Sunday's in My City Participate then Celebrate

Previous to my Farmer's Market Autism Awareness Booth, 

I had my first booth a few Sunday's ago at 

Long Beach Memorial Hospital 

during the Autism Society Conference....

"The best way to find yourself, 

is to lose yourself in the service of others."

~Ghandi

 

My son working our Fx3 Event Booth...

 If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.  

~Abigail Van Buren

This weekend we got some great news....

I received my State Tax I.D. after submitting 

my non-profit paperwork for my group 

Autism in Long Beach!

I am just awaiting my 501(c)3 certificate!

It took some saving and help from family 

to pay for that sucker!!

There is still awhile to go, but today, 

We Celebrate!

My friend Stella, My oldest boys, and I...

A day without laughter is a day wasted. 

~Charlie Chaplin

We cannot always build the future for our youth, 

but we can build our youth for the future.

~Franklin D. Roosevelt

To bring up a child in the way he should go, 

travel that way yourself once in a while.  

~Josh Billings

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children.  One is roots.  The other is wings.  

~Hodding Carter, Jr

Each day of our lives we make deposits 

in the memory banks of our children.  

~Charles R. Swindoll

There is only one pretty child in the world, 

and every mother has it.  

~Chinese Proverb

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Technology Kills my Kids Rite of Passage

Are you kidding me??? Monopoly Live.... you are robbing my family of Cheating! Every child should have the right to sit across from their sibling and hide money, grab a few gold $500 dollar bills when the family is distracted, and the fun of channeling dirtbag Landlords while selling property at the price higher than the worth! What is wrong with you Hasbro???!!! This was one of my Rites of Passage! 

C'mon, in the real world I live an honest life, I pay my taxes, I go back to the checker if she gave me to much change, hell I even ask to speak to a Supervisor to praise a customer service employee who does mediocre to excellent service, and I am purposely in over-tipper. I think of others, I really do! But let me tell you something, when it comes to board games, I am a dirty little cheater and I love it!!! Don't you dare get up to pee during Chutes and Ladders or ya may find yourself at the bottom of the Slide! You asked me for 6's in go fish, I may decide not to have any.. you can't see my hand! 

Yes I am a proud game board cheater! I don't take it into the real world so calm down. Just give me back my Monopoly because I feel ripped off! Those were the best days taunting my little sister by making up rules along the way. Now you have a tower who tells us the rules?? A mechanical voice that points out when we cheat? Freaking property pieces that look like credit cards?? 

You've just cheated a whole generation! Now whose the Cheater???

My Funny Valentine....

It just hit me... I think this is the first Valentines Day I wasn't bitter. I wasn't thinking about the Man next to me who wasn't treating me right that day. I wasn't thinking about how I "wish I were in a relationship". I wasn't thinking about any of that. The thought of a Man didn't cross my mind until this morning when I saw my Facebook News Feed of all the gifts gals got. Then, when I saw them all I thought was "thats nice". And kept it pushing. I was also thinking about how I feel I don't really have anything to blog about. I saw the "I heart faces" red theme but... I still kept it pushing. Why am I going to join a photo contest that only selects winners that have professional looking photos. I don't mean that in a mean way. I really like the group and the photo's are beautiful. If you are a professional photographer, or take professional like pics.. I suggest that challenge. I am merely stating a fact. So I kept it pushing. 

What I mean by keeping it pushing is I keep moving forward. I no longer interact with people and things that I have nothing in common with. More importantly I am not bitter. I am so excited to realize this morning that I am achieving that Self-Content, Self-Confident goal. The goal where I acknowledge my own worth. I went through some bad relationships and even a failed marriage. About 3 years ago when it was all said and done I made a decision to stop giving my body and my mind to men who don't deserve it. I've been celibate since. I can actually say, I don't miss it. I told myself until my 13 year old has moved out of the home and off to college I will not date. Instead I will take that time to reflect on why I choose the wrong men. I will take responsibility for my actions. I am now focused on myself and children. Today I realize I am actually beginning to succeed in that dream. 

Yesterday I spent the day with the best Valentines a gal could ask for.....

*Disclaimer- I never said my Teenager was happy to be My Valentine!

The Autism Sisterhood

This is a great self-help book/pamphlet for newly diagnosed families. If you know anyone whom has just found out their family member or friend is on the Spectrum I highly recommend this book. It is small and light and can fit discretely in your pocket. I know a lot of "newbies" to our world are just trying to figure things out themselves and aren't ready yet for the worlds opinions, this is definitely the book for them. Michele C. Brooke did a great job sticking to ways for us to make our lives easier. She stayed away from all the big "debate" topics and stuck to simply embracing your child and figuring out how they learn and thrive. I enjoy how she explained The Autism Sisterhood. She stated that everyone is welcome even men. The Autism Sisterhood is built more on unity and discovery than on cliques. She shares ideas more than struggles. 

Michele Brooke helps the reader to see through the diagnosis and into the child. She gives great tips on what books, video's, and activities she's found to be helpful to educate and interact with her child. When it comes to Special Needs, I've always appreciated an Author who lists resources so that when I finish their book I know where to turn to next. 

I loved the fact that she stated her book was short because we Mothers of Special Needs Children rarely find time to sit and read a whole book. She was really thinking about us during the creation of this book. I like that she encourages the reader to pass the book on to other Mothers. It's not about sales to her, it's about Self-help.

It is definitely a must read for newly diagnosed families. Thank you Michele C. Brooks for sticking to the topic and not going off into the great debates. I am hoping that you write another book, busy parent's need more Authors like you.

Click here to order on Amazon: The Autism Sisterhood

Sunday's In My City, Farmer's Market

One of my dreams has been to have my own Library for Autistic Families. This weekend I got a little closer to my goal. I received a call earlier this week from the woman who runs Farmer's Market and she said I could set up my booth there. I set up an Autism Resource table for families to gather information. There are pamphlets on local Therapists, Services, IEP Attorney's, etc. I also have a monthly Calendar of Local Events. My second table is a Mini-Library. Filled with Autisic Authors, non-Fiction, Fiction, Self Help, Dietary, and Children's Books. The families fill our a Library Card and bring me the book back within two weeks. If they need it longer they can call me for an extension. The resource table and Library are FREE! I sell bags and backpacks with my Logo on it for an inexpensive price. I am hoping to start selling art, and jewelry made by persons and family affected by Autism. I am also working on a resource table of business cards and flyers of local businesses and Non-profits that support Autism In Long Beach.

"Despite what we've been taught, we don't have to be rich, famous or distinguished to make our dreams come true." ~Sharon Cook & Graciela Sholander

Whatever we are waiting for - peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance - it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.  ~Charles W. Eliot

"Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand." 

~Bruce Barton

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