Recipe for a wonderful new year
First, take twelve finely-aged months and see that they have been thoroughly peeled and cleaned of any lingering bitterness, resentment, envy or spite. Pick off any unpleasant memories that may remain and wash away all feelings of anger and hatred. Make sure that these years are completely cleansed of the past.
Divide these months into parts, 30-31 per month (one month may only have 28). A full batch will keep for a year, so do not attempt to prepare the entire batch at once. Prepare one day at a time, as follows:
Into each day mix these ingredients:
Faith
Patience
Courage
Work
Hope
Devotion
Faithfulness
Liberality
Rest
Prayer
Meditation
Knead all ingredients together with love, grace and kindness, then place on a well blessed sheet of honor.
~ Bake with joy and optimism! ~
~ Author Unknown ~
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Another new year fast approaching
One more day and then another year will have come and gone. Boy, does time fly when you least expect it to. Be safe wherever you are.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Snowflakes by Valerie Jacobs
Snowflakes
By Valerie Jacobs
Snowflakes. No two are ever the same. Besides being fascinating, they are all shaped from their own molds. Yet they are classified by one word.
That is how I think of the Autism Spectrum. ASD currently includes Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and PDD-NOS.
Autism presents itself through delays in the areas of social interaction and communication. It often causes the individual to display repetitive behaviors. People with Autism often have problems interacting with others in what is considered typical ways. Eye contact can be diminished and interest in others can be decreased. Communication can cause the person to be non-verbal, or need the assistance of sign language, pictures and other assistive technology. Often, the sensory system can be distorted causing him to seek unusual ways of calming himself. Within Autism, people can have various function levels. It is widely agreed that those who are “NT” (neuro typical) underestimate what autistics are capable of achieving and understanding.
Asperger’s Syndrome is very similar to the above, but generally the individual has normal or near normal communication skills. This is indicated by the use of single words by the age of 2, and use of phrases by the age of 3. Self help skills and cognitive development are also on target. Aspie’s, as they are often referred to, have significant social deficits and difficulties.
PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified) is the diagnosis made when some symptoms of Autism are present, but not all of them. This is still an area not agreed on by all physicians in the field as it is not a black and white diagnosis.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is noted later in childhood and diagnosed by the loss of skills previously achieved in the areas of language, social skills, bladder and bowel control, play and motor skills. Rett’s disorder also happens after a period of normal development. Although fairly rare, these two disorders are included on the Autism Spectrum.
Only some of us live in areas where we see snowflakes on a regular basis. Some people live their whole life never experiencing snow. But those of us who have often agreed that snowflakes are beautiful and intriguing. So are those on the Autism Spectrum. They are unique individuals who add character to the environment and help us to see the world from another point of view.
By Valerie Jacobs
Snowflakes. No two are ever the same. Besides being fascinating, they are all shaped from their own molds. Yet they are classified by one word.
That is how I think of the Autism Spectrum. ASD currently includes Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and PDD-NOS.
Autism presents itself through delays in the areas of social interaction and communication. It often causes the individual to display repetitive behaviors. People with Autism often have problems interacting with others in what is considered typical ways. Eye contact can be diminished and interest in others can be decreased. Communication can cause the person to be non-verbal, or need the assistance of sign language, pictures and other assistive technology. Often, the sensory system can be distorted causing him to seek unusual ways of calming himself. Within Autism, people can have various function levels. It is widely agreed that those who are “NT” (neuro typical) underestimate what autistics are capable of achieving and understanding.
Asperger’s Syndrome is very similar to the above, but generally the individual has normal or near normal communication skills. This is indicated by the use of single words by the age of 2, and use of phrases by the age of 3. Self help skills and cognitive development are also on target. Aspie’s, as they are often referred to, have significant social deficits and difficulties.
PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified) is the diagnosis made when some symptoms of Autism are present, but not all of them. This is still an area not agreed on by all physicians in the field as it is not a black and white diagnosis.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is noted later in childhood and diagnosed by the loss of skills previously achieved in the areas of language, social skills, bladder and bowel control, play and motor skills. Rett’s disorder also happens after a period of normal development. Although fairly rare, these two disorders are included on the Autism Spectrum.
Only some of us live in areas where we see snowflakes on a regular basis. Some people live their whole life never experiencing snow. But those of us who have often agreed that snowflakes are beautiful and intriguing. So are those on the Autism Spectrum. They are unique individuals who add character to the environment and help us to see the world from another point of view.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
I wanted to take time to wish a Merry Christmas to all of you.
Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. Even though I'm long into adulthood, it makes me feel like a kid again when opening gifts.
May you and yours enjoy this very special day.
Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. Even though I'm long into adulthood, it makes me feel like a kid again when opening gifts.
May you and yours enjoy this very special day.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tis the day before Christmas
Tis the day before Christmas.
The tree is up, loaded with presents.
The stockings are hung on the fireplace with care.
The mice are a stirring, and so are the dogs and birds.
The cookies and breads are made.
All is left are baking the pies and making the fudge.
Before preparing the big Christmas dinner.
Still waiting on the mail to deliver packages that are over due.
All the Christmas parties were attended with great fun.
Most of the Christmas shows had been watched, with few not seen yet.
Christmas cards and letters has been sent.
Christmas wishes has been met.
Now we are waiting on some snow, instead of ice.
Santa will have no problem landing his sleigh.
With all this ice, he may just slide away.
Unless he has chains or spikes.
So I in my night gown, is ready to settle.
No longer have to worry,
About the hussle and bussle.
Just snuggle in for the winter blast.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
(Courtesy of Yahoo! Groups)
The tree is up, loaded with presents.
The stockings are hung on the fireplace with care.
The mice are a stirring, and so are the dogs and birds.
The cookies and breads are made.
All is left are baking the pies and making the fudge.
Before preparing the big Christmas dinner.
Still waiting on the mail to deliver packages that are over due.
All the Christmas parties were attended with great fun.
Most of the Christmas shows had been watched, with few not seen yet.
Christmas cards and letters has been sent.
Christmas wishes has been met.
Now we are waiting on some snow, instead of ice.
Santa will have no problem landing his sleigh.
With all this ice, he may just slide away.
Unless he has chains or spikes.
So I in my night gown, is ready to settle.
No longer have to worry,
About the hussle and bussle.
Just snuggle in for the winter blast.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
(Courtesy of Yahoo! Groups)
I wish you all a Merry Christmas
To the tune of "We wish you a Merry Christmas"
I wish you all a Merry Christmas
I wish you all a Merry Christmas
I wish you all a Merry Christmas...
And a Happy New Year!!
I wish you all a Merry Christmas
I wish you all a Merry Christmas
I wish you all a Merry Christmas...
And a Happy New Year!!
Monday, December 22, 2008
For those who care about me-this might help our friendship
For those who care about me-this might help our friendship
Some advice for others who care. Caring friends, extended family and professionals often want to know what they should and should not do to be as helpful and supportive as possible to parents of more able people with autism. Some of the advice that I offer here pertains to parenting any handicapped person. The rest is very uniquely specific to parenting a more able person with autism.
1) Do not say, “I know how you feel.” No matter how close you are to the parents, no matter how many parents of handicapped people you may have worked with, you still do not know how we feel. You can empathize with us, but you are not experiencing this process in our place.
2) Do try to include our autistic loved ones in your social gatherings or outings whenever appropriate. Some of my most painful memories of raising my daughter concern her being excluded from birthday and other parties of her classmates, family friends and neighbors.
3) Do not say, “You must be a very wonderful person for God to have chosen you to have this child.” We parents of handicapped children are no stronger, braver or purer than anyone else. I would personally lose my faith in God if I thought that God chose me or my child to bear this burden. Basically, this well-meaning statement says to us parents that you think this situation hurts and taxes us less than it would you.
4) Do offer us a chance for respite whenever you feel you can. Even a break of an hour can be a great help. When we were living in California and our daughter was 2, a kind neighbor whom I barely knew called me one day when our daughter was about 1 and ½ hours into what turned out to be a 3 hour tantrum. I thought she was probably calling to complain about the noise. Instead she offered to come over and be with my daughter while I went to her house and took a swim in her pool. She explained that her teenage son had once had emotional problems, which included tantrums, so she could handle the noise and commotion. I did not take her up on her offer, but knowing that I could if necessary gave me the strength and courage to continue.
5) Do not offer unsolicited advice. We parents are often given unwanted and even stupid advice by people who think that they are experts on how to raise our children because their children are normal and ours are not. Our society imposes on parents of handicapped people the terrible prejudice that they have produced damaged goods and are thus inferior people and parents.
6) Do say that you care and ask how you may be of help.
7) Do not say, “But all ________ (teenagers, toddlers, young men, girls, etc.) do that or have a problem with that.” While it is true that what our more able autistic loved ones think, feel, or have difficulties with are common to others, it is the degree and extent of the difficulty and the impact that it has on their lives and ours that is so very different.
8) If a parent seems unduly upset or discouraged over a particular problem, remember that the problem you see is not the only one the parent is dealing with. It is the reality that it is but one of the continual stream of problems.
9) When our autistic loved one is in an activity outside the home (scouting, church youth group, YMCA activity), do not assume we want to be there with them. This could be an excellent opportunity for the parent to have a break from the autistic person. I often felt that there was a sort of unspoken blackmail conveying that idea that if I wanted my handicapped child in an activity, then I must buy her way in by helping with the activity. I would not have minded if this happened with just one or two of her activities. However, this seemed to be the case in almost every activity.
10) Do not try to cheer a parent up by saying, “You don’t know for sure that _______(the autistic loved one) won’t ever be able to…” We all have hopes for our children, but we work hardest to habilitate and plan for them when we are realistic about their probable future limitations.
11) It is all right to say, “I wish I could say something to make it better, but I don’t know what that might be. I hope that the future will be good to you and your child.”
12) Regressed behavior in our autistic loved ones often causes regressed behavior in parents. When a person with autism is experiencing a regression, parents experience a complete upheaval in their lives. People who have been friendly and supportive often stay away or completely sever their relationships with both the autistic person and the family. Professionals often question what the parents might be doing differently at home to “cause” the regression. This is, at best, accusatory and, at worst, insulting and counter-productive. During the regression of their autistic child, parents become fatigued, depressed, worried to the point of panic, and more emotional than usual. This tends to shorten our patience and our tempers. Unfortunately this is the time when we need to exercise the greatest strength, patience, and logic toward our autistic child and all with whom he or she comes in contact. All friends, loved ones, and professionals should try to be extra supportive and patient during this difficult time. Times of regression are part and parcel of being autistic. Seldom, if ever, can the “cause” of the regression be traced to anything that the parent is doing.
13) Parenting any person with autism, regardless of functioning level, is a very challenging experience. Do not assume that because parents have a higher-functioning person with autism, they have fewer or smaller problems. Many parents have told me of incidents in which parents of lower-functioning people with autism have made them feel guilty about expressing their problems.
An Excerpt From: “High Level Individuals with Autism”, Plenum Press, chapter by Susan Moreno – G. Mesibov and E. Schopler, Editors.
Some advice for others who care. Caring friends, extended family and professionals often want to know what they should and should not do to be as helpful and supportive as possible to parents of more able people with autism. Some of the advice that I offer here pertains to parenting any handicapped person. The rest is very uniquely specific to parenting a more able person with autism.
1) Do not say, “I know how you feel.” No matter how close you are to the parents, no matter how many parents of handicapped people you may have worked with, you still do not know how we feel. You can empathize with us, but you are not experiencing this process in our place.
2) Do try to include our autistic loved ones in your social gatherings or outings whenever appropriate. Some of my most painful memories of raising my daughter concern her being excluded from birthday and other parties of her classmates, family friends and neighbors.
3) Do not say, “You must be a very wonderful person for God to have chosen you to have this child.” We parents of handicapped children are no stronger, braver or purer than anyone else. I would personally lose my faith in God if I thought that God chose me or my child to bear this burden. Basically, this well-meaning statement says to us parents that you think this situation hurts and taxes us less than it would you.
4) Do offer us a chance for respite whenever you feel you can. Even a break of an hour can be a great help. When we were living in California and our daughter was 2, a kind neighbor whom I barely knew called me one day when our daughter was about 1 and ½ hours into what turned out to be a 3 hour tantrum. I thought she was probably calling to complain about the noise. Instead she offered to come over and be with my daughter while I went to her house and took a swim in her pool. She explained that her teenage son had once had emotional problems, which included tantrums, so she could handle the noise and commotion. I did not take her up on her offer, but knowing that I could if necessary gave me the strength and courage to continue.
5) Do not offer unsolicited advice. We parents are often given unwanted and even stupid advice by people who think that they are experts on how to raise our children because their children are normal and ours are not. Our society imposes on parents of handicapped people the terrible prejudice that they have produced damaged goods and are thus inferior people and parents.
6) Do say that you care and ask how you may be of help.
7) Do not say, “But all ________ (teenagers, toddlers, young men, girls, etc.) do that or have a problem with that.” While it is true that what our more able autistic loved ones think, feel, or have difficulties with are common to others, it is the degree and extent of the difficulty and the impact that it has on their lives and ours that is so very different.
8) If a parent seems unduly upset or discouraged over a particular problem, remember that the problem you see is not the only one the parent is dealing with. It is the reality that it is but one of the continual stream of problems.
9) When our autistic loved one is in an activity outside the home (scouting, church youth group, YMCA activity), do not assume we want to be there with them. This could be an excellent opportunity for the parent to have a break from the autistic person. I often felt that there was a sort of unspoken blackmail conveying that idea that if I wanted my handicapped child in an activity, then I must buy her way in by helping with the activity. I would not have minded if this happened with just one or two of her activities. However, this seemed to be the case in almost every activity.
10) Do not try to cheer a parent up by saying, “You don’t know for sure that _______(the autistic loved one) won’t ever be able to…” We all have hopes for our children, but we work hardest to habilitate and plan for them when we are realistic about their probable future limitations.
11) It is all right to say, “I wish I could say something to make it better, but I don’t know what that might be. I hope that the future will be good to you and your child.”
12) Regressed behavior in our autistic loved ones often causes regressed behavior in parents. When a person with autism is experiencing a regression, parents experience a complete upheaval in their lives. People who have been friendly and supportive often stay away or completely sever their relationships with both the autistic person and the family. Professionals often question what the parents might be doing differently at home to “cause” the regression. This is, at best, accusatory and, at worst, insulting and counter-productive. During the regression of their autistic child, parents become fatigued, depressed, worried to the point of panic, and more emotional than usual. This tends to shorten our patience and our tempers. Unfortunately this is the time when we need to exercise the greatest strength, patience, and logic toward our autistic child and all with whom he or she comes in contact. All friends, loved ones, and professionals should try to be extra supportive and patient during this difficult time. Times of regression are part and parcel of being autistic. Seldom, if ever, can the “cause” of the regression be traced to anything that the parent is doing.
13) Parenting any person with autism, regardless of functioning level, is a very challenging experience. Do not assume that because parents have a higher-functioning person with autism, they have fewer or smaller problems. Many parents have told me of incidents in which parents of lower-functioning people with autism have made them feel guilty about expressing their problems.
An Excerpt From: “High Level Individuals with Autism”, Plenum Press, chapter by Susan Moreno – G. Mesibov and E. Schopler, Editors.
Christmas Fun Facts
The word Christmas is Old English, a contraction of Christ's mass.
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
The first Christmas cards were vintage and invented in 1843, the Victorian Era.
"It's A Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.
"Rudolph" was actually created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930's for a holiday promotion. The rest is history.
"Jingle Bells' was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.
If you received all the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Chstmas", you would receive 364 presents.
The poinsettia plant was brought into the United States from Mexico by Joel Poinsett in early 1800's.
Holly berries are poisonous.
Contrary to common belief, poinsettia plants are not non-toxic.
In 1843, "A Chrismas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.
Thr first state to recognize the Christmas Holiday officially was Alabama.
Christmas became a national holiday in America on June 26, 1870.
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
Clearing up a common misconception, in Greek, X means Christ. That is where the word "X-mas" comes from. Not because someone took the "Christ" out of Christmas.
More diamonds are sold around Christmas than any other time of the year.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1927, Spirit of St. Louis model airplane, and Tootsie Toy dollhouse.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1939, Princess Elizabeth doll and the Daisy Red Ryder air rifle.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1944, Little Lulu doll, and the Dick Tracy junior detctive set.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1956, Daisy BB gun and Play Dough.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1960, Chatty Cathy doll and Etch-A-Sketch.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1977, Slime, Othello board game, and the Atari 2600 Video game.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1982, Pac Man, the Rubik's Cube, and He-Man Master of the Universe.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1999, Pokemon, Furby Babies, and Sega Dreamcast Video System.
(From the December issue of "Share Food" newspaper.)
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
The first Christmas cards were vintage and invented in 1843, the Victorian Era.
"It's A Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.
"Rudolph" was actually created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930's for a holiday promotion. The rest is history.
"Jingle Bells' was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.
If you received all the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Chstmas", you would receive 364 presents.
The poinsettia plant was brought into the United States from Mexico by Joel Poinsett in early 1800's.
Holly berries are poisonous.
Contrary to common belief, poinsettia plants are not non-toxic.
In 1843, "A Chrismas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.
Thr first state to recognize the Christmas Holiday officially was Alabama.
Christmas became a national holiday in America on June 26, 1870.
Coca Cola was the first beverage company to use Santa for a winter promotion.
Clearing up a common misconception, in Greek, X means Christ. That is where the word "X-mas" comes from. Not because someone took the "Christ" out of Christmas.
More diamonds are sold around Christmas than any other time of the year.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1927, Spirit of St. Louis model airplane, and Tootsie Toy dollhouse.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1939, Princess Elizabeth doll and the Daisy Red Ryder air rifle.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1944, Little Lulu doll, and the Dick Tracy junior detctive set.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1956, Daisy BB gun and Play Dough.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1960, Chatty Cathy doll and Etch-A-Sketch.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1977, Slime, Othello board game, and the Atari 2600 Video game.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1982, Pac Man, the Rubik's Cube, and He-Man Master of the Universe.
Favorite Christmas toys in 1999, Pokemon, Furby Babies, and Sega Dreamcast Video System.
(From the December issue of "Share Food" newspaper.)
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saints pound winless Lions 42-7
The Detroit Lions are on their way to owning a dubious piece of NFL history.
By losing to the New Orleans Saints 42-7, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to start 0-15. The Lions will try to avoid a winless season when they play next week at Green Bay, where they haven't won since 1991.
By losing to the New Orleans Saints 42-7, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to start 0-15. The Lions will try to avoid a winless season when they play next week at Green Bay, where they haven't won since 1991.
The Motor City just can't catch any breaks
First, the former mayor goes to prison. Then the auto crisis. And the Lions are staring history in the face - and it's not the positive kind. Yep, folks, Detroit can't seem to catch a break. The Lions face the New Orleans Saints having lost each of their first 14 games and unless they can eke out a win, they are poised to break a record that nobody wants - the first team NFL history to go 0-16.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Merry Christmas
I would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!! Christmas may be about presents and a tree but God gave us the ultimate gift - the birth of Jesus. :-)
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