after the interview you can hear them sing the song live...double WOW!!! Take a few minutes, turn up the sound and enjoy the beautiful masterpiece in honor of our Lord and Savior:
Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go- Performed by The Gaither Vocal Band, Arranged by David Phelps

Like Remy, taking time to "savor" and truly experience every aspect of the art of food, we as Christians need to take the time to seek out, "savor" and truly experience our time with God.  This is what truly bring us to the place where we can experience the absolute joy and peace that only He can give us, like in the case of the author of this hymn.  Too often we are like Emille, gobbling down garbage that we think will feed our souls and bring us peace when it's just not what we need... or worse, to just "dabble" in our time with God and only get to see a mere glimmer of the beauty in the experience.  Our lives are crazy, our lives are stressed... and the only way we can make it through is to seek His face, intimate time with our Lord, in order to get the peace we need and recharge our batteries to take on another day.  I pray this brief anecdote will help you reflect in the time you share with God.
Have a  blessed day!

The Family Vacation: Blame it on Cancun!

Hi Everyone!  I wanted to share a wonderful short/mini video that my husband made on iMovie from the video we took on our vacation.  I hope you love it as much as we do!

Cancun Trailer

Have a blessed day!

Wearing 4 hats and tinted glasses

Photo courtesy of caplanmiller.com

Me on our balcony in Cancun!

If everyone could see the world through these eyes...

The "reality" of daily life for parents/caregivers of children with special needs is SO skewed from the norm that it really takes someone in the same shoes to truly appreciate the scope of it.  For years I worked with a family with the MOST AMAZING child who just happened to have cerebral palsy. Although his body often could not do what he wanted it to do, he more than made up for it in personality, intellect, humor and wit!  The joy I felt in helping him accomplish the tiniest of things by tapping into his interests was amazing and almost addictive (you'd understand if you saw that smile!). I worked with this family and child for 6 years and frequently heard about their home life... how hard his mom worked just to help him do the simplest of tasks which we all take for granted.
SIX YEARS... yet it wasn't until I had my own child with special needs that I could grasp the immensity of their daily lives! The more I got to know this child and his family (particularly his mom), the more I learned about the sacrifice, guilt, rejection, exclusion yet over-joyous unconditional love they had experienced. I crossed many co-workers and burned several bridges by standing up, speaking out, advocating and sometimes even fighting for this family and it was all well worth it... but I still did not "see."

I view the world through such different lenses since my little man's birth and subsequent diagnosis. I know the feeling of mistrust when you, as a mom, insist something is not right with your child yet everyone around you tells you to relax and "just let your child grow up!" I know what it's like to entrust your child to professionals who may have book knowledge but they just don't "get it." I know what it is like to have an almost supernatural bond with your child... it is not pathological, it just shows that your child recognizes that you are the ultimate pillar of support, protection, safety and understanding when the rest of the world just does not "get it." 1 Thes. 2:6-8 

This week I felt the incredible weight of my "4 hats" now that I see the world through such different lenses. Being a mom of a child with special needs, a therapist in charge of the progress of 50 children with special needs, being the leader of a special needs ministry now entrusted with the spiritual growth of at least 5 amazing kids with special needs AND being team leader for our Autism Speaks walk team... WOW!

In all I know God does not give us more than we can handle. 1 Cor 10:12-14  I know He's given me these lenses to see through in order to better balance my 4 hats. John 9:24-26 Our recent trip to Cancun reminded me of the concept of balancing hats. The Mexican "sombreros" fit perfectly together and stack quite nicely. I wear 4 hats in all, but by finding their commonalities (like the similar shapes of each of the sombreros) I can better balance them stacked one on top of the other.

I also discovered that stacking sombreros against a wall, and even in a corner, helps them balance best. Hmm... So when I feel like my back is against the wall or I am backed into a corner I need to remember that in those moments God is supporting me and He is teaching me to better balance my hats! So I've reached a conclusion: instead of struggling to balance my hats all on my own, I will ask for support from those around me and rely on God to always have His hands of protection over everything I do. Psalm 18:17-19  Ezra 8:21-22 When you shift your eyes from your focus, look back or look down, your hats will fall off and make a huge mess! Phil. 3:12-15 Psalm 141:8 Psalm 81:6-7  {Notice I haven't even mentioned my other two hats: wife and home maker-- those I'll call my swimming caps one on top of the other under my pile of sombreros! Well, only one since my husband does most of the house work! He's the BEST!} Proverbs 14:1

I pray that with each of my posts I can help others start to see a bit of what it's like behind these lenses so you can better support those around you who are in need. Rom. 15:1-3  That my words can help at least one of you find the commonalities in all of your hats so they will be easier to balance... but especially that you will feel encouraged to let God carry the weight of your hats as you walk this crazy walk! Psalm 55:22 Don't be afraid to ask for help... and to offer help when you see others struggling with THEIR hats. Not everyone has strong enough necks, especially if they are just starting to wear multiple hats! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Have a blessed day!

Go Ahead, Rain on My Parade!

...I mean, my vacation! :)  For security reasons I did not post that we were going away.  Here is something I wrote in the first few days we were away.  I hope you find it to be a blessing in your life, too!

Aug. 20, 2011
So here we are in beautiful Cancun, Mexico.  The flights went without a glitch thanks to our Lord and the help of the little man's comfy car seat, Curious George and his iPad...but with the lack of sleep, drastic transition, heat and cabin fever from being cooped up in a plane for hours, everything came crashing down on us upon arrival (literally, as we stepped off the plane!).  Something about extreme heat and wicked humidity transforms my adorable, loving boys into total BEARS!!!  We've seen how the little guy can get when we travel: tantrums that get the attention of even the laziest security guard, hunger strikes, messed up sleep schedules... but our last trip last summer had gone so smoothly that our guards were down.  I will spare myself from reliving the horrors of our first day here.  What's important is that in the end we got the most AMAZING suite (thanks, MOM!) with a gorgeous private wrap-around ocean-view balcony with even an ocean view from our shower!!!  After such a horrendously exhausting day, our little man literally passed out at the dinner table (never happened before in his life), which, ironically, allowed us to have a fantastic quiet dinner serenaded by live mariachis!  God ALWAYS has that long-distance vision and allowed us that peace before the storm...

But before that, let's backtrack a bit. After checking into our room we'd finally gotten the little man to eat a roll of bread which, technically, meant he had "eaten" and he'd earned a trip to the pool. At the pool, he had a BLAST jumping, splashing, dog paddling, twirling and, unfortunately without us noticing soon enough, drinking a TON of pool water (in a kiddie pool in Mexico, people!)... fast forward to midnight and waking up to my husband caring for our little puke machine!!! Our little man had terrible reflux as an infant and spat up like you would not believe, but he had never thrown up before... at least not like this! He was totally freaked out!  Yes, it was a looooooooooooooooooong night of lots of dirty laundry and diaper changes.  Everything seemed to settle down around 5am, just as we'd run out of clean linens... after about two hours' sleep we awoke to a tropical depression.

How can this story be a blessing for anyone, other than making you feel better about the bad day you just had that may have paled in comparison? Well, the little man's stomach bug pretty much ruled out any trips to the pool, beach or water park (cue the instant screaming and meltdown).  After the day and night we'd just had, I was ready for Round 3 of this match, but God had another plan.  The sounds of the choppy ocean, the stormy wind, rolling thunder and the rain hitting the windows were an exact combination of the nature sounds I use to relax at home! Add to that the dark skies and it was the perfect formula to FORCE my over-achieving, stressed out and exhausted husband to just sit and relax... but we still had this hyper 3 year old poop factory to entertain! Well, growing up in the Caribbean taught me a thing or two about warm rainy days... and water on outdoor tiled floors! ;) So, while my hubby slept in a completely ambient dark room with God's nature sound machine, I took out a small bottle of shampoo and we turned our flooded balcony into an instant slip & slide! My goal for this week was not very ambitious: to live in my bathing suit with no shoes on (well, occasional flip flops). I believe the little man's goal was water play: check!  And my hubby just wanted to relax: check, check!

So, in the midst of this horrible storm which probably would have ruined almost anyone else's vacation, we had the most amazingly fun but relaxing day of slip & sliding, cuddling, napping, recuperating, reading books and eating room service! So what if I'm not getting a tan? Who CARES?!?!? I am at total peace and rest and so are my two favorite people in the world.  In this moment I realized that I'll take a dark rainy day with my happy, calm and peaceful family than any warm sunny pool day full of tantrums and chaos! This is exactly what the Word refers to when talking about peace in the midst of the storm.  Isaiah 54:10 "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

It is the awfully horrendous days in life that have taught me to see the rainbows through the rain and I praise my Lord for that amazing gift!  Have a blessed day!

Circles and Rocks

Another dreary day today... not a good one for Nathan!  As parents of children on the autism spectrum (or any other special needs, for that matter), we have to be expert detectives in figuring out our kids: what are they saying/communicating? does something hurt? are they sick? are they hungry? what is making them act differently today? did I skip an important step in our routine?... the questions go on and on...and so do our worries.

Today it was my mom who said it out loud: "I wonder what it is..."  This got me thinking about 2 wonderful short articles that were recently in the Autism Support Network newsletter.  They were each written by a different mom discussing these exact issues.  I will put these links on my list of helpful articles but I wanted to share them with you today:

Autism Circles
Whose Rock Are You?

Because these articles were found in secular sites, I wanted to expand their scope into what Scripture says in these matters.
God sits above the circles of the earth and watches over His people:
Isaiah 40:21-31
Through rivers and waters:
Psalm 46
Psalm 65:5-10
Cast your cares on the Lord:
Peter 5:6-11
Do not worry:
Matthew 6:25-31
The Lord is our rock:
Psalm 18:1-6
Psalm 18:16-36
Psalm 18:46-50
Psalm 27
Psalm 31

In my Sunday school class, I've been teaching the kids about Jesus.  Layla, one of our featured kids on this site, is THE BEST student at remembering what we've learned.  I want to leave you with a quote from her as I sign off today's post: "Jesus is the rock that makes you STRONG and keeps you SAFE!"

Thanks, Layla!!!
God bless you!

How can "puddles + fat lip = peace + joy"?

A few posts ago I shared the wonderful program of The Puzzling Piece iPad challenge with you guys... today I have a great story to tell!  Remember I love to wear my Puzzling Piece necklace and wear it often... today was one of those days!

Today is a rainy and dreary Monday... a bad mix for my little man!  But things have to get done!  We did our usual morning routine but had to interject a quick trip to the store.  With enough previewing and prompting and a good reward after, the little man usually does quite well going to the store.  NOT TODAY!  Right next to our parking spot was a puddle (well, almost a river, actually)... knowing my little man's LOVE for water, I let him splash around and have some fun.  I should have known  better!  The next 15 minutes turned into one of those "meltdown of 2011" experiences.  Without going into much detail, I managed to get him into the store and into the shopping cart...but earned myself a well-aimed head butt in the mouth and a nice fat lip in the process.  Thankfully, the "meltdown of 2011" taught me that I absolutely do NOT care what people think.  My #1 priority is to keep my little man safe.  Next comes getting him calm in order to accomplish whatever I came there to do.  I am through with the days where I leave my full shopping cart in the store and leave with a screaming child. NOPE... we're here, we are getting what we came for!

Walking through the store with a hysterical child certainly turned a few heads but I was determined to get my things done.  Eventually, the little man realized this behavior was getting him nowhere fast, so he calmed down... which earned him a toy train to play with as we finished our shopping.  So there I was standing in line, nursing my fat lip by placing a cold bottle of Diet Pepsi over it and the woman in front of me says "I love your puzzle piece necklace!"  "It's for autism awareness," I quickly replied with my usual spunk inviting the person to ask more.  "I know," she said, "my son has autism!"  All of a sudden, everything around us ceased to exist, an instant kinship had linked us together like two perfect pieces in a large jigsaw puzzle!  "So does my little one..." I said, pointing at the little man in the shopping cart, "hence my nice fat lip." "Oh, yeah," she quickly answered, "I just got over 2 black eyes from a broken nose!"  THE BOND WAS GETTING STRONGER!!! THIS STRANGER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I'D JUST BEEN THROUGH AND COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD! "Except my son is 21," she continued, "and I promise you... no matter what anyone tells you, things DO get better! Our fat lips and broken noses happen in those moments when we're just caught off guard."  We went on and on sharing experiences and talking about our plans for the Autism Speaks walk in October.  What an inspiration this total stranger became to me!

In that instant, an incredible sense of peace took over my entire being.  I was NOT alone, I was NOT someone to feel sorry for... I was just caught off guard on a bad day and God sent this absolute stranger to remind me that things are going to be fine.  I am not one to talk about burning bushes, seeing visions or hearing voices, but I do remember clearly the day I heard my son's diagnosis as I sat in the car, feeling something so BIG in my innermost self where I felt God saying "Didn't I tell you I have everything under control?!?!"  And He does!  I'm not going to lie, getting the little man back into the car was not easy, but when we got home we stayed outside and played in the rain and the puddles for a nice long time... it's summertime, it's warm, no worries.  Then I realized not only had I found peace... I had discovered a hidden joy of playing in the rain and splashing in the puddles, like I loved to do as a child, yet this time I was able to share it with my amazing little man. I had his complete attention, total eye contact, and incredible social language!

So, I leave you guys with a passage in Ecclesiastes 3 called "Everything Has Its Time."  Remember that just as there is a time for pain, there is also a time for joy!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3&version=NKJV

God bless you and may you find your peace and joy through the puddles and fat lips!

The Puzzling Piece

To help me get over the sadness of Jessica moving away, I started thinking back to all the people who have helped our family along the way. I wanted to share about other people who have been instrumental in our family's journey through this puzzle.

**I AM NOT ENDORSING ANY PRODUCTS HERE, JUST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY**

The Puzzling Piece was created by a couple of parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder.  What began as a school fundraising project has become an international aide to so many children!  The Puzzling Piece offers what they call "The iPad Challenge."  In exchange for you selling a certain amount of pieces of jewelry/keychains, you receive a free iPad.  NO GIMMICKS!  We got ours when Nathan was still non-verbal and it opened up a whole new world for him!  Once he began to speak, it helped him build his vocabulary.  It has also allowed for me to run errands in the community with Nathan and it was instrumental when we were tracking all sorts of factors to try to figure out why Nathan was struggling so much with his behaviors.  Oh and I should add that part of the sales goes to Autism Speaks!  I wear my necklace quite often...

What has also inadvertently happened is that many of the "challengers" have become a sort of support community for each other, offering advice, tips and encouragement.  That was my favorite part of the challenge!  So much so that one family decided to make a video to help promote this project.  It's SO nice to feel you have people who are walking the walk with you and can really empathize!

Brett and Melissa are angels on this earth!  They have given so much for our kids!  Please take a minute to check out the video that one of the challenge winners (parent) made:
Puzzling Piece video

Here is the video they had previously made...Brett and Melissa had nothing to do with this.  The families were so touched that they decided to do this for them.  Here is the original video they made:
Original Puzzling Piece Video

Here are Brett and Melissa on the local news:
The Winters on the News

To learn more about Brett and Melissa, The Puzzling Piece and the iPad challenge, please visit their website:
The Puzzling Piece

Have a blessed day!