God's voice

I can't find a scripture I like to go with what I have to say.  There are many references in the Bible where God calls out and talks to people.  Two of the ones that come mind the quickest is Samuel when he is younger and Mary, mother of Jesus.  They heard the call and listened to what God had to say to them.  They followed what God asked of them.  I am in the middle of reading a book that I am getting annoyed with for various reasons, but one really stands out.  The book is called Marriage and Other Acts of Charity by Kate Braestrup.  On page 56 she talks about people in the Bible hearing the voice of God and has this to say in the last paragraph of chapter 6.  Maybe the point isn't to know precisely where or how to find God.  Maybe you just need to know how to answer when God at last finds you?  Really?  You this has to find you?  God knows us before we are born.  God is there by us waiting for us to turn and call out to him.  If you talk to God and listen, he will answer you everyday.  He is waiting for us to turn an ear to him to help us get through this life.  He has promised to not tempt us beyond what we can handle.  We can do all things through him.  Seriously?  God has to find you?  Nope, he knows exactly where we are.  We have to turn and see him by our side.  He will send the Holy Spirit to comfort us.  I know I have called out to God before to hold me and the Holy Spirit was there in a matter of a second.  It is a feeling like no other to be held like that.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  You really think God would have his son do that and not know where you are?  God loves us all and is there to talk when we are ready to listen.

Take Care and God Bless,
Sherri

P.S.  Not a great night tonight.  I will have to try and get a scented plug in to see if the smell helps calm him. 


I don't have a picture tonight, but I have a link to my favorite Los Lonely Boys song.  I listen to this constantly.  It calms me when I am on the verge of a anxiety attack.  I sit and listen to the words.  When my brain can't pray, this prays for me. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3jlQmKHYsY

Where would I be without my friends

Colossians 3:16 NIV

¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.



I am so thankful for all of my friends.  Whether I have meet you or not.  Raising Steven isn't easy for Bryan and I.  It is great to know that we have family and friends to lean on.  I appreciate all of the suggestions you have whenever I ask for help with a problem with Steven.  I can't thank you enough for all the prayers that have been said on our behalf.  Steven had a very rough night last night and a very good night tonight.  He went' to grandma's some this morning, so I don't know if getting mom out of his hair helped any or not.  Broke the monotony for sure.  I removed a med from bedtime at the suggestion of a friend and he fell asleep fine.  Try it a few more nights to see if it is actually going to work or if tonight was a fluke.  I know Steven misses being at school as he keeps asking for Mr Lee and Rod.  I am so happy he is enjoying school again.  But of course, they are shaking things up when he goes back.  New homeroom, teacher and aide.  Of course he has been in 14 a million times so he knows what that is. He knows Scott (who doesn't baby him in the least) and Tyrin who will put his foot down on Steven too.  Maybe that's why Steven didn't like their classroom.  They make him mind.  :)  I know I have missed my routine of being up at The Master's Hands.  It was great being there today and look forward to getting back on Tuesday.  Of course, I also missed church on Sunday from being out of town.  I need my spiritual family around me.  I have missed it!!!  I will keep you updated on the sleeping and behaviors.

Take Care and God Bless,

Sherri

Well, it's not letting me attach a photo tonight.  Some of you have seen it anyway.  It is on my facebook of Steven sleeping in the camper tonight.

Cutting back and piling on

I know I spend to much time on the internet.  Between here, bubblews and mostly facebook it is shameful how much time I spend.  I am going to have to cut back on these things.  I need to spend more time researching places for Steven.  Unfortunately, we have come to the decision to start moving forward with where to place Steven.  He just can't handle a major change in his routine.  He is asking for Mr Lee and Rod to take him to school.  I am going to try and get him to do some other things tomorrow, but at home he doesn't want to do anything but play computer and ask to go to the pool.  I won't take him to the pool, he is too big.  Even when he is ready to go you have to literally drag him out.  Of course, we are looking close to home.  Mainly because we can't afford to move.  The state of Illinois has us terrified about our son's future.  They are pulling so much money and shutting down facilities.  With the intent of shutting even more down.  I would love to be able to move him to Tennessee or North Carolina.  I just don't see it in the cards.  I was pretty overwhelmed earlier as was Bryan.  It is so hard to face this.  We know it has to be done, but we can't help but feel we are letting Steven down.  We are feeling selfish.  But, we know that we can't do this forever.  Especially with my health problems.  We will see how the rest of the week goes and when he gets back to school.  Hopefully we can hold on longer, but I don't know.  Thankfully I have friends that post encouraging pictures and sayings all day.  They remind me that God will be there with us and hold us tightly while we cry.  So, I ask on all the people that read this that if they know of a facility that takes young adults with severe autism and aggression problems let me know.  We prefer close to southeastern Illinois, but we need to keep everything open.  I thank you all for the concerns you have expressed to me and for your prayers. 

Take care and God bless,
Sherri


A friend posted this today and it really helped me today.  Thanks Denise

Being overwhelmed can be good

Proverbs 11:25 ESV

²⁵ Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
    and one who waters will himself be watered.


It was an amazing day up at The Master's Hands.  I ended up crying I was so overwhelmed with joy.  I helped two people sign up for food yesterday and they both came in today.  The first one all the tears weren't of joy, but some were.  She is going through a rough period, but so ready to get back to church.  The second one were all tears of joy.  She came in and has 8 total in her family.  I told her yesterday to make sure and bring in two laundry baskets or boxes as she was going to be loaded down.  She came in and she had her two baskets and a bag.  I started filling everything and even put some of her drinks in yet another sack.  When we got halfway around, she had to get out her second basket and she started crying.  She was so grateful for all the food she was receiving she couldn't help but cry.  When she was done, she hugged me and thanked me.  I told her God has put us there to help people and he blessed us with the food to overflowing amounts.  She cried some more and hugged me again.  Then there are the ones that have been there before, but I was able to give them items they were in need of as well.  One lady her birthday was today and her daughter was upset that she wouldn't have time to make her a cake.  Well, we got a cake in today that said happy birthday on it, so she took it so her daughter wouldn't have to worry about it.  My next lady had a daughter with a birthday tomorrow and hoped to get stuff to make a cake.  Well, we had one cake left and she got it.  Then there is the veteran that I have had two months in a row now.  He called me shorty when we first started.  (Just cause he towers over me I don't understand the nickname.)  We talked quite a bit as we walked around and he was giving me cooking tips.  Come to find out he went to culinary school.  When he went to leave, he gave me a big hug.  It just all hit towards the end of the day.  I got goosebumps and started crying.  It was such an amazing feeling to be there to help all the people I was with today.  They help me as much as they say I help them.  God is so good!!!  He knows who and what we need to make our day complete.  He will guide you to the right people. 

Take Care and God Bless,
Sherri


This is me with one of the beautiful volunteers I get to work with at The Master's Hands, Marilyn.

Be prepared

2 Kings 4:1-7

4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

² Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”

³ Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. ⁴ Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

⁵ She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. ⁶ When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

⁷ She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

I am set to fill in for Sally who does the Bible study up at The Master's Hands tomorrow.  I sat down this morning and prayed asking God what I should talk about.  I got 2 Kings 4 and went there and found the above scripture.  It shows one of the many miracles the Elisha had a hand in.  It makes me think of all the other miracles in the Bible.  Then on to the miracles that happen in the world today.  I am sure there are some that will tell me I am nuts for thing that miracles still take place.  I will give you the most recent one that I have heard about.  One of the ladies from our church received a call from her daughter who lives in Arkansas.  She asked her mom to pray for her as there was a tornado heading towards their home.  As the lady was in a meeting so she and the other ladies she was with stopped and prayed for their safety.  Her daughter's trailer was the only one that did not get destroyed in the storm.  In the passage above, the widow didn't know why Elisha was having her fill the jars.  She was doing as he asked believing that God would provide what she needed.  We still ask God for help us with our problems.  When we ask we need to be prepared for a myriad of possibilities to be the answer from God.  I always tell people to be careful what they ask God for.  I went to college and received an associates in Early Childhood Development.  I wanted to work with children, especially ones with Autism.  I was praying to God to let me specialize in Autism.  Well, I got it just not how I was expecting.  On August 5, 1994 I got my answer from God.  I had a beautiful baby boy named Steven.  Steven had signs of Autism pretty well from birth.  He refused to breast feet.  At 4 months, he wasn't turning towards sounds nor would he go to sleep without his burp rag.  If I would forget to put him to bed with it he would stand in his crib until I gave it to him.  Then he would go to sleep in a minute or so of me giving it to him.  There were so many other signs before I figured it out.  He wouldn't actually be diagnosed until he was 5.  I got to specialize in Autism but with my own son.  Not what I was expecting.  God knew that Bryan and I could take care of Steven even though there are times we aren't so sure.  I am thankful that God has given me a wonderful husband to go on this journey with our son.  God may take a while to give you an answer, but he will answer it.  Not always like you expect or want, but he will answer it.

Take Care and God Bless,
Sherri

Sorry, I can't make it

1 Thessalonians 5:11

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.


I attend Calhoun Christian Church.  I love where I am going to church.  We average 30 some people for Sunday mornings.  I do a lot at the church obviously as do others.  We all love each other and get along.  Steven loves going long enough to give everyone at church hugs and tell them that he loves them.  Everyone tells us that his hugs make their week.  It is one thing that will be hard to deal with when he moves out.  I know that people will miss him and his hugs.  Since we are a small church, we rely on each other to get things done if we can't make it.  Tonight is our mother/daughter,father/son banquet.  I am the one who arranges the fellowships for the most part.  This one is a little different as it is the only one that the church provides the meal.  So, I have running to do this afternoon and then setting it up tonight.  I came to realize that I may not make it tonight.  Bryan didn't get many loads this week and had to slot for today.  I didn't know if his mom could watch Steven or not.  However, I didn't panic.  I know that all I have to do is call on some ladies at the church and they will get it done.  I am going to get there tonight, but it would be fine if I didn't.  They also know that the last minute things could change if Steven decides he wants to have a meltdown.  I have gone to churches 3-4x bigger than this and not had the same feeling of knowing it will get done even if I can't be there.  But this family, I have support.  That is what we are to do.  We are family and we support each other.  I don't foresee where my physical family would not get together for Christmas somewhere if I couldn't do it.   My brother Steve has taken over Thanksgiving since mom passed away and I do Christmas.  I know that not everyone has the peace of knowing that their physical family is there for them.  I hurt for those that don't.  I hope that where you go to church you have a spiritual family that will be there for you.  If not, I would suggest a different church.  We are to be there to support, love and care for each other. 

Take Care and God Bless,
Sherri


Some of the fine people at our yearly church work day

Bragging on Steven

I can't think of a verse to go with this, I just want to brag on Steven.  He has been doing so good going to school and going into his classroom.  He is still ripping shirts some and being non-compliant at school.  Which non-compliant could me laying on the floor to do his work to hitting and kicking.  But overall, he is doing so much better!!!!!!!!  Today, we went to change our calendar.  Usually he makes me do the writing or do it hand over hand with him.  Today he was so excited for June he did the majority of it by himself.  It is 95% legible too!  I am still trying to figure why he writes his 9s as he does, but oh well.  They come out looking like an A.  He writes them in the same way you would write an A also.  But who cares he did it himself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Can you tell I am a proud parent?  If anyone out there is reading this and doesn't really know anything about my son, he is 18 and not 5.  This is a huge step for Steven.  Writing without it being hand over hand and legible has been a constant fight for so many years.  Not saying it will continue this way, but one small step at a time.

Take care and God bless,
Sherri


Steven did all of the writing by himself except for the words camping and come home.