Friday, April 8, 2011

Autism

I just watched a video on Facebook about a teenage girl with Autism. I was touched. I used about 1/4 of a box of tissues. I tried to post it on the blog, but I can't figure out how to do it correctly. If you are my friend on Facebook, go check my profile for the video clip.

Autism effects many people in many ways. In our home we have quite a soft spot for children/people with Autism. We live with Autism on a daily basis. There are moments when it is extremely difficult and other moments when we forget it's even there.

There are times when there is a lot of screaming and times when we have to search for Mr. Max to find out where he's hiding.
There's some hand flapping, toy twirling, silly noise making...
Sometimes there's pushing, kicking, hitting...

Always, there is a sweet little boy, with a sweet spirit inside of him that's just trying to communicate and connect. We are not always very good at handling situations that arise, but we have gotten better and better as he has gotten older.

I'm thankful that Mr. Max has a very high functioning form of Autism. Communication does happen. He does interact with others. If we hadn't put him on a gluten free/casein free diet, I'm not so sure he would have improved as much as he has. What a blessing!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The kindness of others

I didn't know when I started my day yesterday that I would be touched by another...by a stranger.

I had a craving for Olive Garden yesterday and all I wanted to eat was soup, salad and bread sticks dipped in Alfredo sauce. I could almost taste it when I pictured the food in my mind. It's been a while since I had that for lunch. So I text-ed Todd at work and told him I wanted to meet him for lunch. I Googled the nearest Olive Garden location and it popped up about 20 minutes away, but a co-worker of Todd's said that there wasn't one in our city...Google must be mistaken. BUT...it's right there...online! So, I called the number listed...and to my dismay...this is what I heard,"Jeff City Red Lobster..." and I stopped listening. Disappointment set in.

The same co-worker then suggested a little Italian restaurant near the Capitol building that is her favorite. I don't enjoy driving around near the Capitol and really enjoy finding a parking space even less. I almost said no, but reluctantly decided to give it a try.

After circling around several times on the roads near the restaurant I realized I wasn't going to find a spot. Frustration was beginning to set in and I was about to give up. As it was I wasn't going to be able to enjoy what I really wanted in the first place. I finally decided to park in my bank's parking lot, even though I wouldn't be going into their establishment and we walked up the hill to the restaurant.

The place was packed...it seemed there were people everywhere. I was beginning to think this was a bad idea. We walked in and surprisingly enough we were seated right away. Hallelujah!

We were served bread and a tasty, seasoned dipping oil. Alyssa found the bread to be quite yummy and devoured her fair share! My eyes just about bugged out when I saw the prices for lunch and I wanted to just give up. Their menu options were limited. The soup of the day was lobster bisque, which sounded terrible, and I couldn't order any of the other soups listed in the menu. I finally settled on a salad and some fried zucchini sticks and called it good. The wait time was a bit longer than I thought it would be and when the food came out the zucchini sticks were not on the tray. I politely inquired to find out when they would be ready and the waiter apologized, he had not heard me ask for them. The salad was good...nothing to rave about. Todd's Fettuccine Alfredo was soupy and tasted like white macaroni and cheese sauce...oh well. Alyssa loved her mac and cheese and gobbled it right up.

We were sitting there, enjoying pleasant conversation and just being out together when a lady, who was also eating lunch in the restaurant, walked up, slid Todd a $20 bill and said, "This is for part of your meal. Thank you for your service." We both thanked the lady kindly and I tried to keep the tears from my eyes...unsuccessfully. I have never before been present when someone has paid for Todd's tab because he was dressed in his military uniform. He has told me stories, but this was the first time I was there. My heart was touched...what a kind gesture. I will forever remember the her thoughtful gesture.

Then the zucchini sticks arrived. Oh my goodness. Those delectable, scrumptious slices were worth every waiting moment. I would go to that restaurant again and simply order those and be happy as a clam! They were delicious!

My mood was considerably better as we walked out to pay for our meal. But the surprises weren't going to stop there. As we paid for our meal the lady taking payment mentioned that because Todd was in his officer's uniform we would be receiving 30% off our meal. WHAT! Okay! We shared looks of pleasant surprise, signed the slip and happily walked back to our car.

We had no idea we would have these blessings today. It put a spring in our step and a spark of happiness in our attitude that carried us through the rest of the day. It made me want to share bits of joy and happiness with others, more often. What can I do today that would make another person smile, or even lift their burden just a little and bring them a little happiness?

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Fresh Cut Grass

Ahhhhhh...

Fresh Cut Grass...

Is there anything so marvelous? It's a smell that brings back memories of summers in Maine...
...my Dad showing me how to mow the lawn, which I thought was quite a privilege
...he would mow the outline of a square and I would mow the rest
...it's what made me love mowing the lawn...something special I did with my dad
...someone else take the kids and I'll go outside and breathe the fresh air and the sweet scent of freshly cut grass.
...add to that the smell of lilacs and my nose will be in heaven!

It's been crazy weather here in the Mid-West this year. On Sunday we had weather in the 80's and I had to turn on the air conditioner. That night we were assaulted by a thunderstorm...in some places it produced tennis ball sized hail...but here it was fairly mild. The rain brought cooler weather on its heels.

By Monday morning the thermometer read 40 degrees. The temperature didn't increase much that day and the wind was cold and biting. Winter jackets should have been worn that day.

Tuesday morning the house was frigid because we forgot to put the heat back on. I rushed over and switched the heat on and turned the temperature up a bit, then wrapped my self up in a warm sweatshirt and donned my fuzzy socks.

When TJ left for school the temperature was about 33 degrees. Winter coats were found before heading out to school. By lunch time it was 60 degrees outside, but we still needed sweat shirts to combat the wind whipping around us.

Today is a perfect day to trim the new Spring grass. Since buying our new home we planted winter wheat along with grass seed to help the grass grow better. There are thick dark patches where the wheat grew well, reaching well passed Miss Lyssa's knees. Mowing those patches proved to be a little more difficult as they seemed to choke the mower is it tried to cut it down. Several times it succeeded in making the mower stall, creating frustration for Mr. Mower.

Mr. Max and Excited Colin run after the mower, following where it had been. They want to be just like Mr. Mower some day.

The lawn is now short and attractive and the scent of sweet grass mixed with a little bit of gasoline fills the air. What a happy smell! Spring just might be here!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Conference...a blessing to us all!

One of the most wondrous blessings about being alive in this day and age is having the Restored Gospel on the earth. What a fantastic time we live in. We are privileged to have a modern day Prophet on the earth today who leads and guides the Lord's church. He blesses us with guidance and direction so we can live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to our Father in Heaven. Sometimes his direction is so simple and easy, while other times it is harder and tests our faith.

This weekend I was excited to turn on the computer and watch our semi-annual General Conference and hear the words of our leaders. What wonderful messages they had for us. There were messages on parenting, showing love to our spouses, listening to the Holy Ghost, being self reliant, giving service to those in need, and being disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

One of the simple things our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, suggested that we do is to place a picture of the temple in each of the bedrooms in our home. The temples are beautiful places where we can go and feel of the spirit and receive courage and strength for the trials we might face. It is a place of learning. It is a place where families can be sealed for time and all eternity. It is a place of blessings. I want my children to love the temple as much as I do so that one day they too can be sealed to their eternal companions.

I am so thankful to be so blessed with the gospel in my life. It has helped to shape me into the person I am today. If you want to view any of the talks from General Conference, simply to go www.lds.org and look for the April 2011 conference. Soon you will be able to read them too. I can't wait to have my copy of the Ensign in my hot little hands!