This week Sarah had a dentist and an eye appointment.  (I like to pack these things in obviously.)   We want to thank you for praying because she did great!

Anna, her dental hygienist, was so kind and patient with her.  When Anna used the suction tube she called it ‘Mr. Slurpee’ and Sarah thought that was hilarious.  Sarah repeated her very loudly “Mr. Slurpee!!!” and would laugh and laugh.  Sarah received a full cleaning and thankfully had no cavities.   Our dentist (and friend) said he was amazed at how much Sarah talked and was so happy.  I agree; it was awesome!!

Our eye doctor was also amazed with how much Sarah cooperated this year.  I wrote a blog called “How the Light Made a Difference” about last year’s appointment.  This year, Sarah read the letters on the screen (yes, read!) and even allowed her eyes to be dilated.  She certainly didn’t like having her eyes dilated, but she did it and I am so proud of her!  She broke her glasses last month and our insurance won’t allow new frames yet, but they are going to order the frame parts to fix the old pair and replace the lenses with her new prescription.  Overall, what a difference we are seeing in her!!  Thank you!  We know it is because of your prayers for her!

Now for a story that happened just before the eye appointment:

Duck in the House

We have issues with our fireplace cap.  It never stays on.  Last year’s Christmas present to each other was a new roof (Isn’t that sad that I was so excited for my present?) and the roofers secured a new cap.  Unfortunately, one good winter wind gust and the cap was in our backyard again.

Here is the problem, if we don’t have the cap on the fireplace, birds will fly down our flue.  This has happened 4 times.  Each time, David is not home.  First time it happened, I screamed, “Bird in the house!” which Sarah then repeated for the rest of the day with the same shrieking voice I used, “Bird in the house!  Bird in the house!” You never realize how ridiculous you sound until you are mimicked over and over again by your autistic daughter!  Each time, I have managed to get the bird out of my house, but it was exhausting!

Thursday morning I heard a bird flapping in the fireplace flue.   I groaned as I remembered the new cap is sitting in my garage.  I did my normal routine of opening the flue, opening the door wall glass door and having my blanket ready to direct, but no bird.  I did this several times over the next few days with no result.  Saturday I tried again but after several minutes, I took a break.  I sat down in the chair with the blanket still in my hands and was watching a TV show, then “THUMP!”  out drops a full grown female duck who took off like a bullet into my house! (Did I mention I was alone in the house with Sarah?)

I didn’t scream.  I think I was more in a shock of what happened!  The duck frantically found itself in the downstairs bathroom.  It was bleeding and fluttering everywhere.

How am I going to get this duck out of my house?

I tried to take the blanket I had in my hands to catch her but each time she freed herself from me.  She had her mouth open hissing at me and leaving blood trails wherever she went.  She finally positioned herself behind the toilet.  I felt so bad for her.  She was scared, she was injured and I didn’t know to do.

I stood there and prayed asking the Lord to help me.  “All I wanted to do is help this duck and she keeps resisting me!  Lord, I need your help!!”  As I reached down one more time to her the Lord answered my prayer.  I was able to grab her with the blanket and she remained very still.  I got her outside and when I open the blanket up on the ground, she took off like a bullet again.

That was crazy!  Yet, how many times have I resisted God’s help in my life much like this duck resisting me?  How many times do I try to do things on my own, only to find myself emotionally bleeding and in a tough, tight spot in my life?  Such a good reminder that I need to let go and to stop resisting Him and trust Him.  He wants to give me freedom, healing and peace on this autism journey if I let Him.

Psalms 62:5-8, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God.  He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our refuge.”

I love these verses!  I love the image of pouring out our hearts to Him, our refuge!

I found the granola. It was inside the Cheerios box.  Of course! Why didn’t I look there?!?

Saturday, I turned the kitchen upside down looking for it.  I had put some plain Greek yogurt into a bowl and then I opened the cabinet door looking for my special ‘Momma only—No one touches’ granola, but, no granola.  I looked in the pantry, nope.  I looked high and low with no avail.  Sorry to say, plain Greek yogurt needs granola, or something, but at that moment only my special ‘Where can it be?  I just bought this today!’ granola would suffice.  Everyone said they had not touched it; they knew better.  Finally Jim said that he thought he saw Sarah eating something earlier.   Whatever it was she finished it and she threw the bag away.  “No wonder I couldn’t find it!”  I lifted my head up and sighed.  What a bummer, but I chalked it up to the reality that Sarah has a way of finding things.

Earlier that day she found the Paas decorating kits I bought for the kids to decorate eggs.  Okay, maybe the three kids are getting too old for it but I knew Sarah would enjoy coloring eggs and Kendall would enjoy helping Sarah look for the colored eggs on Easter morning. I hid the packages in a cupboard, but that was too easy for her.   I was upstairs cleaning the bathroom when Kendall yelled, “Mom!  Sarah opened the egg decorating packages and we have glasses full of colored water all over the kitchen counter.”   Sure enough, nothing was left or could be saved from the two packages I bought.  At dinner that night she refused to eat and dumped her entire plate in the trash without even taking a bite.  Then later on she grabbed Kendall’s leftovers out of the refrigerator (Kendall was leaving for a youth group social, but wasn’t finished.  She put her plate in the refrigerator to save it for later) and Sarah did the same thing and dumped it in the trash.

Mental note:  Sarah doesn’t like and has very strong feelings towards my pizza casserole.

So I was shocked today when I found my granola in a cereal box.  I was taking inventory about what we needed at the store and I looked inside the box to see how much was left in the bag.  To my great surprise, to my delight, there was my granola!

I know this sounds silly, but I was so thankful!  I felt like the woman in Luke 15 who loses one of her coins and searches her house for it.  “And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me, I have found my lost coin.” (Luke 15:9)  Now, I didn’t call my neighbors but I did text David telling him and asking him if he hid the granola in the cereal box.  He said he didn’t.

Rejoicing over granola, yup, I guess that’s me!  I know it was little, but I thanked the Lord because it meant a lot to me!  I’m thankful that He meets us where we are at and He reminds me that He cares, even if it is over something as small as a bag of granola.

I bought more Paas packages today.  I think I’ll hide them in the Cheerios box or maybe even branch out and stuff them in another box.  The steel cut oatmeal box is a good size.   Who knows?  I’m missing a few other things and might be pleasantly surprised in what I find! 🙂

**April Praises and Prayer Requests are on under the Praise/Prayer Tab at the top of the page.  Thank you so much for your on-going prayers for Sarah and us!