A smoochie in exchange for some yard work... good deal all 'round!

It's from last year but I was browsing pictures and just couldn't NOT post this. :)

Perserverance

This weekend at the conference I met a precious lady. She is probably in her 40's. She told me that her husband passed away just a few months ago while she was finishing up her certification to become a chiropractor. Understandably she has not eaten much and her stress has been severe. Her husband owed an organic restaurant and it's doing well so she wanted to keep it going. So on top of finishing a degree, trying to start her own chiropractic business and being a full time mom, she's grieving the loss of her husband while trying to learn the ropes of his business. She still had her wedding ring on so that tells me she misses him. I cannot imagine how she must feel.

I was so glad to be able to give her some kefir. She said it soothed her tummy (which has been in real pain since her husband died). By the time I left today, she had probably consumed 1/2 a bottle of kefir, her appetite was back (she has not been hungry) and she had a smile on her face. What a joy it was to me to be able to provide her that small comfort.

She impressed me so much with her courage. To be dealing with all she is and to take time to travel to another state and learn how to help others overcome autism. Wow. Now that is one amazing woman! I know I ministered to her but she ministered to me too. With her actions she reminded me to cherish my moments with those I love. To keep going when it would be easier to give up. Such a precious soul.

Conference is done

And I am tired! It's funny b/c this was by far the smallest conference I have done but it was just as emotionally charged. I think every time I talk will be that way... maybe it will get less so the more I do it.

I didn't just speak at this conference, I also worked for Body Ecology. I represent them at many conferences throughout the year. This diet is not easy and I have done it (and still do it) with three kids so it's encouraging for other parents to speak with someone who's been there done that and can hold their hand through the hard part..

Months ahead of a conference, I project how many will be there (based on the conference coordinator numbers) and work to make reservations for hotels, vehicles, plane tickets, etc. All the little details that have to be done ahead of time. Because this one was in my home town it was not complicated in any way. No reservations were necessary although I did have supplies from Body Ecology shipped. Unfortunately the conference heads did not give us a very accurate number and we planned for 250. Twelve docs showed up. Although I do not appreciate the misrepresentation on the part of the conference heads, I still made some good connections. Twelve more chiropractors are now trained and ready to help children with autism get better. I know not all children will recover 100%, but I do believe the majority of children will be improved to some degree.

One thing you hear over and over from parents of children with autism is that they have gut problems. If all a parent treats is the gut, that cannot help but improve a child's quality of life! (Imagine having constant gut pain... would you be cheerful and playful? Yeah, me either!) But of course these docs are trained to do so much more. I had some time to speak in depth with several of them and it's so wonderful to see these doctors who are willing to go against the mainstream, to be the odd man out, to seek out (and find) answers to helping these sweet children. So, SO precious to me.

It's also wonderful to see people, vendors and doctors alike, who have no child with autism and yet they fight like the dickens to help. God bless those who work so hard to help the wounded. Those are my heroes.

Preparing for a conference

As I sit here preparing for this weekends speaking engagement, I am struggling with getting my mind organized. I have a general speech, which is just our story of the kids lives through autism and recovery. I don't give medical advice or anything, just share our story. I am the only speaker who shares a story in this fashion, all the other speakers are professionals of one sort or another. I am the "giving hope" speaker. I love that. I love that our story gives hope to others.

This time is more difficult though. There will be only doctors there, no parents. (Well I'm sure some of the docs are parents but they are there for professional training) In the past, I have always catered my speech to the parents because they're the ones who need to hear that it can be done. This time I need to focus more on how professionals can help parents. I am having a terrible time tweaking our story to encourage docs rather than parents.

It is, as always, a heart wrenching experience to be going through their stories once again. When you add pictures to the story, it becomes so much more poignant. The horrors captures on film speak louder than just hearing it from the mouth. Pictures really are worth a thousand words and we've got alot of pictures. :) It is such a blessing to see where they were and where they are now. SUCH a difference.

Praise God!! :D

May I continue to appreciate the blessings in this house before they are grown up and living lives of their own.

Boys and their toys

Boys playing with transformers

Puppy love

Oh dear. We have done it.

We have fallen madly in love with my parents puppies.

Not good.

My parents will leave soon and take their puppies with them. And then the kids will be crushed.

Kate is so much in love with Daisy, who is so much in love with her. The second Kate gets up, it's all "Hi cutie, hi cutie!" and massive amounts of petting, playing and licking (on Daisy's part, not Kate's) and mushy puppy love. Daisy soaks it up and I'm sure if she could talk she would say "Hi big toy, hi big toy!". As I've mentioned before, she's just pure energy encapsulated in fur and teeth. Pixie is equally cute but a calmer puppy which suits Tony and Grace a little better. Pixie loves all the kids but is a mommy's girl. When her mommy (and mine!) are outside, life ceases to exist and she just sits there looking sadly at the door. She doesn't play with the kids nearly as much as Daisy.

There is a bond between Kate and Daisy. I think it has to do with the amount of hyper in those two. They're energy levels are an exact match. ;) When the kids are outside playing, Daisy sits at the door whining and scratching to get out. If I take her out on the leash, she jumps around like a lunatic trying to join in their games or chase them down. They're seriously just giant play toys to her and they're happy to be that. lol

Having a dog also evens the playing field. When two kidlets gang up against the other, the dog makes it all ok because said ousted child can go play with puppy rather than pout and cry that they are being picked on. It's almost completely impossible to be sad when a ball of energy is jumping all over you and showing you how much they love you. I can appreciate that.

Instead of our down times in the day being filled with "I'm bored!" and "I don't have anything to do!", it's filled with taking puppies out for a walk, or tossing a ball with them, or laughing at their crazy antics. The kids appear to have almost completely forgotten about TV b/c the PUPPIES are here to play with. It's truly magical to have a little furry friend to keep you entertained and happy.

I really didn't want anyone to fall in love. Puppies are work and money. Puppies always end up being mommy's job. They make the carpet dirty. Do not tell me about how cute and adorable and wonderful they are, I'm not listening.

But I'm afraid. At some point, parents and puppies will go home and then sad little faces will work their way on Daddy and we're going to end up with a puppy. They've always wanted a puppy but allergies have prevented owning one. Once these puppies got here, the allergist treated us and the kids are no longer having problems with dog allergies. Daddy especially has always wanted the kids to have a dog.

Oh dear. ;)

A day trip to see some of God's amazing creation... up north