I recently read this amazing essay by Emily Perl Kingsley, that I hear is rather famous. It’s called “Welcome to Holland”. Essentially the author compares being a special needs parent to taking a deviation from a planned vacation. You have spent your whole life looking forward to going to Italy. You have planned, and saved, and read every brochure out there about all the best places to see. So you purchase your ticket, board the plane, and sit back to... Read more
We recently went on vacation to Orlando Florida, and brought the whole family. In the days before the trip I did everything I could to ensure my high functioning autistic son would be comfortable on our journey. I packed his favorite stuffed animals, blankets and pillow. And I made sure all his favorite shows were downloaded onto his Kindle Fire so that even when we had no internet, he would be able to watch what he loves. We also... Read more
This article was previously published on Abby’s blog on LDS Blogs.com. My son in on the Autism Spectrum (ASD). He is high functioning, but from the minute he turned 3 he has really struggled with Primary. Here are a few things I wish every Primary teacher and leader knew because it would make it much easier for him to function and enjoy church. 1- He won’t look you in the eye when he talks to you. It is... Read more
I have a friend who has cancer. It’s pretty advanced. He’s suffering a lot. He already has 4 kinds of cancer, and last week they found a cancerous brain tumor. Cancer number five. After a quick operation, he is back to his old self…with only 4 kinds of cancer. Why is this happening to him? I had surgery several years ago and before going in they asked me if I had a living will. I wondered what that was,... Read more
Many of you may know that Autism often comes with Sensory Integration issues. At least it does in our house. Because of that, I have learned several tricks that help calm or regulate my son. And today I am going to share my favorites. They are easy to do at home, and you can even make your own sensory room for not much money. My favorite is the ball pit we saw at our Occupational Therapist’s office. But there is... Read more
I’ve debated sharing this story. But I think it’s an issue for many families, and for much of society. And I think the discussion has to happen. So I’m starting it. My Grandfather unintentionally hurt my children. He never met them. He’s been dead for 20 years, but his actions are still affecting us, many generations later. Let me illustrate. He was a traveling salesman back when there weren’t cell phones or reliable vehicles. No, he didn’t drive a... Read more
Shame on the NY Times for making Thomas S Monson’s death into a political rant. It is apparent that one NY Times obituary writer is vying for an editorial position. What should have been a sweet and sentimental farewell to a Godly man who spent his whole life serving others, turned into a political rant. He mentioned the greatest challenges to the Mormon religion before even acknowledging President Monson’s age at his passing. I’ve never seen a more flagrant... Read more
I have a New Years resolution that I must tell you. If I don’t talk about it, then it will be a lot easier for me to quietly pretend I didn’t make it. This year I resolve to sing. Before you cringe and cover your ears, I have to tell you a couple reasons why this is my resolution. Tone Deaf? When I was in 3rd grade my music teacher at school told me that I was tone... Read more
This Christmas I have a heavy heart. My friend is dying. He’s got 3 kinds of cancer now, and the doctors aren’t able to remove it anymore. He’s in a lot of pain, and we are all praying for a miracle. Last Christmas another friend of mine was in a similar boat, and despite all our prayers, he passed away suddenly. Many of us asked God why this happened. Why didn’t God see fit to save my loved one... Read more
I went to the craft store in June and found the Christmas isle was already stocked and sparkling. I was surprised! But since I love Christmas and the joy it brings, it brought a smile to my face and then I completely ignored it. I mean, that is way too early by any standard. But as more Christmas items have appeared in the stores, I find myself wondering how to celebrate this holy time of year in a way... Read more
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