Sarah has never met a person she doesn't want to be a friend!!

We went to Disneyland over Thanksgiving break.   We drove down on a Saturday and went to Disneyland with everyone on Sunday.   Eric and Kyle rode the bus back and we stayed for one more day.  The trip was sort of a success. You may not want to ask Fred.  It is difficult going to places with Sarah and it seems to become more and more difficult.   She wants to rule everyone and everything we do on our trip.  O.K. don't we all want to do that?   We just know better or try to know better.   

One of the things I noticed about Sarah is that she tries to make friends with everyone she meets.   I always tease that she tries to join other families.   She clearly does not have the social cues that most of us contain.   It seems to be the autistic spectrum disorder that most do not understand.   She will try to make eye contact with everything and say "HI" very awkwardly.   I guess it wasn't a huge deal when she was little, but seems odd now that she is eleven.   

She talked to one little girl for 45 minutes in the Radiator Springs Racers.   I tried monitoring what she was talking about and eventually just gave up and started talking to the girl's mom.  They were very nice.  We met another man in line that was going to the park by himself and he teased Sarah about going back to the end-of-the-line.   She eventually gave up talking to him.   We met another girl on the last day of our trip.   We were getting ready to board the bus to go back to the parking garage.   We walked-up and a twenty-something girl was wearing this big turkey hat.   Sarah thought it was hilarious and started talking to her.  Of course, she asked her to play the turkey hat over and over.   It played a song and danced around.   She continued talking with the girl and we learned it was her birthday.   How sad?   She went to the park by herself on her birthday.   I wished we would of met her earlier.  Sarah would of hung out with her all day. We also found out that her mom passed away when she was 11 (Sarah's age) and she always goes back on her birthday in remembrance of her mom.   I was so grateful for Sarah that her awkwardness encouraged us to talk to this girl.   I was thankful that girl had someone to talk to that day even though it was the end of her day at Disneyland by herself.   I'm remembering these sweet moments as Sarah had a huge meltdown today and had a 45 minute outburst.   I took her in the car and she hit, pinched, cussed, and screamed in my ear for 45 minutes.  I do not know what to do during those times, but I choose to sit hear and reflect on some great moments we had this week.  I choose to hope we can mend differences that everyone feels about Sarah's condition.   I pray we can come together to just love her as each of us do.  

I will continue to have hope for Sarah's future.  God knows her path and the plans he has for her and our family.   Please keep Jesus in your thoughts this Christmas Season and slow down to remember the moments no matter how small they may be.

Isaiah 40:31  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  

Thank-you for your service!!!

In lieu of Veteran's Day I post this story from this week.   I always take my daughter to The Beerock Shop after her psychiatrist appointment.   Today she forgot one shoe, so I had to take her into the restaurant with one shoe and the doctor.  It was funny because there were some old people in there that did a double take.  I chuckled and just continued to wait in line for our turn to order.   In the gist of our life it was pretty funny!!   We were standing in line and a lady walked-in in her military uniform and stood behind us.   Sarah noticed her and stopped dead in her tracks.   She turned around to the lady and said, "Thank-you for your service"   My heart just soared and felt like there was a glimmer of hope with this incredibly difficult child I was standing next to.   I was so proud of her.   Sarah whispered to me, "Was that nice Mommy?"   Absolutely girly!!!

I continue to pray for her healing.   I continue to pray for something that will help her in this life on earth.   God knows here path and I do not.   I'm along for the ride though......at times it is rocky, at times it is bumpy, at times it is joyful, at times it is funny, and like this day there is a glimmer of hope for Twirly Girly!!!

It all started with the Walmart app which led to Condoms!

My friend told me about the Walmart app.   I decided to try it and I was pleasantly impressed.   I ordered my groceries online, paid for them, selected a pick-up time, went to Walmart at my selected time, and they brought them to the car within 7 minutes.  I started telling everyone about how amazing this service is going to be for me.   I don't have to go grocery shopping with Sarah.  Well, the second time was a complete fail.   I choose a later pick-up time from 5-6.   We pulled in the designated stall and called the number.   I noticed there were quite a few cars there, but decided to wait it out.   Forty-five minutes later I was calling them to complain.  They told me that a lot of cars came at the wrong time and they were backed-up.  I was not happy that I was there at the correct time, but they still didn't bring my groceries out to my car.   I left without my groceries and decided not to go to another grocery store with Sarah because this was what I was trying to avoid in the first place by using the app.  

 Fast forward to the next night and I took Sarah to Vons.   I told her she had to stay with me in the store because she tends to run off and grab things we don't need.   There have been times she even grabbed a cart and filled it up with groceries.   We made it all the way thru the store to the extremely long check-out line and I forgot her Uncrustables.   I stupidly told her to go to the freezer aisle and try to find some.   Sarah was gone for a long time and came back with zero Uncrustables.  She told me she couldn't find them.   I went ahead and paid for our groceries and we left.  I know this story just gets longer and longer, but it gets worse.   

Thursday Fred sent me a picture of part of a condom wrapper from Sarah's bathroom.   I just thought maybe she found it at school.   She is known for filling up trash from school of various items.   Thursday night at dinner I asked her about the wrapper.   She got a funny look on her face and said she didn't know anything.   After continuous questioning she then said she got it from Vons.   I told her she didn't get it from Vons because I was with her the whole time (of which I wasn't).   She said she found a package opened and there were only two condoms in there.  She told us she took them.   Sarah went and got her phone and showed me a video she made about the condoms and safe sex.  (no I'm not posting the video.   I actually deleted it from her phone.   I'm pretty sure I don't need that on YouTube, even though it was quite hilarious).   Fred went into the bathroom and found the box and one more wrapper.   She was right there was one missing.   We now have have to take her back to the store to confess and pay for this box of Trojan condoms.   I mean we as in Fred is going to take her back to the store to confess to the manager.