This Is For You, girl

There is a girl...
A girl I never met...

A beautiful girl...
A beautiful girl whose face I've never seen....

A girl who's heart is that of gold...
Courageous, sincere and caring beyond words.

A girl who has made an impact...
an impact on a mother...
a child...
a community...
A girl who gets it!

A girl who will grow up to be a wonderful woman and reach not just a mother...
or a child...
or a community, but

A girl who will change the world.


You see, Friday night, I was riding in the car with my husband. I was making small talk, trying to curtail the anxiety that was coming along with going to his 25th class reunion. We caught up on the busy week that was behind us, and we lamented over the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado. I pulled out my phone, caught up on my emails and then proceeded over to Facebook to read a new private message from one of my "friends".

I was speechless. The tears were welling up. My husband was perplexed, and he pleaded, "Stop, your make-up will run!"

Trying to get the words out, I read him the following...
and he cried, too.


"Hello Mrs. R!

This is B. My mother was sharing with me that she has two Facebook friends with children who are autistic, and I just want to say I think you are fantastic. I have so much respect and appreciation for you and all you do. I can see that you love your boys very much, and you must be such a special person. It is people like you who really make others stop and wonder. With people in the world like you who have so much love to go around, how can there be so much terror and hatred? I will be thinking about you and praying for you. Your boys are so lucky!"

The courage she had to reach out to one of her mother's friends,whom she has never met, and write these words is an AMAZING quality.

Earlier this week, this girls mother posted that her daughter requested "in lieu of birthday presents, she would like people to donate to the charity of choice. This years pick is Autism Speaks, because everyone deserves a voice."
...WHAT teenage kid does that????

I'll tell you what kind...
A child of God!

This is for you dear, B!

I praise you!
I praise you for noticing.
The autism community praises you!
It is people like you that will help raise awareness about autism. I don't know if you know who Dr. Temple Grandin is, but she has been quoted to say "different...not less". That is true with all individuals, autistic or not.

The world needs people like you,B, to show love for humanity. I respect you so much for your maturity. You exude love in your words and in your actions. You are selfless,and your charitable heart will certainly be rewarded.

I am going to leave you with the words that YOU wrote, because I couln't say it any better!

"It is people like YOU who really make others stop and wonder. With people in the world like YOU who have so much love to go around, how can there be so much terror and hatred? I will be thinking about YOU and praying for YOU. Your MOM is so lucky!"


Mrs. R

Thank God For Snow

I have many childhood memories that allow me escape from the monotony of adulthood.

Playing outside
Running
Jumping
...just being outside from dusk till dawn

I remember
camping and hiking
and, bike rides all day long

Swimming till my fingers and toes were waterlogged
and chasing down the ice cream truck

Seeing Grease and ET a gazillion times at the drive in

Riding rollercoasters

Going on vacations

...and sitting on my grandmother's lap for hours.

The list could go on and on.

Everyday something sparks a reflection of my past and it makes me wonder, what will HE hold onto as childhood memories?

Will it be memories of therapies and doctor visits? or strict ABA protocols?

or will he, too, be able to reflect upon those joyful times.

I hope one day he will be able to tell me.

Oh, Dear God, PLEASE let him be able to TELL me...

But for now

Today

I thank you, God, for the snow.