S Club Mama

Last week, one of my sons realized that he had turned in the wrong thing on two assignments, resulting in him having three assignments in one day. He had not even tried to turn in the correct thing, ignoring the directions. So I had the fun of re-learning statistics math for several hours on a very beautiful afternoon. It was good time with him; definitely our best time doing math together (and there have been many bad times prior lol), but I was astonished at how upset he was to ask for help. I asked why he just turned in whatever ("crap" was my word of choice just to keep it real) and asked why he didn't ask for help if he didn't understand the assignment. "I am supposed to be independent!" he cried. I explained to him that he will always need to ask for help - always. I told him I have to ask for help. We talked to his dad about how he has to ask for help at work. The thing is, I get it. I HATE to ask for help. Vehemently hate it. It's an inte...

Usually I've made peace with most things autism-related (besides any vaccine-related comments, ugh). But sometimes it's the small things that Moose can't do that just frustrate me to no end! For example: getting him to look me in the eye when he talks is like getting a tooth pulled without Novocain, getting him to pay attention to you when there are mirrors or reflective surfaces around (he loves to look at himself and watch himself talk), getting him to obey the first time (which goes for both kids), getting him to respond to his own name, getting him to stop repeating (which is his echolalia where he repeats movie/tv scripts over and over and over and over and over....). All small things but they just add up. Tonight, I was trying to get him to learn how to take his temperature the normal way (in the mouth vs. under his arm). We have one of those temporal thermometers but I've never been impressed with the accuracy of it. I showed him how to lift his tongue, I...

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. - Romans 8:26 I find great reassurance in this Scripture. This morning Squirt had a small surgical procedure to clean his ears and they ended up putting in new tubes. I know this is a common procedure - we've been through it twice already (3 now!) between the boys. And yet...it's a surgery. There are always risks. And I was reminded yesterday at a MOPS meeting about how the hospital is the germiest place ever (ugh - not something you want to hear when your little one is going under!).  So this morning I wanted to pray for him and I did, but I didn't feel my words were telling God about my fears, my desires. I knew, though, that the Holy Spirit was in prayer for me. He knows my heart. He knows what I need to say and says it for me.  And Squirt came out beautifully. Crying after waking up, just li...

Last Sunday, our pastor spoke about the Holy Spirit. He asked how many of us rely on the Holy Spirit daily...honestly. Most of us get by without His help, we do! Isn't it incredible? We just go about our day and do not ask for the help (and subsequent blessings) of our Counselor? I decided to wake up every day and ask for help. I've looked back at my life, my recent life, and realized that it's so hard alone. Sure, I'm walking with Christ and growing in my relationship with God. But I know there's more. I don't want an ordinary life, just going through the motions. I want extraordinary! I want God's full blessings. I want the Fruit of the Spirit! So every day this week, I've woken up and just laid there and cried out to the Holy Spirit. That's a little strange to me; I didn't grow up praying to the Holy Spirit - I don't think most churches do that. But we should! He prays for us and intervenes for us! I am truly desperate for help through...

I have a confession. This past week I have been a Debbie Downer. Anthony & I realized that we won't be able to give a reasonable offer on a house we really love, and then we've also decided that a larger family is not the responsible thing for us to do at this time (if ever). Both of those have been weighing on my heart this week and I've let them weigh very heavily. While I was reading my Bible last night, I realized that I had lost focus of my life's purpose. I had been focusing on these desires - which aren't bad desires, really - instead of remembering that I am here to please God, to serve God. He takes such good care of me and my family. Who am I to complain about things like this? Do I not have a good house to sleep in now? Do I not have a wonderful family as is? I want to be patient like Paul through times of hardship and disappointment. While my heart may ache, I want to be joyful like Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:10. This is not to say that God do...

Matthew 25 The Parable of the Ten Virgins 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. ...