Good evening, Readers.
We've had a few beautiful night skies this week.
Before I flipped the calendar page to May,
I paused to reflect how far we've journeyed with Autism
at the close of Autism Awareness Month in April.
Autism has been our world for two decades.
Daughter Natalie turns 20 in a few weeks.
Nephew Erik, 21 in June!
As you can see,
they are maturing nicely and are able to celebrate
lots of good moments despite their challenges.
Here is my favorite short video on Autism.
Please watch.
I'm so proud of our kids,
but I'm even happier with how accepting everyone has been.
Your patience,
tolerance,
kindness,
and acceptance
has not gone unnoticed.
Because of the awareness campaigns,
Natalie is able to participate in
dance classes,
bowling,
and even has a special someone
who thinks she's special, too.
Natalie loves animals.
She's the biggest Harbor Creek sports fan,
well,
since me.
Natalie loves to go to the movies,
the YMCA pool,
fishing,
and camping.
She likes to run 5K races,
and loves to do the Beast on the Bay Adapted Course.
Natalie just completed this year's annual Walk for Autism on Presque Isle.
It was 40 degrees with a sideways rain,
so the bubbles at the finish were a welcomed sight.
If you need any type of resource for home, school, or community,
contact this local group.
They will point you in the right direction.
As I perused the information booths
after the walk,
I connected with many people--
students,
teachers and aides,
and lots and lots of friends.
Many of the families who were in our early "play group"
now are meeting up again for social opportunities
of the young adult nature:
walks,
movies,
bowling.
The question the conversations inevitably come to rest on is:
What's next?
When formal schooling ends for our kids at age 21,
how will they fill their days?
Who will care for them?
How can find jobs?
It's a worry we call carry with us as the children age.
We also consider every day how Natalie and Erik's lives
will impact the lives of their siblings.
Siblings are really special people.
The siblings who have grown up in the Autism World
will probably the most employable people on the planet--
accepting,
hard working,
forgiving,
efficient.
We all worried how Erik would react when Jack went off to college.
Judging from this homecoming shot from this afternoon,
Erik is very happy to have Jack back for the summer.
Ellen and her AP Gov class toured Washington DC last weekend.
Natalie was quite anxious and unsettled with Ellen gone,
but we got through it.
More transitions are on the horizon.
Ellen will be off to college herself in a year.
Our lab Josie is nearly 14 and we know that transition will be
very hard on Natalie, too.
Keep us in your prayers during
those tough times of transition,
and remind us that transitions are natural
and necessary for a joyful life.
We want to keep the upcoming year as happy as possible,
so we are about to make one woman very happy.
Cousin Bonnie,
who is one of Natalie's favorite people,
will get her wish of a
Happy People Hoodie!
Natalie's famous t-shirt design will make one more appearance
in the summer of 2018.
Watch the blog in the upcoming weeks
to find out how you can get your
Happier People t-shirt, tank top, or hoodie.
Natalie will be fundraising for Beast on the Bay this year.
All proceeds from the t-shirt sale will be given back
to the agency that got Natalie and Erik off to such as good start--
The Barber National Institute.
We will always be interested and causes and cures
here at the Lamp Post,
but our focus has now shifted to
What's next?
If you can think of some way a person with autism
can be of service to you in your home or workplace,
please contact Eloise.
I've got my own list of ideas going.
It's pretty serious.....
I've started a notebook.
Eloise
