Workin' on my blog......

I have been messing around the last couple days trying to give my blog a new look.
Bear with me.............

I cannot believe I am sharing this!

Remember that cute picture of me at Christmas when I was four that I shared a while back?
Well, this picture isn't nearly as cute..........it is my "beached whale" look!
Yes, Christmas Eve 7 years ago I was about to give birth to my twins, Ian & Dylan! They were born the day after Christmas.
My dad came over on Christmas Eve and took this picture of me. I was not thrilled. But now I am glad I have it even though I look horrid. Not only was I carrying 15 lbs of baby (yep,Ian was 7# 8 oz and Dylan was 7# 5 oz.) I had horrible edema. I was so swollen I couldn't even bend to sit in a chair. I just kind of leaned those last couple weeks.
Anyway, here I am..........don't laugh!

He came to pay a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.

Please turn off my playlist so you can enjoy the video.

my Jake

Just in case anyone wonders why Jake doesn't show up on my blog much............well, he's a teenager now, you know. He doesnt' get into all the picture taking like he used to. And he doesn't frost cookies anymore. But I want you to know that last night after the little kids went to bed Jake and I made chocolate covered pretzels together.........however, no picture to prove it!!
This is Jake after church this morning.

part 2

Christmas fun with my little kids......

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, "Do you hear what I hear?"
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, "unto certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay."
3. Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old.
5. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing right within your heart.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a Christmas movie or two, tomorrow my plans include baking and Sunday, I want to make it to church!

Dipping Pretzels.......Eitniear style

Well, last Saturday we dipped pretzel rods in chocolate and white coating and sprinkled them. The kids loved it, even Ian made a few, although he was more interested in eating them!!!
I took some pics but forgot to post them. Today we decided to make more..........they disappear fast.
So here's the pics to make your mouth water! LOL!

Friday, Dec. 12

1. Friends are God's gifts to us.

2. Good health; it's priceless.

3. I'm ready for my husband to be home tonight :).

4 Spice is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is my grandma Mitchell's.

6. Take some kids' excitement, snow, lights, love, JESUS, mix it all together and you have Christmas!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to shopping with my BFF and the aforementioned husband being here when I get home. Tomorrow my plans include making something with the kids and Sunday, I am going to the Hackley/Hume houses with Lindsay and another mom/daughter!

Photoshop Illiterate.

OH, I am so steamed.
I bought this blogwear, Joyful Tidings for my blog.
See the pretty banner up there?? YES, I know it is supposed to
have a picture. Do you think I can figure out how to insert the picture?
NO, I am a total doof.

Gettin' there.........but still not there.

Just a reminder that I am offering FREE ship/handling on your Stampin' Up! order for the month of December. If you are planning to order and want to hold off til later in the month, could you give me a heads up so I know if I am going to make it (my minimum). Thanks! I am feeling a bit panicked about going inactive. This has never happened to me in almost 11 years of being a demo!!
I appreciate any order, large or small!
Thanks!!!!
Gosh, I sound like such a charity case............sorry.

Janine Smith Eitniear age 4, Christmas 1967

yep, that's me 41 years ago when I was the same age as Lindsay. Almost exactly the same age as her birthday is 2/4 and mine is 3/5.
My mom and dad always made Christmas so fun. We didn't get tons of gifts but we always got one "big gift" and then a few smaller ones and my mom put together the BEST stockings!! I remember my younger brother, Rob and I actually spent probably an hour going through our stockings. Mom was awesome. My dad always got up early and stoked up the fire in the fireplace til it roared. Mom had the Christmas music going. Oh, the memories. There was nothing hurried about our Christmas morning, we savored everything..........after all the gifts were opened we just played and Mom disappeared into the kitchen and soon the wonderful, familiar smells of Christmas dinner started wafting into the living room. Thank you, Mom and Dad for making such great Christmas memories for me. I love you both so very much.

P.S. for Jodi and Kristin.....try not to envy that camera under the tree!!! LOL!!!!!

And I'm copying Kristin.................

1. Snow reminds me of Jesus.

2. I'm looking forward to Friday the 12th, shopping with my bff, Cindi.

3. Doug is the best husband ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is Little House on the Prairie.

5. I'm done with trying to figure people out (ok, I really want to be done).

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is the kids' excitement.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to quiet, tomorrow my plans include dipping pretzel rods with my kids and Sunday, I want to make a couple aunties happy and make it to the Schmieding Christmas Party!

Thanks for sharing, Kristin.................www.fridayfillins.blogspot.com

Stampin' Up! anyone?

I really need to generate some sales by the end of this month...........or I am kaput as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. So.............I am offering anyone who orders this month FREE SHIPPING!!!!!
We have an unbelievable array of Holiday stamp sets, papers, ribbons and anything else you can imagine for making beautiful scrapbook pages, cards, home decor items, etc.
Dress up your baked good gifts with our designer paper, ribbons and tags!!!!
Make some Christmas Cards!!!
Make some ornaments with your kids!!!!
The possibilities are endless!
FREE SHIPPING for the entire month of December~~~~~~~
Please help me remain a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!!!
Thanks!!

Christmas is coming.............

the goose is getting fat. Please to put a penny in the old man's hat. If you have no penny, a h'penny will do, if you have no h'penny, then God bless you!!!
I love that song.........Dylan has been singing it around the house a lot as they are learning it for their Christmas program~~ Dylan is so excited about it. He loves to sing. He loves to learn.
Ian said he will try. Last year, he just stood up there holding the teacher's hand. But he was good and he looked cute, so it was enough for me.
Today we made popcorn balls! What a hoot. We had popcorn, popped and unpopped, all over the place. We laughed at our germophobe, Jacob. He kept insisting on repeated handwashing and hand sanitizer application between each ball, because the little kids might have licked their hands! Ian made a few too. He was funny. Dylan and Lindsay got into it with gusto. It made a mess and took longer than I had thought, but it was fun and we laughed really hard. Until Dylan sneezed or something and Jacob totally freaked out and went stomping off upstairs. I told him he was worse than Howie Mandel.
I haven't got much decorating done inside. Doug worked all weekend on the outside. I am going to clean and put some stuff out tomorrow. Tuesday morning Doug and I will get the tree up and I will put the lights and ribbon on and then it will be ready for the kids to hang their ornaments when they get home from school and into the evening. We have a zillion ornaments, only slightly exagerating! I have ornaments from my childhood, from my grandmother Mitchell's tree (really old ornaments), Jacob has a huge collection already, between the ones we have bought him and the ones he has made in school and Sunday school through the years!
It is snowing like crazy out side. I guess the First day of DECEMBER will be mighty white!!

Gobble, gobble, gobble.

Lindsay, Dylan and I made these placecards for the table today. The Pilgrim is totally Dylan's design. I didn't help him at all. He made it special for me.

Still Thankful........

Wow, I can't believe it's Thanksgiving time again. Seems like just yesterday that Kristin's daughter got lost (Thank God, temporarily) at Disney. Wow!!
Again it's time to reflect on my many many blessings.
I am so thankful for my life. For just being alive. For the honor of inhabiting this beautiful world that God created.
I am thankful for my mom and dad. Thankful that they are both still living and in relatively good health, both at 76 years.
My husband is a tremendous blessing to me. He loves me no matter what. He is my biggest fan, my confidante, my encourager.
I have 4 beautiful children, quite amazing for a woman who was told she was completely infertile! Jacob, my teenager......such an awesome young man. Kind, caring and so much more.
My Ian, doing so well again. Thank you, God for Dr. Richtmeir and Barb. Thank you that Ian is so loving and vocal and funny and adorable.
My Dylan Robert, oh, my. He has his Grandpa Smith's charm which is scary. He is already engaged to two girls at school, just ask them!! He makes me laugh and amazes me with his wisdom.
Lindsay.........my little DIVA. She sings, dances and entertains me all the time wether I like it or not!!! She is a sweetheart and my moms' revenge on me. I can't imagine my life without her or any of them.
I am thankful for my extended family, friends and all the great people in my life.
Most of all, I am thankful for Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord without whom there is no hope.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL AND THEN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON BEGINS!!!!!

Brenen Twiss

You can see updates on Brenen posted by his mom on www.carepages.com
You will need to register but it is no big deal, then you will get email notification each time
there is an update.
This family certainly has a long road ahead of them.

PLEASE PRAY!

A young man from Montague High was severly injured in a crash yesterday.
His name is Brenan Twiss. His dad, Brad and my Doug worked together for years and
we have know this family for a long time.
On WZZM13 there is a picture of Brenan and the truck after the accident.
Also, if it is legitimate, there is an update on the message board from Leon Twiss,
Brenan's grandfather. It is not good news. Read it here. http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=101706&catid=14 I do not want to quote it in case it is not legit.
This family desperately needs our prayers and supplication before the Lord.
As you go through your day, please whisper a prayer every chance you get for this
beautiful young man and his brother and parents.
Thank you.

School pictures

School pictures can be irritating things. The twins I had taken together this year. The picture turned out cute........I have scanned the 8 x 10, but the wallet size ones have Ian's ear totally cut off.

Lindsay's turned out really nice. A gal named Jennifer Walenski took them at Huggy Bear Preschool.

Jacob got his taken and never bothered to give me an order packets, so all I have of him is his student I.D. badge.

Exasperating.

A very nice friend of mine has offered to help me get some shots of all four of my kids in their Christmas best.... so I hope that goes well!

Until then, here are LIndsay and the twins.

UPPERCASER LIVING CATALOG SHOW!

I am having an UPPERCASE LIVING catalog show for the next couple weeks. Would like to close by the end of the month.
I have 3 copies of the catalog.....if you have high speed internet and could look online that would be great.......... http://debbiecollins.uppercaseliving.net/
Check it out and let me know if you want to order!!!!

VOTE TOMORROW!

I am voting Pro AMERICA, Pro FAMILY, Pro LIFE. Please know all the facts before you vote.
Check out www.wallbuilders.com if you don't know the candidate's stances on the issues.
Click on Voter Issue Guide right under the picture of Samuel Adams.

I'm still a good mom!

Ok, I am not nearly as ambitious as my cousin, Jodi who works full time and hand makes her kids' halloween costumes, but.....................darn it - I did make some cute treats for both Lindsay's class and the twins' class so Ha! If I know Jodi, she probably did both....LOL!

Anyway, I made 30 of these spiders for the kids. They are made using the scallop circle punch and the photo corner punch. There is a mini peppermint patty inside.

Not my idea, saw it online. Are'nt they cute?

Here is my Lindsay with her Hannah Montana hairpiece. She flipped that hair so much it's a wonder she didn't get whiplash! This was taken Wed. by another preschool mom. I love it!!!

Happy Birthday, Doug!

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday!!!
It is also our 27th wedding anniversary.
So Doug says I am the best birthday gift he has ever gotten!!!!
Isn't he awesome?

Another First.........

Dylan lost his first baby tooth on Wed. He was sooooo excited.

Cold Field Trip!!!! brrrrrrrr........

Today was Lindsay's 1st school field trip.

The kids from Huggy Bear Daycare and Preschool visited Lewis' Farm on this cold

Fall Day.........

feeling reflective this morning

Well, we had good weekend. No, nothing special..........just that the kids and I were happy together. Ian didn't have any rages. His smile is killer and I love seeing it a lot more.

Dylan went to his first birthday party on Sat. afternoon. Ian wasn't invited....oh the fun of

twins....how do you handle that? Well, Ian went out to lunch with Daddy and Dylan went to the party, although my first impulse was to call the mom and say "Don't you know I have twins? How can you leave one out of the invitation?" But Doug and I realized that we will have these things come up and so we handled it the best we could. Dylan was bothered that Ian wasn't invited but at the same time didn't want to miss the party. Understandable for a 6 year old boy invited to his first party. Ian had fun with his Dad and came home laughing and smiling. Dylan gave him hugs and shared his goodie bag with Ian and Lindsay.

The best moments in parenting are when you see a glimpse of the heart and soul of your child.

Seeing the naughty side, challenged side - those are not so hard to deal with when you get regular glimpses of their heart and soul and it is clear that they are kind, loving and caring of each other and of people outside of their home too.

Life has been challenging, especially these last 3 or so months. I praise God for his unfailing love and faithfulness to me and my family. I am so thankful that God loves me unconditionally - he loves me even when I can't love myself because I feel like a bad person, mom, Christian, friend, etc. God loves me and my flaws. Jesus Christ died for my flaws and my sinfulness. Thank you, Jesus for paying my debt and calling me your own. If you will own me, how can I not love me?

If you will own me, who cares what the rest of the world thinks. You know I am doing the best I can.

Rainy day.....

Just a couple cards I made on this rainy October morning. The designer papers are Main Blueberry and Washington Apple, new from Stampin' Up! My digital picture taking skills are lacking lately......the saying on the blue one is "couldn't do without you".

Please pray for Deb!

My sister in law just called me at 6:30 a.m. She is in excruciating pain with her back.
She has been going to the chiropractor every couple days to have it put back in and it
keeps slipping out. She was up all night hurting and I feel so bad for her. Please pray
for her that she will get relief from the pain and that she will get completely well.
Thank you!

Thank you, Jodi!!! I think.

Well, I want to thank Jodi for my new obsession, yes........Facebook.
Actually, I opened an account back in Feb. but didn't do anything with it until
I read on her blog that Jodi was having so much fun with it.
So, I have gottten in touch with some relatives I haven't talked to in a long time,
a couple old friends and this will be a great way to keep in touch with my great niece who
is at Ferris.
So, Thanks Jodi and I know my family thanks you too for yet another reason to ignore them
as I sit in front of this puter! LOL!!

Update on Dan

Dan came through the surgery. The doctors said it was the worst case scenario they could have imagined. They had to break his femur bone and use cadaver bone to do some repairs. Also, the last time he had surgery on his hip, the surgeon had actually glued some stuff together so they had to deal with that.
He had a rough first night, but once they got him on the right pain med things were a bit better.
He has a long road ahead of him. Please keep him and my sister, Cheryl in your prayers. Thanks!!

Please pray for Dan......

My brother in law, Danno is having a major surgery tomorrow. Dan has suffered for years and has a degenerative condition. He has a lot of pain, but he doesn't complain. He still works!! One of his specialists cannot believe he is able to work with all the issues he deals with physically. But Dan has always been a hard working man.
Please pray for him tomorrow right around noon as he has this much needed surgery on his hip.
This is not a typical hip replacement. It is very involved and serious. Please pray for my sis and their kids too. Peace and a sense of God's presence for all. Thank you!

The creative juices keep flowin'!!

It's the housecleaning juices that need flowin'!!!!

But no, here I sit in my messy house, stamping and blogging!!!

I know I am bad!

Anyhoo, I had to play with Riding Hood Red and these note cards from SU!

that I just had to have and then didn't do anything with and a giant clothespin from

the Dollar spot. It turned out really cute and you can use it to hold a favorite photo or two,

or a recipe card while you are baking. Or a love note. Hey, I could put a magnet on the back for the fridge.

I am playing and I am enjoying it. I just won't look around. I need a cleaning lady so bad!

A couple more cards............

they look a bit washed out in the photo. The green card is the Maine Blueberry again and the other is the Bella Rosa designer paper! Great papers!!

You like?? You order online at http://www.janineeitniear.stampinup.net/

:)

New Love!

I was so bummed when SU! retired all the Designer Paper from the last catalog.........but as usual I got over it and now am in love with Maine Blueberry!!! And the new flower brads are so gorgeous!!!! Check these out! Click on the pic to enlarge for details!

Stampin' Up! ONLINE ORDERING HAS ARRIVED!

That's right..........you can now order any time day or night at http://janineeitniear.stampinup.net
Of course, you can still call or email me your order also!!
And either way, if you order $150. or more, you get Hostess goodies!
Check it out!

Thanks for the memories...........

My dear friend Carolyn from Brooklyn, NY sent these this morning to remind me how Lindsay and Jake looked two years ago in June when I met Carolyn in GR where she was visiting her brother and his wife. Wow, they have grown!!!

Thanks, Carolyn and the next time you are in GR I will see you!!!!!

Please pray for us......

We are really having it rough with Ian. Things have gotten real bad again.
I really need prayers and so does Doug and the kids and of course, Ian.
Thanks.

Oh, Happy Day!!!!

First , my sophomore, Jake.........."Mom, my eyes hurt."

Then Ian, my 1st grader.............. GRRRRRRR.......I AM NOT GOING TO SCHOOL!!"

Next 1st grader, Dylan......."Dad, can we go now, come on.......I'm going to be late!" (at 7:30 a.m.) and then my preshcooler, Lindsay......"do I look pretty?"

Yes, the dear children are at school. Ok, I miss them a little. Well, not exactly miss them, but just hope they are all happy. Those darn kids drive me nuts..........but man, I love them!! I have been praying all night and all morning for them.

DATE NIGHT!!!!

Yes, last night was date night!! Well, I should say, date afternoon as we left here at 3 in the afternoon!!! But hey, we were gone til 8. We went to Red Lobster for early dinner and then went to a few stores and on the way home we got ice cream. THANK YOU, AUNT LAURIE!! You are a gem. We so needed to get out. Things have been rough with Ian. I haven't written much about it here but it has been a really rough summer. But we have a wonderful doctor in Dr. Richstmeir. He actually called to check on us yesterday because it was so cloudy. He told me we will figure out this puzzle. It will take time. I must say, Ian is really trying. It is another gloomy day and I am afraid it will not clear up today. He is trying not to notice. I feel so bad for the little guy.
Well, back to date night. Our meal was great and we had a great server. We took our time and had a CONVERSATION!!! I love my husband so much. He is the best. No, not perfect. But he is the best husband for me.
Oh, I almost forgot, I picked up my brochures for "Let Me Do It!" from the printers. They look great. I am getting ready to start really promoting my new business. So for my friends and family........you will have brochures and business cards in your hands soon to give all your friends and colleagues!!! All you working moms, you can use my service too!!!!
Thank you to everyone who reads here. I know there are a ton of blogstalkers as Kristin calls them. Post a comment sometime and identify yourself!
Well, this is a funny, all over the place post! Guess I am still giddy from DATE NIGHT!!!! LOL!

Ian's way of thinking...................

We made pizza for supper one night this week. There were two pieces left and I put them in the fridge on a paper plate and then put another paper plate over the top.
The next morning I found the paper plates still in the fridge, no pizza.
Now, Ian is, hopefully, going through a growth spurt because he has been eating everything he can get his hands on. And so the following conversation ensued:
Mom -"Ian, did you eat TWO pieces of pizza??!!"
Ian - "No, I ate one piece of pizza."
Mom - Who ate the other piece?"
Ian - "I did"
Mom- "So you ate two pieces of pizza."
Ian- "No, I ate one piece of pizza and then I ate one piece of pizza again."

Date with Bob

Ok, imagine this...........I offer to take all 4 of my kids to McD's for lunch and to play this morning.
Ian doesn't want to go because he is too busy watching the sky for clouds. Lindsay doesn't want to go.......WEIRD..........and then I remember that the last time we stopped at McD's in Whitehall there was a guy dressed up like Ronald McDonald and she was scared to death and we had to leave and go to another McD's. So Jacob graciously offered to stay home with Ian and Lindsay but Miss Lindsay said, NO, no one should go!! Do you believe it?
Well, amidst Lindsay's screaming and Ians' sky gazing Dylan and I went to McD's in Whitehall and had a marvelous time. Dylan's name is Dylan Robert and I call him Bob. He likes it. I am the only one who does it.
On the way home, I said to him that I had had a good time. He said me too and thanked me.
I said "Was that a date?" and he said "Yep." and I asked him if he was going to tell Dad and he said no cuz Dad would be jealous. Well, the minute we got home and he saw Doug, he said "haha, I stoled your woman!"
I had fun with Bob. He is a real character.

I am sick in my stomach

I am not trying to tell any one how to vote or how to think or how to feel.
I just cannot let this go without at least offering the info to anyone who might
want to be informed.
So, take it for what you will........or don't look.
http://bethany.preciousinfants.com/2008/08/18/barack-obama-and-his-opposition-to-the-baipa.aspx

So excited............

I have my husband home with us for the 2nd weekend in a row!!
That NEVER happens because my husband works alot of overtime.
After almost 27 years (in Oct.) I am still, actually way more, in love with
my husband. He is my best friend, he encourages me when I am down,
he is my rock, second only to the Lord. He is a wonderful father. We are
45 and 47 so parenting small children (3 that are 6 and under) along with a teen
is alot of work for us. Add Austism Spectrum Disorder into the mix and well,
we are daily watching for the men in the white coats to come for us. LOL!
A few months ago I gently pointed out something that
was bothering me about one of the relationships he has with one of our kids.
He took it to heart and I have seen him daily working to improve that relationship.
He cares and loves us all. No, he certainly is not perfect and on a PMS day I could
probably post a negative thought, but I wouldn't......because I am his best friend too.
I am so thankful that God chose Doug for me. He is honest, hard working, gorgeous
and affectionate.
Ok, I will stop now..........Go hug your husband and never take him for granted. :)

Happy New Stampin' Up! Year!!

Stampin' Up! The brand new catalog is online!!!!
And a fabulous bunch of promotions including several new sets 15% off (no add'l purchase required!!!)
And a starter kit for $99. so that you too can join the SU! family!
And much more.................. www.janineeitniear.stampinup.net
Check it out and book a workshop with me!!!

Please pray for Cindy

Please be in prayer for my dear friend, Cindy Fodor. She is also my Stampin' Up! upline.
She is a dear sweet friend and her family is suffering a terrible loss at this time.
Cindy's brother, Dav, a missionary bush pilot in Indonesia crashed and died yesterday.
The family waited all day to hear if he was dead or alive as it was night in Indonesia when
he crashed and they had to wait til daylight to start searching.
Dav was Cindy's best friend growing up and only one year older than her. Cindy is from a
large family and they are flung all over the world, many of them serving the Lord in missions.
Please pray for Cindy, her parents and siblings and of course, Dav's wife and children.
Thank you.

10 Things Every Child with Autism wishes you knew.....

Some days it seems the only predictable

thing about it is the unpredictability. The only consistent attribute, the inconsistency. There is little argument on any level but that autism

is baffling, even to those who spend their lives around it. The child who lives with autism may look "normal," but his or her behavior can be perplexing and downright difficult. Today, the citadel of autism, once thought an "incurable" disorder, is cracking around the foundation. Every day, individuals with autism show us they can overcome, compensate for, and otherwise manage many of the condition's most

challenging aspects. Equipping those around our children with a simple understanding of autism's most basic elements has a tremendous effect on the children's journey towards productive, independent adulthood. Autism is an extremely complex disorder, but we can distill it to three critical components: sensory processing difficulties, speech/language delays and impairments, and whole child/social interaction issues. Here are 10 things every child with autism wishes you knew.

1. I am a child with autism. I am not "autistic." My autism is one aspect of my total character. It does not define me as a person. Are you a person with thoughts, feelings and many talents, or are you just fat (overweight), myopic (wear glasses) or klutzy (uncoordinated, not good at sports)?

2. My sensory perceptions are disordered. This means the ordinary sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches of everyday life that you may not even notice can be downright painful for me. The very environment in which I have to live often seems hostile. I may appear withdrawn or belligerent to you, but I am really just trying to defend myself. A "simple" trip to the grocery store may be hell for me. My hearing may be hyperacute. Dozens of people are talking at once. The loudspeaker booms today's special. Music whines from the sound system. Cash registers beep and cough. A coffee grinder is chugging. The meat cutter screeches, babies wail, carts creak, the fluorescent lighting hums. My brain can't filter all the input, and I'm in overload! My sense of smell may be highly sensitive. The fish at the meat counter isn't quite fresh, the guy standing next to us hasn't showered today, the deli is handing out sausage samples, the baby in line ahead of us has a poopy diaper, they're mopping up pickles on Aisle 3 with ammonia. ... I can't sort it all out, I'm too nauseous. Because I am visually oriented, this may be my first sense to become overstimulated. The fluorescent light is too bright. It makes the room pulsate and hurts my eyes. Sometimes the pulsating light bounces off everything and distorts what I am seeing. The space seems to be constantly changing. There's glare from windows, moving fans on the ceiling, so many bodies in constant motion, too many items for me to be able to focus - and I may compensate with tunnel vision. All this affects my vestibular sense, and now I can't even tell where my body is in space. I may stumble, bump into things, or simply lay down to try and regroup.

3. Please remember to distinguish between won't (I choose not to) and can't (I'm not able to). Receptive and expressive language are both difficult for me. It isn't that I don't listen to instructions. It's that I can't understand you. When you call to me from across the room, this is what I hear: "*&^%$#@, Ian. #$%^*&^%$&*" Instead, come speak directly to me in plain words: "Please put your book in your desk, Ian. It's time to go to lunch." This tells me what you want me to do and what is going to happen next. Now it's much easier for me to comply.

4. I am a concrete thinker. I interpret language literally. It's very confusing for me when you say, "Hold your horses, cowboy!" when what you really mean is "Please stop running." Don't tell me something is a "piece of cake" when there is no dessert in sight and what you really mean is, "This will be easy for you to do." When you say, "It's pouring cats and dogs," I see pets coming out of a pitcher. Please just tell me, "It's raining very hard." Idioms, puns, nuances, double entendres and sarcasm are lost on me.

5. Be patient with my limited vocabulary. It's hard for me to tell you what I need when I don't know the words to describe my feelings. I may be hungry, frustrated, frightened or confused, but right now those words are beyond my ability to express. Be alert for body language, withdrawal, agitation, or other signs that something is wrong. There's a flip side to this: I may sound like a little professor or a movie star, rattling off words or whole scripts well beyond my developmental age. These are messages I have memorized from the world around me to compensate for my language deficits, because I know I am expected to respond when spoken to. They may come from books, television or the speech of other people. It's called echolalia. I don't necessarily understand the context or the terminology I'm using, I just know it gets me off the hook for coming up with a reply.

6. Because language is so difficult for me, I am very visually oriented. Show me how to do something rather than just telling me. And please be prepared to show me many times. Lots of patient repetition helps me learn. A visual schedule is extremely helpful as I move through my day. Like your day planner, it relieves me of the stress of having to remember what comes next, makes for smooth transitions between activities, and helps me manage my time and meet your expectations. Here's a great web site for learning more about visual schedules http://www.cesa7.k12.wi.us/newweb/content/rsn/autism.asp

7. Focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can't do. Like any other human, I can't learn in an environment where I'm constantly made to feel that I'm not good enough or that I need fixing. Trying anything new when I am almost sure to be met with criticism, however constructive, becomes something to be avoided. Look for my strengths and you'll find them. There's more than one right way to do most things.

8. Help me with social interactions. It may look like I don't want to play with the other kids on the playground, but sometimes it's just that I simply don't know how to start a conversation or enter a play situation. If you can encourage other children to invite me to join them at kickball or shooting baskets, I may be delighted to be included.

9. Try to identify what triggers my meltdowns. This is termed "the antecedent." Meltdowns, blowups, tantrums or whatever you want to call them are even more horrid for me than they are for you. They occur because one or more of my senses has gone into overload. If you can figure out why my meltdowns occur, they can be prevented.

10. If you are a family member, please love me unconditionally. Banish thoughts such as, "If he would just ..." and "Why can't he ... ?" You didn't fulfill every last expectation your parents had for you, and you wouldn't like being constantly reminded of it. I didn't choose to have autism. Remember that it's happening to me, not you. Without your support, my chances of successful, self-reliant adulthood are slim. With your support and guidance, the possibilities are broader than you might think. I promise you I'm worth it. It all comes down to three words: Patience. Patience. Patience. Work to view my autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Look past what you may see as limitations and see the gifts autism has given me. I may not be good at eye contact or conversation, but have you noticed I don't lie, cheat at games, tattle on my classmates, or pass judgment on other people? You are my foundation. Think through some of those societal rules, and if they don't make sense for me, let them go. Be my advocate, be my friend, and we'll see just how far I can go. I probably won't be the next Michael Jordan, but with my attention to fine detail and capacity for extraordinary focus, I might be the next Einstein. Or Mozart. Or Van Gogh. They had autism too.

Freelance writer and consultant Ellen Notbohm is a columnist for Autism/Asperger's Digest and co-author of 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Future Horizons). She favors "common sense" approaches to raising her sons with autism and AD/HD. She lives in Oregon.

Miss Lindsay Marie...........

Cards.............

So, here are some cards I made using the Jersey Shore designer paper...........

The best part - they are all my original designs!

Bummed..........

Today Stampin' Up! National Convention begins and I am not there!
I went last year in Denver and had such a great time. I was planning to go this year
but an unexpected large expense came up and blew my budget for sure.
The real bummer is that it is Stampin' Up!'s 20th anniversary this year!!!
And it is my 10th anniversary with SU!
Oh, well. I keep telling myself it is probably hotter than heck in Salt Lake City.
I will go next year, Lord willing.
Ok, I'm done with my pity party.
:)

Does this look like a kid not having fun to you????

So, my poor Ian hates his summer program......Poor baby. He's not having any fun. It's boring.


He's not learning anything........yadayadayada.


One of the wonderful ladies that work with Ian took the following shots.............poor kid having such a crummy time.

Hey, Jod-I think that shirt is one of your boys from the yard sale!

New Biz Update

Well, I don't know if anyone has seen the website..........I wish I could have a site meter on there.
I have gotten 4 very nice comments..........thank you, ladies!
Anyway, I am working on a brochure and business cards. And I need to go to the courthouse and register the business name.
I also need to find out if I need insurance?? Maybe Jodi or Kristin could give me some advice there! :)
And I need to find out what it means to be bonded? Any one know???
Please be telling all your friends about my new business. I will reward you for referrals!!

Exciting News!!!

As we were gassing up to go home from vacation I saw a van pull into the gas station and on the side of the van it said "Karen's Errands" Personal Errand service and the phone number. I thought to myself, "hmmm, I wonder if something like that would go over in my area or if someone has already jumped on it." So.........I have been doing tons of research ever since I got home from vacay (as Jod calls it...LOL!)
And I am happy to say that I couldn't find anything like it closer than Muskegon.
So.........I decided to jump in with both feet. Please visit my website and give me your honest opinions on anything I should do differently, things I should change, more things I should offer, etc. Please let me see LOTS of comments so I know you are all behind me on this and PLEASE tell all your friends, bosses, colleagues, new moms, senior citizens, anyone and everyone you can think of who might use my services.
PLEASE do let me know what you think!!!
http://janine-letmedoit.com

Disclaimer....... :)

I have added a play list to my blog!!!
My nephew's wife has an awesome song by Brandon Heath on hers and I have put it on mine.
The disclaimer is for Bucky Covington's "Different World"!!!
Except for the FIRST LINE of the song, it fits my childhood to a T.
Just to clarify, my mother did not smoke and drink while she was carrying me.
In fact, I don't think my mother has ever smoked or drank.
I love the song, except for that first line!
:)

Prayers, please.

A very dear friend of mine will be in court this afternoon around 2:30. Divorce court. Her husband of over 25 years has become emotionally and physically abusive to her and their teenage son. I am asking all of you that read here to please, please pray for my friend. Her husband is fighting her for custody because he doesn't want to pay support. Their son doesn't want anything to do with his dad and said he would do a couple weekend visits a month max. Please pray that my friend will retain full custody of her son and that the decision will be made soon so that they can move out of the house that they are still in with him.
Thank you for sharing this burden with me. I want her to be surrounded in prayer as she goes in to court today. Thank you so much!

BiKeR DuDes!!!

Doug has just started giving the twins little rides around town on his motorcycle.
As you can see from the pictures, they absolutely love it!!