We’ve had a few humorous utterances from our youngest (with Autism) recently… One of the funniest came when we visited the “Walk Through Bethlehem” at Mountain View United Methodist Church in Marrietta, GA last weekend.  This was a wonderful family field trip and if you ever get a chance to go, I highly recommend!  The church re-creates Bethlehem as it may have been at the time Christ was born, complete with a market place, Inn (no rooms available, of course) Temple, a... Read Full Story

This one is going around so thought I’d do it too!!! Wrapping paper or gift bags?  Wrapping paper.  I love to wrap presents!  Real tree or Artificial?  Artificial - I love real trees but they are messy, a fire hazard, and we have allergies.  Plus, ours is pre-lit - which makes it super easy to set up and take down! When do you put up the tree?  Sometime the week after Thanksgiving. When do you take the tree down?  It depends - Sometimes the week after New Year’s, sometimes end of... Read Full Story

Every household has rules.  Kids and adults need rules - to give us boundaries, define how we will interact with each other, and thereby provide a comfortable environment to live in. Families with Autism, if they are anything like THIS family with Autism, likely have more rules… and certainly more interesting rules… than the families without Autism.  Our kids with Autism structure their worlds differently and so the rules must accomodate that… accomodate their perspective... Read Full Story

I have a dear sweet brother who happens to also have a great sense of humor.  Imagine Jack Black (from The Holiday and Kung Fu Panda) mixed with Chris Farley (vintage Saturday Night Live) and you get an idea.  He’s funny, creative, and kind - a great combination! My dear sweet brother lives in Michigan where it is pretty darned cold at times.  On an especially cold day recently he came up with an idea at work to help keep everyone’s warmth factor up - or at least their sense of hu... Read Full Story

Our oldest son has health class in elementary school.  Each year the topic of drugs is included in the agenda for a week.  You know, the rah rah “just say no” and “drugs are bad” bit.  They even have a spirit week built around it where each day they wear something that reinforces the anti-drugs messaging - like wearing sweatpants for “It’s no sweat to be drug-free” day and wearing crazy socks for “sock it to drugs” day.  Fun stuff all arou... Read Full Story

The crafting bug has really bitten this time… and I’ve totally gotten into making felted Christmas ornaments (I took a class last weekend).  In fact, it has become a bit addictive.  Here’s a sample (a bit out of focus) of some of the ornaments I’ve made so far.  I haven’t wired them for hanging yet… but will do that soon. I love how these feel as I work on them - all soft and cozy.  My son (with Autism) loves the feel of the finished product.  He also loves... Read Full Story

People often assume that my younger son (with Autism) is lost in his own world, not paying attention, and unreachable.  They make the mistake of dismissing him, ignoring him, and/or underestimating him. Eventually he proves them wrong, often with hilarious results.  Especially in church. This last sunday our Pastor was at the pulpit, delivering a sermon around God’s plan for each of us.  I was in the choir loft, listening to Pastor (of course!) and watching my family sitting in the seco... Read Full Story

As the season sets upon us I am celebrating that age old tradition of… …the cold. Yep, I’ve got one!  The kind with the scratchy tickle in the back of your throat that makes you cough, post-nasal drip that keeps you up at night, and the pain in the left ear that signals an ear infection.  Plus my voice is so low and hoarse that makes people comment about how awful I sound. So what do you do to feel better when you have a cold?  Anything you can recommend? Right now my cold t... Read Full Story

Recently my older son had a sleep over.  As his buddies were munching on pancakes the next morning they were “talkin trash” and comparing notes on a variety of topics–homework (boring), Brian Urlacher (totally cool), and girls (hot).  They were so funny (except for the “hot” comments - which strode somewhere between hilarious and nervewracking) - spouting opinions about this and that.  I just listened and kept making pancakes while they chattered away. At one poi... Read Full Story

Recently I had an appointment with the doctor and I had to bring my youngest son with me.  While we were waiting (not so patiently) in the examination room, I leaned back on the examination table and my son (who of course insisted on sitting right next to me on the examination table) flopped across my middle and then lifted my shirt up to reveal my tummy.      “No zerberts,” I told him, hoping to avoid the obnoxious raspberry sounds. “Mommy,” he said as he looked up to... Read Full Story