Chilly Dog

Even though the calendar says April, the weather feels more like December. Yesterday we took Wally for a walk. It was so cold and so windy we turned around and came back home. Wally was one chilly dog!

This One's for the Girls

This past weekend at the women's retreat I heard about a new ministry that women from Christ the Rock have started. It's called This One's for the Girls. They reach out in Christ's name to women who work as exotic dancers. When the women go to the clubs they bring gift baskets for each of the dancers. In that basket are items such as body lotion, lip balm, nail polish, body wash, small photo albums, etc. This small gesture can have an impact for eternity, showing women that they are God's beloved daughters.

Women's Retreat

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21

Bible verse for the weekend.

Wow, what a refreshing, renewing, reviving weekend. Karol Ladd (keynote speaker) had so much to share. Something for everyone.

Steps For Your Soul
This was the theme of the weekend.
Steps of Peace
To Walk With More Calm and Less Stress:
Keep your eye on the finish line; keep your eyes on Jesus
Get rid of things that can weigh you down.
Seek help from God and others.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Went with one friend ...

Came home with three more!

Positive

This weekend I am going with four other ladies to a women's retreat. The keynote speaker is Karol Ladd. She is also known as "The Positive Lady". The retreat is called "Steps For Your Soul". I'm looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. The weekend promises to be full of fun and fellowship. Growing deeper in my faith. Devoting time to the Lord in prayer and praise.

Books by Karol Ladd

Autism Books

While there are a few days left in April, thought I'd blog a little more about autism/Asperger's syndrome. Through the years of dealing with autism/Asperger's I've come across some of these books and others. Just want to share a few with you.

Any book by Dr. Temple Grandin

She is a noted autistic who is an author, speaker, cited expert in many publications, and video producer.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

I started to read this book and it just hit too close to home. I couldn't bring myself to read the whole book.

Asperger's and Girls

Never read this book (maybe because I have a boy), but looks good.

Autism-Asperger's & Sexuality.

Puberty and Beyond

This book is really good. My son has a very difficult time discussing these subjects. I bought him the book and gave it to him. He said "no thanks" and gave it back. One day I went in his room and laid it on the night stand. Next time I checked it was gone. Have never seen it since. I told him to just take a look through it when he felt like it. I don't know if he ever did or not. But, I did read the book and thought it was really good. I have been able to use different ways to talk with him about puberty and sex. Since he is very fact oriented, I know he grasps the basics of the whole subject. It's the relationships that go along with this that he stumbles over. As with many autism/Asperger's people I needed to be very blunt. Especially when it came to slang terms associated with sex. I needed to explain words to him that I suppose most kids learn from their peers.

This book is written by a married autistic/Asperger's couple.

Different Like Me

My Book of Autism Heroes

This is a really neat book for kids.

Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

I have been researching ideas for my post on Earth Day. There were so many things I wanted to share with you I decided to just post links and pictures.
Remember these commercials?Woodsy Owl Says Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute

The Crying Indian

"Iron Eyes Cody"
Earth Day Links

http://www.lutheranwomantoday.org/featuredArticles/0408article1.html

http://ww2.earthday.net/

http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
words and music by Woody Guthrie
Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me.

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
Chorus
In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.
Chorus (x2)
©1956 (renewed 1984), 1958 (renewed 1986) and 1970 TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. (BMI)

Long Time No Blog

It's been a week since my last blog. I guess not much blog worthy has been happening. So, to entertain you here are a few random pics.

Joe and Wally out for a spring Frisbee game.

Joe Cool
Rickshaw ride at the Ren Faire The boys with their dad and step-mom

This is a bell memorial planter in the church courtyard. My dad's name as well as others is on the plaque. Last spring my cousin Jane and I planted these flowers. Probably do it again this spring, right Jane?

DOGGONE THAT DOGGONE DOG!!!

Wally's done it again.

Last night Joe came home from his dad's house. At 10:10 PM I opened the front door to let Joe in and Wally ran out. Even though me, Joe, and Paul all screamed Wally's name and "commanded" him to come back he kept on running. So, after a 3 hour trip from from Paul's house to mine, Paul, Joe and I took to the neighborhood searching for that doggone dog! We couldn't find him on foot so we took to our cars. Searching for a black/tan dog at night is not easy. Finally I catch a glimpse of Wally and as soon as I called his name he bolted! Doggone that doggone dog. Meanwhile Paul is searching in his car and Joe is at home waiting by the phone in case someone captures Wally and calls to tell us they have him. It's now been an hour and still no Wally. I go back home by Joe while Paul is out searching. I'm sure after a 3-hour drive and having to get up and be to work by 6 AM he'd rather be in bed sleeping. So many thoughts are running through my head. Maybe we should give Wally up and admit we can't handle him ... why can't he learn the "come" command ... that's it we're never getting another dog ... geez, what if we don't find him tonight ... he'll be lonely and scared and hungry ... if he runs away one more time he's going back to the shelter ... oh please come home Wally ... that's it we're going back to dog school and you're going to learn your commands once and for all ... oh geez, what if he's hurt ... i miss you already Wally ... please come home ... if we take you back to the shelter you might not get another chance ... Joe is sobbing. Joe and I say some prayers for Wally.

Then I have an idea. Maybe if I go out in the back yard and sprinkle some of his favorite treats on the deck he'll smell them and come home. :) But, we have a fenced in back yard so how will he get in. Guess I'll unlatch the gate. As I start down the steps of the deck my foot slips and next thing I know I'm laying on my back looking up at the beautiful moon and stars. !!! I lay there and think ... all this for a dog. But in the midst of my emotional rollercoaster it was God's way of saying slow down, take a deep breath, and let me handle this. As I regain my composure and go limping back into the house (thankful no one saw me wipe out), Joe is on the phone saying Dad found Wally and they're on their way home. Wally comes home to hugs and kisses. All of us so thankful he's safe. Wally slinks into his crate with his tail between his legs. Paul goes home. Joe goes to bed. I grab the bottle of Ibuprofen to prevent the sore muscles I'll surely have come morning. I go limping down the hall to my bedroom holding my very sore gluteus maximus. Grass and leaves and mud (thankfully not poop) all over my sweatshirt and jeans. It's now 11:30 PM. Feels like it should be later. We're glad you're home Wally. You're ours forever. We love you, you doggone dog!!!

Facts and Figures on Autism

This information is taken from the Autism Society of America website.

1 out of 150 children in U.S.

1 out of 90 boys

Affects four times as many boys as girls

Lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism: $3.5 to $5 million

Current annual cost to U.S.: $35 billion

Estimated annual cost by 2010: $90 billion

1.5 million Americans affected

Spring Planting

I love flower and vegetable gardens. I've tried my hand at both and failed miserably. I love formal gardens and wildflower gardens. I love huge farmers' gardens and i love a tomato plant in a pot. I like all the tools that you use with gardening. Every spring I say this is going to be the year. I buy plants and get them planted and ......... they die. I forget to water them and they shrivel up and wither away. Sometimes I over water them. I've killed plants that have been deemed un-killable. But it doesn't stop me from wandering through the nurseries and admiring all the beautiful plants. I love to drive around the neighborhoods and see what other creations people have come up with. Maybe this will be the year I have a real garden.

Women's Retreat on Prayer

Nicolaes Maes: Old Woman Praying (Prayer Without End)
Our church is having a women's retreat coming up this fall. Our theme is Prayer. Me, my cousin, and another friend from church are going to head it up. I've never organized one before so I'm relying on the knowledge and experience of the other two. I'm enjoying it so far. I can see where it takes a lot of time and organization to make it all come together. We all have different talents so I'm sure the three of us will work well together. I just love this picture above.

Who Would Have Known ?

(click on picture for a larger view)It is also said that these fictional characters have autistic traits:

Calvin from Calvin and Hobbs.

(No wonder Ian is obsessed with that cartoon).

Lisa from the Simpsons

Mork from Mork & Mindy

Bert from Sesame Street

Mr. Spock

Data

3rd Rock From the Sun characters

Steve Urkel

Joon from Benny and Joon

Edward Scissorhands

Rain Man

... and more

World Autism Day

I celebrate this day in honor of my family and friends with autism:

Ian

Karrington

Karly

Josh

Joshua

Andria

Chelsea

David

Michael

Paul

God has made each one of you special. You all teach me so much about life. I love each and every one of you.

I'd also like to thank all the educators who have worked with Ian, but especially:

Mrs. Dyer

Ms. Bowman

Mrs. Wagner

You have gone above and beyond the call of duty. There will always be a special place in my heart for you.

You have touched our lives forever.