The minute I saw Patrick’s face, I knew something was wrong. “Mom, can I talk with you for a minute?” he said. “Sure. How was your day?” I said. “Terrible,” he said. “I blew the interview. I am never going to get the virtual hire!” Patrick has been attending an 18-week computer programming immersion program. […]
Tag Archives | optimism
Being Thankful for Not Having Enough
People often look at Thanksgiving as a time to express gratitude for what they have. Although this is a wonderful tradition and practice, I have felt led in the past few weeks to be thankful for what I have not had. I have been realizing that the empty places in life, the situations where something […]
Launching Our Arrows
“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” (Psalm 127:4-5, NASB). Arrows are meant to be launched, shot into the bright open sky, aimed at a specific target. Like those arrows, our children stay in our quiver […]
It’s Good to Need Comforting
Are you hurting and in need of comfort? Good! . . . because the Lord is doing something special in that place. This past Sunday, Patrick and I got to share our story with the members of Faith Lutheran Church in Faith, NC. As I watched the members of that sweet congregation respond to our […]

Becoming More Aware and Accepting of Autism
Patrick and his sisters How did my daughters learn to be more aware and accepting of the challenges their brother faced with his autism? Since today, April 2, is World Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day, I would like to post the chapter from my book, “Optimism for Autism,” which shows how that happened. May all […]

Persevering with the Lord
This photo of my son Patrick and husband David was taken at Patrick’s conference swim meet last week. Their smiles came in the wake of some personal triumphs for Patrick . . . victories that were hard won by persevering with Lord. The conference swim meet is the “holy grail” for the Varsity Swim Team […]

Triumphing in the Long Trial
Patrick and I Stephanie Seneff, a lead researcher at MIT, recently predicted that HALF the children in the United States will be autistic by the year 2025. When I heard that shocking prediction, I thought of the many families that are and will be affected by that challenging disability. My family has been living with […]