The Langstons took some off this past weekend, a special time to rediscover the JOY in life! God blesses us in so many ways, so get out and enjoy nature!
Nineteen of my neighbors went camping this weekend. Alec was a little overwhelmed at times and retreated to the solitude of his tent, but he did get out and have some fun with all of us.
Take a moment today and breathe in the air! Slow down and look around you! Life is passing by, don’t miss it!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The LURE of Nature! THE LANGSTON CAMPIN' TRIP
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Today is World Autism Awareness Day
I have an autistic son, Alec. He is the joy of my life, but it took a long time to find joy again once Alec was diagnosed. But this much I know: God has a special and unique purpose for autistic children no less than that of any other child!
FACTS ABOUT AUTISM (from www.autismspeaks.org):
- 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism
- 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
- 67 children are diagnosed per day
- A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
- More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
- Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
- Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade
- Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
- Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
- There is no medical detection or cure for autism
Incidence vs. Private Funding
- Leukemia: Affects 1 in 25,000 / Funding: $310 million
- Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 20,000 / Funding: $175 million
- Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000 / Funding: $394 million
- Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $130 million
- Autism: Affects 1 in 150 / Funding: $15 million
National Institutes of Health Funds Allocation
- Total 2005 NIH budget: $29 billion
- Of this, only $100 million goes towards autism research. This represents 0.3% of total NIH funding.
Current News Stories:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/24/autism.vaccines/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/31/autism.main/index.html
Autism Informational Resources:
http://www.autism.com/ (Defeat Autism Now!)
http://www.autismspeaks.org
http://www.autism-society.org Sphere: Related Content
Thursday, March 20, 2008
A Moment for Mary
This week I've been thinking about Mary, the mother of Jesus.
When Jesus was just a small boy, did she feel the same ballooning of the heart that I do whenever I pick up Alec? Did she wrap her arms around him, like I do Alec, gauging the increasing strength of his return embrace ?
Did she watch with pride as he played with the other boys in the town? Did they have long discussions just before slipping into sleep about everything: games, bugs, trees, food and maybe the way the sky turns violet just before the sun slides past the horizon? Did he tell her what was to come?
I've been thinking of Mary this week as I've comforted my own son, wary of a visit to the doctor, and again when I watched him be led away by the dental hygienist going for a check up. What a big boy, I marveled to myself. So brave and fearless!
Today is Maundy Thursday, and I can't help thinking of Mary, as her beloved son was being led away by the Roman soldiers, beaten and abused and taking it all in grace. Did she marvel at his strength? So brave and fearless!
What thoughts were running through her mind as she watched the trial from a distance? Could she see the governor Pilate wash his hands of her son, knowing he was innocent but afraid to stand against the outcries of his public? Did she cringe to the cries "Crucify Him!" ? How did she bear seeing her precious son walk the long and lonely road to Golgotha, the "Place of the Skull"?
Did she recall the words of Simon who, years before had held the child Jesus in his arms, blessing God and thanking him that his eyes were finally beholding the great salvation of the world, and then speaking sobering words to Mary:
"Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel .... and a sword will pierce your own soul - that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:35-35)
Even in a state of agony and distress that defies our imaginations, Jesus looks down from His suffering and sees her there, his mama, and directs his beloved disciple John to attend to her saying:
"Dear woman, here is your son." (John 19:26)
I can only imagine the suffering on Mary's part, loving her son and unable to attend to him, or of Jesus, loving his mother and unable to hold her!
Thank God that the story does not end there!
"He is alive! He is alive!" Did these words rumble through her mind without end when she heard the news? Did her knees fail her? Did she cry out in joy?
The last we hear of Mary, just after the ascension of Christ into the clouds, she is included in a list of brethren - the very first Christians - in Jerusalem's upper room praying and waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit.
"All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women,
including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers." (Acts 1:14)
It must have been difficult to be the mother of Jesus, but oh, how thankful I am the she opened her arms wide and allow us to take him for ourselves, the lamb of the world sent for us.
Thank you, Jesus, I think as I look to the heavens, again thinking again of Mary, now with her son in His kingdom, the earthly carpenter and heavenly king, building a place for us there.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tied Up in Knots and Searching for Laughter
How does everyone else do it?
How do other people keep up with the responsibilities and tasks of each day and still find time to write? Am I the only one who often feels a huge lump in my throat as the day goes on and I'm trying to get everything done?
Does anyone have any ideas to STAY CALM when the world seems to be moving an a Warp 8 speed and I am stuck in Warp 3?
LAUGHTER...I need some! I think I'll go peruse Youtube for some funny clips before I get started writing for today. Sometimes, I just need a laugh!
PS: Got a YOUTUBE favorite (nice and clean!) for a chuckle or two? SEND IT ON in a comment!
Okay, Here is a clip I made for you. A bit slapstick, a bit documentary....
Friday, March 7, 2008
What to Cook in a Flash: Olive Gardenish Salad & Breadsticks
Here's my quick and easy (I mean QUICK and easy) recipe when you only have a few minutes to cook for the family or for a get-together with friends:
Ingredients:
1 premade package of mixed greens
1 bottle of Ken's Light Caesar dressing
1 cup of kalamata olives
1 cup of pepperoncini peppers
1 cup of Italian croutons
1 cup of shaved Parmesan cheese
2 cups of precooked chicken breasts
pepper, salt, poultry seasoning
1 package of bread sticks
garlic
Heat a skillet with Pam or a bit of oil and warm the chicken for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle chicken with poultry seasoning such as "Magic Chef" brand.
Fill a big salad bowl with mixed greens
Add olives, peppers, croûtons, Parmesan cheese and heated chicken
Toss with salad dressing to taste.
Sprinkle bread sticks and garlic and warm in oven.
This recipe is a no-brainer, but it really tastes as good as the Olive Garden salad. Add the chicken for protein and you have your meal.
Thanks, Lysa Terkeurst for the great recipe exchange idea!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
God is Faithful in All Things .... Except....
So many times I tell people that God is faithful, every day. Not sometimes. Not once in a while. Always.
He is faithful in scripture, saving His children in countless ways throughout the stories of the Bible. He is faithful to those I see around me who trust Him. There is nothing that sends my heart soaring more than hearing about God doing something great, something supernatural, in the life of someone around me. Even through the most difficult of trials, He is faithful, and I know He turns all tears into wine in His sweet time.
There is not much that I would hold back from God. I mean, why would I? Except....
Except that now, as I am a few months from the contracted completion date for my first book (the one I know for sure that God called me to and evidenced by the doors He opened for me, doors so heavy I couldn't open them with a crowbar), I am now having some health issues that are, to be honest, a bit unnerving.
I have made some appointments to check up on these things, but I feel like arrows of worry are flying around my head. I'm trying to run on past them, run towards the finish line, but it's hard. Sometimes I want a friend to just tell me, "Hey, it's going to be okay," but everyone in my life right now is pretty preoccupied with things that I have to say are very important. It's like I'm left here, alone, to figure these issues out. Maybe that's the plan.
So, here I am writing a book about giving everything we are to God, trusting Him in the worst of trials, and I find myself challenged to do that same thing: Trust Him.
Not with a career decision. Not with decisions about schools, sports, finances, etc. No, with my very life.
There are no exceptions. No problem exists that God cannot handle. Is anything impossible for Him? No.
I trust and know that HE is faithful to complete the work that He has called me to do. This is yet another chance to trust Him, to see His glory brush my life.
So, I'm going to keep on running. Keep on reaching for that prize, to be all that He saved me for, every bit, every ounce of the person He sees in me. I'm going to envision the completed work instead of allowing the "what if's?" to consume me.
And I'm going to shut out my fear, because I know that perfect love (and perfect trust) casts out fear.
So that said, it's time to write.
"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing,
that He Who began a good work in you will continue
until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return],
developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you."
(Philippians 1:6 AMP)
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
(1John 4:18 NIV)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
What if you could sit on the porch with Jesus?
Imagine this: For one afternoon you get to sit in the sunlight on a warm southern porch with Jesus, asking anything you want, talking just as you would with your best friend. Coffee in hand, sunlight on your bare feet, and easy conversation between the two of you.
Think about it: Just you and Jesus on the porch on a warm afternoon. What would you talk about? What would you ask Him? Or, would you just be silent and enjoy the moment together?
This is how we can, in fact, spend time with Jesus. Just like the conversations you have had with a friend so close to you that she knows your deepest secrets: and loves you still. That's exactly how Jesus wants us to come to Him. Just as we are, without fancy language or pretenses, bringing our secrets and deepest longings of our hearts to share with Him.
Did you know that the Savior of the world also longs for that kind of time with you? So, let's do it! I've started this blog as a place to share stories of faith and evidences of God's hand in the simplest of things.
Make no mistake: Jesus longs for us to get to know Him, and He wants to spent time with you. He longs to share not only the biggest details of our lives, but also the simple musings as we go along our day, driving to appointments, children's activities, work and grocery shopping. He longs to share our life, even the tiny, humdrum, minuscule aspects of it.
So, grab a cup of coffee and share some time with Jesus. He's sitting there on the porch waiting to hear from you.
WELCOME PROVERBS 31 READERS!
In case you haven't guessed, I am still in creation mode for this personal blog! I'll be posting on a regular basis from now on, so please come back and share your own stories with me!
In the meantime, please visit my blog http://www.walkingwithalec.com/. I've been keeping this one since 2004. It's a journal of how God has intimately walked with our family during our journey with autism.
A bit more about me: I'm currently working on a faith-based book for Kregel Publications about autism to be completed this year. More to come!
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