SERMANNETTES

Leaving For Phoenix

“The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11)

If you saw a chicken running around with its head cut off yesterday, that would have been me!  When I made the plane reservations to go to my cousin’s wedding in Phoenix, I knew it would be hard to get away, but not this hard!

I thought back to when I was twenty-three years old and left for a two-year stay in Brazil.  It didn’t seem so overwhelming then as it is now, when I am only leaving for five days.  Now I have a husband, five kids, two cats, and a house to care for.  Everyone always says that as soon as you get on the plane, all your worries will float away. 

Yeah, maybe.  I am taking along reading material for the plane: social security income and guardianship paperwork for Natalie.  I am going to try to use my airplane time to figure out what is going on. 

I went to a school meeting yesterday.  I have rarely felt about a meeting as I did yesterday.  It was as if I were drowning in quicksand.  The school was asking me to make all of these decisions about Natalie’s future.  How do I know what her future should be?  It was so overwhelming for me.  I just had to think back to all of the promises of God.  He will help me.  He will guide me.  He will show me what Natalie should do.  He will provide.

Yeah, but there I was, sitting there, trying to be a good decision maker.  OOOHHH!  I just wanted to go home, pack my suitcase, pack a good reading book, pack a great lunch, pack a journal to write in, and go float above the clouds, above my problems, above the threatening quicksand…to think, think, think about life.

I guess I will do that tomorrow, as I leave for Phoenix.  You won’t hear from me for a while, till I get back from my trip.  In the meantime:

1. Pray that Natalie would do well at her grandmother’s house while I am gone.

2. Pray that the Lord would give me a safe and refreshing trip.

3. Pray for Dan, as he is home, caring for the family.

4. Pray that the Lord would give me peace about Natalie’s future and what I have to do to obtain guardianship and social security income for her.

So…Phoenix, here I come!  I am thankful (in spite of the hectic preparations) that I am able to get away for a few days, to see family and to celebrate Heidi’s wedding!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Two Birthdays

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Part of writing a blog is to open yourself up for criticism.  I am sort of okay with that.  I can see how misunderstandings can happen.  Sure, I mostly write about autism.  That doesn’t mean my whole life revolves around Natalie.  It might appear that way, since I mostly write about that.

Natalie spent her whole weekend locked in her bedroom.  This is not the life that I envision for any teen.  It’s her choice not to come out, all because her dad is “out there.”  With her in her room, it brings a measure of peace to our home, as we function somewhat as a normal family without having to deal with her autistic behaviors.  On the other hand, she knows that she has to make peace with her father, but refuses to do it.

I don’t even think that she knew that her dad had a birthday.  We had the party without her being a part of it all.  It was fun for me to get Dan a new waffle maker.  Our last one was Dan’s bachelor waffle maker, given to him from his mom twenty-five years ago.  When it gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago, it gave me the perfect idea for a gift for him.  Dan makes breakfast meals on Sunday evenings for our family, so he was glad to get another waffle maker.

Birthday Videos