I Am in Here

I have been absent from the blogging world for quite some time.  Part of it is being busy, and part was me being sad.  I lost my camera that had all of our summer fun pictures on it.  Luckily I still have a way to take pictures, so here I am again.
A couple of weeks ago a dear friend let me borrow a book she had recently read.  It was called I Am in Here.  It was written by a mother telling the story of her 13 year old daughter who has autism.  She is nonverbal, but writes AMAZING poetry.  The main theme of the story is hope, but when I first started reading, I felt a bit frustrated.  Not about the book, but I hear these stories of these children who make unbelievable progress with autism, but their parents have a lot of financial resources and are able to pay for therapies we could never afford.  But as I read on that frustration left and I realized that I can still help the Bug make unbelievable progress too, and just because her daughter could communicate didn't mean they didn't have set backs or behaviors.
This book really filled me with hope and a new love and understanding of the Bug.  One main point the author brings up is what she calls "why people" and "how people".  In her words she says, "Why people cannot be at peace until they answer the question of why suffering has befallen them.  They look backward and ask, "Why me?" How People, on the other hand, ask, "How can I move forward?"  Having been dealt their hand in life, their focus shifts to how they can find whatever healing and wholeness is possible."
I loved this concept of "why people" and "how people."  I am sure there are times in our lives when we can fall into either category, but I think the key is which place you focus on.  I believe it is a concept that holds true for all of us as we face the difficulties of life.
Yet another aspect of this book that I enjoyed is how much they acknowledge the hand of God in their lives.  They are Christian and their belief in God is a big part of their story.  I liked this because I feel the same with our story.  As we traverse in this journey with the Bug or anything in our life, having the peace, comfort, and help of a loving Father in Heaven makes it possible and worth it.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to leave you with one more thing from this wonderful book.  Here is a poem written by Elizabeth (the girl whom the book is about.)

Me

I sometimes fear

That people cannot understand

That I hear.

And I know

That they don't believe I go

To every extreme

To try to express

My need to talk.

If they could only walk

In my shoes

They would share my news:

I am in here.

And trying to speak every day 

In some kind of way.

Her words say so much and have helped me with the Bug.  He is in there, and we see it more and more all the time.  I love that he is so cuddly and will just let me sit with him sometimes.  We are so blessed to have him.  He is in a really good place right now, and I am hopeful and am striving to focus on being a "how person."  At the top is one of the Bug's latest masterpieces on the ipad!  Enjoy!