Don’t Say That Word

As children on the spectrum are prone to do, Isabella was having a conversation with herself. One of her comments was, “Bella, you are retarded.”

When questioned about it, Bells said, “I’m sorry!” She was assured she had done nothing wrong. Questioned again, she had the same reaction and then she changed the subject.

The dreaded “r” word. I have been warning the girl, and everyone else within hearing range, to get rid of that word from their vocabularies unless used in a clinical way. Our precious children on the spectrum get called all kinds of names. When the “r” word is used to hurt, it is horrid.

Click here.

Please teach that the “r” word is not acceptable. Period.

Have a blessed weekend, g

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Daybook for February 3, 2012

The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Outside my window…winter’s darkness doesn’t touch the cozy feeling I have in my modest home.

I am thinking…about bullies who, because they are so influential, can throw their weight around and, if they choose, destroy good people and organizations.

I am thankful…for my parents who are turning 75 and 80 in the next month. So very thankful that my baby brother and his wife flew well over one thousand miles to celebrate with us tomorrow!

In the kitchen…is the clean up from the cheese and mashed potato dish I made for tomorrow’s feast. It is a family favorite!

I am wearing…my most comfortable pajamas. Don’t you just love lounging in pj’s?

I am creating…a blog post!

I am reading…there is a book waiting for me at the library. Hopefully, I will be able to pick it up tomorrow morning before I leave for my folks’ house which is one and a half hours away.

I am hoping…that my anxiety doesn’t get the better of me before or during tomorrow’s festivities…it happens.

I am looking forward to…my son making a living wage and moving out!

I am learning…to give myself a break.

Around the house…the same as usual…heavy sigh

I am pondering…how fragile life is. Can I keep up this pace?

A favorite quote for today…”You’re a good cooker, Booboo.” (What my granddaughter says to me!

One of my favorite things…is having my house to myself foF hours or days at a time.

A few plans for the rest of the week: family party and Superbowl spent with friends

A peek into my day…I got Isabella off to school, weighed in at Weight Watchers (gained a pound but that’s okay) and became a lifetime member, visited my niece who is also my hairstylist and got a cut and color, shopped, brought my mother-in-love to the hairdresser and got myself a manicure!

Random photo:

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What in the World Did I Do All Day?

As expected, I didn’t get a lot of comments on my last post. That is fine with me. I have to be at peace with God.

Lately, I’ve been wondering where time is going. I look around and see a house that needs vacuuming and dusting and straightening out in a big way and wonder why it hasn’t gotten done; why I can’t get it done.

As I sit here typing, I realize I could be doing the quiet parts of these tasks (Himself goes to sleep quite early because of his early shift) but here I sit watching tv and keeping up with my “social networks.”

Where did I go wrong? Let’s go over the events of today:

6:00 Woke up before Isabella’s arrival at around 6:20. Made tea and read my Bible.

6:20 Made Bells’ breakfast, prepared her snack for school and got her washed up and ready for school.

7:50 School bus arrived and I blew kisses to my little love. Instead of going back to bed, which I usually do for a few hours, I got ready for the day.

9:15 Started driving to my Weight Watchers meeting and returned the call I missed fifteen minutes earlier from my mother-in-law. Her defibrillator had gone off (for the second time in three weeks) and she needed to go to the doctor. My nephew drove her there and I skipped my meeting and took over at the doctor’s office (this has become my part time job).

11:30′ish At the hospital to have the pacemaker/defibrillator “interrogated” and found that the doctors feel an increase in medication will hopefully do the trick.

12:’ish Got Mom home and made sure she ate and drank a cup of tea. All she wanted to do was sleep so I left for….

12:45′ish …Weight Watchers weigh in…yea! All is good. 47 down and three to go.

1:00 Met a friend to pray for missionaries who are in creative access countries (countries where missionaries are not allowed)

2:00 Nap time for me.

4:40 Emerged from nap and spent time with Isabella and did absolutely nothing else of significance.

I could have gotten things done after my nap but the energy wasn’t there! Even thinking of doing anything makes me cringe inside.

Maybe some day, God willing, I will be blessed with energy. What I am thankful for is the ability to be do what I CAN do.

When I had to go on disability years ago, I never thought it would be for so long. The original reasons for this are still active and have intertwined with fibromyalgia. The times I am needed the most seem to fall on my “good” days and for this I am grateful.

What’s the saying, “Man plans and God laughs?” Ha! So true. I am so very blessed.

This blog post is part of

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Life

sanc·ti·ty   [sangk-ti-tee] Show IPA
noun, plural -ties.
1.
holiness, saintliness, or godliness.
2.
sacred or hallowed character: the inviolable sanctity of the temple.
3.
a sacred thing.

Today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Thirty-nine years ago abortions became the law of the land of America. Since then, more than 53,000,000 children have been denied the right to life.

Progress in pre-natal testing has made it possible to know if your unborn child has an extra chromosome (Down Syndrome)like Addisonand Abby whose parents can’t imagine life without them.

Before you know it, there will probably be a pre-natal test for autism. I can’t imagine a world without my Isabella. Nor can Jess imagine a world without Brooke or Jeneil a world without Rhema. There are so many others I can mention who don’t have blogs. 

If Tim Tebow’s mom had listened to the advice of her doctors to abort because her child would, if he survived, mental and physical deficiencies, we would not have the saying “Tebowing.”

The womb is an “inviolable sanctuary.” If not safe there, where?

No matter what the situation, unless the mom is dying right in front of the doctor, there is no legitimate reason for abortion. If you don’t want your child, send him or her to me; I will either find or give them a home. 

I know this is not my usual type of post but I know with everything in me it had to be said. May we repent of our sins of mass murder and may God have mercy on the United States of America.

*If you have had an abortion, I hold no ill will against you nor do I judge you. If you need to talk, I am here.

1…2…3…

…4…5 When I was taking education courses, a wise professor taught us to count to five slowly before calling on a student to answer a question. She explained that students process differently and it takes some longer than others to come up with an answer.

This lesson has come in very handy in grandparenting (yes, I did make up that word) a child on the autism spectrum. It seems that the brain of someone with autism doesn’t work in the same way as the average person’s. (If you like, I can refer you to some sites for further explanation.)

In the part of the northeast that we live in, we tend to be in a rush. This makes us want answers to our questions as soon as we ask them.

“What did you have for lunch in school today. Huh? What?”

This might be asked with little pause between the three questions.

I noticed that we were doing this with Isabella. After remembering what my dear professor said, I started pausing and watching my girl. I was actually able to “see” her gears turning while she processed the question.

When Bells was in pre-k, Jordan longed for her to be able to answer that simple question about lunch. Now, she can! Sometimes the answer comes easily and other times I need to prompt her. Her progress, though, is wonderful!

Whether on the autism spectrum or not, it is kind to wait on answers from those around us.

So, too, is it wise to wait before answering questions. I tend to suffer from “foot in mouth disease” because of some of my “unfiltered” comments.

The weekend is here and we are anticipating snow. I think I will sleep through it. What are you up to? g

This post is part of a blog hop at Company Girl via Home Sanctuary Why not visit?

Daybook

From: The Simple Woman’s Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window…the darkness and relative quiet of 11:00 PM…a time I cherish in its peacefullness.

I am thinking…about what it will take to sleep without the interuptions of memories.

I am thankful…for my family’s health and love.

In the kitchen…the dishes are washed and the floor awaits deep cleaning!

I am wearing…my comfy plaid pajamas my mother-in-love gave me for Christmas.

I am creating…a memory on my blog page…then scarves for Special Olympics.

I am going…to a reunion of the girls’ chorus I was in in high school – hooray!

I am wondering…why some memories won’t stay in the past.

I am reading…John Sanford’s latest, Shock Wave.

I am hoping…my mother-in-love’s health improves.

I am looking forward to…may parents’ birthday party in February (75 and 80)!

I am learning…patience…the hard way.

Around the house…I see a disaster zone which needs addressing desperately.

I am pondering…how to keep up with the visits I need to make to the sick.

A favorite quote for today…‎”These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own.” —G.K. Chesterton

One of my favorite things…being alone in a quiet house.

A few plans for the rest of the week: My reunion, Weight Watchers meeting, doctors appts.

A peek into my day…get Isabella ready for school, get myself ready for the day, try to keep up.

Daybook

Daybook

Daybook
From: The Simple Woman’s Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window…the darkness and relative quiet of 11:00 PM…a time I cherish in its peacefullness.

I am thinking…about what it will take to sleep without the interuptions of memories.

I am thankful…for my family’s health and love.

In the kitchen…the dishes are washed and the floor awaits deep cleaning!

I am wearing…my comfy plaid pajamas my mother-in-love gave me for Christmas.

I am creating…a memory on my blog page…then scarves for Special Olympics.

I am going…to a reunion of the girls’ chorus I was in in high school – hooray!

I am wondering…why some memories won’t stay in the past.

I am reading…John Sanford’s latest, Shock Wave.

I am hoping…my mother-in-love’s health improves.

I am looking forward to…may parents’ birthday party in February (75 and 80)!

I am learning…patience…the hard way.

Around the house…I see a disaster zone which needs addressing desperately.

I am pondering…how to keep up with the visits I need to make to the sick.

A favorite quote for today…‎”These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own.” —G.K. Chesterton

One of my favorite things…being alone in a quiet house.

A few plans for the rest of the week: My reunion, Weight Watchers meeting, doctors appts.

A peek into my day…get Isabella ready for school, get myself ready for the day, try to keep up.

A Blog Dedicated to…

There are some amazing autism blogs out there. One that I read on a regular basis is Diary of a Mom. Jess has helped me understand my granddaughter in ways I may have never thought of through sharing her insights into her family’s journey in Autismville.

Another is Autism in a Word. Jeneil takes us through a journey of hope and faith. She fills my heart and my soul.

I was finally able to get my daughter to read one of Jess’ entries and I do believe she is hooked. She suggested I write a blog about autism from a grandparents’ perspective. Duh! What does she think I have been doing all these years?! To write about autism exclusively is not something I believe I could do, though. There is no shortage of material but I am not versed enough in the things that would help others the way the other blogs do.

There is not one person who has been following all these years who doesn’t know that my Isabella is my heart. She is the source of so much joy and love. We love each other unconditionally and I don’t see that changing.

Bogging has taken a back seat since facebook but, once again, I will try to get back into it.

Many blessings to all in the new year. g

Ho, ho, no – Not

It’s that time of the year again. The time when a jolly, old elf dressed in red passes the space/time continuum to visit all little girls and boys around the world leaving them gifts their little hearts have been yearning for.

Not.

This time of year is supposed to be a celebration of God becoming man so that we might never be able to say to God, “You just don’t understand!” He became human so that He would become a sacrifice so that we might live with Him forever, sins forgiven.

Every time I see a Santa or a Simpson decoration on a lawn it pierces my heart. When I asked my precious granddaughter what Christmas is and she said it is a time for presents; when I told her it is Jesus’ birthday and she was horrified and said, “No!” my soul was screaming out at the lies our children are told!

I will never go against parents’ wishes and tell a child that there is no Santa Claus. Indeed, if they have Santa as a “by the way” and have a Christ-centered message, fine. However, I could not tell my children there is a Santa. I explained about Nicholas and his generosity. My daughter, whose father was big into Santa, tried to get me to believe. My husband wanted to do Santa but we didn’t and my son says he never missed it. Actually, when he was around eleven, a friend of his was very angry that his mother had lied to him by teaching him Santa is real!

After discussing Christmas with my friends, I find that we agree that we would all have a wonderful time with the season if gifts were not involved. I can not afford to buy anything right now. Himself is willing to go into debt to make sure our children have something under the tree and we will get something for Isabella. Why do we have to have this pressure?

Now that I have spouted my Christmas phooey, may I now wish for you that the wonder, beauty and sacrifice of Christmas will be the center of your celebration.

Blessings from my home to yours, g

ABC’s of Thankfulness

Apples! They have been a blessing in my weight loss journey as I cut them up or microwave bake them with cinnamon and plain Greek yogurt.

Brothers. I love them and they love me.

Chocolate, dark chocolate

Dining. Isn’t food delightful?

Experience that I can pass on when it is good and learn from when it is not.

Fun – something I didn’t allow myself enough of when I was younger and what I cherish now!

(the)Girl, my lovely daughter who needs to find some filters to her comments (the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree) but who loves me.

Handicapped Parking for my dear mother-in-love who has such a hard time getting around.

Isabella! No surprise there. She holds my heart.

Jesus – the only reason I am alive today.

Kilometers because they are shorter than miles…

Laura, my bff

Mama B., my mother-in-love.

N – the town I live in. It has been good for my family to live here. It has a small town feel even though it is densely populated.

Opportunities to serve – I wish I could do more.

Precription medications that help people to be healthy physically and mentally.

Quilts made with love to keep us warm.

Reunions that heal broken hearts.

Sisters – the one God gave me through birth, the one I got through marriage and the ones I got through friendship.

The Boy, my son who is always surprising me – sometimes in a good way and sometimes not but I love him.

Unbearable joy – the kind that makes me feel like I am going to jump out of my skin! It doesn’t happen often but, when it does…

Velcro – this invention has made many a parents’ life so much easier!

Worship – something I don’t spend nearly enough time in.

X – when doubled, girls, along with a “y,” boys!

You! It’s so nice to have you stop by.

Zebras – one of my favorite prints since I was a small child.

What are you thankful for today?