Uncle Sam's Cabin

Thankful Thursday

2012-01-05T21:12:00.002-05:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

Work. My to do list runneth over.
My children, even on their worst day I'm thankful they are here.
My husband, even on his worst day I'm thankful he is here.
My life, even on my worst day I'am thankful I am here.

What are you thankful for?

Back When I Knew It All

2011-12-24T11:04:00.000-05:00

Apparently I have joined the ranks of the know nothing old fogeys. I guess some folk just need to reinvent the wheel for themselves.

Thankful Thursday

2011-12-22T20:27:00.001-05:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

One more day.
Patience.
Providence.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday

2011-12-08T13:05:00.001-05:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

- The personal computer
- The internet
- Wi fi
All of which allow me to be very productive without getting out of my pjs or my bed.Yeah, I said it.
Progress!
Inspiration.
The kids, even when they are fighting and screaming and being extra defiant.
Modern medicine. I'd probably be dead without it.

What are you thankful for?

Tales From The Crib

2011-12-02T17:18:00.004-05:00

Things said in my house of late.

Me: Okay ladies! To your rooms.
Big Haired Toddler: Mommy, there aren't two girls rooms! There's just one girls room.
She said it with that tone of voice that says, get on the ball lady you should know this.

Me: What's on your face?
Big Haired Toddler: Makeup.
Me: Where'd you get it?
Big Haired Toddler: The kids' bathroom.
Me: Is there any left?
Big Haired Toddler: Yeah.
Me: Go get it for me.
Big Haired Toddler: Why?

Daughter: Mommy there's no room in this drawer.
Me: Well, we'll just have to get rid of some stuff.
Daughter: Uh, that's a you option. That's not a me option.

Baby: "Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Ever since he figured out how to do it he just goes around the house roaring for no apparent reason.

Big haired toddler reassuring me that the "makeup" on her face is really marker, "Trust me! I did it to myself!" Oh I believe you dear.

Son: [singing] Boyz in the sink! The boys are back! Boyz in the sink! The boys are back!
Daughter: Stop it, you're bringing back bad memories. Psych, just kidding.
Son: You mean I'm just irritating?
Boyz in the Sink for those not familiar with them.

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-24T08:57:00.000-05:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

God's provision even of things I hadn't even thought to ask for.
The blessing of good friends.
Healing.
Family.
Freedom.
Opportunity.
Progress.
The sacrifices of those who volunteer to protect us from all enemies foreign and domestic.
God's peace that passes all understanding.

What are you thankful for?

Super Committee Epic Fail

2011-11-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you. Clock Ticks Down to Super Committee Failure

Failure is an option, and one the Super Committee on debt reduction looks increasingly likely to end up with.

A last-ditch meeting of lawmakers ended Monday afternoon with no smiles, no comments, but some vivid body language. Even a visit to the White House by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., co-chairwoman of the panel of 12 came and went without comment.

Come on now. Who thought this would end any other way. This was designed to fail. It was clear from the beginning that this was just a way to kick the can down the road and kick it down the road again. Cinch up your belt a little tighter folks and count the days until November 2012.

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-18T09:35:00.000-05:00

In all of yesterday's excitment I completely forgot that yesterday was Thursday but I am nonetheless thankful. So today I am thankful for/that:

A positive outlook for the future.
A successful presentation at SU.
Happy children.
Modern medicine.
Friends new and old. Love you guys!

What are you thankful for?

About Autism

2011-11-16T09:20:00.000-05:00

This needs to be broadcast far and wide:
Get over your bias against people with autism, scientist says

“People with autism need opportunities and support more than they need treatment,” he argues. “As a result, my research group and others believe that autism should be described and investigated as a variant within the human species. … They cannot be reduced to an error of nature that should be corrected.”

What I've Been Up To

2011-11-15T15:31:00.000-05:00

Check it out: NeuroDiversity Consulting LLC Services.
Let me know what you think.

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-10T17:20:00.002-05:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

Truth.
Forgiveness.
Peace.
Friends.
Prayer.

What are you thankful for?

Can you say nickle and dime?

2011-11-09T17:10:00.000-05:00

Fuh real?

President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.

In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10).

To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees.

Okay, yeah, right. Did they keep a straight face when they broke the news about this blatant money grab?

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-03T18:46:00.000-04:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

A good night's sleep. Hopefully I'll be getting one soon.
Happy kids. It's nice when they are not bickering.
New friends.
The freedom to be me.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday

2011-10-27T17:12:00.000-04:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

Bam Bam (the 17 month old) has taken to climbing on the toilet rather than in the toilet.
Central heating.
Warm blankets.
Friends.

What are you thankful for?

Tread Lightly

2011-10-24T19:24:00.002-04:00

Cross posted at NeuroDiversity Consulting blog.

I'm really torn about this, Top Five Reasons You Should Never Piss Off an Autism Mom. On one hand it illustrates some of the unpleasantness of parenting autistic individuals. You and your children are constantly subjected to overly judgmental remarks from strangers, family and friends, you and your child are constantly struggling to understand each other, as a parent you are already on edge and consumed with guilt and fear that you are not doing enough for your loved one, you fear that the comments that you are not a good enough parent are true.

At the same time I feel we owe more to our children than the caricature of the angry ill tempered shrew that this list presents. Yes the lives we live as parents of autistic individuals are hard but our children are worth all of the struggle. We fight because our children are worth fighting for. Parents need to take care to share that message rather than the message that their children are a crushing burden. Autism is only a tragedy if you choose to make it one.

Occupy Wall Street: Occupy This

2011-10-24T15:47:00.000-04:00

Hey all you Occupy whatever people, take a listen.

Now I gotta get back to work.

Tales From The Crib

2011-10-21T08:23:00.002-04:00

Things heard in my house of late.

"Did you just pee on my computer!!!" Thankfully the answer was no but it could just as easily been yes.

Ten year old son to me: "Hold on."
Six year old daughter calling out from the bathroom: "Did he just say something about a moron?"
Me: "No, brush your teeth."
Why does she even know that word?

Hubby speaking of the three year old: "She thinks she's dressed."
Me: "What's she wearing?"
Hubby: "Go show mommy what you're wearing."
Three year old: "Uh uh."

Thankful Thursday

2011-10-20T15:10:00.000-04:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

Opportunity.
Freedom.
The brave few who defend us all.

What are you thankful for?

What I've Been Up To

2011-10-19T10:11:00.000-04:00

What I've been up to of late.

NeuroDiversity Consulting LLC

Stop by for a visit and let us know what you think.

Tales From The Crib

2011-10-14T17:13:00.001-04:00

Things heard in my house of late.

"Why do you do these things to me!" was the tearful wail of my ten year old upon learning that I really did expect him to do house work to earn computer time. I'm such a crazy parent that way.

"Hey come back here!" This was the command of the three year old, with comb in hand, as she chased the 15 month old who was wisely running for his life.

"Mommy can we go visit grammy and papa sometime, again, tomorrow?" This makes perfect sense to a three year old.

"Oh Jesus," whispered the three year old. I so know the feeling.

Thankful Thursday

2011-10-13T10:33:00.001-04:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

God spoke into the void and such is his power that the nothingness of the void became something.
The image of God reflected in every human being.
There is joy to be had even in the midst of strife.

What are you thankful for?

Campus Crusade for Christ Name Change Fall Out

2011-10-04T13:05:00.003-04:00

So I'm hearing that some folk, displeased with the recent name change for Campus Crusade for Christ International's stateside campus ministry, are threatening to cut off financial support for the international ministry in protest. Okay.

So my first thought upon hearing this was to wonder if the people threatening to cease their financial support realize that students across the US have been calling Campus Crusade for Christ "Cru", the new name they find so objectionable, for about 15 years now?

My second thought was, do they realize that Campus Crusade for Christ International has a wide variety of ministries with many different names that do not specifically name Christ but nonetheless manage to represent Christ quite ably?

Then I wondered if a simple name change was all it would really take for some people to abandon an organization that has faithfully operated with integrity for more than half a century.

Campus Crusade for Christ International has ministries all over the world including in those places where being a Christian will get you tossed into prison or could cost you your life. They call themselves whatever gives them the best opportunity to proclaim Christ wherever they are. This is what they have always done. Doesn't make any sense to me to get upset about that now.

Given that the ministry has clearly stated that their missions focus remains the same I wonder what the objection to the name change and threat to cease support means. Does this mean that people think the ministry leadership is not telling the truth when they say they continue to have a Christ centered ministry? Have they seen any behavior by this ministry that indicates a departure from their stated goals and beliefs? If not then what's this threat really about? Somebody throwing a temper tantrum because they have to endure a change. Not unlike the Pharisees freaking out when Jesus turned up to turn their world upside down. Christans can do better than acting like the Pharisees.

Tales From The Crib

2011-09-30T17:00:00.001-04:00

Things heard in my house of late.

"You can stop now." Said with admirably droll humor by my ten year old. I guess he doesn't like my singing much.

Me: "Hey come here."
The three year old: "I can't. I'm watching TV." Those of you with old school parents are no doubt flinching as you contemplate how things would have went down had you said that to your parents at any point in your life, including now.

This wasn't said by anyone in my house but it could have been: "Look I pooped a dolphin!" Potty training is always an adventure.

A Few Words of Wisdom

2011-09-29T19:45:00.000-04:00

Sage advice to parents of autistic children:

Life is for living. Even (and perhaps especially) when your child is autistic. PLEASE get out there, have fun, enjoy life, enjoy your kids, don't spend your life, love and treasure exclusively on therapies. Go fishing. Go swimming. Take a hike. Volunteer. Sing. Play. LIVE! And while you're out there, look for ways to help your child with autism to join in the fun. Use your imagination, and help your child with autism to use hers. Introduce your child to his world, and to the people in his world. Help them to get to know and care about your child. It's the community that, in the long run, will make or break your efforts to help your child succeed.

Yes ma'am! Read the whole thing. Via LB/RB.

Thankful Thursday

2011-09-29T09:39:00.000-04:00

Today I am thankful for/that:

A good first outing as I make a new career for myself.
Apple picking season!
Somebody else is taking care of the clogged drains in the house.
Laughter.
Technology. When it works it's great!
Freedom.
Experience.

What are you thankful for?