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Really Believe: Courage to Serve God (with Mary-Courage)

When God first called me to be an autism mom, my insides ached like someone was stretching my heart out as far as they could, then flinging back inside my chest to bounce around, bruise my soul.

My mind raced with anxious thoughts about the future. Every child I saw reminded me my son was not like them. I may never have a conversation with him, or even hear him speak. My heart quivered inside…

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Really Believe: Free To Embrace Wisdom

Most of the time things aren’t the way they seem.

In my previous Really Believe post: Free From Worry, I wrote about how worry must flee when we really believe because of God’s promises, like Proverbs 3:6. Well, the verse right before that? Is Proverbs 3:5 (but you knew that, didn’t you. :). And in that verse, God tells us not to lean on our own understanding. It’s like saying, “Don’t believe…

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Really Believe: Free From Worry

It's been a while since I posted, but get ready for a new series called Really Believe! Here is the first in the series--Really Believe: Free From Worry

As a special needs mom, I crave a sense of certainty about how I help my kids, how I advocate for them, and about their future.

Really believing what God says about who He is (capable, all knowing, all powerful, love) and who I am (chosen, loved, guided, prepared, able, strong and courageous) is the key to being free from worry, doubt and anxiety.

Even so, I find trusting God completely an…

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Really Believe is coming Soon!

January 27 is the beginning of my new Really Believe series.

I hope to see you then! Come back soon!

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A Sensory Ride: What Would The Bus Say?

Hi Stevie, this is Bus.

I was watching you today, as I do most school days. I saw you trying to get comfortable but the seat-belt was too tight and you couldn’t lean forward at all. It isn’t supposed to be that way.

You should be able to shift your position and sit comfortably on my bench seat. It isn’t a part of me—that car seat with the harness buckle. I just want you to know that.

I have…

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No Long-Sleeved Shirts Please!

I do not like to wear clothes. Now that summer is turning fast to a chilly autumn, everyone is worried I will be cold. They want me to wear sweatshirts or coats, or long sleeve shirts. I do not want to wear long sleeves. I’d rather be cold than put up with having sleeves on my arms. Sleeves get in my way, and they are a constant irritant. When I do wear them, I push them up high above my…

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Stevie's Perspective on Grocery Shopping

Stevie's Perspective on Shopping: What it's like to be in a grocery store when you have autism and sensory processing disorder--from a mom's perspective.http://wp.me/p2KqMj-ZR

I love going shopping. Grocery stores are my favorite. I used to like riding in the car-carts, where I can drive while my mom pushes the cart, but now I am too big. I tried to fit in one last year, but it wasn’t at all like I remembered it. My knees went up to my chin and I was so squished! I wanted to make it work, but then I realized I had grown too big and there was no chance I could ride in…

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When Everything Breaks!

When Everything Breaks! And you know, all these things being broken? Well, they’ve opened the door for the kids to help with “real” things…real problems. Big-people problems. Sage has loved going with Daddy to Home Depot to buy missing parts with Daddy's gift card from Fathers Day.

Broken dishwasher. Clogged toilets. Flat tire. Water leaks. Trouble with installations, Leaky roof… Even the valve that you have to turn to stop the water in the house? Broke. Right after the dishwasher was installed and before the toilet was repaired…sigh… lots of trips to the store these days for parts (as well as for use of their flushing toilets!)

It’s been one thing after another. It…

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Sensational Successes

In this post...I want to offer some encouragement and hope to those of you who are in the trenches, wondering if it will always be as hard as it is right now. Sensational Successes: There is Hope

This past month has been an attention grabber. It seems every time I turn around, there is another great improvement my son has made staring me in the face. Both my boys with autism have changed remarkably since they were toddlers. So for this post, I want to focus on all the improvements—things I never thought I’d see—to offer some encouragement and hope to those of you who are in the trenches…

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The Sensory Diet: A Bare Necessity

The Sensory Diet: A Bare Necessity "Sensory diets are not viewed as rewards, but rather viewed as activities that are needed in order for his body to be regulated and able to take in information and process it more appropriately. Plain and simply put: he needs the strict diet in order to learn and be happy (emotionally regulated)."

As some of you may know, Stevie is doing great at his new school. When we first toured the school, we knew that it was made just for him. It was a perfect match. And when the local school offered to send him there, we knew it was a match made in Heaven.

Not that there haven’t been any bumps along the way, there have been plenty. It isn’t a magic cure for his behavior difficulties. But it isa…

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Giving Up Doubt: A Pep Rally

Giving Up Doubt: A Pep Rally "In the past, I would take a thought captive, and then replace it with truth. But there is that very important and often forgotten extra step that we are called to do. We are called to destroy the bad thought. "

We can make it to the top!

A few months ago I gave up doubt.

Sounds funny, but that is what I gave up for the 40 days of lent. Our Pastor encouraged us to give up something that would make more room for Jesus. So while thinking of what I spend my time on, I realized I wasted a lot of time worrying about things… on doubting that God would take care of us, of doubting about things that God has…

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Speak The Language: Pictures

Speak The Language: Pictures "Highlighting the word and pointing to the picture made a whole lot more sense to my boy. He quickly learned how to receptively “get” pictures. And we were finally communicating."

Have you noticed that kids with autism often don’t seem to process auditory information, but instead rely on what they see? They seem to be unable to hear, but that is far from the truth.

When my son was a toddler, if I called his name he’d act as if he couldn’t hear me calling him. But if I were to quietly whisper nonsense sounds, he could hear them a mile away. This was baffling as new…

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Misunderstandings Of The Special Needs Parent

"The challenge is to continue trying. Striving to understand each other, and to be understood, offering grace along the way. Offering praise to God, too, because He made us all so unique, interesting and complex. We are His work of art." Misunderstandings Of The Special Needs Parent

I have been thinking about how often kids with autism are misunderstood. Either their pronouns are reversed or language a bit jumbled or not there at all. Maybe their behavior seems nonsensical, or uncontrolled.

Those who work with kids on the spectrum say that no one can really understand what they are thinking, especially those who are nonverbal.

There is a lot of speculation in why they do…

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Evidence of Intervention

Evidence of Intervention "While sharing stories, my friend had a common refrain. It was, "That was God. God was there."

On Friday I was able to meet a friend at the local coffee shop. To even write that sentence sounds to me like a dream. It is a rare opportunity when you have children with special needs.

While sharing stories, my friend had a common refrain. It was, “That was God. God was there.”

Her son had some special needs that the school wasn’t able to address appropriately at first. There was a lot of…

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Speaking The Language: Scripts

"But with autism? The language the kids speak is an original creation. There are no classes in it, there is no text book to go to to reference. You just have to learn the language of your child. " Speaking The Language: Scripts

Do you remember “Mr. Hollands Opus”? Back in 1995 the movie came out in the theaters.

It tells a story about a musician (Mr. Holland) who reacts bitterly to the news that son (Cole) can’t hear. To Mr. Holland, music was the most important thing in his life. His wife willing takes on learning American Sign Language, so she can teach her son and communicate with him. But Mr. Holland doesn’t put…

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He Just KNOWS Things...

He Just KNOWS Things... "And I have to wonder, Does he know? Has God, in all his mercy and wisdom, been preparing him as he sleeps at night? Has he had dreams about it? Has God somehow told him what is happening and that it is good?"

When I asked Stevie if he is excited to go to his new school, he squeaked a, “YAAAAHHHH!” with a giddy giggle to go along with it. I have never seen him that excited. And I have never seen him excited to go to school. Ever.

I believe God prepares our kids for things that are coming. Sometimes, they just have no way to know of a change but they do know…

A few years ago, we found ourselves in…

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Compilation Sunday: 6 Enjoyable Posts

Compilation Sunday: Enjoyable Posts "Sometimes I come across some really awesome writings, articles and posts that other people have crafted. I want to share those treasures with you today."

Happy Sunday!

Oftentimes I come across some really awesome writings, articles and posts that other people have crafted. I want to share those treasures with you today.

These posts are entertaining, educational, and/or uplifting in their message.

I hope you have a free moment to check them out and find them to be encouraging reads for the weekend!

1. Ellen Stumbo wrote an inspiring post on her…

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