Art Inspired Poems #2

Here is some of my daughter’s poems from yesterday’s field trip… she is writing her own book of poetry… I think these will be a nice addition.

Art Work- Thunderstorm, 1921
Artist: Arthur G. Dove
Poem Style: OnomatopoeiaDrip

Drop
Boom
Splash
Crash
There goes a tree!
Scary
Squishy
Splat


Art Work: Pier At Blue Point, 1914 (Oil on Canvas)
Artist: William Glackens
Poem Style: Poem of the Senses

I hear in my head waves coming in for the tide.
I see gold in the sand and molting trees.
I taste the salty sea.
I feel squishy dirt beneath my feet.
I smell clean air.


Art Work: End of the Day
Artist: Chihuly
Poem Stlye: Cross Stick

Glaring glass
Laughing people enjoying it
Amazing structure
So beautiful
Stuff inside


Art Work: Untitled sculpture, 1995
Artist: Janusz Walentynowicz

I wonder why he is sleeping on rocks.
Is he cold?
Is he poor?
Where are his parents?

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Art Inspired Poems

The theme of the field trip yesterday was art and poetry. The docents escorted small groups of the children to different works of art. We would have a brief discussion about how to ‘read’ the art and then the docent would instruct the group to create a poem to describe what we saw in the artwork.

Having studied Art Therapy I have visited many museums, but this was by far the best viewing yet. These young girls had brilliant observations and ideas.

Here is a sample of some of my art inspired poems.

Art Work: Wind, 1961
Artist: Agnes Martin
Poem Style: Personification

I am a line like so many others.
I am a line wanting to curve.
I am a line straight and tall.
I am a line hidden in the wall.


Art Work- Thunderstorm, 1921
Artisit: Arthur G. Dove
Poem Style: Onomatopoeia

Boom
Clap
Zap
Ping
Splat
Crash


Art Work: Pier At Blue Point, 1914 (Oil on Canvas)
Artist: William Glackens
Poem Style: Poem of the Senses

I see the elegant ladies on the pier,
But the aroma of brunch beckons me.
I feel the mist of water on my face,
I taste the salty sea.
I hear the flags flapping in the wind,
My heart yearns to be next to the windmill.


Art Work: End of the Day
Artists: Chihuly
Poem Stlye: Cross Stick

Glimmering tails
Loud colors
Amazing creatures
Sitting
Still


Art Work: Untitled sculpture, 1995
Artist: Janusz Walentynowicz

I wonder why he is
Naked
I wonder why he is
Alone
I wonder why he is
Cold
I wonder why he is
Unknown


Art Work: Nocturnal Navigator, 1998
Artist: Alison Sarr
Poem Style: Pantoun

Lady in blue
With head looking up to the sky
I wonder what you do
Wondering why

With head looking up to the sky
Hands offering help to all
Wondering why
The burden you haul

Hands offering help to all
You guide them with your light
The burden you haul
It’s only known to the night

You guide them with your light
I wonder what you do
It’s only known to the night
Lady in blue

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A Dichotomy of Two Realities: Possibility and Homelessness Among Our Children

Do you remember the distinctive sensations of the school bus? I bet that question brought you back to a place and time when all possibilities were on the tips of our fingers; when the world was yours to have!

Yesterday, as I settled in my rigid green seat, all of the familiarity of my school days filled my senses. The pungent aromas of plastic and diesel filled my olfactory system, the steady bouncing of the seats over every tiny morsel in the road was felt throughout my body, the constant chatter of the kids surrounding me—all sent me back to a childhood far away in the recess of my mind. I sat back and enjoyed the moment as we ventured towards the museum of art.

After a few minutes passed I looked out the window to scope the landscape—in all honesty, I was searching for a deer. Somehow, I knew that a deer sighting would send a thrill of excitement through each of the children on board— leaving my daughter feeling exceptional that her mom was the one to find it, BUT that was not what I found.

My heart sank as my eyes found a bright patch of red blanket nestled between three trees not far from the freeway, but exclusive enough that you’d have to be really looking to see him. He lay there with all of his worldly possessions gathered around him; not much for a lifetime that left him gray and tired. He slept without notice from any of the people rushing to their early morning destination. That is no one but me.

I felt profound sadness envelop me. I suppose it was the dichotomy of the two realties I was witnessing; the loss of hope in this man’s weathered life beneath the red tattered blanket versus the world of possibilities at the beckoning of a new generation. How, I wondered, do you go from the bus of all possibilities to the blanket of nothing?

The shrill laughter of innocence snapped my attention from the scene beyond my window—a father in the back of the bus got a trucker to honk the horn of his big red rig. I felt relief as the children got overly excited as the bus driver announced for them to settle down. I felt myself sigh as they experienced excitement … I was relived they didn’t look at my view. I found myself handing over the glory to that son’s father to protect the moment of endless possibilities in the class of 2018.

Today we are experiencing record numbers of families and individuals being displaced from their homes. As I sat in my dichotomy on the bus, I felt gratitude that each of these children in my presence were in school and not on the streets. I felt gratitude that I had a home to offer my own children, warm food on the table, and clean clothing in their closets.

I knew from my professional mental health days that these trees were near the residential facility that housed adults with severe developmental disabilities and the state psychiatric prison. I was certain he was not from either of these facilities, but that it was obvious that he strategically lay there. A survival skill I am sure he mastered over time.

But you should know that a study performed by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty stated that approximately 3.5 million people and 1.35 million children, are likely to experience the humiliation and tragedy of homelessness in a given year.

That needs repeating—1.35 million children are likely to experience homelessness in a given year. How tragic!

Although, this study was done in 2007, I wonder if that number has gone up with the foreclosure and economic crisis within our country. In a time where we, as a country, can suddenly request 1.5 BILLION dollars from a budget to fight a flu ‘epidemic’, how come we cannot afford to keep children from being displaced out of their homes? How can this man be sleeping under a tree on a misty morning unnoticed by so many?

In a recession many things are possible. One thing I have learned from my former career is that the homeless person usually doesn’t signify an uneducated man or woman wandering the streets threatening society. Instead it is usually someone highly educated that has lost a job, experienced mental illness or succumbed to alcoholism. They really are no threat other than ‘a sore eye’ for the viewer.

But what if we become more than the viewer? In a recession, that could happen in an instant; you, me, or worse yet, our children sleeping homeless under that tree.

As a nation of hardworking men and women we should be outraged that bank executives are getting a reported $70 billion in bonuses while innocent families are losing their homes displacing children across the United States.

This isn’t just a problem of a time that will come to pass—the effects of home displacement or homelessness will cause a backlash within these children’s psyche causing more issues down the road.

Many families, like my own, have been forced to one income in the advent of a child with a disability. We pray daily that the remaining income isn’t dissolved through downsizing because of the financial crisis. We try to focus on optimism and cut back to stay afloat. We have limited resources to help our children recover from this numbing diagnosis, so it is hard to imagine that we can contribute to this other crisis occurring within our midst.

However, there are resources available to these individuals and families on a local and national level. Find out what you can do within your means to help bring aid to those in need. A small act of kindness to nurture the essence of possibility within our children and grandchildren is immeasurable.


The Columbus Coalition for Homelessness has a list of Ohio and local resources.

Housing Vouchers Are Critical for Ending Family Homelessness.

Promising Strategies to End Family Homelessness.

National Calition for the Homeless.

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Recipe of the Week: Gluten Free Orange Beef and Rice

1 # Partially frozen iron steak, thinly sliced.

Marinate for an hour in the refrigerator in:
Juice of 4 Clementines
1 t Garlic Powder
1 t Salt
½ t Black Pepper
2 TBL Cumin
Zest of 1 Clementine
1 TBL Better Than Bouilion Boulioin
¼ cup Olive Oil
¼ cup Tamari Sauce

Flash meat in hot pan

Add:
1 cup water
3 cups Freshly Chopped Broccoli Tress
1 White Onion quartered
1 can Chestnuts
Cover and simmer for 5 minutes

Serve with steamed white rice or rice noodles.

Can easily substitute tofu or chicken in this flavorful dish.

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At What Length Would You Go For Your Child?

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A Moment in the Park: Do our children remember before they were? Do they remember other souls?

We all needed to escape the many pressures of life. We packed our water bottles, put on our hiking boots, and headed to the park. We all seemed to instantaneously absorb all the energy nature had to offer.

For a day, the jungle gyms were just manmade three dimensional works of art decorating the park in the distance; primary colored abstracts that did not beckon. Instead, freedom filled the children as they ran through the field of dandelions. The bouquet they created made you wonder why anyone wanted to rid such beauty from their yards; each individually picked after careful consideration.

The river was high and her force rushed the canoes past us as the girls ran giggleing up the bank. They stopped to climb a tree, skip rocks across the river and smell different wild flowers. Their spirits were definitely being filled by the many attributes of nature.

As we ventured forward, Sahara stopped and abruptly turned around. We all turned to see what else nature was offering her spirit today.

We were stunned to see this elderly lady being pushed in a wheelchair.

Without hesitation she walked up to her and said, “Hi!” They immediately became enamored by one another. She placed her little hand gently on the woman’s hand and walked beside her.

I was amazed at the calmness, the eye contact, and the verbal exchange; all things foreign in the world of autism. But somehow, in this moment, all of the constructs vanished and they merged together offering (without expectation) what the other needed.

The woman beamed at the innocence of a four year old, while Sahara beamed with the wisdom of an eighty-four year old. The chattered together… I am sure that somehow this woman was able to understand the jumbled words that flowed from Sahara. As they parted ways the woman quietly said, “I am sure I will bump into you again.” Sahara smiled and said, “ba-bye.”

A moment suspended in the timeless nature of the park ended. The girls walked ahead of us on the path as we were left in the quiet wake of a moment we were sure had been cosmic; a moment where two souls either reunited or united, maybe both.

There was a chemistry that made even the most skeptical understand that somehow we are all connected and have possibly known each other in another time and place. I wonder if anyone else notices these moments with their children.

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Simple Steps to Improve Your Air Quality

It is not a secret that the air we breathe is more contaminated now than ever.

Here is a thought:

Look at the horizon and up into the sky... Do you see smoke stacks? Power Plants? Jets? Trails of pretty white smoke?

Now look down the road in your communities… Do you see cars? Lawn Mowers? Chimneys?

Have you ever thought about where the vapors, smoke and gas go? It has to go somewhere —it does not just magically disappear.

I suggest that we are inhaling all of this pollution with every breath we take and that they are lacing our foods as they settle across our farms. I also suggest that these particles are being trapped within our homes.

If everyone made an effort to change a few things they do the air quality in your home could improve. I have found that taking small simple steps will help prevent or clean up the residue left behind. Here are some suggestions that you can consider doing to make the air you breathe healthier.

1) Walk or ride your bike to local activities.

2) Car Pool to work or school.

3) Use a push reel mower to cut your lawn. (lawn mowers emit more toxins than a car.)

4) Open your window in each room at least 5 minutes a day.

5) Use a hepa filtered vacuum cleaner.

6) Invest in an air purifier for your home and office.

7) Add folage indoors... plants help clean the air.

9) Use non-toxic cleansers.

8) Remove your shoes before entering your house to eliminate contamination from the bottom of your shoes.

10) Knowledge is power... There are valuable products designed to fight against this pollution and free radicals... research them and start using them.

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Money Saving Tip: Use Caution When Selling Something On Internet Classified Sites

A couple of years aso I was distributing a wellness product on different internet classified sites…

I had a woman submit an offer via email, she claimed her sister had cancer and she just knew that this product was what would help her. She pulled my heart strings. I was so excited because I was going to make a nice profit and help someone in the process.

She used phrases like, “Bless you” and I thought, “A Christian wouldn’t dupe me, right?”

Well, when I received the money gram – it was for twice as much as the purchase price. I contacted her to see if she was purchasing two. She said no, that the difference was for her delivery guy. He would be in Columbus in a few days. I was instructed to cash the check, keep my portion, and give her employee the balance as cash when he picked up the product.

I went to Wal-Mart and they told me the money gram was legitimate, I went to the bank and they said it looked legitimate, and within a week the money was available in my account! I was so excited!

In the mean time, I received another check. This time it was for $2000 more than the purchase price. This purchaser said, “My secretary made a huge mistake… instead of cutting you a new check, cash it, and when my associate picks it up just give him the difference in cash. “

I took this check to the bank— excited that the first cleared, but cautious enough to inquire that I was concerned about with being a victim of fraud… The banker said it looked real and again within a few days the banker personally told me that it, too, cleared; I had all of this money in my account. Excluding the portion they needed back I was ahead quite a bit. With a special needs child at home this money was huge for a struggling family.

After the banker said that the money cleared I paid car payments, utilities, and had a small portion left. That night I sent my husband out for ice cream to celebrate… and then the check card bounced! The bank said that both checks were fraudulent and the money was removed from our account.

Remember, the bank had originally cleared them as legitimate, but now was saying ‘oops we made a mistake you are a victim of fraud’.

Now, you would think that would be covered by some type of bank insurance, but it was not. I was responsible for the money I spent (I paid bills with it and didn’t have that money to repay the bank).

On top of that, the bank was charging ME for submitting a fraudulent check and the bouncing fees were accruing for all the items that I thought I was paying for with real money. My husband’s paychecks were being absorbed and we were growing further and further in debt to the bank. I finally closed the account to stop the fees from accruing.

Thank God I didn’t give them the cash or the products!!

Since this happened I get about 1 solicitation a month from different people about making a purchase for a product I no longer sell… but that doesn’t stop these people… they don’t care who they hurt... they are crooks.

LESSON LEARNED: Never do business with someone you don’t know, especially someone from online classified sites… IF they are unwilling to pay you in cash or via pay pal, you are being scammed. This is real, protect yourself!

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A Natural Birth Meditation, The Rainbow

Excerpt from The Mother Consciousness, Chapter 2 Natural Childbirth

“ I shifted in and out of different positions until I discovered the one that worked best for me. I found myself lying on my side, in the fetal position, with the comfort and safety of my husband whispering in my ear— intimate words reserved just for me. He, then, gently reminded me to focus on the colors of the rainbow bringing me into the meditation I found most relaxing during our practice sessions at home.

“I started with red and found myself enveloped in deep red roses – the smell of roses always reminded me of my maternal grandmother. I drifted to orange and focused on the warmth of the sun bathing over me – ebbing over my contractions. Yellow slipped in and I saw myself swaddled in a warm yellow fuzzy blanket – cozy, comfortable, drifting to green. The smell of fresh cut green grass in the spring entered my awareness as the blue of the sky swirled above and around me. I was floating on the clouds while I heard my husband’s comforting breath in rhythm of my own. The blue sky vaporized and I found myself in a field of purple lilacs bringing me back to my childhood. The aroma was pleasant, and led me to the memory of my maternal grandmother’s face – I could see the wrinkled distant wisdom in her eyes, comforting me. I found the strength to lift myself up into the squatting position.

[Or did my grandmother guide me?]”

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Bonus Recipe of the week: Gluten Free Casein Free Grilled Eggplant

This was so delicious I just couldn’t wait for next week.

1 large eggplant
Olive oil
Minced garlic
Sea salt

Slice eggplant in ¼ inch disks. Lay on a flat surface and drizzle olive oil, minced garlic and salt on both sides of the eggplant disks. Place disks on a hot grill, flip every 5 minutes until they are the desired doneness... even the girls ate this.

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Manage your Garden Safely (Without Harmful Chemicals)

Let’s be real… the practices of conventional farming frightens me, but what options do I really have?

Creating an organic garden takes time and labor. However, by just implementing a few steps using other organic life your garden can be protected from those unwanted creatures.

1) Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum) -- You can either crush it into a powder or make it into a tea tonic to be sprayed. Either way this is safe and nontoxic to you and your pets, but toxic to those unwanted soft insects and cold blooded vertebrae.

2) Mexican marigolds -- These plants can be scattered through your garden to protect from unwanted weeds saving you time from pruning. They also ward off unwanted creatures while being very pleasing to the eye.

3) Garlic -- This aromatic herb has been known to ward off Japanese beetles and other insects. It has even been reported to ward off mosquitoes. What's the harm... fresh garlic will be the results of your labor... Yum!

4) Lavender Oil and Lemon -- This mixture is effective in warding off moles, mice, and other unwanted creatures.

Happy Gardening!

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Hormone Imbalance & Menopause Through The Eyes of Today and Yesterday

In native cultures menopause tends to be a cause for quiet celebration, a time when a woman has completed her childbearing years and is moving into a deeper level of self-discovery and spiritual awareness.

She is becoming a wise old woman.

In these cultures menopausal women are looked up to and revered. They are sought out for advice and their opinions are heavily weighted in the decision-making process of the community.

How strange that sounds to us!

In our culture menopause is seen as the end of a woman’s sexuality, a descent into a dried-up and painful old age of arthritis and osteoporosis. It is the stage of our life thatis accepted without reason as a time of hot flashes, mood swings and pain.

How did this experience of menopause come to be?

I am not sure when this shift took place. Certainly our grandmother’s grandmothers did not expect their elder years to be full of pain and suffering. They experienced their late years with reverence like the women of native cultures.

Let’s explore several factors that may be contributing to this experience…

What we eat… Estrogen is a growth hormone in the meat and dairy we consume today. Farmers feed animals estrogen so they Grow more quickly, then they have a higher value to sell.

What they ate… Hormone free, free ranged animals that were minimally processed (probably with real salt). They ate fresh fruits and vegetables that they grew naturally on family farms.

How we manage our hormones… Now more than ever we are seeing young girls and women using hormone therapy. We use synthetic hormones, birth control, and hormone replacement therapy.

Their management of hormones… They didn’t experience the detriments of the menopause of today, their hormones weren’t off centered. Most likely they were consuming foods and herbs that nurtured their hormone chemistry. They, also, used extended breastfeeding as a means to birth control.

Through our lifestyles… American women lead the world in stress levels. Today we experience more societal expectations than ever before while placing pressure onto ourselves. Many women today are stressed out while trying to balance family and career. When we experience stress, our adrenal glands kick into overdrive and trigger cortisol—our bodies use progesterone to make the cortisol. Most women by age 35 either no longer have progesterone or have really low levels. Stress is not healthy!

Their lifestyles… Our distant ancestors wore their children as they foraged for food integrating work and home life together. Our grandmothers worked in the family home, while the men harvested the farms. We didn’t have the pressures of today’s society pushing mothers out of the home to make ends meet.

Over exposure to Petra-chemicals… Because we live in the society we live in we are constantly exposed to petra-chemicals which bind to the estrogen receptor. Petra-chemicals are considered false estrogen; fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, cleansers, dry cleaning chemicals, plastics, mineral oil… These chemicals are everywhere—this is not good. These chemicals are stored in fat tissue. (American women lead in the whole world (1 in 7) in breast cancer.)

Their use of petra-chemicals… Most petra-chemicals were created in the advent of industrialization. Our ancestors used natural means to harvest their foods, to cleanse their clothes, and cook their meals.

I suggest that some of the answers to our hormonal and menopausal woes are in the manner in which we live, eat and work. For more information on natural hormone balance check these resources out:

1. http://www.hormonebalance.org/
2. http://www.johnleemd.com/
3. http://www.salivatest.com/
4. A book titled Menopause and the Mind explains how people need progesterone more than any anti-depressant drug. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684854791/sr=1-1/qid=1156307044/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0399367-7450367?ie=UTF8&s=books
5. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause: Balance Your Hormones and Your Life From Thirty to Fifty. Dr. John R. Lee, M.D., et al
6. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Progesterone. Dr. John R. Lee, M.D., Virginia Hopkins
7. The Estrogen Alternative: Natural Hormone Therapy with Botanical Progesterone. Raquel Martin with Judi Gerstung, D.C
8. Hormone Heresy - What Women MUST Know About Their Hormones. Sherill Sellman
9. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Phyllis Balch, CNC and James Balch, MD
10. Natural Progesterone Cream: Safe and Natural Hormone Replacement. C. Noramn Shealy, MD, PhD
11. Hormone Balance: A Matter of Life and Health. Kristine B. Klitzke, RN, BSN

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A Prostitute Within Each Of Us

I have come to the realization that there is a prostitute within each of us. What?!?!

Yes, she was handed down to us through our collective unconsciousness. She is an archetype hanging out with our child, victim, mother, and hero. Her identity resides within our core and patiently waits to be solicited.

Often, we don’t acknowledge that she even exists, we suppress her essence. But there are moments in our lives that she will creep up, offering amazing opportunities that will bid our merging with her.

There will be moments when we are asked to sell ourselves for the more prestigious job; to give up a part of ourselves for the avoidance of our fears; to surrender our voice for the suppression of our truth; and to deny our essence in paralysis of the unknown future. These are the moments the prostitute triumphs.

When she starts enticing you— what will you do?

In our culture, it has become customary for us to follow the likes of someone else; a colleague, spouse, parent, boss, doctor, teacher, senator… it doesn’t really matter… we all will be persuaded. I have come to terms that often our experience is what another dictates it to be. We follow suit and sell ourselves out. We no longer hold true to what is in our hearts, minds and souls… instead we allow ourselves to be tempted.

Our prostitute beckons our attention during not so subtle moments; facing us square on while asking the question, “Have you become whole enough to resist my temptation?”

There are constructs instituted by man that have mastered the art of igniting fear within each of us, within our cultures, and within our world allowing our prostitute to be persuaded, seduced, and bought. The mission of the prostitute is to teach us how to resist these tempations, to walk in our own truth, and not be influenced by the attitudes and beliefs of others.

A moment needs to occur when our prostitute integrates within us. That is the moment we can reclaim without hesitation our innate voice, perspective, and courage. When we reclaim our truth and hold onto it with unwavering confidence we become empowered and whole.

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Rebounding Beneficial to Adults and Kids

Rebounding can be considered of the best modern day exercises; especially because of its convenience, ease of use, and achievement of a multitude of optimal health results.

The lymphatic system is the garbage collector of the human body. It is full of fluid and toxins. It relies on movement to effectively purge the toxins from its system. The best ways to achieve this movement is through massage and jumping up and down (rebounding). When the lymphatic system is regularly activated, the human body processes toxins naturally, A lymphatic system that is not performing optimally may contribute to

Headaches
Cancer
Heart Disease
Chronic Fatigue
High Blood Pressure
Infections (Viral and Bacterial)
Low Energy
Obesity
And More

Rebounding reduces body fat, provides an aerobic effect on the heart, and increases your energy even when you are tired. If you are too tired to rebound, that is when you need to rebound. When you obtain more energy who have more opportunites for a more gratifying life.

In addition to the health benefits of this exercise— rebounding has a positive effect on children with ASD and ADHD. It can be used to stimulate those with a low energy and it can be used to ground those with hyper-sensitivities. Try having your child jump before meals, bed time, transitions, table work, and car rides.

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Recipe of The Week: GFCF Strawberry Frosting

5 cups Powder Sugar
2 teaspoons Vanilla
½ cup softened Earth Balance Buttery Spread
6 ounce Soy (or coconut) Strawberry Yogurt

Blend all ingredients together and spread on cupcakes or cake. This is so yummy you will fight over who is going to lick the beaters!

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The Detox Twist

1– Sit on the floor, legs straight. Bend your right knee and lift your right foot over your left thigh, placing your right foot on the floor beside your left knee. Bend your left knee.

2-Keeping your spine straight, hook your left elbow around your right knee and reach down your thigh toward your hip.

3-Place your right hand on the ground behind you. Lift your chest and gently twist your spine to look over your right shoulder.

4-Hold for several seconds. Release. Repeat on the opposite side.

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What Difference Will You Make?

When I woke up this morning it was cold, wet, and dreary. I felt a surge of sadness envelop me; a solemn morning for our nation’s collective memory.

Do you remember where you were when you heard that two young boys were on a killing spree at their high school in Columbine, Colorado?

I do.

I bet that when you read the word ‘Columbine’ it triggered all of those memories of April 20, 1999. Somehow we have embedded memories like this into our unconsciousness complete with sounds, smells, and sights; ready to replay on cue.

I was 7 months pregnant with my first baby. I was young and full of hope about entering a new chapter of my life… BUT, I remember thinking, “Oh what have we done bringing another child into this violent, disconnected world?!?!”

For one day my life paused.

I remember grieving for the loss of those 12 victims and their teacher, but I also grieved for Dylan and Eric, for their families, for our nation. It was this first mass school killing and the nation watched paralyzed in disbelief.

We wondered why.
We cried out how.
We craved answers!

I really doubt that we will ever be able to obtain those answers. Of course, people will try—recently 3 books were released based on 3 separate theories about what happened that day. Certainly, these authors can only speculate something I am not even going to attempt.

To me, it doesn’t matter what snapped within those young boys, it doesn’t matter who was leading who, it doesn’t matter if there were clicks, bad parenting, missed clues, bombs… none of this seems relevant in this day of solemn remembrance.

The questions should be personal not distant. What have you learned?

Violence is prevalent among our youth, there does not seem to be a sense of remorse, human life seems less revered. .. What can you do?

How will this motivate you into being a better parent, sibling, teacher, counselor, community leader, president?

What can you do today, in this moment, with your child, niece, nephew, neighbor, student?

What role can you take in your community, in your schools, at your churches?

It is time for us to turn the page and face a new chapter in our lives. What difference will you make?

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People of the Earth; Arise!

People of the Earth;
Arise!
The Mother Earth
Is calling upon you.

Awaken to the cause;
Stand
Shout
Respond.

The winds of the sky are agitated—
The floods have revolted—
And the fires are intensifying.

People of the Earth;
Arise!
The Mother Earth
Is rumbling for us to take action.

Awaken to possibilities;
Reusability
Restoration
Responsibility.

The icecaps vanish—
The creatures die—
And the greed continues on.

People of the Earth;
Arise!
The Mother Earth
Has taken care of her own.

Awaken to her touch;
Respond
Nurture
Repair.

The reconstruction takes time—
The resources appear—
And the Earth regenerates.

People of the Earth;
Arise!
The Mother Earth
Is grateful towards her children.

Awaken to tomorrow;
Harmony
Integrity
Balance.

The accountability gives hope—
The healing takes place—
And the utopia trickles in.

People of the Earth;
Arise!
The mother Earth has healed.

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Will You Wake Up This Earth Day?

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Dear #901

I was reading some “friendly debate” on the vaccination-autism connection posted by Heather on dooce.com. This particular post did not have a comment section available anymore. (Not sure why, since I did just post a comment on this site Easter Sunday, but now I can’t.) So… I would like to comment here… I hope if finds its way to #901.


Dear #901,

The conversation has been circling around concern that if you don’t vaccinate your child that it will die of the measles. You should know that the CDC reported 161 cases of measles in first half of 2007, yet, the chances of a child regressing into the world of autism in that same year was 1 out of 150. In regards to whether or not to vaccinate your child you wrote, “The following statement will probably piss folks off but the truth, for me, is that I would rather risk autism than death.”

Caution…. According to these statistics, you just might get your wish…

You would rather have your child experience autism over death? Do you realize that sometimes autism is like death? That these little souls are trapped in a physical body? Have you tried to interact with a child with autism? Do you even know one? (You should – the numbers are an astounding!)

Does your child look you in the eye? Does your child respond to his name or the sound of your voice? Has your child ever said I love you to you? What is her favorite color? What is her favorite food? Does she now her name? Your name? Can you keep your child clothed? Do you know the heart sinking experience of having your non-verbal child wander out of the home or out of your sight?

Does he exhibit odd behavior in public? Do the people comment on how bad of a mother you are because your child appears uncontrollable? Can he follow simple directions? Can you go out to eat? Can you go to church? Do you have to prepare special meals with special ingredients? Does she consume non-food items? Does he have obsessions with repetitive behavior like spinning or reciting an entire cartoon before she can fall asleep?

What about your other children? Do they feel like they are always on the back burner? Or embarrassed because every time their friends come over their sister is naked? Or feel awkward because their brother can’t talk? Or frustrated that they can’t play normal games with their autistic sister? Do they sport low self esteem because of the challenges a child with a sibling of autism faces?

What about you? Has your family been forced to one income? Are you running every which way to therapy, neurology appointments, geneticist, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, music therapy, socialization classes, and special stores? Do you have a social life? When is the last time your husband and you went out on a date? A vacation? Do you have a hobby? When is the last time you had coffee with a friend?

Can your child understand the difference between a good touch and a bad touch? Can you educate your daughter about stranger danger? What will happen if you die? Who will take care of her when she is an adult? Will she get married? Hold a job? Live independently? Will she be able to have insurance coverage? Can you understand that parents of children with disabilities sometimes secretly pray for the child to pass before the parent, because they can’t comprehend what might happen to their child if she outlives them?

I really don’t think that you understand the heartache, the sleepless nights, fear, stress, agony, and the questions, oh sooo many questions, that can never be answered! There are times it feels like you are living with a stranger in a little person’s body. Sometimes it feels as if your child has been prematurely taken from you? You look at her and don’t know who she is or what she is about. And you beg God to wake her up and then you wonder why God is not listening.

But…#901, I would never claim to understand what it is like to lose a child to death. I can only imagine how horrible that must be. But I do know what it is like to lose a child to the spectrum. I know the strife and grief I endure daily.

My strength comes from understanding that these children have been chosen and have agreed to allow this to happen to them from a cosmic plane, and for that, how could I be pissed at you?

In the recess of my cells I know God is listening and am able to summon the strength to say, “Thank you for giving me a contract with this intriguing soul... Lord, thank you for trusting that I could handle this challenge. I promise to fulfill this contract to the best of my earthly ability, to help others understand the harm these vaccinations can cause, and to learn all I can to help reverse this debilitating condition in order to help save others from this isolated journey. “

#901, I believe that when a child dies God needed another angel… somehow that makes the unjustness of it seem less. I, also, believe when a child experiences autism, God recognizes that we needed an angel among us. Neither is worse or better than the other. They are both tragic experiences, yet cosmic contracts that neither of us will understand.

Sincerely, An Earth Angel’s Mother

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Gluten Free Foods

A gluten free diet is promoted by many physicians as a treatment protocol for celiac disease, autism and ADHD. It has been reported in some cases that the gluten protein acts like an opiate in the body’s system. Some children that get on the gluten free diet exhibit better self control, less temper tantrums, and even an increase in speech articulation.

It takes up to six months for the gluten protein to be completely excreted from the body. So, even a tiny bit can cause up to six months worth of gluten reactions in the body. To truly see the benefit of a gluten free diet 100% of the gluten needs to be removed 100% of the time. This a difficult task to accomplish.

If a product is produced in a factory with Gluten containing foods there can be cross-contamination. Some factories use flour to coat conveyer belts. For instance, seemingly safe foods like raisins may be contaminated with gluten—as some manufacturers use wheat flour to prevent the raisins from sticking together.

Food additives, meats, ice cream, and candy often contain wheat. Guten can even be found in body care and hair care. Play dough even has wheat in it. This why you should get in the habit of calling manufacturers; get familiar with manufacturers and their practices.

There are many gluten free products on the market. You just need to have patience and a self control to proceed. This diet requires a lot of effort in the beginning, but once you begin recognizing which products you can consume, it becomes much easier. Watch this blog for weekly gluten free recipes.

Foods to AVOID on the diet

Wheat
Kamut
Spelt
Barley
Rye
Oats
Tritical


Foods ALLOWED on the diet

Corn
Potato
Rice
Rice Tapioca (derived from cassava)
Amaranth
Arrowroot
Millet
Montina
Lupine
Quinoa
Sorghum
Sweet Potato
Taro
Teff
Yam
Beans
Soybeans
Nut Flours
Buckwheat
Gram Flour (Chickpea)

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There is a Time and a Place

More often than not, it is suggested among my inner circle that I reject the medical model.

So, do I? Absolutely not!

However, I do reject the misuse of medicinal intervention. I do think that the overuse of some interventions can result in more complications. In my book, The Mother Consciousness, I state that I have “reserved it’s expertise for emergencies only”.

Is that true?

Of course it is. A broken arm, a stroke, a heart attack, a bacterial infection, pneumonia… all constitute an emergency. If I were to experience any of these conditions, you better get me to an emergency room or doctor. The medical model does have life saving procedures that must be initiated; procedures that you must obtain to prevent further complications or worse, death.

However, I also understand that man is fallible and that the institution of medicine has presented itself as knowing more than the phenomenal body the Creator orchestrated. And that there are times when we do over treat, over medicate, over inject, over cut, over remove... because someone dictates that this is what you should do. At times this over treatment, too, can cause more complications or worse, death.

I encourage everyone to become proactive in their physical health, but that does not mean completely ignoring the medical model. We should be taking mindful steps towards optimal health and prevention of disease through diet, exercise, meditation or prayer, energy work, chiropractic care, and other alternative means. But in a state of emergency, you better seek medical intervention. Only once your situation becomes stable it is then reasonable to obtain additional services from your other alternative health practitioners.

There is a delicate balance of knowing when to intervene and when to allow the body to heal thyself. Is there a right way to proceed? No, this is an individual choice and we all have claim to choose when intervention is in our best interest...

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Recipe of the Week: GFCF Chocolate Pudding

12 teaspoons Sugar
½ cup Unsweetened Cocoa
1 tablespoon Xantham Gum
3 cups Almond Milk (Original)
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Mix dry ingredients. Gradually whisk in almond milk. Microwave for 6 minutes; stopping every 2 minutes to stir. Microwave for 3 minutes more; stopping every minute to stir. Remove and add the vanilla, stir, and chill for 30+ minutes.

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Creators Of Our Own Reality

According to the Secret (a film out about the Law of Attraction) you can attract what you want through 3 simple steps: ask, believe, and receive.

1. Ask: Identify what you want and ask for it. Write it down or post it on a vision board, your refrigerator, car visor, in your work space, bathroom, bedroom ceiling… put it everywhere!!
Look at it every day often.

2. Believe: Believe that it is already yours- even if you don’t know how it is going to come about. Believe and Feel as if you already have it.

3. Receive: Be open to receiving your want. Without the ability to receive it- it will not manifest.

Monitor your thoughts… every thought, over 65,000 of them each day, manifests our reality. This is not just wishful thinking… quantum physics states that thoughts have magnetic frequencies. This has been proven by science and in this science energy attracts like energy.

So if thoughts have magnetic frequencies then... whatever you think about you manifest. We are the creators of our own reality.

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Welcome to Holland: by Emily Perl Kingsley

Welcome to Holland



I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability to try and help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel.Its like this.....

When you are going to have a baby its like planing a fabulous vacation trip-to italy.You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans.The coliseum the Michelangelo David,the gondolas etc.You may learn some handy phrases in in italian.Its all exciting.You pack your bags and off you go.

Several hours later the plane lands and the stewardess comes in and says,"Welcome to Holland.""Holland?" you say,"what do you mean Holland?" I signed up for Italy I'm supposed to be in Italy! All my life Ive dreamed of going to Italy."

But there has been a change of flight plan and youve landed in Holland and there you must stay.The important thing is that they havn't taken you to a horrible,disgusting place full of pestilence, famine and disease.Its just a different place.

So you must go out and buy different guide books and learn a new language.You will meet a whole bunch of people you never would have met.Its just a different place,slower pace than Italy,less flashy than Italy.

After a while you catch your breath and look around you and you begin to notice that Holland has Tulips Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there.And for the rest of your life you will say "Yes thats where I was supposed to go,that's what I had planned."

The pain of that will never go away,because the loss of that dream is a significant loss.But if you spend your whole life mourning the fact that you didn't go to Italy you may never be free to enjoy the very special and the lovely things about Holland.


ByEmily Perl Kingsley

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Ionic Footbath

The Ionic Footbath uses tap water in a basin and the water in your body to create a process of complete ionization. Through the electrolysis process the water molecule is split into its simplest elements – hydrogen and oxygen. During this process negative ions are released and absorbed into the body. These anions attract and neutralize free radicals in the body.

This process purges toxins, free radicals, and nucleic waste product kept of generated within the cells and the surrounding membrane. There is a restoration of proper cell function, giving the cell natural energy to select nutrients and expel wastes.

However, it should be remembered that the process doesn’t stop there. The body will have gained extra energy couple with the cell wall being cleansed and it will them be able to continue healthy elimination post treatment. This will allow the body to increase proper functioning.

Water is your cornerstone to your detox experience. Simply put, if you want to flush it out, you must drink water. Water removes toxins from the body and this is what you want.

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Money Saving Tip 2: Bulk It Up

We no longer buy a lot of processed foods. After we reclaimed our ability to eat from nature we denied the cheap foods laced with gluten, casein, high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes and preservatives. The problem that came with this lifestyle was it hit the pocket book and hit it hard.

One afternoon I went to several stores with the mission to price check. I found that although each store is really competitive in their pricing, that some products are way off the mark. For instance, a jar of Better Than Bouillon Bouillon at Giant Eagle was $2 MORE than the local health food chain, Whole Foods. Yes, I was surprised too.

Recently, I have taken an interest to the bulk section of the stores. Rice flour, dried beans, quino, brown rice, raw sugar, cereal, herbs, spices and other staples are in this section. I don’t know why I never explored this option before, but I have started saving loads of money with some planning.

I used to buy canned beans weekly. Whether for a steamy pot of chili, Mexican night or hidden in the GFCF mac-n-cheese, beans are an easy source of good protein. Although, a can of organic beans only costs just over $2.00, when you are using beans several nights a week that can and does add up. For the same amount of money, I bought a pound of pinto beans and black beans in bulk over a month ago and we are still using the same purchases. I have saved well over the amount invested and the bottom of the container is nowhere near.

We have switched our bread of choice to rice bread, but the cost, again, is enormous in comparison to a loaf of white bread. The cost difference is about $2.28 per loaf…. Ouch. For that amount, I can buy a pound and a half of brown rice flour and make my own. The other ingredients are also staples in the home (some of which, yep, are bulk).

What about meats? If you consume them, buy bulk. Ask the butcher to cut it down to portion size packages. They will do this at no extra cost. Fruits and veggies… well, don’t bother. You’re better off buying what you need on a weekly basis to prevent poilage.

Not only can you save money buying bulk, but you can increase your pantry’s stock at relatively good prices. Buying more at a time equals fewer trips to the store—saving you time and energy—something every mom is looking to do one way or another. I have come to the conclusion that bulk and dry may just be one answer to some of the pocket book tragedies of today’s economic challenges.

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Recipe of The Week: GFCF Pancakes

1 ½ Cup Brown Rice Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Pure Sea Salt
½ Teaspoon Xantham Gum
1 Heaping Tablespoon Raw Sugar
1 Egg
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Original Almond Milk
1 Cup Blueberries (optional)

Combine rice flour, baking powder, salt and xantham gum.

In a separate bowl, beat egg with vanilla and almond milk. Add this wet mixture to the dry. Fold in blueberries if desired.

Use a tablespoon to transfer batter into a pan over medium-low heat. (I found silver dollar pancakes handle better and the kids love them.) Allow the cake to bubble then flip, remove when golden brown on each side.

Serve with Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread- original and homemade Pancake Syrup or 100% maple syrup.

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Julie Gerberding, the head of the CDC

Something to think about....

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Hippotherapy

Hippo-What?!?!?! Yes, Hippotherapy! If you are like our pediatrician you have never heard of the term, however, the equine enthusiast will most certainly recognize that the Greek word “Hippo” actually means horse. Yes, “Horse”-therapy. Well, of course, I don’t mean that the horse is lying on a couch telling Freud how horrible the mare that birthed him was… But I do mean that the movement and presence of horses have been proven to benefit individuals with disabilities aiding in physical, occupational and speech therapy outcomes.

I also would like to point out that Hippotherapy IS for the whole family whether there is a disability present or not.

We enrolled Emily in horse riding lessons when she was transitioning from a Waldorf education setting to a public school. I know – a huge transition! It was difficult for the whole family to go from a naturalistic setting to a sterile room with desks. So, that is why we wanted to engage her in something that would keep her connected to nature and continue to feed her spirit. That is how we met Silk (an Arabian with character) through his human, Jean.

It took me awhile to get comfortable enough to keep my eyes open, yet alone stay in the arena while watching Emily emerge from a walk to a confident canter. It was probably even harder to watch my 13 month old ride bareback. Although… I quickly recognized that she was safe in Silk’s care as he slowly made his way around the arena; she melted into his back as if they were one.

Both of these girls are naturals. However, over time I have realized that this is a joint effort of their innate skill and his ability to carefully discern what is best for them in any given moment. For the longest time, I didn’t recognize that Silk was consciously aiding in the girls’ success. However, yesterday, that construct was forever broken.

As Emily ventured into the pasture, mounted on his back, to see the very pregnant (ready to pop) mare, he carefully landed each and every step. She was radiating with pride at her accomplishment to navigate him outside the arena. When we returned to the arena it was Sahara’s turn. Sahara eagerly longs to ride like her sister, cantering and walking over poles, but her feet just don’t quite reach the stirrups yet. Still, that doesn’t stop her from trying…

As Sahara stretched her left leg to reach the stirrup, her daddy grabbed onto her so she would not tumble off. She quickly reclaimed her own balance. Still unsure that she wasn’t going to make another sudden movement, daddy kept his hand firmly planted on her, as he walked side by side the majestic Arabian.

As a firm believer in the power of intention, I do not want to create an accident. So from a distance, I was prepared to leave if I sensed my motherliness breaking any of their confidence. However, I snapped my head up when I heard Jim say, “Silk, you can stop whipping me anytime now.” I looked up and sure enough the horse’s tail was firmly swinging just to the left – whipping his back and head! After 3 more strikes Jean said, “He is telling you to trust him with her.”

What? The horse is communicating with him?

Well, the comment didn’t faze Jim. Without hesitation, he honored Jean’s suggestion by letting go of Sahara. INSTANEOUSLY the tail whipping stopped. Unbelieveable! They continued to walk as her pelvic synchronized with his. She beamed with pride at her own abilities. Silk beamed with pride for having put Jim in his place. We felt liberated at the wit of a horse on a mission to teach us all a lesson.

During the past 3 ½ years Silk has become a part of this family; a crucial part of Sahara’s treatment and Emily’s maturation. Silk and Jean have created moments in time that have brought this family closer. Moments that will transpire into childhood memories. After our visit yesterday, I am certain that we have , somewhere along the line, been accepted into his herd as well.

My enlightenment yesterday includes:

1. Hippotherapy is real and for the whole family.

2. Children are safe around an equine atmosphere when the horses are properly nurtured, trained and honored.

3. The horses aid in not only physical and speech attributes, but foster a sense of self, esteem, confidence and emotional growth for all children (and parents!).

4. Animals, whether equine or not, can and do communicate with humans.

5. When we are at the barn, Jim is no longer the alpha-male.

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Oxygen

Oxygen is the 3rd most abundant element in the universe and essential to our survival. However, because it is a reactive substance you have to be very careful in the presence of pure oxygen or else you could have an explosion (The air we breathe is only 20 percent oxygen).

When oxygen reacts with other substances, it causes oxidation. Fire, for example, is rapid oxidation. We also see it when iron rusts; the rust is oxidation. An apple cut in half and exposed to air & turns brown; the browning is oxidation.

This process of oxidation can also occur within the body, where it's called biological rancidification. Free radicals are molecules that are missing an electron, so they steal a replacement electron from another molecule, causing oxidative damage to the "victimized" molecule and the tissue of which it is a part.

Unfortunately, there's a domino effect caused by free radicals in the body. They don't just cause one reaction and stop. The "victimized" molecule now steals a replacement electron from yet a third molecule...and on and on it goes.

Now, we need oxygen to live. That's obvious!

Every cell of the body--trillions of them--needs oxygen to carry on their individual functions. Brain cells, for example, begin to die after only three minutes without a fresh supply of oxygen. When the free radicals steal the negative ions from the oxygen molecules they begin to clog the elimination channels and cause them to work ineffectively.

German physiologist Otto Warburg discovered that there are many secondary causes of cancer, but they cannot cause cancer without the presence of the primary cause: he won the 1931 and the 1944 Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology for his discovery that a lack of oxygen to cells is the primary cause of cancer.

So how can we increase our oxygen and gain the essential anions to attack and remove the free radicals to promote wellness?

· Use hydrogen peroxide in the ear at the onset of a cold (tilt head, pour H2O2 in ear, leave in for a few minutes, tilt head to other side to empty).

· Use food-grade hydrogen peroxide (35%) and put a diluted solution of it into a vaporizer at night.

· HYPERBARIC treatments.

· Acupressure points. There are two points right under your collar bone. Take your thumb and index finger and place them in front of the pupils of your eyes. Keep your fingers at this distance and move down to your collar bone. Feel with your fingers until you hit a tender spot. This is the pressure point. Press down and rotate the fingers in a clockwise fashion. Then repeat with your left hand and turn counter clockwise this time. By stimulating these points you increase the oxygen that is going to your brain.

· Avoid Carbonated Soft Drinks. The sugar and carbonic acid in the soda diffuse into the blood and decrease oxygen levels.

· Open a window in each room for at least 5 minutes a day.

· Go outdoors.

· Practice Yoga.

· Laughter often.

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$3,000,000...A Call To Action!

I just wasn’t sure what I would write on “National Autism Awareness Day”, but just as I was in the height of getting the girls ready for school my sister called. She was watching Good Morning America; she was telling me about how it costs $3,000,000 dollars to raise a child with autism. Catching my breath from having helped Emily change 15 times for picture day, I said, “I know”.

I started to think about this $3,000,000!! I googled around to find out how much it costs to raise a typically developing child and that number was still quite high – averaging around $235,000.

Then it dawned on me, as I prepared Sahara’s breakfast of a GFCF smoothie, that her specialized diet alone was capitalizing on our single income. And what about the clothing that had to be a certain fabric because of her sensory issues; just yesterday I had to resort to turning her leggins inside-out to avoid the seam against her skin. And the kooshi balls, tampolines, the sensory box, the pecs... the list of home aids is just innumberable.

All of this and the speech and occupational therapies, food, specialists, supplements… swirled in my head. The thought of it is enough to overwhelm even The Donald. But all of these things have a place, something we learned to adapt to.

However, what I don’t grasp is the $2200 neurologist bill that arrived in our mailbox yesterday; he was only in the room 20 minutes— tops! Or… what about the autism specialist that is charging $300 an hour, excluding the lab work or treatments/supplements in which insurance won't touch, does he have a right to exploit parent’s hope - because of the almighty dollar?

Autism is a viable industry, just like cancer. I try to avoid downer feelings of capitalization taking advantage of the families and children faced with this epidemic, but sometimes it is difficult. There are so many things available for the proactive parent; but not always the means to pursue it. Certainly, $3,000,000 is not just sitting in an account waiting to be liquidated. I really feel for the children whose parents are not even aware that a GFCF diet can be helpful to some of these kids, that the county will pay for some of the therapy or that floortime, a no cost approach, can effectively be used in your own home.

I suppose that is why I started this blog, to educate all parents that there are rays of hope in their future. With the new administration more hope floats into my essence than before. I pray that they can comprehend the desperation in the 1 out 132 children’s families who are experiencing autism and faced with a $3,000,000 persoanl deficit. More so, I hope the recognize that the wisdom of the universe can help guide us to create a more prosperous life for these kids; one of hope, productivity, and meaningful relationships.

Recently, I recieved an email stating the Obama Administration did ask some of the "Evolutionary Leaders to communicate about what is transpiring on the planet, and how we can change the course of the unprecedented events that are challenging this planet. "

I think now more than every that we need to let our leaders hear our voice. Please join me, Deepak Chopra, Gregg Braden, Michael Beckwith and many, many others, in showing this administration how many people are in favor for

* Building a global community and creating a culture of peace.* Restoring ecological balance to nourish all life, and mitigate the effects of climate change.* Engaging in social and political transformation by calling for a more conscious democracy.* Promoting health and healing by acknowledging the profound mind-body-spirit connection.* Supporting research and education that optimize human capacities.* Encouraging integrity in business and conscious media.

The Evolutionary Leaders are also asking us to sign a petition to show the Administration how many people are in favor for these changes to occur. They need 100,000 signatures. The petition link and a discription of their recommendations can be found here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/248704259

Please consider taking action. This stance will help our leaders see that there has to be another way to afford health and peace for all of the children of this world.

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Moment to Moment

April is Autism Awareness month; tomorrow World Autism Awareness Day! With that said, I am sure that I will dedicate a lot of my energy on my blog this month about our journey into and through autism. My purpose is to enlighten others with no hidden agenda - straight from the heart. If just one other family, child, or mother can be inspired then I will have met my goal.


However, I would just like to reflect on the concept of having to dedicate a specific day or month to the 'awareness of autism'. I suppose I find this akin to Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day, you know the Hallmark Holidays. As a couple, we have taken the stance that if you are truly IN LOVE you express this daily— moment to moment— in intimate ways that only you and your significant other 'get' ; not on a declared day dictated by another.


I don't need a pre-fab card and tortured roses from my mate to tell me how much he loves me. He does this daily in subtle ways that I will never become numb to. The gentle brush of the hand removing my hair out of my exhausted eyes after after chasing Sahara up the street, the unloading of the water jugs from the back of the jeep – barefoot in the rain at midnight, the unsolicited kiss when the children aren't looking, the consciousness to call to see how my day is going, or the never-ending patience to my never-ending nagging about something (always something).


I have to compare autism to being in love. It isn’t something you go looking for, desire, or fantasize about. When love and autism are created it is cosmic, something happening beyond our earthly comprehension. In a love story, two strangers meet; you become aware of something familiar in their unfamiliar-ness, something comforting in their foreign touch, and something understood in the silence of a moment. It is like you knew each other lifetimes ago, and you suddenly feel at home, but there is still this boundary to be crossed, a journey yet to be embarked.


Moments like these are riddled throughout the day of autism. The hidden memories of familiar-ness in your child's eyes; the squawks that seem to bring comfort only to your ears; and the profound silence that does speak louder than words— Intimate moments that only a mother or family of autism can relate to and truly understand.


With that, we are home and embarking on a journey that we know we will survive and come out stronger, united in moments- intimate to only us. A journey defined by outsider’s as symptoms and labels. A journey of unknown treatments waiting to be found— moment to moment—not just on a declared month or singled out day.


You cannot say, "Today I will become more aware of what my sister, neighbor, co-worker, fellow human being is experiencing and because I acknowledged it… tomorrow, I can resume with MY life." This has to be something that we support each other and our children in daily, not just in a proclaimed Hallmark moment.

You cannot magically bring more awareness and more profound meaning to a family experiencing autism on a dedicated day, than the moments that already subtly occur day to day, hour by hour, and minute by minute in the world of autism.

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Recipe of the Week: GFCF Frog Legs

Just Kidding! Happy April Fool’s Day! I thought that instead of giving you a recipe today, I would offer you a dinner time story.

Last night I had a migraine (I have had them since the birth of my youngest daughter). But yesterdays grew more intense as dinner drew near. Emily came up to me, rubbed my shoulders, and said, “Can I make us dinner tonight since you don’t feel good?”

“OH Sweetie, I would love that. I was going to make a fruit salad and baked potato with fish.”

Emily harassed her sister until she went with her into the kitchen and together they made this fabulous, simple dinner. I didn’t interject wanting them to have pride in their creation. Silently, I wondered what daddy was going to think when he saw the mess in the trail of their heartfelt creation.

Emily asked about the fish, but I told her I would pop it into the oven for us. With no energy, I just put the cod on the broiler pan and popped it in; no spices, just plain cod. I gave Emily the recipe for my GFCF Ranch Dressing and she poured each spice into Sahara’s little hand and they made the dressing together.

When daddy got home they were struggling with how to make a potato - so daddy intervened. In the mean time, they had covered me up with a comforter, poured me a glass of water, and took off my socks and shoes. I felt truly pampered.

Emily wanted to serve me on the couch, but I mustered the energy to get to the table. The girls had picked some weeds and put them in a beautiful crystal vase - It might just have been the nicest bouquet I have seen. The meal was simple yet nourishing; my headache lessened with its nourishment, or maybe it was their TLC. The girls were so excited about having created it that Sahara even sat at the table.

Here is the finale: The Fruit Salad.

It was a fruit salad in the truest since of the words. Sahara had diligently washed lettuce leaves and arranged them on a dinner plate. Then Emily placed blueberries, strawberries and grapes on the lettuce. Together the cut up pieces of celery and fresh tomatoes and sequenced them around the fruit. Thus a fruit - salad! LOVELY! (Maybe I will include that in my cookbook)

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