Just Writing

He Is Listening

2012-01-17T09:52:00.000-08:00

I've been listening to Come To The Well in the car. Every time Courageous comes on, I would personalize it to apply to my son. I would tell him that he was born to be courageous, a man of God and such. I really wasn't sure if he was listening since, most of the time, he would just ignore me.

One Sunday after Church, he was singing in the kitchen. At first I couldn't understand what the song was. When I listened closely, I realized he was singing this, only he changed the lyrics: "I was born to be courageous. God made me courageous".

It's amazing to realize that he was indeed listening.

The movie Courageous is out today. Maybe I'll let him watch it with me, :)

(This post contains my affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy, go here.)

More Words Of Wisdom From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

2012-01-16T11:26:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy today, let us ponder some of his words:

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' "

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. "

These may have been said decades ago but they are still relevant to us today. May we learn the lessons of history. May it help us to move our world forward to a better future for our children.

The Worst Feeling

2012-01-14T21:36:00.000-08:00

I write this in the comfort of my home. My son is playing while watching a movie. We've had dinner, changed into our pjs and are getting ready to settle down for the night. Yet, every time I think about this afternoon, I get a sick feeling in my stomach.

We went to the library today. Nothing unusual about that as it's one of our favorite activities. As usual, after my son picked out his DVDs, he sat down in front of one the kid's computers and played the educational games they have on it. As is also usual, I use this time to get my own stuff. Of course, I remind him not to go anywhere without me, to stay there and that I will come back for him.

While I was browsing, I would often look over to see if he's still there. After a few times, it happened. I couldn't see him. I immediately went to that section. Nobody was on the computers. I quickly scanned the area to look for him, all the while I was calling his name. I quickly made my way to the main area, still calling his name.

I finally saw him near the doors. He saw me at almost the same time so we made our way towards each other. After my initial relief, I asked the questions that have been racing through my mind while I was looking for him. Where was he? Why did he leave? Did he go with somebody? Did somebody hurt him? He seemed ok. He said he went to look for me. Later on he said he had gone to the restroom by himself.

I had to stop myself from asking more questions because he was getting frazzled. I reassured him that I was not mad. We then went on to get our stuff. All this happened in less than 20 minutes. I'm certain of that because we got there 20 minutes before the library was supposed to close and we we left even before they did.

It was one of the longest 20 minutes of my life. It's certainly one of the worst feelings I've ever had. It's a feeling I pray I never have again.

Stuck At 312

2011-12-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

No, we are not in Chicago or any of its surrounding areas, though the weather we've been having is certainly cold for California. I am referring to the number of this blog's published posts. While I know that no one expects me to post every day, from what I can tell, this is the longest gap between posts ever.

Sure there are reasons why. The busyness of the holiday season is one (which according to the boy, we should all just skip Thanksgiving and go straight from Halloween to Christmas). There's also the weekly consultations with a behaviorist that started the first week of December plus all the usual part and parcel of school. I could also list other things like the laundry, dishes, work, etc., etc. but I don't think you all want to hear about that.

Bottom line, I was not able to sit down and form a (semi) coherent thought. Surprisingly, none of you have left. The followers gadget at the side of this page still display the same number. I will be lying if I say that it does not mean anything. It does. It warms my heart that there are people who are willing to stick it out with my inconsistent writing. More so, a few of you actually read any of this, :).

So I want to say thank you for not leaving. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (or whatever winter holiday you celebrate). Here's to a better, more peaceful, more prosperous, less tantrum and almost meltdown free new year.

Magic Marker Monday - Christmas On His Mind

2011-11-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas has been on the boy's mind since the day after Halloween. Small wonder he came up with these on Thanksgiving:

What did your resident artist produce lately? Share them at Magic Marker Monday.

Pizza And Popcorn Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

The celebrations for Thanksgiving are now over. By now, everybody had their fill of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing and all the delicious foods that abound during this holiday. Everybody, except us.

This year, I decided to have a non traditional Thanksgiving. No big cooking, no family gathering, no going to friends, just me and the boy at home. Before you all feel sorry for us, don't. There is turkey (and ham) in the freezer that I could have cooked. We did get invited to a friend's house. However, after last year, I decided to change things a bit. As much as I appreciate the reason behind this day and the graciousness of the invite extended to us, I felt it was best to stay away from it all.

The holidays can get overwhelming and stressful for the grown ups. I can't even imagine how it is for the kids, especially for my son. The noise, the crowds, the the hustle and bustle can overload his senses. Add a disrupted routine because of the school break and his already slender hold on his self control diminishes considerably.

So we broke traditions and started new ones. We put up our Christmas tree and all the decorations that we have. We played and watched movies all day. In between, we had pizza and popcorn. In the end, we still had an amazing day. That is a reason to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T13:32:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate Thanksgiving in the US, I realize some people are going through tough times right now. It may seem like everything is going wrong. While I may not know your particular situation, I sympathize and I pray that things change for the better soon. In the meantime, I want to encourage you to find even one thing to be thankful for. It does not matter how small or insignificant it may be, may you find it in your heart to give thanks.

Letting Him Choose

2011-11-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

I'm not big on Halloween. It's probably because it wasn't part of our traditions when I was growing up. Also, I don't care much for scary, spooky & creepy stuff. I admit, I'm a wimp when it come to those things.

When the boy was younger, it wasn't an issue. He did not seem to care much for it either. I'd dress him up for the school parade then we'd go to our church's harvest festival and that was it. This year was different. He was so excited for Halloween. He wanted me to decorate the house. He also decided on his costume right away. He wanted to be Buzz LightYear.

Now, you all know how frugal I am. I tried to convince him to just use his costume from last year as it still fits. He would not hear of it. He wanted to be Buzz and there was nothing that could change his mind. Except, we could not find one in his size. We tried several stores without any success.

I kept on suggesting his Thomas the Train costume from last year but he wouldn't budge. Finally, he settled for Spider Man. I also gave him the choice between going to the harvest festival at church or going trick or treating in our community. He chose the latter, which is why last night, we went ringing doorbells and knocking on doors.

These are just small decisions, which, in the grand scheme of things don't matter too much. However, for him, letting him choose and honoring his choices are a big deal. I think it's a harmless way of teaching him about decision making. I hope it also taught him that his voice, though small, matters.

Oh, by the way, although I instructed him to say "Trick or treat", for most of the night, he said "Happy, happy Halloween". For us, it was indeed a happy Halloween.

How was your celebrations?

The Campaign Has Begun

2011-10-31T05:59:00.000-07:00

The campaign for our hard earned money has begun (I would have said assault but I didn't want to sound too dramatic). Our Sunday paper has a "big book of toys" (since when is an advertisement a book?) from TWO different retailers.

Of course, the boy "read" them. Of course, almost every other page, he would remark "Oh, I want that". Yes, even in the girls' section he found a toy he liked. Said toy, a kitchen set, is "only" over a hundred dollars. He even has a place for it figured out. He told me he was going to put it in our living room, near his toy bin, :).

While I would like to grant his heart's desires, within reason, it is not financially possible for us at this point. The high cost of living in California does not leave much room in our one income family for such expenses. Also, even when we get to a better financial place, I just don't believe in spending that kind of money on toys. In my mind, there are other uses for my dollars (retirement account and special needs trust fund are two that come to mind).

So while the campaign to make me part with my hard earned dollars has begun, I will endeavor to remain firm and say "No". It won't be easy, especially with the barrage of advertisements that are bound to show up but I am determined to hold my ground, :)

How about you? What do you plan to do with this onslaught?

Error In Judgement Or An Ignorant Fool?

2011-10-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

The boy got invited to his classmate's birthday party at a theme park near us. I was hesitant to let him go since the crowds, lines and all the noise might be too much for him. However, I did not want him to miss out on the social interaction outside of the school setting with his friends so I took him anyway.

The kids had a really good time. They ate together at their own table, played with each other and even sang "Happy Birthday". Afterwards, the birthday boy's mom handed out passes for the kids to use for the games and rides.

One of the attractions was the boat ride on a mid sized, shallow pool with no more than 20 boats. It involved riding on a raft like boat while getting the people on the other boats as wet as you possibly can. He was really excited about this ride. He begged and pleaded to ride it by himself. He kept saying: "By myself Mama, by myself."

After assessing the situation and weighing out the pros and cons while we were waiting in line, I finally relented. I kept repeating the instructions to him (stay inside and seated, no standing, no hands in the water, etc.). I reviewed the rules and precautions with him over and over (and over). What I forgot to mention was that he needed to come back to the dock when called.

As you probably guessed, he did not come back with everybody else. We tried to call him back. The attendant even went after him on another boat. He just stayed out there, laughing and enjoying himself. While the attendant was so patient with him, the people on the sidelines weren't. One man in particular had a running commentary about the whole thing. I kept quiet until said man remarked that they should just let him go out there to "blast" my son to teach him a lesson. At this point, I turned to him and said: "You can't teach him a lesson. He's autistic!". Of course, what I meant was that's not the way to teach him a lesson. He retorted: "Well, IF HE'S AUTISTIC, HE SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE." He added some addle minded reason that my son can get hurt. I think my jaw dropped at this point. I wanted to ask him as to where does he think my son should be. Should I keep him home so he can't experience life outside of its four walls? Or should I keep him locked away in a basement so he does not inconvenience anybody?I was so furious and shocked that somebody can even say such a thing that the words didn't come out of my mouth. Thankfully, he walked away mumbling before I can do say anything to him.

My son did come back, safe but wet, after a second ride. I think that's all he wanted anyway, another turn at the ride without having to go through the line again. I reprimanded him for that. His outing got cut short as a punishment (he couldn't go to the other rides with his wet shoes anyway).

Now, I wonder, was that an error in judgement on my part? Was I wrong to let my son experience such a simple childhood pleasure? Or was that man simply an ignorant fool? What would you have done?

A Boy And Some Flowers

2011-10-04T05:02:00.000-07:00

A boy and his mom went out to eat. When they were done and were walking to the car, they saw an elderly lady on her wheelchair. They stopped to talk to the lady. Unbeknownst to the mom, the boy picked some flowers from the side of the restaurant. While the mom and the lady were talking, the boy, without any prompting, offered the flowers to the lady.

The lady had the biggest smile on her face. The lady cradled those flowers like they were made of silk. The lady told the boy, "I'm going to put this in a vase when I get home". Who knew such a simple gesture would bring such joy?

This is a true story. I should know, I was there and I've never been more proud of the boy.

*photo credit

It's A New Season

2011-09-23T00:08:00.000-07:00

It is a new season for the boy as far as school is concerned. This year, he is in a more academic program in a different campus within the district. I know I shared my reservations about this before but during the IEP meeting, we all decided that it would be best for him to transfer. His awesome former teacher, the school speech therapist and the occupational therapist were all convinced that he had received all that he can from his previous placement. As his former teacher said: "I don't want to see him go but I don't want to hold him back."

So we began this year in a new class, with a new teacher, in a new school. He has more classmates (12 students in one class), less aides (2 as opposed to 4 last year), more subjects and a whole slew of other things that come with the package. He even has homework (thankfully, they are not hard, yet).

While we are almost a month into it, I think the period of adjustment is not over yet. With all these changes, it can get overwhelming for him. I'm a little apprehensive as to how well he will adapt but, at the same time, excited to see how much more growth he will have. I can already see the progress he has made in such a short time. He is definitely using more language. His vocabulary has already expanded (or he's just using the words he had stored up). He is more clear about his feelings. Even his appetite has improved ( then again, that might just be a growth spurt). I think this really is better for him once he has settled down, and I'm hoping and praying I'm right.

Oh, by the way, my calendar says it's Autumn but the weather here says summer. I guess we have not caught up to that new season yet, :)

This (Wo)man Is An Island

2011-09-15T00:10:00.000-07:00

No man is an island. Yeah, right. Tell me that when I am the only one wakes up every morning to get my son ready for school. Tell me that when I'm the only one who has to figure out exactly how much is left in the budget for the month. Tell me that when I am the only one who has to work all day then come home to get dinner on the table & force the boy to eat something other than dry cereal. Tell me that when I'm the only one who has to deal with his tantrums. Tell me that when I'm the only one who has to cope with him trying to physically hurt me in the middle of these tantrums. Tell me that when I'm the only one who has to prevent him physically hurting himself in the midst of these tantrums. Tell me that when it often feels like rinse. lather. repeat.

I've said it before that single parenting can be so lonely. It is lonely. I've found that my unique situation makes it even more so. I really can't go to a singles group at church or in the community because, technically, I'm not single. Unfortunately, there aren't too many single parent groups available around here. The one that we used to belong to now meets at a different time. This would totally throw off my son's schedule so I choose not to go instead.

Add his special needs to this and it completely affects the whole dynamics. As a result of clueless friends and ill informed relatives, not to mention just plain rude people, I have been very careful about who I let into our lives. I want to protect him as much as I can. ~~It is also possible that I want to avoid situations which will make me want to smack somebody upside their heads.~~

These ~~often~~ sometimes make for a very lonely and isolating life. Yes, my son and I enjoy things together. Yes, we have fun. But, for the most part, this woman is an island.

Vows Of Friendship

2011-09-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

As we get ready for the weekend (yay!), I'd like to pause and think about some of my relationships. I've been blessed with a few good friends. So for my in-real-life friends, and for those of you who I've come to know through this blog, I pledge these vows:

1. When you are sad,

I will jump on the person

who made you sad

like a spider monkey

jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!

2. When you are blue,

I will try to dislodge

whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile,

I will know you are

plotting something

that I must be involved in.

4. When you're scared,

we will high tail it out of here.

5. When you are worried,

I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse

it could be until you

quit whining, ya big baby!!!!

6. When you are confused,

I will use little words.

7. When you are sick,

Stay away from me

until you are well again.

I don't want whatever you have....

8. When you fall,

I'll pick you up

and dust you off--

After I laugh my rear off!!

Now, aren't you glad we're friends, hehehe.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist sharing these after I received the email. Hope you all had a good laugh like I did.)

Our Labor Day

2011-09-06T23:10:00.000-07:00

We went to a quasi theme park last Monday ( I say that because to me, it's not like the usual theme parks). This is our first visit after five years so we were both excited about going.

Can you see the smile on his face, even from the back, when we rode the train?

This was on the "hot air balloon" ride:

His first time on a real horse:

At the end of the day, when I asked him, he said this is his favorite part:

How was your Labor Day?

Sunday Worship - Holy Spirit Rain Down

2011-08-28T03:14:00.000-07:00

He Said What?

2011-08-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

Bill Cosby used to host the TV show Kids Say The Darndest Things. With this boy, it feels like I'm living that show. Even when his language was limited, he would come up with stuff that just made me laugh (remember the truck and the butt?). I thought I'd share some of that with you.

- I was going around the house singing, probably without even realizing it, when the boy, who was watching TV, says: "Mommy, don't sing. Go computer time."

- We were in the car when he said he wanted music. I put a CD in but he said: "Not that Mom, he reigns". I was confused as I did not know what he was referring to. He kept on repeating it so I kept on skipping the songs until I came to this one. He stopped asking. It was then I realized what he meant. You have to listen to the song in the video below so you'll know what I'm talking about, ;)

This is my favorite, for now.

- I was preparing my post for Special Exposure Wednesday when he came up to me and said: "Mama, your breast is big. Mine is little."

What made you smile/laugh recently?

First Day Of School

2011-08-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

The boy has been asking about school for a couple of weeks now. Not surprisingly, he was so excited about today.

Here he is looking for the bus.

When he couldn't find it there, he tried the other side.

Did school start for your kids already or are you still enjoying summer?

Sunday Worship - More Than Anything

2011-08-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

The Birthday Boy

2011-08-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

The boy celebrated his 8th birthday. It started with him finding a feather in the parking lot, which for some reason, he was absolutely delighted with. He wanted to find the bird to give its feather back.

As he requested, he had pizza with his friends in daycare.The highlight was the blowing of the candles on his Cars cake, which he chose himself, by the way.When I picked him up, he had another request, Red Robin for dinner. We capped the day with the opening of presents. By this time, he wanted me to stop taking pictures already, :)

Sunday Worship - Your Great Name

2011-08-14T03:07:00.000-07:00

Thirty Reasons We're Free

2011-08-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

A week ago, on August 6, 2011, we lost thirty members of the US military. To date, this has been the single largest loss of life for U.S. troops since the war in Afghanistan began in late 2001. Political beliefs and ideologies aside, let us honor the memories of these men and the sacrifice they made. They are the reason we are free to express our beliefs so loudly. Let us also keep their families in prayer as they are paying the price for our freedoms.

Here are thirty reasons we're free:

Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La.;

Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California;

Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Arkansas;

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii;

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Connecticut;

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minnesota;

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts;

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri;

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas;

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, West Virginia;

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana;

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan;

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, California;

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina;

Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah;

Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska;

Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa;

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida;

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah;

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California;

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota;

Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colorado;

Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kansas;

Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Neb;

Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Washington;

Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kansas;

Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Florida;

Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, California;

Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pennsylvania;

Special Exposure Wednesday - The Laptop Desk

2011-08-10T00:54:00.000-07:00

His creativity comes to play when he needed a desk for his "laptop" cause Mommy won't share hers.

I know, bad Mommy, ;).

Share what you managed to capture this week at 5 Minutes For Special Needs.

Sunday Worship - Through It All

2011-08-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is a repost as it seems so fitting in light of what I just went through. Have a blessed Sunday!

Wordless Wednesday - Lion's Hair

2011-07-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

Mama made the mistake of washing the boy's flock and drying them at high temps.

So lion came out like this:

I was hoping he wouldn't notice but I should have known better.

"Mama, what happened to lion's hair?" was the inevitable question.

At least I know he's paying attention, :)

See more Wordless Wednesday here and here and Special Exposure Wednesday.

Biopsy, Surgery And The Big C - Part II

2011-07-12T00:46:00.000-07:00

* This is the second part. The first one can be found here.
.
A series of tests were performed on me. Ultrasound, MRI, biopsy plus some others that I can't even name. None of them gave a definitive answer as to what this lump was. All of them pointed to one solution, take out the lump through surgery. I dragged my feet as long as I can. I was hoping that the lump, along with the pain, would miraculously disappear.

I finally reached the end of my rope. I couldn't stand the pain anymore. It was like having a low grade fever everyday. I gave in and had the surgery scheduled for June 24. I had to prepare myself psychologically, emotionally, spiritually & financially. It wasn't easy. It certainly did not help that there were some issues at work but I still had to do it. It certainly made for a very busy month, hence, the lack of posts in June (see, I told you I have a good reason).

One thing I did not do was tell my mom. I didn't want her to worry. I also knew that if I had told her, the only thing that would reassure her afterwards would be to hear from me. Since I wasn't sure if I would be able to talk immediately after the procedure, I just decided not to say anything to her. Easy enough to do since she's on the other side of the world.

The day of reckoning came. My son was in the care of a friend and would be until that Sunday. A friend drove me to the hospital and another friend met me there. She actually stayed with me the whole day, until I closed my eyes for the night (I am blessed with good friends).

The best news came a couple of days later. The test performed on the golf ball sized mass that the surgeon removed came back. It was a benign thyroid nodule.

It wasn't an easy road, one I would have rather not traveled. However, through it all, God has been faithful. He kept His promises, particularly, that I shall live and not die so I'm declaring His praise. In my case, the big C is not cancer but Christ. He truly did have the last word.

Biopsy, Surgery And The Big C

2011-07-07T23:58:00.000-07:00

I should have titled this "My perfectly good reason for posting only twice in June". Back in January, I alluded to something that's going on that I can't talk about yet. Well, that something was a lump on the right side of my neck. It has always been there. It was kinda like my own version of an Adam's apple. Only, I'm female and I shouldn't have one. It never bothered me until sometime in November when it started hurting like nobody's business. After much procrastination, I finally went in to have it checked.

Several questions and an examination later, the doctor immediately ordered a battery of tests. He also said words that nobody, particularly, a 36 year old single mother of a special needs child ever want to hear. Tumor. Biopsy. Malignant. Cancer.

My first thought was my son. Who would take care of him? What would happen to him if I die? I ~~prayed~~ cried so hard. My second thought was my mom. She had already lost two daughters. It would kill her to lose the only one she has left. I kept telling God that I'm not afraid of dying but I'm afraid for who I am leaving behind.

I eventually calmed down enough to remember that a few days before my appointment, I kept hearing Psalm 118:17 in my mind. I clung on to that promise. I kept on repeating it to myself. I also had a group of women from our church praying for me and believing with me.

At this point, I'd like to apologize for not sharing this as it was happening. A surprising but most welcome result of this blog is the relationships I've formed with some of you. It wasn't a reflection on those relationships that I withheld this information. I just wasn't ready to write about it then.

Obviously, this is not the end. I will finish the story on Monday. Until then...

I Can't Complain

2011-07-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

I can't complain about drunk driving accidents if I drink and drive.

I can't complain about an elected official if I don't go out and vote.

I can't complain about bad roads and potholes if I don't pay taxes.

I can't complain about a jury's decision if I am not willing to serve as one.

I can't complain about the school system if I never attend a PTA meeting.

I can't complain about being in debt if I keep on spending more than I earn.

I can't complain about being overweight if I'm not willing to exercise and eat right.

I can't complain about crime and violence if I see someone commit a crime yet don't report it.

I can't complain about the state of the environment if I'm not willing to reuse, reduce and recycle.

I can't complain about the sex and violence in media if I keep on watching movies and TV shows with gratuitous sex and violence.

I can't complain about anything if I don't do anything about it.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” - Edmund Burke

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” - MLK, Jr.

Happy 4th Of July!

2011-07-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Let us celebrate this 4th of July by remembering that we are still the land of the free and the home of the brave but we must do everything in our power to remain that way.

O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
’Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

*lyrics from this article

Magic Marker Monday - The Restroom Labels

2011-07-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

The boy decided that the doors to our bathroom and restroom lacked something. In true fashion, he did something about it.

I probably should have reprimanded him for drawing on the doors. However, I think this is actually a good thing. One, it takes imagination to come up with this idea. Two, this shows he pays attention to his surroundings. He obviously copied these from the public restrooms we've been to. Three, he put so much details on them, he even has the wheelchairs.

For now, he's off the hook. I'll just have him paint over them before we move out, :)

Share your little artist's masterpiece at Magic Marker Monday.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Indoor Camping

2011-06-08T01:59:00.000-07:00

We've never been camping. I don't like sleeping on the ground and going without running water (yeah, I'm such a princess). That does not stop the boy from using this new to him toy.

If the boy can't go to camp, let the camp come to the boy, ;).

Share in the other Wordless Wednesday posts at Marvelous Mommy.

Sunday Worship - Above All

2011-06-05T02:52:00.000-07:00

We Remember With Gratitude

2011-05-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

As we celebrate Memorial Day, let us pause to pray for the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. It has been said that freedom is never really free. I agree. Somebody paid the price for us to be able to sleep in our homes at night, to be able to gather together in worship, to raise our children with our values and beliefs, to voice our dissatisfaction and disagreement with our government and so on and so forth.

There are so many facets of our lives that we take for granted but don't let it be this, not this day. Let us remember with gratitude the ones who paid the ultimate price so we did not have to.

*Image from Microsoft Clip Art

Shout For Joy

2011-05-29T03:06:00.000-07:00

Today is my sister's 9th year death anniversary, so instead of Sunday Worship, I thought I'd share one of her favorite songs.

Not exactly worshipful but I don't think anybody minds right? :)

SOOC Saturday - He's Sick

2011-05-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

You know the boy is sick if he's sleeping on the couch in the middle of the day, :(

Share in the other SOOC Saturday posts here.

Missing You

2011-05-26T22:21:00.000-07:00

Artistic, funny, compassionate, fashionista... my sister, my best friend, my worst enemy... You were gone too soon, leaving us here, missing you...

Share your pre-digital pictures in Friday Photo Flashback.

Wordless Wednesday - Dancing In The Mud

2011-05-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Sun + soil + water = mud and a boy who loves dancing in it, :)

See other Wordless Wednesday posts at 5 Minutes For Mom and Marvelous Mommy.

Magic Marker Monday - Butterfly By Letters

2011-05-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

I've heard of paint by numbers but this one is by letters. It made the boy read to identify the colors and letters inside, which I thought was a good thing.

He had fun coloring, I thought I'd give it a try too:

Hey, it's not as easy as it looks, ;)

Share your little artist's (or yours) masterpiece at Magic Marker Monday.

The Mermaid And The Whale

2011-05-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

Something interesting for hump day:

Recently, in a large city in France, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins, stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia .

Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinian psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

According to Sam Seaborn of The West Wing , good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal them outright. A coworker emailed this to me so I stole it to post here. I just added the images, ;)

*This post contains my Amazon affiliate link, which when used properly, would generate revenue for this blog. For my full disclosure policy, see this.*

Sunday Worship - At The Cross

2011-05-01T04:31:00.000-07:00

It was one of the most difficult times in my life. My marriage had ended. I was carrying the weight of that failure on my shoulders. I was looking at my sleeping son while packing whatever stuff I can fit in my car. I was preparing to take him away from his father. Then this song came to mind. My spirit was filled with the peace and the reassurance that though I felt I let God and everybody else down, nothing can separate me from my Father's love.

The reality of that love is the reason for my worship. It's a response to who God is and what He has done for me. Won't you join me in worshiping Him today?

SOOC Saturday - Administrative Professionals Day

2011-04-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

This was on my desk at work when I came in on Wednesday.

I had totally forgotten that April 27 was Administrative Professionals Day but one of the supervisors didn't. She did this for the staff who work with her. She totally made my day. Isn't she sweet?

Linked to Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday and Weekend Wind Down.

God Bless The Future King And Queen

2011-04-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

No, I did not see the wedding live. Truthfully, I forgot all about it. Regardless, I do hope their wedding is only the beginning of a blessed life together as husband and wife. May they weather the storms that life brings, enjoy the laughters and cherish the moments. May their love for each other grow deeper and stronger every day.

God bless the future King and Queen!

Sunday Worship - He Lives

2011-04-24T03:47:00.000-07:00

He lives! Jesus lives! Death and the tomb cannot keep him. "He conquered the grave to cover our sins". Will you let Him cover you with His blood today?

Magic Marker Monday - My Blog Button

2011-04-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

The boy loves windmills. That's a widely known fact around here. Lately, he's gone beyond drawing them to actually making one, or at least, as best as he can make it with his Tinkertoys. He even had the "landscaping" around the base with his blocks.

This gave me the idea of using it as my blog button (Mama doesn't want to pay a graphic designer, lol). I just needed to tweak his blocks a little bit:

One advantage of having a creative child, I never know what he will come up with or what Mama can use it for, ;).

Share what your kids created this week at Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - Mighty To Save

2011-04-17T03:52:00.000-07:00

Sunday Worship - Majesty

2011-04-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

"The greatest love of all is mine since You laid down your life" & "Your grace found me just as I am". Let those two lines sink in and revel in it. The King of Kings loves you today. In all His majesty and splendor, He chose to love you.

Wordless (Or Not) Wednesday - Dance With Me

2011-04-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

Taking advantage of the time to dance with my son because, pretty soon, he'll be dancing with somebody else, :)

Linked to Wordless/Wordful Wednesday at live and love...out loud, parenting BY dummies, Seven Clown Circus, 5 Minutes For Mom

Magic Marker Monday - Teletubbies Matching Game

2011-04-04T00:43:00.000-07:00

The boy started started telling me about this game sometime last week. It might have been something they did at school. A couple of days later, he decided to show me by making his own cards.

He drew all the Teletubbies characters. He even added the Nunu(vacuum), the custard and of course, the windmill.

The object of the game is to pick two cards with the same character/picture from the stack, hence, a match. Easy enough, only they are all face down until you've matched all of them.

He must have memorized their placement because he managed to match all of them every time, ;)

What has your little artist been up to? Share them in Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - All To Jesus I Surrender

2011-04-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

Surrender is defined as to yield or submit to another. Often, it has a negative connotation, especially in our society of power grabbing and dominance. Yet to surrender to Jesus and His authority is the best decision one can make. Will you yield to the King of kings today?

I Am A Proud Parent

2011-04-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

We live in an area with an excellent school district. It's actually one of the reasons we moved here. Thus, it's understandable that I see a lot of those "proud parent of an honor student" stickers around.

One particular day, it felt like all the vehicles I shared the road with had that sticker. This got me thinking about my son. As much progress as he has made, he is still developmentally behind his peers. At 7, he is just starting to learn to read and write. Suffice to say, as of this school year, he is not in the honor roll.

However, that does not stop me from being proud of him. The boy has been through and has already overcome so much in his young life. I figured I'll make my own "sticker" and post it here, where the whole cyber space can see it.

So, at the start of Autism Awareness Month, I declare that I am a:

I can't help it, I am a proud mama!

P.S. Feel free to grab the code in case any of you want to post this picture on your own blog. Please, just give credit where credit is due, thanks! :)

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

2011-03-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

The Ultimate Blog Party is here again! I am excited about this, mainly because of the ~~prizes~~ new people that I'm going to meet and the perspectives they bring.

I'm not really good at introducing myself. As you can see, after a year of blogging, I still don't have an "About Me" page. (I'll get it done, eventually). But, for the sake of the party, I'm going to give it a try.

I'm the single parent of a very smart, creative, fun and energetic child. He just happens to have autism and pervasive developmental delays. I ~~pretend~~ aspire to balance faith, parenting, working full time outside the home, journeying towards financial freedom and whatever else life brings in one of the most beautiful but expensive states in the US.

Every once in a while, I write for 5 Minutes For Special Needs. I also contribute to Special Exposure Wednesdays on the fourth Wednesdays of each month. You can also find me tweeting from time to time at Just_Writing2.

If you really want to know more about me, stick around and I just might get that "About Me" page up, ;).

How about you? Care to introduce yourself?

P.S. Don't forget to check out the prizes. One of them is from me, :)

Goldilocks And The More Than Three Shirts

2011-03-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

Today is picture day at the boy's school. We talked about it last night. I even let him pick out the pose he wants to do (we'll find out if he did strike that pose).

This morning, as he was getting dressed, I reminded him that it's picture day. I went to his shirt drawer and suggested the shirt that he should wear (which I thought would look good in the picture).

This is the ensuing conversation:

Him: No, that's too loose.

Me: How about this one? It has McQueen on it.

Him: No, that's too big.

Me: How about this one with the basketball?

Him: No, that's too hard. (I think he meant he didn't like the material).

Me: How about this one? This is not hard.

Him: No, that's too soft.

Me: How about this one?

Him: No, that's too long.

Me: How about this one? The red looks good on you.

Him: No, that's too red. (How the heck can a shirt be too red? More importantly, what does a seven year old boy know about it being too red?)

I finally gave up and let him have his way. So, for picture day, he is wearing what he always wears (if you look at all his pictures, you'll know what it is) : a plain white T shirt. Not just any white shirt, it's one of the dozens of white shirts that my mom sent him.

As I supervised him getting dressed, I wondered, who took my son and replaced him with Goldilocks? ;)

Magic Marker Monday - Early Easter Decoration

2011-03-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

Easter is still a month away but that does not stop the stores from sending us "reminders" already. We recently got a mailer from a national drug store chain with coupons and coloring pages. While the boy doesn't care much about the coupons, the coloring pages were something else. He immediately went to work.

I am especially pleased with the way he colored the pages. He is more intentional with his colors now (yellow for the sun and the ducklings, green for the grass, red for the eggs, etc.). He even stayed within the lines (for the most part). That's a marked improvement from some months ago.

Oh, and I guess he thinks I'm slacking in the decorations again cause he put it up on the wall. Either that or he just thinks our walls are for his art work alone, ;)

See more masterpieces at Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - Praise You In This Storm

2011-03-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

Life is not easy. There always seems to be a storm, either happening or brewing. Yet, Jesus said He has already overcome the world. For that reason alone, we can still raise our hands in praise.

MacGyver Comes In Handy

2011-03-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

The boy comes up to me, ~~mad~~ sad because Henry refuses to move on the tracks.

Easy, I thought, just need new battery. When said new battery didn't work, I thought it was the battery so I tried another. After several attempts didn't produce the desired results, making the boy more ~~mad~~ sad, I finally figured out that the battery won't align properly inside the compartment. It was too loose.

That's when all those years of watching MacGyver came in handy. I got one of the leftover valentine cards we had made for his class, folded it to fit the compartment and voila! Problem solved, the battery is now snug as a bug.

More importantly, it works, so much so that I can't catch a picture of Henry on the tracks!

All these years I thought MacGyver was just a childhood ~~crush~~ fascination. Who knew he'll be useful one day? ;)

Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic - Review

2011-03-21T01:10:00.000-07:00

When I was offered the opportunity to review Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic, I immediately jumped on it though, honestly, I've never heard of the film before then. I figured it was a good time to learn.

Here is the synopsis from their press release:

"As autism has exploded into the public consciousness over the last 20 years, two opposing questions have been asked about the condition: is it a devastating sickness to be cured? Or is it a variation of the human brain — just a different way to be human? Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic takes a look at two movements: the "recovery movement," which views autism as a tragic epidemic brought on by environmental toxins, and the "neurodiversity movement", which argues that autism should be accepted and autistic people supported. After his son's diagnosis, filmmaker Todd Drezner visits the front lines of the autism wars to learn more about the debate and provide information about a condition that is still difficult to comprehend."

Loving Lampposts Trailer from Loving Lampposts on Vimeo.

My take: the film was superbly made. It is not boring nor is it hard to understand. It is not filled with "experts" who,more often than not, seem to be speaking a foreign language. The participants are, for the most part, people who have direct and personal contact with people with autism.

I was surprised and glad to see that they also included adults with autism. I hate to admit it but I only know two autistic adults before this: Temple Grandin and John Elder Robison.

On the other hand, I felt that the film gave more time to the neurodiversity movement than it did the recovery movement. While I understand that the views of the maker will always influence the film, I was expecting a more balanced presentation of both sides. I just felt that they failed to give that.

Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic will be available on DVD on March 29 through Cinema Libre Studio. They have generously offered to send a copy of the film to one of my readers. Just leave a comment why you're interested in the film. If you're pressed for time, just say "I'm in", :). This is open to US residents only. You have until Mar 28, 9PM PST to enter. After which, I'll use Random.org to draw the winner. ***Giveaway closed***

*Disclosure: I was given a copy of the film for review. I did not get monetary compensation for this post. As always, all opinions are mine. For my full disclosure policy, see my disclosure page.

Magic Marker Monday - Shamrocks And Leprechauns

2011-03-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

One day last week, the resident artist came home eager to draw shamrocks.

He also drew a leprechaun in a party hat (his version anyway).

He must have thought our home is not festive enough so he took action.

Who needs party decorations when the boy has crayons, paper and scotch tape? ;)

Check out the other masterpieces at Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - Free To Worship

2011-03-20T05:45:00.000-07:00

Listen to this and let it sink in: "He who the Son sets free is free indeed".

Happy Birthday Gracie!

2011-03-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

Gracie just celebrated her birthday but today she is sick. Please go and wish her "happy birthday" and "get well soon".

To a very special girl, Happy Birthday Gracie!

Did You Spring Forward?

2011-03-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Daylight Savings Time which meant we lost one hour of sleep (see, I know what really matters). If your house is like mine, we don't do well with time changes (or any change for that matter). It's not just the boy, it's me as well.

As much as I am looking forward to longer days, gorgeous weather and sights, and saying goodbye to winter, adjusting to it takes, ironically, time. It'll probably be couple of weeks before I am able to do so. The boy might even get there before me.

In the meantime, I've adjusted all the clocks in the house. The only holdouts are my car's dashboard clock and my wristwatch. I'll change those later. Then again, I just might leave them alone until I'm ready to spring forward.

Sunday Worship - Lead Me To The Cross

2011-03-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

It's That Time Of The Year Again

2011-03-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year again and no, I am not talking about Christmas (though if it were up to the boy it will be). In a couple of hours, a group of us will meet to discuss the boy's progress this past school year. More importantly, we will set goals for him for the coming one.

While I love hearing about his year and how far he has come along, I always feel a certain apprehension about these meetings. In a group of experts with titles and letters after their names, I feel outnumbered and outflanked. This is especially true when I voice a dissenting opinion (like I did last year). Then I hear that dreaded phrase : "In my professional opinion...". Sometimes, I have felt like saying : "Well, your professional opinion sucks". I've managed to control myself, barely.

It's a good thing this is only an annual IEP (we had the Triennial last year). At least, hopefully, it won't be that drawn out. More than anything, I hope we really figure out and agree on what's best for him.

Sunday Worship - Draw Me Close To You

2011-03-06T06:01:00.000-08:00

Are We Ready For This?

2011-03-05T23:43:00.000-08:00

The boy's teacher sent me an email the other day about his placement for next school year. She said we should look into another class/program for him. She feels he has done well this last year and he will continue to do so with a "structured program with consistent expectations". She also said he needs "a learning environment that provides repetitions in lessons and work". As such, he is ready for a more academic program.

While this is music to my ears, a part of me is wondering if we are ready for this. As much progress as he has made, he still needs a lot of help. Also, his emotional development has not really been at par with his intellectual progress. I think he still behaves and acts like a 3 or 4 year old, instead of a 7 year old. This lines up with his developmental delay diagnosis but it's a cause of concern for me. My fear is he will get overwhelmed and shut down. This is his normal reaction when faced with a situation he can't handle emotionally.

A more academic program for him also means more work for me. It will add homework to my already packed evening (getting dinner on the table, clean up, getting him ready for bed, story time, etc., etc.). I have to admit, there have been days that I am so tired from working a full day that I barely get this done.

Of course, it goes without saying that I will make the necessary adjustments whenever the need arises. Though I wonder if we are ready for this, the bottom line is I want what is best for him. If this is where he needs to be, then that's where we'll be.

Sunday Worship - More To This Life

2011-02-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

I call it Sunday Worship but I think it's more of a reminder. There is more to this life than what we see. There is more to this life than what we know. Certainly there is more to this life than me, myself and I. I don't have all the answers but I pray that you turn to the One who does _ Jesus Christ. Have a blessed Sunday!

Basking In His Love

2011-02-14T04:30:00.000-08:00

Since it is love day, let me share with you some words on love from the Word of God. After all, God is the One who loved us first and He is the One who loves us best.

"I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me."

- Proverbs 8:17

"But God showed His great love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

- Romans 5:8

"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

- John 3:16

"For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever; But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off."

- Psalm 37:28

"The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day."

- Lamentations 3: 22-23

"See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."

- 1 John 3:1

"Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His loving kindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

- Deuteronomy 7:9

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God - for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

- 1 John 4: 7-10

"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

- Romans 8: 37-39

Celebrate and bask in His love today.

Sunday Worship - Unfailing Love

2011-02-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate Valentine's weekend, may this remind us that it is God who loved us first and it is He who loves us best with His unfailing love. Have a blessed Sunday!

Inspirations For Life

2011-02-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

I was cleaning out my stuff (rare, I know) and found a calendar with these quotes. I thought I'd share. I hope it'll spark something good in you and me. At the very least, help us get through the ~~week~~ day.

"Scenery is fine - but human nature is finer."

- John Keats

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life."

- Epictetus

"Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance."

- Samuel Johnson

"Nothing should be prized more highly than the value of each day."

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"The best and noblest lives are those which are set to high ideals."

- Rene Almeras

"To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"To get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with."

- Mark Twain

"Go as far as you can see. When you get there you will be able to see further."

- Thomas Carlyle

"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

- Thomas A. Edison

"The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well and doing well whatever you do."

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Time is not measured by the passing of the years, but by what one does, what one feels, and what one achieves."

- Nehru

Magic Marker Monday - Windmills

2011-02-07T00:21:00.000-08:00

The boy is back to what he loves: windmills.

Of course, it wouldn't be complete without the Teletubbies.

Maybe we should take a trip to Holland (I wish!).

Share what your little artist has done in Magic Marker Monday.

Magic Marker Monday - Sticker Art

2011-01-30T23:24:00.000-08:00

The boy has discovered stickers and the fun he can have with them. Unfortunately, he found out they can go on the wall too, hence, the Thomas and friends windmill on his bedroom wall. I guess I should just be thankful it's easier to remove than markers (sigh).

What has your little artist been up to? Share it in Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - With All I Am

2011-01-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

Magic Marker Monday - The Wall

2011-01-24T01:12:00.000-08:00

The boy was very productive, so much so that he filled a wall of his room. I honestly cannot tell you who all these are. All I know is they are from Toy Story 3.

I bet he can, but that's probably another post all by itself, ;)

Share what your little artist has been up to in Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - Completely

2011-01-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

I had this scheduled to post next month but I just felt I should post it today instead. I have been waking up with this song in my spirit and I find myself singing it all day. I also remember that scene from Facing the Giants, where she thought she was pregnant but the nurse gave her the wrong test results. That's where I am right now. There is something going on that I'm not prepared to write about yet. Whatever comes out of it, I am His and His alone, completely.

*In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that this post contains my Amazon referral link to the movie. Please, don't let that distract you from listening to the song and letting the words sink in.

SEW - Superheroes Have To Eat Too

2011-01-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

Being The Kid Flash is hard work. It can drain your energy and give you an appetite.

Oh, and let's not forget, ~~hide~~ protect the outfit with a shirt. After all, even superheroes have to eat too, ;)

Share in Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes For Special Needs.

Words Of Wisdom From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

2011-01-17T04:47:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the US, let me share some words of wisdom from him.

"Let no man pull you low enough to hate him."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

"We must combine the toughness of the serpent and the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart."

"Darkness cannot drive darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'"

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

May we apply the wisdom found in these words as they are still true today as they were when Dr. King first spoke them. Let's live the dream!

Magic Marker Monday - We Got Numbers

2011-01-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

The boy, on his own, drew and cut these numbers. It really surprised me since we weren't even doing "homework". He just borrowed my scissors and worked away.

I'm extremely pleased with this as one of his OT goals is to be able to use scissors and to use his helper hand when cutting. I think this proves that he is improving in doing both.

By the way, did you know that the number 9 is a 6 that's upside down? Thought I'd share what he's been telling me, just in case you didn't know, ;)

Share what your little artist has done in Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - Take All Of Me

2011-01-16T00:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday Worship - Never Give Up On Me

2011-01-09T00:30:00.000-08:00

One simple truth - God never gives up on us. For that, I will always be grateful.

Magic Marker Monday - Christmas Tree

2011-01-03T17:21:00.000-08:00

Hm, somebody still has Christmas on their mind. Just look at what the boy drew:

If the picture is not too clear (sorry), let me interpret for you. From top to bottom of the tree: star, lights, ornaments and of course, presents. I say he did a pretty good job, :)

Share what your artist has been up to in Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - Crown Him With Many Crowns

2011-01-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

A Greater Year Has Begun

2011-01-01T00:56:00.000-08:00

As we say goodbye to 2010 and welcome 2011, I am holding on to the hope that we are also welcoming a greater year. No, it's not wishful thinking. It's based on Haggai 2:9 :

"The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and in this place I will give peace,' declares the LORD of hosts."

I'm claiming this promise for you, me and our families today. Be blessed and looking forward to sharing this year with you.

It's New Year's Eve

2010-12-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

It's new year's eve and most everybody is getting ready. Some people are going to party. Some people are going to light up the sky with firecrackers. Some people are going to celebrate quietly. While we may all differ in how we welcome the new year, I think it's safe to say that most of us will make "resolutions". A new year is the perfect time to start a new endeavor, change something or simply make it better.

While I don't particularly believe in waiting for the new year to make some changes, I do make it a point to write my dreams and translate them into goals for the new year. I have learned that it's good for me to put down what I want accomplished and how I plan to do it. I've seen that when I take the time to do this, my decisions and actions, for the most part, are determined by my goals. There's more purpose and less floundering around.

One of the changes I want is to simplify my life. I long for the days when everything was less complicated and easy. I know, it's impossible to go back to that time. I doubt if it even existed. However, I can look at my life and implement some changes to make it resemble that time.

I thought I'd start with this blog. If you noticed, I changed the layout. I chose this because my son loves windmills. I love trees and green scenery. We both love blue skies, which we are missing in this winter weather we're having. I also took out some stuff that used to be here, particularly, Disqus. Nothing against them, but it did not serve the purpose that I installed it for. I wanted to have more conversations with my readers and I thought it would help. I did not count on my being busy or distracted to reply to the comments (I'm sorry for that). Yes, it's my fault but I removed it anyway. Simplified commenting for now (The only drawback is I don't know how to make the comments in Disqus appear here).

There are other goals that I will share with you later. For now, have a safe new year's eve celebration.

Friday Photo Flashback - Dr. Jose Rizal

2010-12-30T20:47:00.000-08:00

Today is Rizal Day in the Philippines so I thought I'd share a picture of me with the statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine National Hero. This was taken in Heidelberg, Germany where he stayed while earning his second doctorate degree .

We had toured Europe in 1994 after attending the International Students' Festival in Trondheim, Norway. We made certain to stop here.

Seeing a Filipino honored this way was well worth the trip.

Share your pre-digital photos in Friday Photo Flashback.

Magic Marker Monday - Rudolph

2010-12-28T00:16:00.000-08:00

The boy brought Rudolph home from school but I waited until Christmas to open it.

I'm glad I did, as it had the best present inside.

Beats diamond doesn't it? ;)

Share what your little artist has been up to in Magic Marker Monday. I know, I'm late but I could not wait until next week to share this, :)

Joy To The World!

2010-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

May the joy and peace of Christ Jesus be in our hearts this season and for always. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Sunday Worship - Shout Unto God

2010-12-19T10:05:00.001-08:00

My Grown Up Christmas List

2010-12-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

It's Friday and once again, I am writing for 5 Minutes For Special Needs. For those of you who'd rather stay here to read, I wanted to share this as well:

Even when I was young, this song has always tugged at my heartstrings. As I got older, I added several more items to the list. You know, justice and peace, equitable distribution of wealth and resources, end to illiteracy, end to poverty, cure for cancer, stuff like that. When I became a parent, the list got longer, especially as I parent a special needs child. Funding for education and teacher and aide training, better school equipment, inclusion programs that really work, comprehensive medical coverage, parent assistance, community involvement and the list goes on.

I'm way past believing in Santa Claus (if I ever did). Still, there's a part of me that wishes somehow...

Sunday Worship - Blessed Assurance

2010-12-12T05:29:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Betty, Martha and Norman

2010-12-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

I am posting at 5 Minutes for Special Needs today.

When I was young and naive, I had visions of how my life and home would look when I get married. I would have a wonderful husband, four beautiful children and a home that's both lovely and inviting. This wonderful and handsome man I married would earn more than enough, not only to provide for our needs, but to enable me to stay home and nurture our near genius kids. Our kids would be so smart and beautiful that they're beyond amazing. Our home would be tastefully decorated, always clean, and the tantalizing smell of freshly baked goodies and foods cooked from fresh ingredients would always welcome anyone who walks in the door.

Click here to read the rest.

Is This Thing On?

2010-12-08T14:29:00.000-08:00

I feel like announcing "Hello, hello, it this thing on?". You know, like when somebody first turns on the mic and they want to know if it's working. It feels that way because I have not written anything in what feels like forever (no, the videos don't count as that's just copy and paste). It's not my fault though (this time) as my internet connection went bye bye last Tuesday and I have not been able to restore it. A phone call to the company did not help as they are saying it's my modem that needs to be replaced. They want me to buy my own but I refuse to do so (that's another story).

Smart blogger that I am, all the posts that I was planning to write are.in.my.head. Yep, I did not think to even draft anything. I thought I can write while I'm at work (which is what I'm doing now as I am on my lunch break) but it's much harder than I thought. So until I either get my internet connection at home working again or find a way to post from work, I won't be able to post regularly (or my version of it anyway). I do hope you stick around as this is temporary. Just think of it as me taking a holiday (though I'd much rather be really doing that, preferably somewhere warm, sighs).

Until next time...

Sunday Worship - Worshiping You

2010-12-05T00:04:00.000-08:00

Sunday Worship - Through It All

2010-11-28T05:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

As we sit down and partake of the feast before us, as we enjoy the company of family and friends and as we prepare for the biggest shopping day in the year, let us pause and really give thanks to God for all that He has blessed us with. Our lives may not be easy and certainly, it is not worry and problem free but I for one, am overwhelmed and humbled when I remember all that God has done for me. I can't help but give thanks to Him for all He has done.

From our family to yours, have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

A Very Special Girl - Rachel Cooperstein

2010-11-22T23:36:00.000-08:00

One of my Facebook friends posted this so I thought I'd share it. I love how her personality shines through here. She's special not because of her disabilty but because of who she is.

Watch this and see what I'm talking about. Also, she has a website with a lot more information about her.

Sunday Worship - Still

2010-11-21T05:29:00.000-08:00

Yikes! What Have I Gotten Into?

2010-11-19T14:30:00.000-08:00

No, I am not talking about parenting, though at times, I feel that way. I am sure everybody can relate. Parenting a child is hard, parenting a special needs child even more so. However, in this instance, I am referring to my commitment to write at 5 Minutes For Special Needs every Friday. I must have been out of my mind at the time, ;).

Since I made the choice, here goes:

"What's wrong with him?" - ask the kids in the playground when my son refuses to play with them.

"What's wrong with him?" - asks my uncle when my son refuses to eat anything but dry cereal.

"What's wrong with him?" - asks my aunt when my son jumps around because there are too many people in a new environment.

"What's wrong with him?" - asks my cousin when my son throws a tantrum because he was up too late the night before and was up too early the next morning.

Click here to read the rest of the post.

Today, I am posting over at 5 Minutes For Special Needs. Please, go over and show some love, :)

Magic Marker Monday - Meet The Teletubbies

2010-11-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

No homework from yesterday but the boy did portraits of the Teletubbies so I thought I'd share, you know, to aid your knowledge of such important things, ;)

Tinky Winky

Dipsy

Laa Laa

Now,aren't you glad you learned something today? :)

What has your little artist created lately? Share it in Magic Marker Monday.

Sunday Worship - In Christ Alone

2010-11-14T10:43:00.000-08:00

"In Christ Alone" Worship Video with Lyrics
Uploaded by Yakwild. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Thank A Soldier Today

2010-11-11T02:06:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate the day off from work and time with our families, let us remember why we have this day. Regardless of our political beliefs and ideologies, there is no denying the service and sacrifice that men and women, along with their families, of the armed forces have given us. Some of them are still out there, putting their lives on the line for us.

Let's not forget the freedoms we enjoy because of them. Let's pray for their safety and protection. Let us thank our soldiers today.

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Came Early

2010-11-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

A bike:

plus a helmet and spin wheel:

means Christmas came early for the boy. The best part, it was all free, :).

Enjoy Wordless Wednesday!