“The Lord Led Me”: Rescuer James King credits Divine Intervention



Wonderful story of divine intervention to find missing girl, Nadia Bloom. Miss Bloom has Asperger’s, a mild form of autism. This Today Show interview is a must see!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Faith’s Ability to Uncover the Gifts of Autism: A Review of “Autism & Alleluias”:



Are you looking for additional faith-based support in raising a child with special needs?  Then pick up a copy of Kathleen Deyer Bolduc’s Autism and Alleluias.

Kathleen’s new book is a series of vignettes from her life with her autistic son Joel.  Don’t expect a sugar-coated view of life with a special needs child.  Her experiences are painfully familiar, as she describes in each chapter a daily hurdle in mothering her son Joel. Her frustrations are written in beautiful prose, creating a strange mix of beauty and pain.

Mothers of special needs children will find Kathleen’s struggles familiar:  quiet holiday church services loudly narrated by a boy who can’t be still, the daily phone calls to pick up her son, the need for “me” time, and the feelings of not being or doing enough for her family.

But here is the part about the book that I most enjoyed:

As Kathleen so perfectly describes her frustration and pain in different situations, and as she surrenders her situation to God, it is almost as if her eyes are opened to a new understanding.  As she turns to God for spiritual support, He opens her eyes and she suddenly sees each challenge in a new light: God’s light.  In that instant, the day’s challenges produce wonderful blessings: understanding, patience, love, appreciation of beauty, and quiet joy.  Only God can do that.

I was encouraged as I read this transformation of perspective so beautifully recorded in each chapter. This books shows that the most difficult of days offer special blessings.  In Joel, we find hope, meaning, and a spirit that cannot be crushed.  In Joel, we find God’s child.  In Kathleen, we find a strength that is beyond human ability. This kind of strength to endure is only found when we surrender ourselves- whatever the challenge- to God.

God has a heart for families living with autism.  This book provides a glimpse of the precious love God holds for children with special needs, and for those who care for them.

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Post a Prayer for World Autism Day: Friday, April 2, 2010



Autism parents:

What is the single most passionate prayer that you have for your child? Do you pray for your child’s acceptance? For finances and provisions to care for him or her? For better education? For friends?

This Friday, April 2, is World Autism Awareness Day. I’d like to celebrate the day with you by asking you to choose and post one single prayer for either your child–or for all children living with autism– on my Autism’s Hidden Blessings Facebook page.

I know that God’s heart is full of compassion for families living with autism. Even though the road is hard at times, His love is able to reach each and every child. I know that He hears every prayer.

Would you lift up your most heartfelt prayer for your child with me? Post them at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Autisms-Hidden-Blessings-Discovering-Gods-Promises-for-Autistic-Children/45180573635

If you are a parent or if you know someone who deals with autism, feel free to share your story, too. I’d love to share this day with you.

Kelly

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Living an ‘Upside Down’ Kind of Live: Authentic Christianity



Paula Wiseman and Andrea Moriarty are teaching me a thing or two about authentic Christian living! They’ve been writing about how their faith plays out each typical day, giving readers an inside look at real Christianity.  Each day as I have read their posts, I have learned something new.

Today Andrea posted a clip from Mary Poppins. I hope she doesn’t mind, but I going to pick up on that theme and include my favorite clip from this movie, one that reminds me of the contrast between worldly living and Christian living.  Here, executive and father Banks has just been fired from his banking job and is bemoaning the loss of his dream:

So, what does this have to do with authentic Christianity?  Let me explain:  Authentic Christianity means living in an upside down world.  Things that seem important in the typical world are usually the least important things by Christian standards.  For example, power, prestige and money mean little when compared to showing compassion and love to those in our circles.  Christian economics is based on a heavenly exchange rate, one the world simply does not understand.

But here is where things get tricky for me as I live out my faith:  I can’t shut out the world.  The pressure to succeed and get ahead is preached at me every day through commercials, magazine articles, on billboards and in all of the over-the-fence conversations with the Jones’, you know, that family down the street that I can never quite keep up with.  So it is often a daily struggle to keep my priorities in check:

For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

Luke 12:30-32 (Amplified Bible)

Almost every day I wonder if I am doing all that I could be doing. I wonder if I am missing opportunities because I choose to work out of my home as a part-time consultant (rather than work full time) so I can be here to help Elise and Alec with their homework after school.  We have financially struggled so much this year that I have nearly thrown in the towel and sought full-time work.  I have questioned myself and my motives.  But all the while I know that God has me right where He wants me: here at home.  Working part-time may not be your God-given calling, but it is mine.

Authentic Christian living is upside down living:

“But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.”

Luke 22:26 (New Living Translation)

That kind of living makes no sense to the world.  It’s crazy living.  Radical living.  But living this way brings the divine into life.  It’s like God miraculously squeezes more life into each day. By living this way, Christians find joy that is often missed by others, as God makes sure that we don’t miss out on the sweetest moments of life.  Our friend Burt (in the clip above)  knows this truth and as he shares the following precious advice to Mr. Banks:

You’ve got to grind, grind, grind
At that grindstone
Though child’ood slips like sand through a sieve
And all too soon they’ve up grown
And then they’ve flown
And it’s too late for you to give…

When I look around and fear that I am not getting ahead, I have to remind myself that I don’t have to measure up to the world’s standard of success.  My treasures are not of this world, but every bit as real.

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If Love is All You Have to Give…



Let me tell you about the biggest lesson I learned in 2009:  I learned that love – and God – are enough to carry us though whatever situation we face. Here is why:

In my book, “Autism’s Hidden Blessings: Discovering God’s Promises for Autistic Children and Their Families,” I wrote that “if all we had to give our son was love, then God would see to it that love was enough.” Let me tell you that I had no idea that God would put those words to the test in 2009!

Here is why: Our family was hit hard by the economic downfall of 2008 and 2009, as so many other families have been.  My husband Matt is a landscape architect.  With very little new development projects, work was scarce.  I watched as my husband returned from work on so many days, his face clouded with the pressures of sustaining not only his business, but our family as well. Matt’s income decreased by about 50% over the past year in order to keep his business doors open, even as other firms were permanently closing their own doors at alarming rates all around us.

On the home front, this meant a drastic reduction of every expense. We cut back in every way possible:  satellite television subscriptions, trips to Target, makeup, dining out, anything that wasn’t necessary was cut.  All of the cutbacks hurt somewhat, but most painful was the fact we could no longer pay for my autistic son’s special medical costs, including Alec’s biomedical and dietary supplements and trips to his autism specialists. Most of these costs are not covered by our insurance.

So, from March until December, Alec did without any of his supplements or medications. I struggled with this concern all year, wondering if Alec’s progress would be lost. I wondered what God could be doing, after Alec had seen such wonderful advances in recent years.  Would it all be lost? Was love really enough?

Day after day stretched on, with no guarantees that we could make it through anything but the day on hand. We didn’t know what the future held. Would be able to stay in our home? What if the car broke down? All we had was the knowledge that God had been faithful to us in the past, that and His promises to take care of our needs.

It is now 2010. We made it though 2009, still standing! Now I can see that God was proving to us that He IS completely faithful to provide for our family, and that includes caring for our autistic son Alec! Yes, it was a terribly difficult year. Yes, we continually felt that we were just one small step away from falling over a financial cliff. But on a daily basis–not weekly or monthly, but DAILY–God provided all that we needed. We are still here, still in our home, still floating, and Alec is doing well despite the months without supplements & biomedical medications.  In fact, he received A’s and B’s on his first third grade report card in his typical third grade classroom. Finally in December we were able to get Alec back onto his supplements.

I am writing to tell you that we are still standing because GOD REALLY is faithful to take care of our families. The journey may seem more than we can bear, but HE IS WITH US.  And so I write these words again, but this time, I write with a proven knowledge that the words are true:

“If love is all we have to give our autistic children, then God WILL see to it that love is enough.”

So keep on loving and trusting God. I promise you, He is faithful to every need!  We will never know the awesome truth of God’s power until we totally let go over every artificial lifeline and throw ourselves backwards completely into His arms, trusting that He will be there to catch us.

I promise you, He will be there to catch you.

Blessings, Kelly

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Thanks to Terry Lowry & The What’s Up Program (KKHT Houston)



Thank you, Terry Lowry, for interviewing me this week on The What’s Up Program which airs on Houston’s KKHT “The Word” Radio.

If you are a listener of the program, welcome!  I would love to hear your comments and stories! Please feel free to share them on this site.

If would like to purchase “Autism’s Hidden Blessings: Discovering God’s Promises for Autistic Children and Their Families,” you can find the book at these online booksellers:

• Christianbook.com Online
• Barnes & Noble Online
• Amazon.com Online
• David C. Cook Online
• or via the publisher directly at Kregel Books

I have an additional website, www.autismshiddenblessings.com,  where you can find information about autism, a listing of autism resources, and even read an excerpt from the book.

In addition, I have set up a Facebook page where you can connect with other parents on the autism journey, share your story or post a question.  There is always activity going on at this location! Click here to connect with the Facebook Group for Autism’s Hidden Blessings.

I would love to hear your stories, questions and comments about the topic.  But the most important thing I want you to know is this:

Your child is greatly loved by God.
Your child is greatly valued by God,
and God has a wonderful purpose for your child’s life,
no less than that of any other child!

Take heart!  God is for you.. and your child, too. You don’t have to walk this journey alone!

Kelly Langston

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Autism Parents in Search of HELP



Parents of ASD kids are often overwhelmed! We can silently wish for someone to step in & lighten our load — if only in a small way — but it’s hard knowing how to ask for help. There are people who are willing to lend a hand, but don’t know where or how to offer assistance.

So, parents, here is your chance. How might someone make your day a tad bit easier? What are some ways that people might reach out and show their support?  Is there some area in your life that is especially difficult?

Looking forward to input!

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Autism, Inflammation and “That Diet!”



Recently, Dr. Mehmet Oz discussed autism, and he did a pretty good job of describing a complex medical condition in a friendly way.  Interestingly, he alludes to a “movement of practitioners” who are treating inflammation, which he attributes to be a condition of many autistic children.  His recommendations?  You guessed it: the wheat and dairy free diet.  By the way, that “movement of practitioners” are the Defeat Autism Now! doctors listed at the Autism Research Institute and Generation Rescue.  Yes, Alec’s doctor is one of them.

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Age of Autism Giveaway Today!



The Age of Autism is giving away a copy of Autism’s Hidden Blessings TODAY. Just go to http://www.ageofautism.com & leave a comment. Good luck, and thank you Age of Autism!

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What the Resurrection Means…



On this Easter day, I am thinking that if Christ is stronger than death, isn’t he so much stronger than autism? If death cannot contain Him, does autism stand a chance of standing in the way of God’s will for our children? We have nothing to fear…Christ has already overcome the world.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”
(John 16:33 AMP)

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