30 Day Bible Reading Challenge

Did you know that if you do something faitfully for 18 days it becomes a habit? What greater habit to have than to be a faithful reader of The Holy Scriptures!

Good morning! Leah over at friends4tea is having a 30 Day Bible Reading Challenge. It started on April 1st and will run till the end of the month. But don't fret, it is not too late to join this wonderful group of women who have come together to make a commitment to read the Word of God faithfully everyday. My heart has been touched by the outpouring of encouragement that I have seen not only in blog comments, but on the Nooks of many at The Homeschool Lounge as well.

This is such a great challenge. Kiddo and I do devotions together in the morning before we start our day. However, I need more time on my own to read the word of God, but something always seems to get in the way. This challenge came just at the right time for me.....it is the "nudge" i truly needed to get myself motivated to MAKE time for the Gospel!



I have been reading from Revelations. My DH being the jokester that he is said, "Would you like me to tell you how the book ends?" (ha ha) What a guy!

I have gotten from reading this book is that it is a loving, personal message from God. He wants His Word to affect our lives in the here and now. He wants His Word to help us grow closer to Him. He wants His Word to challenge us to more lovingly serve our brothers and sisters.



I pray that we will all have the strength and determination to continue reading the word of God, not only throughout the month of April, but that it becomes a "habit"....a part of our everyday lives!



As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7

Autism Awareness

April 2 is World Autism Day!

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. One should keep in mind however, that autism is a spectrum disorder and it affects each individual differently and at varying degrees - this is why early diagnosis is so crucial. By learning the signs, a child can begin benefiting from one of the many specialized intervention programs.

Autism is one of five disorders that falls under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by “severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development.”



The five disorders under PDD are:



Autistic Disorder

Asperger's Syndrome (My son falls under this category)

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD)

Rett's Disorder

PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)



Asperger's Syndrome/Disorder



Asperger's Disorder was first described in the 1940s by Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger who observed autistic-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills in boys who had normal intelligence and language development. Many professionals felt Asperger's Disorder was simply a milder form of autism and used the term "high-functioning autism" to describe these individuals. Professor Uta Frith, with the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience of University College London and author of Autism and Asperger Syndrome, describes individuals with Asperger's Disorder as "having a dash of Autism." Asperger's Disorder was added to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in 1994 as a separate disorder from autism. However, there are still many professionals who consider Asperger's Disorder a less severe form of autism.



What distinguishes Asperger's Disorder from autism is the severity of the symptoms and the absence of language delays. Children with Asperger's Disorder may be only mildly affected and frequently have good language and cognitive skills. To the untrained observer, a child with Asperger's Disorder may just seem like a normal child behaving differently.



Children with autism are frequently seen as aloof and uninterested in others. This is not the case with Asperger's Disorder. Individuals with Asperger's Disorder usually want to fit in and have interaction with others; they simply don't know how to do it. They may be socially awkward, not understanding of conventional social rules, or may show a lack of empathy. They may have limited eye contact, seem to be unengaged in a conversation, and not understand the use of gestures.



Interests in a particular subject may border on the obsessive. Children with Asperger's Disorder frequently like to collect categories of things, such as rocks or bottle caps. They may be proficient in knowing categories of information, such as baseball statistics or Latin names of flowers. While they may have good rote memory skills, they have difficulty with abstract concepts.



One of the major differences between Asperger's Disorder and autism is that, by definition, there is no speech delay in Asperger's. In fact, children with Asperger's Disorder frequently have good language skills; they simply use language in different ways. Speech patterns may be unusual, lack inflection or have a rhythmic nature or it may be formal, but too loud or high pitched. Children with Asperger's Disorder may not understand the subtleties of language, such as irony and humor, or they may not understand the give and take nature of a conversation.



Another distinction between Asperger's Disorder and autism concerns cognitive ability. While some individuals with Autism experience mental retardation, by definition a person with Asperger's Disorder cannot possess a "clinically significant" cognitive delay and most possess an average to above average intelligence.



While motor difficulties are not a specific criteria for Asperger's, children with Asperger's Disorder frequently have motor skill delays and may appear clumsy or awkward.



Living With Autism



The demands of raising a child with autism are great, and families frequently experience high levels of stress. Recognizing and preparing yourself for the challenges that are in store will make a tremendous difference to all involved, including the parents, siblings, grandparents, extended family, and friends.



The uniqueness of each individual with autism makes the experience of raising a child with autism different for each family. But there are some consistent themes or issues that most families will want to be aware to be able to provide the best support to the individual and to family members.



The ASA has developed in-depth information on a variety of topics related to living with autism. The information below is by no means exhaustive, but it should help to equip families with some of the basic tools they may need to successfully raise a child with autism.



Autism Society of America

2008

ROFLOL!

I was talking with my friend, Bobbi today, and she said that my post about Kiddo's salsa garden really made her laugh. That made me think of another time he came out with a really good one. My son is a plethera of comedic on-liners.

Ok, so one night we were sitting at the table eating dinner, talking about what had gone on during our day (no, not with our mouths full....wait a minute.....uh, yes, they probably were). Bean was talking about something that was of interest to her and in a nice, soft, quiet manner, when all of a sudden she started raising her voice and was getting very annoyed. Kiddo, without missing a beat looks up at her and blurts out.....................................................

"SOMEONE'S HAVING MOOD SWINGS!"

Kids............you gotta love em'!

Please Pray With Me

Please pray for my ex-brother in-law, WL. My sister called and they had to have the Fire Department do an emergency break-in at his home where they found him on the floor unconscious. He is diabetic and has had a couple of strokes before this. She has called him everyday, but there has been no answer. The last time she spoke with him was on Easter Sunday. At this point they don't know how long he had been that way.

Please pray for WL, his family, and my sister and her family. May God give them the strength and the peace they need to get through this difficult time. I pray that God will lay his healing hand upon WL. We know that whatever the outcome, it is God's will and he will be glorified and uplifted!

Thankful Thursday

As most of you know, I am a lover of music and sometimes the words to a song can express far better than I, what I want or need to say.

"THANK YOU" by The Katinas is a beautiful song, thanking our Precious Heavenly Father for the things that He has done for us.

Please take a moment not only to listen to the wonderful words and beautiful music of this song, but the actual video itself.

Your heart will be touched............I know mine was!

THANK YOU

Just a little while longer I wanna pray

Can't get You off my mind so I came to say

Thank You Lord, just for loving me, alright

Many times I do forget

Every need that You have met

Oh thank You Lord, I know You're showing me

You are there when I am down and out

You're holding me, Your love is so amazing

Oh it changed me



Here I am with all I have

Raise my hands to worship You

I wanna say thank you, oh thank you

For everything, for who You are

You cover me, You touch my heart

I wanna say thank you


I could have died in my sin but You saved me

Didn't have any hope at all

You gave me peace divine, strength to carry on

I should have been the one to pay

But instead You took my place

Amazing grace, it's more than just a song

Even though I don't deserve Your love for me

You look beyond my fault and You showed me mercy


Here I am with all I have

Raise my hands to worship You

I wanna say thank you, oh thank you

For everything, for who You are

You cover me, You touch my heart

I wanna say thank you


I wanna say thank you for the sun

Lord we thank you for the rain

Thank you for the love You gave

THANK YOU, JESUS

How Does Your Salsa Grow?

Last month, Kiddo got a salsa garden for his birthday. It came with all you need to get started from the tray to the soil to the six packs of cilantro, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, parsley, and cayenne pepper seeds. It had everything but the water, but not to worry.....we have a well!

Kiddo started out by filling each cell of the tray with potting soil.

Bean then helped Kiddo plant the seeds. Apparently this job proved to be a little more difficult than they had anticipated so they had to get some help from.........................................

SUPER KITTY!!

Each day since Kiddo planted his garden a few weeks ago, he has written down any changes in the seedlings development, how many of each kind have sprouted, and when they have been watered.

DH took the tray from the window and called Kiddo into the kitchen. "Look at your garden and tell me what you see?" said DH.

"I see jalapenos, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro, but no cheyenne peppers or parsley. Hey, where's the salsa?" said Kiddo.

"What do you mean, where's the salsa?" DH replied.

Kiddo said, "I don't see any salsa!"

Trying to hold back the uncontrollable laughter, DH said, "Kiddo, salsa itself doesn't grow in the garden. You first have to grow all these vegetables, then chop them up, add seasonings and then blend them together. That's salsa. Were you looking for little jars of salsa growing in this tray?"

With a smirk on his face, Kiddo replied, "Ummm....Maybe!"

Blessings~

Wordless Wednesday