Walk With Me Ambassador!

Guess what!? Ethan was asked to be an Easter Seals Ambassador for their Walk With Me event! These events happen all over, but the closest to us is happening on July 21st. We are putting together a team of people to walk together in support of Easter Seals & the amazing work they do for those with special needs. (If you would like to join our team, register with our Courage & Coffee group here....we would LOVE to have you!!!) We are sooooo honored that Ethan has been asked to be an ambassador! I still have some paper work to fill out & a short photography session with my amazingly talented sister-in-law (thanks Aunt Rachael!), but Ethan's picture & story will soon be featured on the Easter Seal's website with some other pretty amazing kids.

As I was reading through the bios of these kids, one story truly touched my heart.....and I just have to share it.

MEET DAVEY

"Davey’s family shared the following story about him.  Davey has always been a “hugger” and loves people, to the point where we have had to have several talks about stranger danger.  One day we were having breakfast in a café and a big burly man with a long beard and biker clothes came in and happened to smile at Davey.  That’s all it took...for the next half hour Davey would smile and the guy would wave.  As the man got up to leave he patted Davey on the head and said “Bye little Buddy.”  Davey replied, “I wanna give you a hug!”  The man squatted down in front of my little boy and embraced him.  Davey said, “I love you.”  Tears rolled down the face of this man as he simply relied, “Thank you Jesus for your love today.”

To Find A Walk Near You, Click HERE!

Footsteps With Jacksen

 
Tonight, I was searching for some teacher appreciation gift tags, and I stumbled across my new favorite blog. Kidzorg.blogspot.com. I navigated there from a Google image of a gift tag, and I was happily surprised to see that the title of this blog is KIDZ, A Special Place for Special Needs.....I LOVE IT!!!!!

I, of course, clicked on their autism label and came across this amazing poem. I feel as if I could have written this....it says it so perfectly. I was thinking of sharing it on Mother's Day, but it's too good to wait!!!! ENJOY!!!!

Footsteps With Jacksen

 I'd never seen the place
Where true beauty lies
Until I found it twinkling
In those magical blue eyes.

The way they laughed and sparkled
Like they were dancing to a song,
Those precious eyes held secrets
I'd learn you stored before too long.

As you grew I began to notice
You would shield those big blue eyes,
You wouldn't share your sparkles,
Just the tears formed from your cries.

You did not care for company
Or friends to call your own
Instead you spent your playtime
Lining cars up all alone.

While other kids made milestones
I waited for the day
Your words would flow together
And you would have something to say.

Something deep inside me
And something in those eyes
Told me there was an answer
To his heart wrenching cries.

The day I learnt that AUTISM
Was to become etched into my heart
Was the beginning of a life
Filled with magic from the start.

The days I feel disheartened
Alone and filled with fear
He finds a way to show me
Why I'm meant to be right here.

I am meant to be his mother
He is meant to be my son
We are meant to face together,
This journey just begun.

By Fiona Goldsworthy

Carly Fleischmann

I follow Autism Speaks on Facebook, and tonight as I was checking my updates one last time before bed, I came across a book that is soon to be in print. A book titled, Carly's Voice. This book is written by Arthur Fleischmann, father to Carly Fleischmann, a 16 year old girl with autism. After I clicked the link to this new book, there was an option to view a sample chapter....so I did. I was immediately drawn in to the emotions of the father....I could instantly relate. And then, I found this video on Carly & her amazing story. Please take the time to watch this video. It really is amazing. I will definitely be pre-ordering this book......just amazing.

Meet Math Prodigy, Jake

This video is about 20 minutes, but it is amazing. Does it remind you of anyone???

Art Without Boundaries

All kids amaze me....I guess that's the teacher in me. But kids with special needs astound me. I am constantly hearing stories of these "underdogs" overcoming their challenges & triumphing in victorious ways. Living with Ethan, I am privileged to see him overcoming these odds on a daily basis. And occasionally, my husband will come home from work with "a Mason story".....

Now to be COMPLETELY honest, when my husband talks about work, I have a very difficult time being a good listener. He is an engineer, and I often find myself being lost in the details of his stories. BUT, when he says that he has a story about his friend's son, Mason, he has my full attention. I LOVE Mason stories. You see, Mason has autism as well. He is elementary school age, so we are often going to this family for support & information. And, although I have never met Mason, I have come to hold him dear to my heart. He is such a sweet & fun kiddo. In fact, several months ago, my husband set up a fundraiser in order to buy Ethan AND Mason each an iPad2....and both boys LOVE their iPads.

Well, Mason was recently featured in his local newspaper for his amazing art skills! He participates in a program called Art Without Boundaries. This program "uses everyday pleasures such as singing, movement, painting and story telling in a unique combination to stimulate dramatic changes in the brain. Although our goal is to provide a rewarding experience, documented testimonies show significant improvement in some clients in verbal skills, mobility, combativeness, spatial acuity and understanding instructions."

And, recently, one of Mason's paintings was wanted by someone from Colorado!!! To read the entire story & to learn more about Art Without Boundaries, please visit the local paper's article. What a great program.....what a great painting.......and what a GREAT KID! WAY TO GO MASON!!!!!!

Mason & his first "sold" painting. (Money given for the paintings is donated to the program.)

This was emailed to me yesterday. It's Mason's latest work of art. What a talented kiddo!!!

Jason McElwain

A friend of mine posted this link on her facebook account. When I watched it, I was a crying mess. It is a beautiful story. Check out this short story but be sure to have the tissues handy!!!!

You Gotta Watch This!!!!!!!!

This segment was on 60 Minutes tonight. I bawled through the whole thing! I KNOW how helpful the iPad has been for Ethan, but this short clip shows the iPad helping several kiddos with autism. Get out the tissues, people!!!!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7385686n


Also, this coming Friday night, October 28th, Extreme Home Makeover will be renovating a home for a family that has 2 children with autism. I can't wait to watch that as well......I may need to go get more Kleenex before then!!!!

http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition