Oh my, it has been a while since I have added anything to our blog. We have had alot going on recently. Matt started vocational rehab two weeks ago. He has returned to his high school but will be receiving his rehab there with a wonderful counselor. He has been working on his art and music, along with work skills by helping work in the consession stand at scheduled breaks. He is really glad to have something to do instead of staying home with me everyday.
Matt has been meeting with our pastor over the last month after expressing interest in being baptised. That has gone well and he and our pastor have become "pals". They have had talks regarding how much Matt understands about his faith and the purpose/significance of bapitsim. After several meetings and some practice Matt was baptised last sunday. I was soooo proud.
My baby grown up so quickly. His autism may have made life somewhat different for him and myself but it has not prevented him from becoming a wonderful yourng man with an enormous amount of things to continue to teach me and others.
I encourage all parents of autisitc children to find their child's skill or talent and encourage, promote, and aid them with whatever it may be. I truely believe that is one of the best therapies for them. The Lord will show us much through the eyes of our special children.

Probverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord eith all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."

Dear Matt

Dear Matt,
I am soooo proud of you. Over the last week you have again shown me what a wonderful, young man you are. I only hope to exhibit one ounce of your generosity, compassion, and hope.


Love,
Mom

God at Work

What a day!!! Received a call yesterday regarding Matt returning to school for a "transitions" classes. Spoke with our wonderful vocational rehab counselor and Matt met with our pastor regarding baptism.(upcoming blog on baptism)
Matt will be returning to school and receiving vocational services. Yay!!!!! However, this should have been done two years ago. I am saddened to report that somewhere the ball was dropped. I have been inquiring about services for him for sometime now and the school did not offer any services or ideas. I was introduced to the vocational rehab counselor after many inquires and much time spent on the internet and with a touch of God's hand. Over the summer I have been in touch with her often and have discovered that my school has not ever mentioned her services to me or any other parents of "special" children. It is very saddening and frustrating to hear this when as a concerned parent I have offered my time and always made it known to the school that if there was anything that I could do to help Matt and them that I was available. Only to find out that I was never contacted about services that the school had. I feel so guilty myself for not doing more..... Matt always received the services that were available on school campus but was not offered or refered to any services off campus. I had asked and was told that they were not provided(vocational rehab, transportation, etc)
In our small community I knew there were not many options so I became Matt's instructor on ADLs, basic skills and how to do tasks and certain jobs. God has blessed us in that what I did has helped Matt to develop and experience growth as an individual. Let me add that his SPED teachers were the best!!!!! and in no way to slight them at all. They too were not informed of the proper programs that were available. Over the last week, God has worked overtime in our lives. Through much prayer and the help of our voc rehab counselor, Matt will be receiving extra services that will help to transition him into society, and will aid him with job skills. My intent with this blog is not to point fingers or lay blame, but to hopefully alert parents, especially in small communities that there are services available and that with payer and diligent perserverance your child must be accomodated for. Every parent must review IEPs and ask questions, and do research on their own regarding services and the rights of the disabled. I use that term loosely, because each one of these unique children has a gift and special qualities that can be benefited by all and give something to the society in which they live.

About three years ago I turned my life over to Christ in the middle of my living room, but never made a public announcement of it. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to publically for the first time acknowledging Him as my savior and accept Him through believers baptism. This has brought up questions that I never thought that I would have to deal with. Matt has been inquiring about the reason behind baptism. He says that he wants to be baptised with me. I don't know if Matt is able to understand and I am unsure how to go about explaining the process to him. I am a little selfish because I would like nothing better than for my son to be baptised with me but at the same time I know that is a decision that I can not make for him. Its difficult because I am not sure of what his comprehension is of what he hears in church. He is unable to express to me how he feels and what he believes. Is there any advise anyone can give me? I have spoken with my pastor but only briefly about the subject. This is something that is important to me and it appears to be to Matthew but it is hard because he can't make me or anyone else aware of what he is truely thinking. He communicates, but in his way and sometimes he can get confused about what he wants and what he hears someone else say, because he does like to repeat words (whether they are his thoughts or someone else's). We plan to meet with our pastor soon, but in the meantime I wonder how I will know what the correct answers are to help Matt understand his request for baptism.

I have been reading articles regarding "curing" autism and find some that are somewhat disturbing. When Matt was dx with autism I wished that he had not been stricken with this ailment and often wished that he was "normal". Over the years I have come to terms with our dx and appriciate all of his qualities and most of all his smile and wonderful outlook on things. I would never want to "cure" that. We treat other disorders and diseases but haven't found a cure for them. We treat diabetes, cancer, AIDS, and etc. and are yet to erradicate the world of them. EVERY autistic child has something great that he or she can teach the rest of us if we only take the time to learn from them instead of trying to "cure" them. God does not make mistakes, he makes us all the way we are suppose to be. Unfortunately some must be different or even suffer through struggles because of illness or disorders. My son is one of them... and I am very proud of him and the things that he has overcome and achieved w/o attempting to change him. Each day he teaches me how to have a different outlook on things and how to praise God for all that we are given in this life. So to Matthew.... THANK YOU, SON for all that you have given me. As for those that follow a strict regimen and have given up soo much for their children and are trying everything to correct the disabilties that their children have I do not in any way fault you. I may have done the same thing if the options that you have today were available to me many years ago. I cannot say so as a definite answer because that would only be speculation. As I have said before, Matt is the way he is for a reason and he touches many lives because of his different perspective of things. If I had attempted to change him or cure him then he would not be the same Matt that we all know and appreciate each day.

Matt getting ready for the trip. Everyone needs a cowboy hat in Nashville.

Downtown Nashville

Lunch at the Wildhorse.


Josh Turner just happened to stop by the night we went to the Wildhorse!!! WOW!!! Matt was beside himself w/excitement.

Vacation Time

Every family looks forward to getting away together for a while each year, and mine is no different. We decided last year that we would take a trip to Nashville this year. It was really Rob's idea... he thought that Matt would enjoy it.
Matt has always loved music ,ESPECIALLY country music. Some of his favorite artists include, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner. He is a huge fan of CMT. He can identify county songs after only hearing the first few notes of a song. He is so excited about going to Nashville. Rob's children are as well. Katy is a huge fan of Carrie Underwood as well. We have purchased tickets to the Opry to see Carrie but none of the kids know it yet. The will be sooo suprised.
Matt has been helping me pack today and he can't seem to pack enough. He thinks we "may" need everything. He wanted to pack the tv remote because as he put it "may need". I tried to explain that the hotel would have what we needed and that we only needed to pack our clothes. "Oh", he said and continued to pack objects that would and would not be needed. He is truly so much help to me. He brightens my day each and everyday.
We will be leaving early in the am, and I am sure it will be difficult to get Matt to go to sleep tonight with all the anticipation that I am sure he is feeling.
Matt and I will try to update some while we are gone. Hope everyone who may be going on vacation and those who have already gone and returned home had and will have a great time and a safe trip. Please say a prayer that my family will as well.