Wednesday, 13 May 2009

• Coasting

  “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
  

  
  I am very thankful.  For the past few weeks or so, Natalie has been very “stable” with her autistic tendencies.  You probably have very little clue with that means unless you understand the volatile side of an autistic adolescent with aggression.  I still have had to deal with a lot of emotional outbursts but none of them have seemed as extreme as in the past.  Let’s just say that I have had a few weeks of “coasting,” of having more relaxed days at home.
  
  I am very thankful.  With autism being a 24/7 responsibility, it feels as if it has been more of a 23/7 for a few weeks.  I continue to pray that she will make peace with her father, for when that subject comes up, she turns from a sweet girl into a hostile one.  If her dad’s name isn’t mentioned, she can be like the giggly girl of the past.
  
  I am very thankful.  Dan and the kids gave me a nice Mother’s Day, not so much in gifts, but with time spent around a nice dinner.  I got to choose what I wanted for dinner so I chose pizza.  We don’t order out pizza much, so this was a treat.  Dan also bought me one of my favorite desserts of cheesecake.  As we sat around the table, I told the kids how thankful I was for them.  I told them that if they hadn’t been born, then I wouldn’t have been a mother.  It sounded cheesy, but they liked it! 
  
  I am very thankful.  Yesterday was my turn to be Natalie’s caretaker at home while the family went to church.  Since Natalie will not go near her father, she will not go to church if he is there.  I decided that I wasn’t going to spend my church morning at home, so I got the bright idea to go worship with my extended family.  It was so weird being in one church on Mother’s Day with Natalie, while the rest of the family was at another church.  It just seemed wrong.  Then I thought of all of the widowed mothers who didn’t have their husbands or children at their sides and I realized that I wasn’t the only one feeling like I did.  I was thankful for an alternative place to worship and spend my Mother’s Day morning.  Because Natalie gravitates towards her cousins, it was a great place for her to go to church.  Besides, her high school Sunday school class had food.  That drew Natalie to the group like ants to a picnic.
  
  I am very thankful.  Natalie has two more weeks of classes and has a week off before commencement ceremonies.  I am still in a bit in disbelief that this 18-year-old with autism has completed all of her credits, has above a 3.5 average, and is graduating from high school.  I never thought that I would see this day.  God has been faithful to Dan & I and to Natalie.
  
  I am very thankful. 
  
  ------------------------------------
  What are you thankful for?  Share your story with Autisable, HERE .
  
  
  

  • 1:45 PM
  • 176 Views
  • 8 eProps
  • 4 Comments