Sunday, November 19, 2017

Sample Prayers and God's Answers


A few weeks ago I went to a revival service at my mom's church. The sermon blessed my heart from two aspects. One was having faith to pray for needs to be met. The other aspect was responding to the Holy Spirit when you may be the one to answer the prayers of someone else.

I'm thankful for a variety of answered prayers recently. One evening, I took my daughter to a Fall Festival hosted by a local church. I prayed for safety in driving (as my dad taught me to do every time I leave home), and I prayed for my daughter to not get upset during the games. I thought that particular prayer was needed, because she had gone to an activity a few weeks ago that involved a lot of different games and kids milling around, and she got upset and nervous and hesitant to participate. (She is only four and a half, so it's understandable.) The previous activity was held inside a small children's library, so it was quite crowded. I didn't feel all that comfortable in the crowd myself! 

So imagine my relief when we got to the Fall Festival, and the games were spread out across the lawn with plenty of space! We also got there a little early and she was able to try some easy games before the crowd arrived, since the church folks were already manning the booths. She stayed happy and active throughout our time there, and it blessed my heart to see her smile.

So remember I prayed for safety in driving? Well, we recently acquired a new-to-us car, and my husband told me it did not have automatic lights. So that evening, as we were leaving Fall Festival, I turned on the lights. Then a parking attendant for the event, one of the church folks, waved his baton for me to stop. He came around to my window and said, "Your headlights aren't on - only your parking lights." So I hadn't realized which symbol meant what on the knob for lights, and assumed my headlights were on, since my dash was lit up. We experienced God's protection, for sure, because I had not driven the car after dark until that night.

Ready for one more? Recently I decided it was time to switch my son's carseat to forward-facing, since he was outgrowing the rear-facing position. I tried several times to pull the lever that would loosen the strap, but it wouldn't budge. I decided to pray aloud about the problem. After struggling a little more, it occurred to me to lower the seat back, and then the latch was able to be unhooked, finally. 

It's great to know God is walking alongside of me, listening and guiding and protecting, each step of the way.


"THE LORD IS MY ROCK, AND MY FORTRESS, AND MY DELIVERER; MY GOD, MY STRENGTH, IN WHOM I WILL TRUST; MY BUCKLER, AND THE HORN OF MY SALVATION, AND MY HIGH TOWER. I WILL CALL UPON THE LORD, WHO IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED: SO SHALL I BE SAVED FROM MINE ENEMIES."

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

My Rejoicing Journal

Adapted from “Self-Esteem Journal,” TherapistAid.com

Monday
Something I did well today . . .
Today I had fun when . . .
I felt glad when . . .

Tuesday
Today I accomplished . . .
I had a positive experience with . . .
Something I did for someone . . .

Wednesday
I felt good about myself when . . .
I was pleased with someone else . . .
Today was interesting because . . .

Thursday
I felt glad when . . .
A positive thing I witnessed . . .
Today I accomplished . . .

Friday
Something I did well today . . .
I had a positive experience with . . .
I was pleased with someone when . . .

Saturday
Today I had fun when . . .
Something I did for someone . . .
I felt good about myself when . . .

Sunday
A positive thing I witnessed . . .
Today was interesting because . . .
I felt glad when . . .

" . . . THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICE WITH THE TRUMPETS AND CYMBALS AND INSTRUMENTS OF MUSICK, AND PRAISED THE LORD, SAYING, FOR HE IS GOOD . . . ."

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Occupational Therapy for Aspies

Image result for kid on tire swing images



I gathered these tips from a local occupational therapist who spoke at my Mothers of PreSchoolers group in 2014.

Level of High Arousal
  • Excited
  • Hyper
  • Restless
Prescription to Calm Down
  • Rocking
  • Heavy Lifting
  • Pressing Against Something Immovable
  • Closing Your Eyes
  • Breathing Deeply
  • Tensing Muscles to a Count of 40
Level of Low Arousal
  • Zoning Out
  • Tired
  • Drowsy
  • Bored
Prescription to Calm Up
  • Spinning
  • Dangling Head Upside-Down
  • Pacing
  • Making Figure Eights with Each Arm in Turn
  • Making Figure Eights with Each Hand Over Each Foot
  • Dancing
  • Listening to Peppy Music
  • Swinging
  • Eating Candy or Chocolate
  • Drinking Cold Water
Level of Midtone Arousal
  • Comfort
  • Peaceful
  • Ideal for Learning
Prescription to Stay Calm
  • Swaying Side-to-Side
  • Listening to Soft Music
  • Humming
  • Singing
  • Smiling
  • Breathing Deeply
  • Keeping Good Posture
  • Writing Your Thoughts
  • Getting Comfortable in Your Body
  • Not Letting Crowds or Chaos Affect You
    (See Solutions for the Highly Sensitive Person)
"FOR BODILY EXERCISE PROFITETH LITTLE: BUT GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL THINGS, HAVING PROMISE OF THE LIFE THAT NOW IS, AND OF THAT WHICH IS TO COME."

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

"The Man With Two Left Feet" by P. G. Wodehouse


I enjoy listening to The Classic Tales Podcast, in which B. J. Harrison reads aloud old favorites and more obscure pieces that are in the public domain. When I clicked on "The Man With Two Left Feet," I came across Harrison's accurate interpretation of the main character's traits of Asperger's syndrome.
Now, I know that the definition of autism has been evolving since 1908 until what it is today, but I think that the hero of today’s story is on what is now considered the autism spectrum. My reasons for saying this?

1) His method of study is unorthodox, and requires an incredible amount of tenacity, even fixation. Most people couldn’t do this. This is what I term the autism super power.

2) His unwillingness to vary his study schedule of the Encyclopedia (He won’t skip a volume).

3) He imagines a fantasy scheme where his problems are all solved, and works diligently to accomplish this impossible task.

4) He is rather socially awkward, bless him.
This is no way official, and I can’t back it up with anything other than my own observations, but when I read this story, it struck me how my autistic son has many of these same character traits. He also demonstrates the autism super power, and is a truly amazing boy. I find it encouraging that P.G. Wodehouse saw how characters of this temperament could find happiness and love in a world that largely misunderstands them.
Maybe you'd like to hear or read "The Man With Two Left Feet" yourself - and who knows? - maybe you'll see yourself reflected there. The link to The Classic Tales Podcast is no longer working, so here is a link to another reader's interpretation of Wodehouse's comical work.

Section 09 in Short Story Collection Vol. 065 on Librivox

"BEARETH ALL THINGS, BELIEVETH ALL THINGS, HOPETH ALL THINGS, ENDURETH ALL THINGS."