Now For Our Scheduled Friday

I watched a video of Owen this morning when he wasn’t quite two years old. He was sitting at a little set of drums I had gotten him, banging away. One stick in each hand, sitting on the little stool, making beautiful music. He was focused. I could have seen signs of autism then, but I didn’t even understand what I was looking for. Within a few short months instead of playing the drums, he was sitting in them. He would scream at the top of his lungs for hours, waking up a dozen times during the night, and jump across the floor making an EEEEE sound. I watched him yesterday becoming so aware of how his body works, moving his hands and feet, staring at them as he moved. Some days this makes me breathe a little calmer, knowing that growth is happening. Last night he laid down on his pillow reading his book out loud to me. He got done and he said, “one more time”. The coolest part was him holding up his pointer finger for the one more time. He stared at his hand and then looked at me for encouragement to read again. I told him one more time and then it was bedtime. I wished he could stay up all night and read to me. I’m thankful for his growth and every day I pray for him to make more connections to who he is and what his body does. In the middle of the storm, there is calm. At that moment breathe, know that you are stronger than you think you are, and you can weather the storm. Make today matter. Smiles to all and donut daze!