Free time, and freedom...

Monday night I went to a meeting that I wanted to attend. You may think this statement "odd" - especially if you don't know much about families with special needs. But to families like mine, it's understandable. Our ability to freely make plans (and our ability to follow through on those plans!) is somewhat restricted by the responsibility we have for our family members who have special needs.

My husband raced home from work Monday in order that I might leave our home in time for that meeting. We make these adjustments frequently and so do other parents of children with special needs. Of course, all families make adjustments in their lives while the children are young, and even continue making adjustments until the children are grown and have lives of their own. But, for some children with special needs - the growing up process and the moving out process are not automatic, and their parents face a much greater responsibility. I am so thankful that my husband and I face this responsibility together.

I did get to attend that meeting on Monday night, and was greatly blessed by going. My "free time" was especially fulfilling. And yet I was greatly blessed in my homecoming as well, for my husband was there with our son... waiting for me. There's a lot to be said for "family". Even with all of our different personalities, our individual quirkiness, and our special needs - we are a family, held together by love.

It's like that in God's family too! This body of Christian believers, varied though we may be, make up the family of God and are united by our love. We must remember to:

"Be good friends who love deeply;
practice playing second fiddle."

Romans 12:10 ... THE MESSAGE

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Thankful Thursday

I’m so thankful this week for many things…

1) Sunshine
2) Photos of grandchildren, shared by their parents
3) Caring friends
4) Work to do
5) My vehicle
6) Moody Christian Radio
7) My copy of the Bible
8) My new washer and dryer
9) My family

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever."

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV

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The WORD, for Wednesday...

"For this light momentary affliction

is preparing for us
an eternal weight of glory
beyond all comparison,"

2 Corinthians 4:17
ESV


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CAR TROUBLE...

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I drive a minivan.

There... I've said it. It's not your most bragged-about vehicle, but I probably would brag about mine except that people would think I'm crazy. After all, what would make a woman who is "50-something" ever WANT to drive a minivan? You see... my days of carting youngsters to baseball and soccer fields, and teens to driver's ed. and band practices are over! My three sons are all grown-ups now.

However, my youngest son has special needs, lives at home with us, and is dependent upon me for his transportation. The minivan fits my son's abilities and his accessibility requirements. So... I drive the minivan, thankful that one of life's hurdles to my son's independence is made easier.

This morning on the way to David's day hab program, I felt the car engine "knocking" (or so I thought) and sighed, thinking that I needed to set up an appointment at the dealer. I don't have a lot of extra time, and none that I'd want to spend it a the dealer's repair shop. But I'd already envisioned myself there. Then I turned to glance into the back seat where David rides, and this is where I burst into laughter. : )

As it turned out, the "lags" in my van's engine were being caused by my son - not really an engine problem at all. You see, David was keeping time to the music on the radio, leaning forward and backwards with what resembles rocking motions. This is his method of keeping time with the music, and he is very precise with this "nodding" to the beat.

But today he was "really into it", swaying forward almost to his knees then swaying to the back of his captain's chair before swaying forward again. Listening to the radio, David was worshipping along with his all-time favorite artist, Michael W. Smith, to the song "A New Hallelujah". David's friend Clayton also loves worship songs from "Michael W.", and is probably worshipping along with him this week... and so are many others of us, including his mother.

Indeed, "Let the song arise"!

"Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth."

Psalm 96:1

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Blessed...

"Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him."

Isaiah 30:18

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Room Redo...

We did a bit of rearranging in David's room today.

There was an unintentional spilling of his CDs from the tower near his bed this week during a seizure. So, we moved that whole set-up away from his bed. The CDs were handy there, close to his tall dresser where his switch-activated stereo and switch are. But we'll get used to the new arrangement.

Since David has somewhat-limited functioning of his arms and hands, he uses a switch to turn his stereo on and off. He listens to a local Christian radio station most of the time lately, but we still keep one of his favorite CD's in the stereo in case he wants to play it instead. (Music is it's own world of communication, isn't it?)

Anyway, David doesn't really use the CD's much anymore - he's moved on to mp3's. Now he has a switch-activated mp3-player that he's trying to learn to use. It's pretty cool in that it's tiny, and he can "wear"it. It's also easy to sync with his iTunes playlist. This particular player is special as it has two switch adaptors - giving him the option of being able to toggle the mp3-player on/off, OR... to skip through the songs until he gets to the one he REALLY wants to listen to. We're still working on it, but he's getting the hang of it pretty well.

You can check out the little mp3-player at my friend RJ Cooper's website. You'll find a lot of very interesting items for those who need just a bit (or a lot) of adaptation to make the neatest little things accessible. We've been ordering from them for years. I'll be sharing more of the items (plus pictures) next week.

Back to the room redo... you know how one thing always seems to lead to another? We moved several pieces of furniture in there today. : )

"Shout for joy, O heavens;rejoice, O earth;burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones."

Isaiah 49:13

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Change of plans...

Once again, we had to change our plans for the day...

Our son David had a seizure this morning as I helped him get dressed for his day. His seizures are pretty vigorous and take a lot out of him. So it's underrstandable that he requires sleep after them.

Anyway, we had a different day than what we expected. I had a day of errands planned, which had to be postponed; and David's plans had to be changed also. Typically, David attends a Day Hab Program every weekday... but not today. Today David spent his time spent resting and sleeping.

I filled my day with things that I would have done while at home in the evenings. My errands will get done another day. One thing we definitely have learned in dealing with our son's epilepsy is to be flexible... we always have a "Plan B".

On Thursday's I typically post a note to the blog called my Thankful List.
This Thursday, I am only adding one item to my list... there'll be more next week.

This week, I'm truly thankful for David's day habilitation program.
The program David attends on weekdays is UCP-Bham's Adult Program at LINCPoint. It's available for young adults with developmental disabilities in the Birmingham area. Our young adults with developmental disabilities are included in one or more of the various things available through UCP. It is an excellent program... with so much to offer!

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Communication...

More opportunities for communication! This is something we continually need for our son with special needs.

We got to go out to Texas when our grandchildren were born in October. But we hadn’t been able to visit our grandson Austin and his parents since Austin was just 3 days old - the day our granddaughter Megan was born!


Thankfully, for Christmas, our brand-new grandson got to come from Houston to visit his Granny, Granddaddy and "Uncle Dave”. We were able to get a photo during one of the moments of communication between Austin and his Uncle Dave.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

"Jesus said,
"Let the little children come to me
and do not hinder them,
for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 19:14

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Thankful Thursday

I have been keeping a Thankful List for a couple of years now, and this is a continuation of that list...

On this day, I am very thankful that there is a God, and that He has made Himself known to me. I am thankful that He has a plan for me, and that He sent His Only Begottten Son to pay the price for my sin. I am thankful for forgiveness in Him.

I’m also thankful for:
1. Friends who will pray for me - supporting me in the best way possible
2. A son living at home with me - giving me purpose while my husband travels.
3. A home to live in - keeping us warm and dry, and so much more
4. My view through our fence - a neighbor’s holly bush has berries that are still bright red and quite beautiful
5. The Entrekin family who came to my rescue Monday morning - the four of them helped get David into our van and headed to the ER quickly
6. David’s diagnosis of “just” a UTI, and not something more serious
7. My children and grandchildren - giving me so much JOY

"Give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. "

1 Thessalonians 5:18

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The WORD for Wednesday

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"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them."

Psalm 139:14-16 (New King James Version)

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Missing in Action...

I know... I know...
I've been missing in action.
I've been away from almost everything , not just my blogging.


Wanna see the reason why? : )


Take a look at these two beautiful grandchildren of mine.
That ought to explain it!!! : )







Both of my grandchildren will be 3 months old next week!

My pretty little granddaughter Megan came to visit me for Thanksgiving!!!
My active little grandson Austin came to visit me for Christmas!!!

Oh, what JOY!!!

We are VERY blessed!!

~o~