Sometimes I Forget Just How Lucky I Am

I really enjoy the new show on TV called "Secret Millionaire."  It is about these millionaires who seek out people and organizations that are making a difference in poor communities.  Every week, I am pretty certain that when it is revealed that the people will get a generous donation toward their cause, I will be weeping.  It gets me every time.  About three weeks ago, the show featured the couple that started Curves International.  They have an autistic grandchild and one of the organizations that they visited was a daycare center for autistic adults.

Now these men were severely autisic.  Most of them couldn't communicate very well and some not at all.  Seeing this made me feel so very guilty for feeling bad about our situation.  Noah seems perfectly fine compared to the men at this facility.  It really puts things in perspective when you realize that it could have been worse.  The center was given $250,000 to help keep it running.  Of course, the men didn't understand what was given to them.  One of the millionaires gave a man a pair of sunglasses because she had noticed previously that he had a sensitivity to light.  His reaction was priceless.  He was so thankful you would have thought that she had given him the world.  And to him, she did.

A family member recently made a comment that made me angry.  She said that Noah needs to start warming up to kids and he needs to make some friends.  Um......duh!  Almost like it is his fault that he doesn't have friends.  I guess I have to attribute that to lack of knowledge about autism.  Although by now, I would think she would get it.  April is autism awareness month so now is the time to explain it to her:)

Noah started guitar lessons this week thanks to my generous mother.  It will be good for his fine motor skills.  He took a year and a half of piano lessons a while back until he decided that piano was for girls.  (Noah is very specific about what is appropriate for each of the sexes)  When you ask my son what he is going to do when he grows up, he always answers with, "be in a band."  I guess guitar lessons are a must but we might want to have a back up plan.

Something I want to share with you from the last two weeks of my life.  Be thankful for everything the Lord gives you, good and bad.  It is so easy to be thankful for what we see as blessings.  And then to not be thankful for the rest.  Everything that God allows into your life has a purpose. And from my favorite song of the moment:


What if your blessings come through raindrops
what if your healing come through tears
what if a thousand sleepless nights
are what it takes to know You're near
what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

I'm Speechless

It's Sunday night and I am sitting here at my computer thinking about our awesome God.  Thinking about His blessings that I did not ask for nor deserve.  I am praising Him for what he did in Noah's life today. 

Alan took the kids to youth group and I stayed home for some me time.  With it being the beginning of spring break, we knew that church wouldn't be packed, but the kids always want to go.  Alan called me at 6:20 which I thought was odd because youth group goes from 6-7:15.  He told me that because there were few in attendance, they were having a game night.  Immediately, I got a pit in my stomach because I knew that Noah would have a hard time with that and probably would want to go home.  To my surprise, it was my social butterfly Baylee that wanted to go home but Noah wanted to stay. 

Noah had brought his new Nintendo 3DS to church with him.  Alan told me that he was going up to people and talking to them about his new gaming system.  Kids that weren't necessarily his friends.  Alan said he was even talking to a girl.  Yikes!  Let me explain something to you.  Noah NEVER EVER approaches anyone to have a conversation with them.  He doesn't even approach those who are in his group of friends.  He waits to be spoken to first and it's iffy if he will even respond.  So for him to go up to kids that he doesn't know really well and start talking to them, well that is a real breakthough that has brought me to tears.  I thank God for this victory.

I do thank each and everyone of you for reading my blog.  I am surprised at the interest in our crazy lives.  I am encouraged each and everyday by the comments and the feedback I get from you.  I used to feel very alone in this challenge that the Lord trusted me with but I am beginning to realize that I have a ton of people praying for Noah and for Alan and I as well. You must have been praying, otherwise my son would not have done what he did this evening.