Friday, February 24, 2012

Don't Be This Person

I've heard some of the most ridiculous things since my son was diagnosed with Autism.

It's been years of remarks that make me cringe, laugh, or just want to punch someone.

The following video captures many of the comments I have heard in regards to my boy and also many others that I am sure he is bound to hear as he goes through life...


Just as the video says at the end, I urge you, do not be this person.

Educate yourselves.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Techie Tuesday - Got Questions? App

I've always really enjoyed the Got Questions? website.  It's a great resource for when you need an answer to something faith related and you just find yourself stuck and not able to figure it out on your own.

So knowing how much I enjoy the website, I'm sure you can figure out that I am thrilled that there is an app for that!

The Got Questions? App is designed for both iPhone and iPad, and if you visit their site you will see it is also available for Android users.

The app provides an easy to use interface where you can select from a hole host of topics and look at the questions that have been answered.  There is also a search feature for if you can't find something, and the ability to send in your questions if need be to the site itself.

I just love it!  It's a great tool to have on hand.  In fact, I told my mom about it and she was able to use it in her Sunday School class last week - like I said, it's a great tool!

And... It's FREE!!!

*This post is my opinion. I downloaded the app for FREE from the iTunes App Store and I use it daily. I received NO compensation for this post.

Friday, February 17, 2012

I Didn't Sign Up For This

I had a small Twitter conversation with a friend today that got me thinking...

The basic gist of the conversation was that she is in an online group where a woman said about her kid "I didn't sign up for this" and she was annoyed because when you have children you basically sign up for whatever life brings with them.  I told my friend that, "Sometimes people just need to vent. I've said that many many times. Doesn't change how much I love my kids."  To which she replied that it wouldn't bother her if the woman said something nice about her kids, but everything is always bad.

Like I said, it got me thinking...

Here we are online.  We blog, we tweet, we Facebook, and we just tell the world about our lives.  What we say actually does matter.  How we present our lives actually does matter.

Yes, we all have bad days.  I have them, you have them, it happens.  But in with those bad days are a whole lot of good ones.

Autism can consume you completely if you let it.  Being the parent of an Autistic child can get you down.  When you're on your seventh meltdown of the day and you think you can't take it anymore it is really easy to say, "I didn't sign up for this."  And you know what?  I have said just that.

BUT...

I've also told you how amazing my kid is.  I've made it clear that I love him.  I've spread more good about him than I can count.

The bad days happen.  We vent.  We let it all out and online we let it all out loudly.  But what we need to remember is that people are listening and somewhere in there we need to let people know that there is good.  There is a bright spot.  There is a happy person who loves their kid more than life.

As we spread awareness of Autism and try to educate the world so that it will be more accepting of our kids it would do us all some good to spread some of the positive points.  Tell the masses how amazing your kid is, not just how frustrating.  Get upset and get it out, but then move on and move forward.

Your kid is not just their diagnosis, ya know what I mean?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

HIGH SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2011

This was sent to me in an email and I thought it was worth sharing...

Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack...

1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.

2011 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.

2011 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.

1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.

2011 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.

1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman...

2011 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse, Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.

1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock...

2011 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.

1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.

2011 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum.. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.

1957 - Ants die.

2011 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents - and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, . Mary hugs him to comfort him.

1957 In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2011 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Love Day!

And on this day please remember what real love is...


"If your marriage rests on anything but Jesus, it's resting on something broken."

"Pursue Jesus as your foundation..."

He speaks Truth.