PLEASE JOIN ME ON THIS ADVENTURE.

I just signed up with Autism Speaks to start my Non-Profit Organization.  Here is a link to donate:  http://givenow.autismspeaks.org/peaceloveandautism.  Whether you give money or your time, everything helps tremendously.  Today at Clayton's therapy his wonderful therapist Amy asked if together we could start a support group here in Twin Falls.   If you live in the Southern Idaho area please join me in setting up an event to raise money and awareness.  For those who feel alone, help is coming!  Let's change the world one small town at a time.  God Bless.

New Beginnings

Here's to new beginnings!  This is so true to my life right now in many ways.  In my last blog I stated that I wanted to use this as a line of communication for people who do not have a special needs child so we as parents can spread awareness.  I think it's also quite obvious that I want this to be a place for support and comfort.  Being a parent of a child with autism it's hard to find people to talk to that truly understand.  The third opportunity I would like to take with this blog is to start my non-profit organization for families affected by autism.  I have been wanting to do this for a long time and didn't know how to start.  I still don't, but I think I am ready to take that leap of faith.  It's always scary to start something new and to not know what's coming next.  I feel that's it's time to put my faith in God, and see how He wants to use me to help others.  I know when I first got Clayton's diagnosis, just going online and reading what other parents had to say was comforting for me.  Even now when I read a story or a blog I cry, just to know we are not alone in this journey.  Living in a small town and not being home with my family really took it's toll on my spirit.  In a small town, believe me it's hard to find other families to talk to in the same situation.  They say that every 110 children have autism (actually the number I believe has gone up recently) but I've wondered where they are.  I'm sure in a bigger city this is less of a problem, but here it can feel very hopeless and lonely.  A good example is recently I spoke with the director of Children's Sunday School at my church.  Upon her concern of my son joining his age group class I asked her if we could start a special needs Sunday school class.  She told me that there was no need for it because she doesn't know of any special needs children other than my son.  Again there was that feeling of being alone.  So after consideration I decided to start this blog.  If I'm feeling this way there are so many others out there feeling the same.  As for the non-profit organization obviously it will have to start off small.  Every little bit helps though.  Eventually I want this to be an organization that helps families especially single parents who are affected by autism.  Having a special needs child will never be easy.  We will always have to worry about our children's present and future.  We will always have to fight for them in so many ways.  That's why God chose us to be their parents, we are fighters and always will be for our kids.  This burden we carry will always be heavy on our shoulders, but if we can talk and support each other it will lighten the load a little.  The tears will never stop, but just having someone there to wipe our tears gives us all hope. 

My first Blog...oh I have so much to say!!!

I know there are so many blogs out there and each are so different in their own way because each person behind them is unique.  We are all alike in someway, but there is always something that sets us  apart. I guess what sets my blog apart is doing everyday things a Christian mommy of three does, but with a little added battle and blessing called autism.  I know so many other parents of special needs children know what I'm talking about.  Every day is a roller coaster in my house.  Every day is full of new worries that come up in my mind, whether they are warranted or not is still to be seen.  Honestly the reason I started this blog is to show people without special needs children that we do basically the same thing with our kids, we just have to go about it a different way.  I can't tell you how many people stare or have advice for me about my son.  Then I explain that he has autism and I get the famous "Oh, I'm sorry"  or "Aw, he doesn't look like it."   I wish instead of these reactions we had people ask questions to so we as parents could help them understand instead of feeling like we are constantly having to defend our children and ourselves from their uneducated judgments.  I truly hope my blogs will help bring  hope, patience, love, peace, understanding, and pride in our beautiful children with this blessing and battle called autism.