Thrive As You

Just yesterday I was talking to a very dear friend of mine and I asked him what his word was.  He answered "Believe."  Which is, of course, as mentioned here,  my original word.  I let him have it, both because he played the "I'm older than you," card and because, I'm starting to learn that our words can change, and for that matter should change, just as the seasons of our life. Doorway will of course always be my "thing."  And I love the word " doorwa y" and all it represents, but but it never quite sat with me that my word...... was a noun.   You would think after getting the word "Enough" tattooed on my wrist that, in fact, would be my word for this season of my life, but it's not.  "Enough" is the word I need to read every day, several hundred times a day as a reminder.  But it's not, "My word." My word, is fearless.  It seems virtually impossible, doesn't it?  To live without fear...

What a whirlwind week it has been and it's not even over yet! People have come, quite literally, out of the woodwork since my baptism -- telling me they have been praying for me all along.  People I barely know.  People I DON'T know! Humbled. People have been messaging me on facebook, sharing my blog, telling my story.  They have told me that my words inspire them.  That my story has touched them.  I've received emails from people I haven't heard from in years.  They are thanking me for sharing my story. Blessed. My wonderful friend Andy Rampulla , who happens to be Pastor Mark's dad, (and therefore, Marlee's grandfather) sent me all of the photos he took on Sunday.  I wanted to share this one since it was so critical to my story. Remember I said that Marlee was watching?  That Marlee brought me to this place of salvation and she was right there beside me, cheering me on? Nevermind my Alice Cooper makeup. I love the way Mark is...

So, I'm almost the last person on earth to see the musical, Wicked . Don't worry, I've been listening to the music for 2 years. You know how my "word" is doorway? Well my theme song is "Defying Gravity." Here are the lyrics - Something has changed within me Something is not the same I'm through with playing by the rules Of someone else's game Too late for second-guessing Too late to go back to sleep It's time to trust my instincts Close my eyes: and leap! It's time to try Defying gravity I think I'll try Defying gravity Kiss me goodbye I am defying gravity And you wont bring me down! I'm through accepting limits ''cause someone says they're so Some things I cannot change But till I try, I'll never know! Too long I've been afraid of Losing love I guess I've lost Well, if that's love It comes at much too high a cost! I'd sooner buy Defying gravity Kiss me goodbye I...

I always feel like I should blog more.  I have TONS to say.  Anyone who knows me for 5 minutes knows that.  But time... time.... time.....  and then I get to the point where it's like the words are itching me under my skin just dying to get out and so, I make the time. It makes ME feel better.   Less itchy anyway. So this summer was absolutely wild.  And because I live in the south, our summer has been over for nearly a month now.  And not only did my boys go back to school, but I did too.  Sort of.  I mean I don't want to confuse anyone because after all I've said oh, about a million times, that I'm going to go back to school.  But there's that whole "time" thing again.  You see I have one and ONLY one regret in my life.  That I didn't become a teacher.  I know I still can.  And I will.  But in the meantime............ In order to make more time in between being a mommy, a cleaning lady, a chauffer, a craf...

I can't believe it. I moved my blog. I mean... who DOES that? I guess me. And here's why. I was discussing in my last post that sometimes it's hard for me to write. And I realized after much thought (really this has been swirling around in my brain for months) that while I have A LOT to say about autism... it's not ALL I have to say. And yet I find that when the title of my blog is, "April walks with autism," well then by golly, I better be talking about autism. And make NO MISTAKE. I will never, EVER stop talking about autism. But for those of you who have met me... you know I have so much more to say. So here starts a new relationship with my blog. One in which I will.... open some new doors. It was easy for me to figure out the new name of my blog. Let me give you a tiny bit of background. Earlier this year, I reluctantly joined the Eat, Pray, Love craze. I say reluctantly because I picked up the book several times throughout the course of a y...