Angel's Fluttering Fingertips

I want to SMELL LIKE SHEEP.

2012-02-08T10:59:00.000-05:00

My rambling thoughts of being a Shepherdess for my Jesus

by Angel Thompson on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:34am ·

In the past 4 years I have had the most humbling ministry. I get to shepherd our kids from Kindergarten – 4th grade in our KIDS Church. I have watched them grow, struggle and ask amazing questions about God, Jesus, life, family stuff and spiritual warfare that they have faced in their young lives. I have been a witness as God has grabbed their hearts and have heard them confess HIS NAME and tell everyone that they are making HIM the leader of their lives and from that moment forward that their hearts are HIS.

When I reflect back on the last 4 years I can only think of one ACTION word regarding shepherding kids…INVEST.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary States:

In`vest´

v. t.

[imp. & p. p. Invested; p. pr. & vb. n. Investing.]

To clothe, as with office or authority; to place in possession of rank, dignity, or estate; to endow; to adorn; to grace; tobedeck; as, to invest with honor or glory; to invest with an estate.

To surround, accompany, or attend.

To confer; to give.

(Mil.) To inclose; to surround or hem in with troops, so as to intercept reinforcements of men and provisions and preventescape; to lay siege to; as, to invest a town.

I LOVE THIS PART OF THE DEFINITION AS WE AS SHEPHERDS DO THIS TO BRING SAFETY AGAINST THOSE THINGS THAT ARE RAGING ALL AROUND….WE INVEST IN THEM, SURROUND THEM……AS TEACHERS WE ARE LIKE A TROOP HEMING OURSELVES AROUND THEM TO KEEP THE ENEMY OUT AS THEY GAIN STRENGTH AND LAY HOLD OF GOD’S POWER IN THEIR LIVES.

To expend (time, money, or other resources) with a view to obtaining some benefit of value in excess of that expended,or to achieve a useful pupose; as, to invest a lot of time in teaching one's children.

WordNet Dictionary

Verb

invest - make an investment;

Synonyms: commit, put, place

invest - give qualities or abilities to

Synonyms: endow, endue, gift, indue, empower

What happens however if the shepherd does not INVEST but has become….complacent?

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Com`pla´cent

Self-satisfied.

What view and action will you take today in the areas God has placed you?

We are called to invest.

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Father, may all of our kids at YTWO feel your warmth today and may those who come in contact with one of your warriors experience something different and want to know more about you. Help all of the kids to BE THE ONE for you today. Protect them in the name of Jesus and grant them UNITY. In the name of Jesus ~ Amen

www.gccytwo.blogspot.com

www.churchofsecondchances.com

It Was a Wisp of a Morning

2012-01-29T20:37:00.003-05:00

Reflecting today on past thoughts and writings...wanted to share.

Excerpt from:

The True Intimacy Of Becoming A Water Walker

By: Angel S. Thompson

Copyright Year: © 2006 Published by:

Unleashing Potential Ministries/Angel Thompson All Rights Reserved.

"IT WAS A WISP OF A MORNING”

Joshua pays careful attention to details, those details that we do not see. If something is just a little off, no matter if mommy fixes it, it is too much for his little mind to handle, and it will set him into a melt down.

This morning was one of those moments. There was a bend in the wisk that I allow the kids to play with. Albeit it small, it was noticeable to him. He tried to fix it himself, however the bend was now very noticeable. I attempted to fix it, putting it back into its mangled wisp look. Yet, it was too late. All he saw was the bend from before. He could not see beyond what his mind grasped earlier and he could not handle it. He was on the floor screaming, hitting his head and heels on the floor. There was nothing I could do. Reassuring him only added fire to the already intense moment. So, I picked up around him. 20 minutes later he came to me with tears in his eyes saying, "hold you." Translated meaning "hold me mommy". So I picked him up and cradled him as we swayed, then we sat and rocked. 30 minutes passed with this 45- pound boy curled in my arms gently rocking in the chair.

As I think of my son's battle with Autism, I think of man in the Bible named David who was being pursued by Saul, a man trying to kill him. In the book of Psalms we read about David's struggles as his enemies were at his heels. We read about his fear and his anger. Yet we also read his songs of praise to God for His deliverance from his enemies.

Just as Joshua sought shelter in my arms from the fear and frustration he faces daily with Autism, so David sought that same type of shelter in the arms of God.

Psalm 18:1-6, 16-19

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my

enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my

distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears....

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Just as quick as David could say, "Why, Lord...where are You, Lord..." He would regain his senses in the arms of God and praise Him, and continue his days journey.

After those 30 minutes Joshua looked up at me, arms open wide and said, "Thanks Mommy" as he embraced me with a hug. I said, "You're welcome, I love you." His response, "Thanks Mommy, I love you too." He then went onto the porch to play.

Life's walk is hard. The journey can be long, uncertain and at times fearful. Yet, with the knowledge that the Lord is there to "lift you out of the deep...to bring you into a spacious place...because He delights in you"...brings a sense of peace and realization that you can walk out onto your "life's porch", and He is waiting with open arms to rock you during those most difficult moments in your journey.

Intimate moment with Christ

Life can be overwhelming. Will you allow Him to cradle you today, to “sway” with you? David knew God could bring comfort, will you trust Him with your frustrations and fears?

__________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________

Father, my days are so uncertain. I don’t know how I am going to make it through this week. I need your embrace today. Please allow me to experience the warmth of your presence in my life today. Hold me, sway with me, and give me comfort as I walk today. I am on my “life’s porch”, rock with me.

A DAY OF PONDER....a weekend past of....

2011-11-28T14:58:00.002-05:00

In memory of one so young.....who now is free and sits with THE SON!
by Angel Thompson on Monday, November 28, 2011 at 12:52pm

Rain drops fall against the pane
Water floods against the train….
Of thought I sit in vacant stare
My head cannot wrap around the glare

Of the emptiness the water now brings
To the family’s loss echo rings
As the rain drops hit the window pane
Bringing moisture to their eyes again

No understanding as to why
She is now taken to the sky
Brokenness is all that attains
The windows eye of dripping pain

Even though earthly loss is seen
She is now beyond all that has been
My Jesus holds her tight within his grasp
For her young life has finished her earthly task

To the mother and father who have yet to begin
Know we are here without any grins
As we sit with you in your vacant stare
We can now help you see beyond the glare

As the raindrops fall
Against the window pane so tall
Jesus by our side only He can dry the pain eyes
He waits to walk with you…as he knows you beneath your guise

She is gone
You are here
And Our Lord has made it clear
That through it all….in the midst of our pain He is but one voice near

Rain drops fall against the pane
Water floods against the train….
Of thought I sit in vacant stare
My head begins to see beyond the glare

CHANGE

2011-11-17T16:24:00.002-05:00

God amazes me. Tomorrow, November 18th, I and two other incredible ladies will be talking about RADICAL....QUIETLY SCREAMING RADICALS! at our Ladies Conference.

I have been challenged a great deal over the past two weeks regarding my relationship with God and if I am willing to radically abandon all for HIM. Am I willing to not only hear what He is calling me to do, but then to GO and do what He is telling me... to do.

Today I was asked to change positions in my job. (I don't like change), and at first I said no. Yet, even though I have not desire to move around our team I also began to think about what God has been challenging me with regarding radically hearing His voice.

How many of you know the definition of CHANGE? "make a shift, replace, exchange, modify......" to name some of the definition. However here is the part of the definition that HIT me square in the face; it was b : to make radically different.

Lord, you are asking me to walk straight out of my comfort zone into an area that i have not wanted to go....yet I am willing to make a radical change to make a RADICAL DIFFERENCE. Change....

Have you heard God telling you to walk out of your comfort zone and radically abandon all in order to follow where He is leading you?

THE TIME IS NOW FOR OUR TEENS

2011-11-15T08:11:00.002-05:00

What is vision without movement? We began this incredible, risk taking, stepping out in faith to begin a coffee shop for teens. A place where they can hang out, a safe place. There have been snags along the way, yet our LORD has been so faithful and steady. We are now in the throws of opening....yet we NEED YOUR HELP. Tonight 2 pastors labored in sweat as they began painting the walls of this safe haven for teens. So, I am now calling on all teens! Please come and make this place your own. CALL PASTOR MATT (440.415.5465) and set a time to come and paint! We want this place to open before the end of November and we know YOU ALL DO TOO. Parents, singles, EVERYONE.....CHURCH....we are calling on you to HELP. We need your movement.

I have a new friend who came to me last week and shared that her teen ran away. Her daughter contacted her and stated that it was not what she thought and she was afraid, but did not want to tell her mom for fear of her life. Today she was found. Beaten, possibly raped and was kept "doped" up for over a week.

The time is NOW. Our teens need a place, a safe place to hang out. A safe place to come if they are scared and need a mentor....HELP US GET THIS OPEN. We need your physical strength....and, if you are so led, drop a donation at donate@thegrounds4u.com

60 Second phone call with Angel about RADICAL.

2011-11-12T20:50:00.001-05:00

Join us for this FALL'S Ladies Conference, November 18th

www.churchofsecondchances.com

Here at GCC's BECOMING, no matter where we are in our walk or our life....this is what we are striving to be daily. That our very essence of being...Him pouring out of us is BECOMING and drawing others to want to know more about HIM.

BECOMING is a time where we as women can come and find encouragement, refreshment, laughter and grow together while listening to great speakers, DVD's and impactful worship. Come join us, bring a friend...you will not leave the same!
Please RSVP: email: tina@genevachurchofchrist.org
http://www.churchofsecondchances.com/

Anointing JOY!

2011-11-07T18:30:00.002-05:00

When I see this pic of Faith my mind quickly goes to the account of Mary of Bethany when she came in and anointed Jesus' feet with oil, washed them with her tears & dried them with her hair.

She was not letting go…she was not ashamed. She had nothing and then found everything the moment He touched her life and freed her from all that tormented her. I see my daughters face and see a reflection of joy that Mary must have had that day and following as she never left His presence.

What is our emotion like? Our….countinence? In circumstances that torment, consume, overwhelm do we come to His feet and drop our tears and see a reflection of joy in them that only Christ can bring in the midst of them; or do we turn into ourselves or lash out at the world and those closest to us and throw our tears of pain at them in anger and anguish.

Now, I am not saying that we are not supposed to go to one another and that we are not to "support and encourage" one another as we are called to do that.

1 Thess. 5:11, Hebrews 10:23ff

What I am asking is do we forget that there is a Savior we SHOULD go to first, fall at His feet and find solace in the midst of painful storms in our lives?

Where are you at today...what are you "anointing"?

John 12:3

Isaiah 66:13

NOVEMBER'S LADIES BECOMING CONFERENCE @ GCC

2011-11-04T16:59:00.003-04:00

The FALL Conference is going to out of this world. I have invited two incredible ladies to speak and you will find from the moment you meet them that their hearts passion for Jesus oozes from their very being. They are RADICAL Women for Jesus.

I met them both when Matt and I were planting a multi church in Wooster. I remember the first time I heard Penny sing and then years later speak. I have been blessed by her heart to be open to God and where he is leading her daily to be HIS and what that might look like.Kim and I first sat together in her office at the old church book store. She thought we would only talk for 10 minutes, yet 2 hours later….This woman has a fervent, passionate, all or nothing relationship with Christ.

I have asked them to come and join me as we look at and challenge you with the thought of being QUIETLY SCREAMING RADICALS. Honestly, I am excited to see what God does and how He speaks through these vessels that are open to His calling to be TOTALLY His.

I do hope you join us. There will be impactful worship as I have asked Penny to share her hearts voice with you along with laughter, tears and of course….food. Please bring your friends and join us November 18th for this Fall’s BECOMING CONFERENCE.

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS:
PENNY SWINDALL

My life is a mixture of mundane & wonder. Each day I choose whether or not to see my glass as 1/2 full or 1/2 empty. No matter what, I know that the Creator of all continues to shower His blessings on my life, either by storm or by refreshing shower. ~ Penny
KIM MORGAN

Child of God. Wife, mom, grandma (aka nana). Passionate about prayer & the Word of God. Love taking care of my family, a good deal, a bold cup of coffee, a good book and any kind of chocolate. ~ Kim

http://graftedbygrace.blogspot.com/

Here at GCC’s BECOMING, no matter where we are in our walk or our life....this is what we are striving to be daily. That our very essence of being...Him pouring out of us is BECOMING and drawing others to want to know more about HIM.

BECOMING is a time where we as women can come and find encouragement, refreshment, laughter and grow together while listening to great speakers, DVD's and impactful worship. Come join us, bring a friend...you will not leave the same!

Please RSVP: email: tina@genevachurchofchrist.org
http://www.churchofsecondchances.com/

No one knows Joshua's fight...

2011-09-03T23:35:00.001-04:00

For the past 2+ years....It is daily....it is every moment, every breath, every thought, every movement...

by Angel Thompson on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 11:18pm

The past 3 days have been hard for Joshua. His PANDAS has caused swelling and intense pain in his "thinking part" of his brain, he calls it. He knows it causes him to have thoughts that are not true and it takes him awhile to sift through it, not to mention the pain that accompanies it. Today he paced in the kitchen screaming to God to take the pain.

A moment outside the lodge at camp. He tries to sift through his thoughts and regroup. Later as we sat in a parking lot while Matt was inside a store he began to pray and ask God to make his PANDAS good so it could FIGHT the bad PANDAS. When he was finished he told me that the good PANDAS was God's knight to protect his brain, his house from the war inside.

As he talked more he began to talk about the wall of Jericho that Joshua defeated as God was with him in the battle. He then said, "the wall of Jericho is like my PANDAS and God's knight is like Joshua."

He is fighting this battle with God…side by side and he is RELYING on HIM.

I am so humbled & challenged as I watch my son's outlook towards this battle with PANDAS, and his dedicated step with Jesus by his side.

So, what's your wall...how will you be a Joshua?

I had the honor...

2011-08-10T16:26:00.000-04:00

I had the honor of sitting with an amazing mother today.
She is the mother of 3 beautiful boys. The middle child has Autism.
She is a survivor of ovarian cancer, breast cancer and she is now in the last stages of bone cancer.
I sat with her for an hour as she talked of her children and how she fought and advocated for them throughout her time with them. WE talked about her continued fight for her middle son and her passion for him to know he is loved and that he matters.
She talked of the difficulty of knowing how to help him through the grief, to understand that “mommy is dying”, and will soon not be here. I watched this mother talk proudly of her sons as she battles daily to maintain life.

I listened as she spoke of her ex-husband who left because he just couldn’t take anymore and her light appeared to dim for a while, yet she knew she could not stop for the sake of her children. After all, they were entrusted to her.

I stood with her sister who admires her and has joined her in taking up the fight for her middle son when she leaves this world.

I am honored that God gave me an hour to sit with a remarkable lady. We embraced as I left, one mother to another, raising children on the spectrum. I let her know, even though she is going home, her son has an Autism Family that will look out for him and be support for her sister.

As I walked to my van I sat and thought….how much we take for granted. The air we breathe. The warmth we feel. The food we have. Through aches and pains, yet the health we have been blessed with. Our CHILDREN and their voices, dreams, hugs and kisses. We fight over petty things that have no eternal value and take for granted the fight we should have for our children. A fight to show them that not only do we love them, Christ loves them. Not only do they matter, they matter to HIM. That they don’t have to wait to make an impact or have a purpose, they impact our lives daily and we NEED TO EMBRACE those moments.

As you breathe today
As you feel sun or rain
As you drive
As you shake a hand of a friend, hug a spouse
Hearing your child singing or even arguing……

TAKE NO MOMENT FOR GRANTED.

Embrace it.

Use it to SHOW HIS LOVE. Use it to TEACH THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW BEHIND YOU.
Until your last breath …DO IT.

"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving."
Colossians 2:6,7

Unexpected Perspective

2011-07-18T13:35:00.000-04:00

This past weekend Faith wanted to have a girls night and so she and I “camped out” in our back yard…in the van. Matt loved how I had “MacGyvered” everything. I had electricity hooked up for my breathing machine and for a fan as we would have the windows closed to keep out mosquitoes. Faith decided that Charlie would need to be with us as he would miss sleeping with her, so along he came.

We spent time as a family by the camp fire singing and roasting hotdogs, then off to bed. The boys went inside to comfy beds and AC and Faithy and I bedded down for the evening in the van.
Well, Faith had no problems getting all tucked in with Charlie inside her sleeping bag. I mustard around the front seat and had one leg over the steering wheel and one resting on Faith’s seat. However, Charlie did not want my leg there and he pushed it off. I attempted to get comfortable, yet to no avail. So I decided to go to the back and put down the second row seat, except for where my machine lay. I tilted the third row back and then propped my feet and legs on the second row. I found myself adjusting pillows and trying to find a way to rest.
I finally fell asleep….many times. Needless to say it was a restless night, but worth it for my daughter.

As I laid there my mind began to race as I began thinking of how many people in this world live in their vehicles or on the streets because they lack housing. Either due to their own choices or something out of their control.

The next morning as our girl weekend continued, Faith and I had a long discussion over how blessed we are. As we talked she was reminded of the homeless man we saw in Cincinnati who was sleeping behind a dumpster, and another we saw reach in the trash can and pull out leftover food and began to eat it.

How many of us go day to day and complain about the food we receive, or that it is either too cold or too warm in the house? What about complaining because we cannot find our favorite pair of shoes or clothes, or that someone did not do the laundry or take the garbage out? What about complaining that someone drank the last soda and there is only water to drink? This list could go on. Things that truly have no eternal impact. How many of us get caught up and take for granted how blessed we really are?

Faithy and I spent time talking to God and thanking Him for all we have, and it was quite a list.
Sometimes we need raw perspective. Here's a thought, go on a camping trip in your car for a day…you’ll find it.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Philippians 2:14
Matthew 25:31-46

YTWO GOES BIG...tomorrow!

2011-07-09T21:43:00.001-04:00

Hey parents and KIDS!

Tomorrow, July 10th is YTWO GOES BIG. We get to "take over " worship in the sanctuary. Invite your family and friends to come to WORSHIP TOMORROW @ GCC as our CLASS shows how we worship Jesus, YTWO STYLE!

No matter the age or the venue, what remains constant and true is our love for Jesus and teaching HIS good news. Our kids have been learning a great deal about what it means to be the one and how to even share their faith and stand up for what is right, even when it is hard.

See you all tomorrow at 10:30. Prepare for something different....no we will not be spraying anyone with water....this Sunday.

Angel Thompson

Churches start alternative for teens

2011-05-16T10:07:00.000-04:00

Hey, check out this article about a NEW COFFEE HOUSE coming to Geneva for Teens.

Churches start alternative for teens

The Next Chapter....

2011-04-25T23:27:00.000-04:00

It has been a little over 3 months since Matt’s life changing, altering open heart surgery. A surgery to replace a valve in his heart that he was born with that was defective. Now, with that defect his heart had not only enlarged, but it began to fail. They told him at the age of 38 that his heart was the age of an 80 year old.

So, as you all know, on January 13th he underwent open heart surgery. They split open his chest all the way down to his sternum. They pulled out his heart, put him on bypass and replaced his valve. 10 days later he came home. 6 weeks later he was back to work and just 1 week ago he began his cardio rehab. Many “look” at him and think, “Ah, he is all better, fixed, back to normal.” Sometimes I think he even has that mind set. That it is expected that he will return to the “energizer bunny” that he was. That non-stop, always moving, thinking, planning….Yet, what the eyes fail to see on the outside is not even close to what is happening and needs to happen on the inside. Remember when I said he had the heart of an 80 year old? Remember when I said that his heart had enlarged? It will take him a year or so to recover physically. His heart is still enlarged. The goal with this new valve is that his heart will strengthen and go back to it’s normal size. It will take time as he learns a new way of life….as we ALL learn and walk beside him in this new way of life and thinking.

The chapter of HEART SURGERY has closed. The journey continues as we enter the chapter of recovery and what that looks like. I can say it is a journey, and one that I am thankful to be walking beside him as his RIB.

Matt’s life verse: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
Our family verse: “Isaiah 43:2 states, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

OASIS: The End of a Season

2011-03-19T22:19:00.000-04:00

So, 7 years ago Matt and I began this crazy journey with an incredible ministry we began after our son was diagnosed with Autism. We have met some really amazing people. We have met some unique people, and we love them all. We have gained friends, and some have had their children go on to Jesus before us all. We have cried together and laughed as we shared victories of our kids.

7 years of reaching out to many communities in OHIO, across the USA and over 50 countries. We have met some really great ladies who happen to be authors. We have become friends with incredilbe Adults who not only understand the Spectrum, but happen to have an ASD and they are an inspiration.

The person on this earth that inspiries me the most is the one who moved our hearts to begin this ministry, and that is Joshua. He has this incredilbe, contagious smile and laugh. He also has a passion for people to understand Autism and know Jesus.

Our lives in the Thompson family began to take a twist and turn as Joshua contracted Scarlet Fever which lead to PANDAS D/O It has taken over his life and yet he ventures through. Another twist arrived with my beloved needing OPEN HEART surgery to replace his aortic valve.

So, here we sit 7 years later, the last health issues hitting us this past year and I find that I cannot be more than who I am. I am not wonder woman. I cannot travel as I did before which leads to our ground root chapter in Wooster. My dear families and friends in Wayne County and surrounding. I have searched for over 2 years to provide a director for this chapter and there is no one. Many who have passion, but they have lives as well, and OASIS was Matt's and My passion. It is with a sad heart that I share that our OASIS chapter will come to an end as I cannot travel as our family is in need of me being rested and not stretched so thin.

However, if someone were to contact me and say, "HEY....I WILL", then yeah! As of now, however, the Wooster Chapter is finished.

There is a great group in Wooster: HAND TO HAND. This is ran by Mark & Mindy Simms. They have many families with an ASD, and there son also has Aspergers. Please go and attend. Here is their email: Melinda_Simms/sei@sprengerent.com , Melinda_Simms@sprengerent.com,

We will maintain our website for resources. At this time we do have a group in Geneva. However, this may be changing as well to an online VIDEO AND LIVE feed.

We do have an event coming up and those funds will continue to go for helping families with tangible items and the piece party we are moving towards....bringing something physical to our families than just "talk".

Again, thank you for all your years with us.

Please call if you are in need of someone to advocate for you or for consults...we will continue to provide those needs.

--

Angel Thompson

"Mommy of two incredible kids who inspire me everyday in my walk with Christ!"

R4A April 2nd

2011-03-15T13:42:00.000-04:00

This coming April 2nd @10:30-5:30pm, we are kicking off Autism Awareness Month with a ROCK-A-THON. Bring your rocking chairs and help us ROCK 4 AUTISM. We will have a bounce house up to feed the sensory needs of our kids, there will be snacks and breaks! R4A will be located at Geneva Church of Christ 1007 S. Broadway Geneva, OH 44041 .... Questions: Go to http://www.oasisautism.org/ Come rock with us as we ROCK 4 AUTISM.

A PANDAS GLIMPSE

2011-03-08T22:23:00.000-05:00

In 2004 our son was dx with Autism. In January of 2010 he was dx with PANDAS D/O after he contracted Scarlet Fever earlier in 2009. You can find out more by clicking the pages regarding PANDAS on this blog or go to http://www.oasisautism.org/

This short clip is from Joshua. It is a 2 minute glimpse into his life with PANDAS. You are only seeing 2 minutes of what he lives daily. The body tics you see are only an outward part of what has attacked his brain. When he comes in contact with anyone with strep it increases swelling in his brain that increases his symptoms....tics are only one symptom. Last Summer God opened a door and I was able to share with Joshua what PANDAS has been doing and why things were changing in his body. He get's it now....there are days of tears for him, yet he continues to press on. Our way of getting through it is saying "PANDAS ALERT!"

The son you hear in this clip is one that he chose to share with you as it is one of his favorites. The movements you see Joshua doing are not to the music as it was placed in later...these are the body tics he lives with. What you are seeing is mild today. He is on another round of antibiotics aside from the preventative he takes weekly.

He is amazing....he finds joy each day....and we love walking with him in the midst...there is always hope.

1.28.2011 Early Morning Thoughts

2011-01-30T23:02:00.000-05:00

SNOW FALLING GENTLY

by: Angel Thompson

Snow falling gently
Sky gray and light
Listening to the flakes fall
What a wondrous night

Snow falling gently
Plow scraping loudly
Passes by now quietly
Morning wakes tenderly

Snow falling gently
Cars moving slowly
Dog jumping energetically
Morning “I love yous” whispered softly

Snow falling gently
Shovel scraping quickly
Stopping to take it all in
God’s creation flowing eloquently

Tinman

2011-01-13T18:36:00.000-05:00

01.13.2011

I remember when Matt told me he loved me for the first time. I remember the "giggle" that ran threw my being and the joy that totally filled my heart as I had met my counterpart. Today, as the surgeon shared about Matt's heart, the surgery, and the success...I found myself in a state of joyous "giggle".

This will be our 10 year anniversary coming February 3rd...10 years is TIN...so, I have been given 10 years with my TINMAN who has a beautiful, functioning heart. I rejoice and thank God for HIS AMAZING work and gift!

I want to thank all of you for your prayers and continued support....please do not stop. As he recovers those prayers are still needed.

He is currently in the ICVU. They are hoping to have him in the step down unit tomorrow. Tomorrow is another crucial day as he will need to rest, so we are asking that he not have any visitors as of yet for the next 2 days of the beginning of recovery.

I will keep you all informed.....and, for Sunday, at the Mortgage burning celebration....you all be sure to do the HAPPY DANCE and praise Jesus for HIS amazing blessing He has poured upon us with the end of this amazing mortgage marathon!

You all amaze us and we are so blessed to be part of this FAMILY.

Much love,
Angel

"Hearts" Journey with the Thompson's

2010-12-27T10:08:00.000-05:00

Hey all.
Wow...to quote an amazing man, Matt Thompson.

Matt and I started an incredible journey back in 2001 when we promised to be there for each other through good and bad times. Laughter and tears. Sickness and health. I remember the day I talked wtih him on the phone and before we ended the call he asked if he could pray with me and I was hooked. I remember the day he peeked around my car port to pick me up for our first date. I was hooked. I remember when he asked me to move back to Ohio and the night he asked me to be his at a rest area. I remember sitting with him when his father died a month before we married and I remember walking down that isle to my side to become his rib.

Since those earlier days we have had interesting adventures and through all of it the constant has been our Lord.

Now we are still within the chapter of his failing heart and we have finally been given the news of a valve replacement will FINALLY take place the first week of January or the second. He will go through some prep work prior and then he will get his "overhaul". :O) (open heart to replace his aortic valve)

As I think of our journey so far....and what I desire for the future and that I plan to have him in it....I also know that ALL OF US....ALL OF US are only given this moment.

Each second is a blessing and I look at my strong man and am blessed with each breath i hear (each snore).

Matt, you are loved. Faithy, Joshua and I look to God giving you new strength with this valve. Don't push the recovery....just soak it in as we rest in HIM.

much love,
Angel

________________________

I need of humor: My rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas
by Angel Thompson on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 4:48pm

On the first day of Christmas my hubby received, a new heart valve replacement

On the second day of Christmas my hubby received 2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the third day of Christmas my hubby received 3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the fourth day of Christmas my hubby received 4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the fifth day of Christmas my hubby received 5 enemas
4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the sixth day of Christmas my hubby received 6 diet cokes
5 enemas
4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the seventh day of Christmas my hubby received 7 heparin shots
6 diet cokes
5 enemas
4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the eighth day of Christmas my hubby received 8 princess Faith kisses
7 heparin shots
6 diet cokes
5 enemas
4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the ninth day of Christmas my hubby received 9 Joshua “rocks”
8 princess Faith kisses
7 heparin shots
6 diet cokes
5 enemas
4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the 10 day of Christmas my hubby received 10 youths a caroling
9 Joshua “rocks”
8 princess Faith kisses
7 heparin shots
6 diet cokes
5 enemas
4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the 11th day of Christmas my hubby received 11 heparin shots (cause they BURN)
10 youths a caroling
9 Joshua “rocks”
8 princess Faith kisses
7 heparin shots
6 diet cokes
5 enemas
4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

On the 12th day of Christmas my hubby received 12 “naked day” reign checks
11 heparin shots (cause they BURN)
10 youths a caroling
9 Joshua “rocks”
8 princess Faith kisses
7 heparin shots
6 diet cokes
5 enemas
4 nice green salads
3 bowel movements
2 heparin shots and a heart valve replacement

2010-12-04T20:52:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER! (EARLY)

Valley of the Son

(CLICK FOR YOUR COPY TODAY)
By Angel Thompson

Paperback, 17 pages
Preview List Price: $12.90
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I have an amazing daughter. She is an amazing sister to her brother who has Autism. This story was written for her on her 7th birthday with all of her friends who were invited. Joshua and Faith have a desire to share Jesus with their friends and this story seemed to spring forth from her love for her friends and her own journey with Jesus at such a young age and what she has been learning....and what I have learned from these two who have been entrusted into our care by God. Faithy, know you are loved, amazing....most of all, remember you are a PRINCESS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD!

THIS MOMENT

2010-11-27T15:25:00.000-05:00

Life after childhood and grad school truly does appear to move fast. Before we know it we wake with bones aching and fighting the grandparent urge to share about your bowel movements when anyone asks how you are.

We begin to look at life differently and reflect on things we have done or wish we would have done. We begin to make comments like, “I want to do this by the time I’m….”, or “Before I die I want to accomplish this by the year…”

We have this funny notion that we are in control of the time frame of our lives, yet we are only promised this one moment, not tomorrow.

1 Thess. 5:1,2
1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

I love Peter’s words in 2 Peter 3 where he challenges us to live as we are in the last days. Not eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. No, living holy, blameless and for this moment for we are only given THIS MOMENT.

What if our comment and question was not what I want to do in the next 5 years, but rather, "There is so much I want to do before I die….so what can I do at this moment?” To quote a godly man who lived in each moment as it was an added gift, “Walk as if the next step would carry you across the threshold of heaven.” ~Jim Elliot

So, what will you do with this moment?

The Foster Dance

2010-10-31T15:39:00.001-04:00

by Angel Thompson

Looking through the panes with water falling down
Tears captured on her shirt, with eyes searching round

The red car is gone, she now stands alone
And her tears now water the ground

Foster created for temporal rest
A given “sense” of what is believed best

Yet devastation reflected through tears
Fell upon caregivers deaf angry ears

She stands clinging for love of empty arms hanging
There’s a whisper of disbelief, “again… it’s happening.”

Another brick is placed high
There is no reason to deny why

Yet through the drive, she removes a brick
A moment gap of what makes her tick

How can I trust
When all experience is disgust, abandon, unloved.
No one wants, no second chance,
just forget and move on to the next Foster dance.

As CSB, there is more to see, more to do
How can we be more than just “basic glue”

The pain is real
And they are left to “deal”

With adults who give issues
That kid are just as tissues
And are quickly thrown away

Our position is vital
Yeah, more than a title
For we embark with the “thrown away.”

A bandaid is nice, but the patch is like “ice”
If spread with surface…platitudes

So what is your attitude
When she stands among the multitude
Of placements and removals this day
With her tears falling down
Again watering the ground
And the red car just sped away

Here is the chance…to change the Foster dance…

Seriously, what will your actions speak today

__________________________________
This poem is dedicated to all the kids who have been placed and placed and placed....Please know that we know you have purpose and that you matter.

This is also dedicated to those I work along side. You all amaze me that this is not just a "job". I have seen you cry over wrongs. I have seen righteous anger. I have seen incredible, unwavering support to those lives we encounter daily....to name a few of those who amaze me: Tania, Jane, Jennifer, Ashley, Cyndi, Jerry, John, Denise, Bridget, Ann, Michelle, Kari, Heather.....okay, seriously...too many to name...let me just say: ACCSB!

200 Jack-O-Laterns

2010-10-30T09:55:00.000-04:00

We had such a great time going over to the Mihaliks this evening to help carve some of the 200 pumpkins they are carving for their annual display. What a blast! Thanks, guys! Our kids had a great time!

Y R U so small? Short Clip Reminder....

2010-10-23T19:39:00.000-04:00

I can remember when I was a little girl studying my mom’s hands. I would sit beside her in the chairs at church tracing her veins and trailing her ring as I sat swinging my legs. I remember how I could not wait for the day when I would have “lady hands” and my feet would touch the floor. Now, I know some of you, your legs still are swinging back and forth literally…yet many of us remain on the chair…figuratively just swinging our feet because we are afraid to stand up. We look at our lives and often times feel insignificant…small, and some of us may view what we do in this world does not really make an impact. That God has others who are BIGGER who make the impact while we are just… “here”. This November I want to invite all of the ladies of GCC to not only come, but to invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, family ladies and join us for our FALL BECOMING GATHERING.

We are going to talk about the meaning of SMALL and the IMPACT we can and DO have in this life!

November 12, 2010 @ 7pm

It will be an evening packed with linking with others, great food, great worship, fun games, maybe a prize or two and a challenge that will IMPACT your thoughts, heart and your very walk!

Angel's Soap Box regarding......

2010-10-02T08:59:00.000-04:00

Thoughts regarding the “looking into” a merger.

I have had this incredible opportunity to be part of an incredible organization and team at ACCSB. In the past CSB agencies as a whole have had a negative view, however over the years the ACCSB has become a driving force of bringing positive, family centered services to our families. It is true that our goal is to keep children safe, yet we offer so much more through incredible services for those in kinship, summer foods, helping pay utilities, finding housing, helping with deposits for rent, ESSA that help with materials needed to aid to maintain family units and so much more. Please take time to check out the ACCSB FaceBook page. Some have read in the newspaper that the county commissioners are "researching" about merging ODJFS and CSB, however we at ACCSB believe this would jeopardize the standing and support we have in our community and how we serve the children and families. As an autonomous agency we have a strong standing, a strong board and strong teams. So, we are sharing our voices to support and continue our strong standing, our strong board and our strong teams who view our families as important and worth fighting for to continue what we are doing, at the quality we are providing. Please help us get the word out to our county commissioners that ACCSB needs to remain as they are. I have been so impressed by how this agency works inside and out, and how they view our families that we come in contact daily.

Click STAR BEACON to read the article.

Y R U so small? GCC’S Women’s Fall Gathering

2010-09-26T21:14:00.000-04:00

Time	Friday, November 12 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Location	1007 S Broadway Geneva, OH 44041

Created By	Geneva Church of Christ

More Info	Y R U so small? GCC’S Women’s Fall Gathering Hosted by GCC’s Women’s Ministry, BECOMING… I can remember when I was a little girl studying my mom’s hands. I would sit beside her in the chairs at church tracing her veins and trailing her ring as I sat swinging my legs. I remember how I could not wait for the day when I would have “lady hands” and my feet would touch the floor. Now, I know some of you, your legs still are swinging... back and forth literally…yet many of us remain on the chair…figuratively just swinging our feet because we are afraid to stand up. We look at our lives and often times feel insignificant…small, and some of us may view what we do in this world does not really make an impact. That God has others who are BIGGER who make the impact while we are just… “here”. This November I want to invite all of the ladies of GCC to not only come, but to invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, family ladies and join us for our FALL BECOMING GATHERING. We are going to talk about the meaning of SMALL and the IMPACT we can and DO have in this life! So, mark your calendars for November 12, 2010 @ 7pm, as we talk about: Y R U so small? It will be an evening packed with linking with others, great food, great worship, fun games, maybe a prize or two and a challenge that will IMPACT your thoughts, heart and your very walk! Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. www.churchofsecondchances.com

Tailgateless....(angelisms)

2010-09-26T08:13:00.000-04:00

Another Thompson Adventure
Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 2:48pm
I am chuckling because there are too many words to place in just "what are you thinking."

I am not sure if you remember when we first moved here March 2008. This was our first Grape Jamboree experience and for our Church to have part of this incredible event with a booth, bounce house and nursing/diaper changes stations. This was also the year that, as we drove down the street the night before the Jamboree and set up....our car brakes literally fell off the car. You can read about that adventure with this link: http://radicalpw.blogspot.com/2008/10/screecher-preacher.html

Now, here we are in 2010. Matt came home last night after having help with getting things ready for this years Grape Jamboree which starts today. He shared with a chuckle....so, the truck has a flat tire. Oh, yeah and the tail gate fell off. Matt was so happy to finally have a truck so he could haul things....it's a man thing to have a truck. I can just hear the TOOL MAN TAYLOR grunt. We bought this truck for nearly pennies and I think we have had to put more into it than what we bought it for...or soon will. I just had to chuckle as we are down to our one vehicle and our truck...with it's flat and tail gate off. Oh poor JAWSIE (That is the name the kids gave the truck). Life is an adventure, yet what makes it amazing is how we view those adventures and how we respond. I know our God is MUCH bigger than a flat, a broken alternator and how a truck that lost it's tail gate. He is much bigger than a weak heart, PANDAS, Autism.....HE IS!
Nahum 1:7 reminds me that "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in HIM."

So, to the Screecher Preacher of 2008 and for this years loss of the tail gate at the Grape.....

Rue, our Thompson Adventures maintain our humor, keep our sanity and prove to us that no matter what...Our God's love for us is immeasurable and He is GOOD!

The Pain Scale

2010-09-26T08:08:00.000-04:00

From the Sarcastic-Lighter Side of Angel Thompson
Subject: The Pain Scale

I think doctors and hospitals need to implement a new “pain scale” that allows one to “describe the pain” because let’s face it when they say “on a scale from 1-10, 10 being the highest..”, what you wish they would say is “on a scale from 1-10, 100 being the highest…”
An EMT once heard me describe my pain instead of the scale and my description was “it feels like someone has shoved a skewer up my tush.” She said she would never forget that description. So, on that note…

After being in the house for 11 days post surgery, I was (notice the tense) feeling a bit better and had yet (again, notice the tense) to use pain meds. The kids were starting to feel well and Joshua had been saving to buy a new game for his game boy. So, I decided that I could drive them to Game Stop and then the Dollar Tree so Faithy could get something also. After that hour, if you were to ask me on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being the highest to “rate” my pain….this is how it would go.
“Have you ever fallen down the stairs on your tail bone? Okay, it’s like that, but coupled with someone hitting my tailbone over and over and over and over and over and over and over…breath…over and over and over. Then for good measure, kick me in the tail bone so I fall down the flight of stairs on my tail bone.” So, would that be a 10?

I’m thinking that a description works far better for them to GRASP the pain rather than a silly number used for counting.

Hope you all have a wonderful day….off to take pain meds now. It would be interesting to hear how I would describe my pain then.

My simplified pain scale if one must use numbers.

09.20.2010 PANDAS D/O Journey: JT's daily life

2010-09-20T16:53:00.000-04:00

by Angel Thompson on Monday, September 20, 2010 at 4:30pm Thoughts of mommy:
My heart is aching as I see him on this roller coaster ride that won't stop. Please let him off to take a rest, lock the doors and chain the gate so he is not locked in the PANDAS fate. Release, a pause, FREEDOM he craves....his obsession is more now than the papers he saves.

We have found that humor gets us through, yet with HIS PANDAS this is far from true. As there is no humor in the attack to his brain as if his whole purpose for being is now a runway train. One he cannot stop, the impulses to strong, the sadness overwhelms…all the confusion seems wrong.

Yet in the midst, he pours out a song…with the simple words that reach HIM amidst the PANDAS throng.

God I love you, you are so awesome, I love you, I love you, I love you.

So today as he questions his own face…I see and hear YOUR trace. It lies within the words of his song to You as he crawls through the PANDAS throng.

"JT, we will walk with you through this throng....because OUR GOD is awesome and HE is there in the midst...no matter what, HE IS HERE!"

LEGO CHALLENGE...It's a family thing

2010-09-17T18:08:00.000-04:00

LEGO CHALLENGE 2010 from Angel Thompson on Vimeo.

Joshua came up with a challenge for "TV" called LEGO CHALLENGE! He put together this little challenge game for the family. He used his castle as challenger stations and used SCOTTS AND TISSUES to be side walls also used sponsors of the challenge. The music picked is from LEGO POWER MINERS.

As many of you know Joshua was dx with Autism in 2004. In 2009 he contracted Scarlet Fever which did not leave his body and attacked his brain. This disease is called PANDAS D/O (oasisautism.org). This video and his ability to come up with and participate is HUGE. To understand why we are praising God daily....go to oasisautism.org to read about PANDAS D/O. Today is a good day.

Thank you LEGOS for opening our son's mind and giving our family a fun challenge!

Short Clip from OASIS regarding PANDAS D/O

2010-09-17T09:06:00.000-04:00

To learn more go to WWW.OASISAUTISM.ORG

uncut snigglet regarding the 2010 LEADERSHIP RETREAT

2010-09-12T00:08:00.000-04:00

BIG 2

You don't need a ticket!

2010-09-11T09:51:00.000-04:00

Joshua's favorite song & group. His videos to come!

2010-08-02T15:38:00.001-04:00

A peak into PANDAS D/O

2010-07-30T15:21:00.000-04:00

a moment to breath...

2010-07-13T08:16:00.000-04:00

I’m sitting here listening to “Jesus Music”, as Joshua calls it…wanting to escape away from all noise, mess, chaos and just sit in silence and the only thing I hear are the waves gently hitting the beach, feeling the cool warm breeze off the water with an occasional sea gull. A moment where life is not all consuming, a moment where my husband has a strong physical heart and strength, a moment where my son does not have PANDAS D/O that seems to consume his very thoughts and actions…just a moment to breath....an OASIS.

I want to be STILL AND KNOW! Oh, I know that my Lord is God…I just long for just a moment. There……thanks Lord for that moment and that reminder that your plans and purpose prevail. That you store our tears. That you have a plan for us. That you are God and in You, through all circumstances, I praise You for you are GOOD.

PHOTO: GUADELOUPE

Life is....fragile

2010-07-02T16:32:00.000-04:00

Life is truly fragile, isn’t it? Because we are young we have this strange feeling of invincibility at times; as if anything could bounce off of us. Nothing could possibly harm us…as if we could truly conquer the world and all of it’s elements. Then something happens and you realize how fragile you really are. How you truly rely on people in your life, and when they are gone God shows you that your source of dependence needs to be on HIM. That your trust cannot be in the “fragile”. Not saying that we should not “trust” those around us…but remembering that our Sustainer is not a spouse…or a relationship here on earth. How the only ONE who will sustain us through the most difficult of situations in Christ.

This has truly been a testing time for our family. Four years ago Matt was diagnosed with a heart condition. A condition that is a birth defect, yet a part of his condition is still unexplainable….his weakened heart. His doctors are now working with him to strengthen his heart, with us knowing the reality that he will have surgery at some point to replace that valve…just not now. I wish I had more to tell you regarding his physical heart, yet they continue to run tests and are looking at 2 procedures to help his heart function. (When he stands up and can do the happy dance I will "dance" with joy)

So, here we sit in “fragility” knowing the only sustainer is Christ. My “strong man” having to find his strength from within and not with the physical. What a journey this has been. God has His time frame. Could He heal Matt tomorrow? Sure. Yet during this time our dependence on HIM is growing. Faithy and Joshua pray for daddy every night. With Joshua’s Autism, and now PANDAS D/O he is having a hard time with daddy not being home. Yet I am amazed with how God has been comforting him in unique ways. (Thank you Kimberly for taking him to play legos with Ben!)

Life is so fragile, isn’t it? So, here we are…in our fragile state….standing….no wait, face down at His throne. Knowing that only there will we find rest and comfort during these moments of uncertainty….moments of fragility.

There is a truth I know…God is never fragile, He has never left us, He has His timing, He is our Father….I hold tight to his promises…even in the midst of this fragile life.

No matter where you are in your journey I urge you, and I can almost hear my grandfather in my voice when I say, don’t take any breath or moment in your life for granted. I love something that Jim Elliot once said, “Walk as if your next step would take you over the threshold of Heaven.”

Life is fragile. I am glad there is one who walks before me planning my course. One who walks with me and at times carries me. I am thankful for how He has expressed Himself through people and how I have seen and experienced Him in some truly unique ways this year. I am learning so much how life is fragile...and so precious.

Take time this week and reflect on how He walks before you and what it truly means to depend. Has anything happened where He is telling you to sit, rest, be still and just trust Him and not react to what is happening around you?

Know you are all loved. Know that you are ever in our thoughts and conversations with God. Know how much we appreciate all you do and how you are truly an expression of THE BODY!

Much love,
Angel

Life Inside the Box of a Jigsaw Puzzle

2010-06-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am a parent who is inspired daily by our son who was born and blessed with Autism. May you find blessing, hope...and a new look within the puzzle of Autism.

grip...freedom...hope

2010-06-11T09:52:00.000-04:00

grip 1 : to seize or hold firmly (What PANDAS D/O has on our son)

free·dom b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another (What we petition to Christ for daily regarding the grip of PANDAS D/O on our son)

hope 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." (What we cling to.)

www.4jart.blogspot.com

From the THOMPSON'S to our Family @ GCC

2010-06-05T22:24:00.000-04:00

There truly are no words to describe our love for you. You amaze us as a family, how you have accepted our son with his Autism and now with his additional diagnosis of PANDAS D/O. To put it simply, Joshua had Scarlet Fever last year and then he ended up getting strep throat at the beginning of the school year. The “strep” never left his body and ended up going to his brain which has caused him to have difficulty functioning. He has been fearful, anxious and sad. He has had an increase in impulsive behaviors and irrational thinking. He has not wanted to leave my side. He has had thoughts that people are wanting to hurt him and kill him, which happened a few weeks ago at church. He has had hours of crying, screaming and asking me, “Mommy, what is happening to me?” Faith has been such an incredible little sister, yet it has been hard for her to see her big brother withdrawing from her. Joshua began treatments with preventative medication and just finished a week long intense treatment of steroids to which I took a leave from work to be home with him to monitor the treatments. We have spent many nights without sleep, feeling drained and yet God has worked through your cards, letters, text messages, meals, cleaning our home….you have touched our hearts. You truly are living the scripture when we are exhorted to “lift one another up”, to “encourage one another”. Thank you all for your love and support during this PANDAS D/O journey that has gripped Joshua’s life and us as a family. You ARE our Family, and we love you.

If you would like to follow Joshua’s journey, you can at www.4jart.blogspot.com

Love,
Matt, Angel, Joshua & Faith

When PANDAS D/O NAPS

2010-06-04T09:56:00.000-04:00

What happens when PANDAS D/O naps....

These moments are burned in my heart....

My VERY rambly thoughts.

2010-05-15T20:08:00.000-04:00

Sitting here being reminded of how the smallest things that seem not to matter or are seen as intolerable are truly works of art by God's hand.

He did not create the dandelion to be this awful weed that "destroys" your lawn or causes so much "stress" if you have one.

I love dandelions. It shows that you have a healthy yard and that wherever you see them it is a path well traveled.

Uhm...interesting. Do we sit and try to figure out how to rid our lives of all that we see as "bothersome"? To where there is no evidence that we have traveled the path to others, to embrace them...to show them Christ's love. Oh, I pray my footsteps leave a HUGE path of "dandelions".

My children pick dandelions for me every summer and it reminds me, as they hand me a bundle, of all the lives that Christ may bring to my door...or me to theirs. May that path then lead them to HIM.

Wrinkled Ladies...by Anita Renfroe

2010-05-10T18:52:00.000-04:00

PANDAS D/O & The Wall of Jericho

2010-05-08T15:13:00.000-04:00

Did you know that part of the definition of REST means: A device used as a support. I pause and smile as I read this: "The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27 HE IS MY REFUGE...MY...REST....MY SUPPORT....MY GOD!

For the past several...several months our son has been struggling. It has been 6 years since he was d/o with Autism. He has come so far and has accomplished so much. I stand in awe. It was a shock to us when he began to regress. When his days were filled again with crying as he became anxious, sad and he began to have "ticing" episodes that would happen within his sleep.

He reverted back into his world and there wasn't anything I could do, but pray. He would come to me, put his head on my arm and ask me to pray for him. He would ask me "what's wrong with me?"

After months his neurologist, through testing, found out that he has PANDAS D/O. Now begins treatment...and a long, long journey ahead. Each day I share with him his life verse in Joshua 1:9. Each day I claim that verse as well...along with Isaiah 43:2.

I was reminded of something I wrote after Joshua had been diagnosed. Wanted to share it with you.

WHAT IS YOUR "WALL OF JERICHO"?
By Angel Thompson
TRUE INTIMACY
All rights reserved
Copyright Year: © 2005
Published by Unleashing Potential Ministries
ISBN: 1-4116-3274-5

It has been a year since Joshua was diagnosed with Autism. At that time the world seemed to stop and the future for our son seemed blurry. Today, as I reflect back upon Joshua's journey so far in the world of Autism, I am reminded of another man's battle. They both share some things in common. His name was also Joshua and he was commissioned by God to take the city of Jericho. "Jericho was shut up like a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one going out. God spoke to Joshua, "Look sharp now. I've already given Jericho to you…" Joshua 6:1,2
So what did Joshua do? He believed and trusted what God said. He knew the character of God and he knew who he was in God. The only thing that lay between Joshua, the people of Israel and Jericho was a wall. God gave Joshua step by step instructions on how to conquer this wall.
First: March around the city once with the priests blowing on their horns. He told them to do this for 6 days.
Second: On the seventh day they were to walk around the city walls seven times with the priests blowing their horns. On the seventh round when the priests sounded their horns the people were to, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!"
Third: Take the city.
You are thinking, "That's a really nice story, but how does it apply to my life?" Brothers and sisters, we all have walls in our lives. Some walls are in the form of a disorder, like our son's and then there are walls built from the sin in our lives. Do you realize that through Christ we have been given freedom over the "city of death"? "
"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." Romans 6:6-7
Now you are thinking, "What walls?" Those things that keep you from having a full and intimate relationship with the Lord and that keep you from healthy relationships with others. Those walls could be hatred, bitterness, a negative attitude, lusting, coveting, doubting, excessive worrying, pride, greed…to list a few.
So, what are the steps we need to take to fight the walls in our lives?
First: Trust God. If you don't know His character or who you truly are in Him, seek counsel through your Pastor or a Christian Counselor.
Second: Walk around those "walls". How? Spend time reading the Bible, the guidebook to break down those walls. Here are a few: Galatians 5:1; Philippians 4:ll-13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:31-37; 12:3; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2:12; John 16:33; 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 1; James 4:7; Psalm 51; 1 John 1:4-10. Also, continue applying the first step.
Third: Even when the day seems hard and the light seems far away, "take the city"! In other words, claim the victory He has promised you.
"…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
The walls our son faces everyday is a disorder that daily God is helping Joshua fight to break them down through our prayers and therapy.
What are your walls? No matter if they are from a disorder or sin, the same simple steps apply. Trust God, for your life is precious to Him. Walk around your walls through reading His Word and seek Christian counsel, and don't forget to take the city. He has given you the keys.
"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Galatians 4:6,7

THE ROCK!

2010-05-08T10:51:00.001-04:00

Through JT's eyes

2010-02-14T18:55:00.000-05:00

A view of the world from the other side of the camera of a boy who lives with Autism everyday.

Joshua, you are my hero.

This is his movie of Shark Chaos.

Joshua has always been fascinated with camera's. So much so he took possession of our video camera.

I generally get motion sick when I things move quickly, yet his video and how he perceives the world at this time in his life...well, I have found it interesting, enlightening and eye opening. As he watched his finished movie he stood with a smile...stimming as he watched it. He was beaming with accomplishment.

Father, as I sit daily with Joshua and the fears that have entered his life lately and how You have given him Your WORDS to decrease those fears...we continue to thank you for his Autism. Continue molding us as his parents.

RAD: Embrace

2010-02-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

GCC's Second Chance Videos
RAD Series Vid #2
Short Clips

EMBRACE from Angel Thompson on Vimeo.

Regarding Dangerous Women!

2010-01-17T15:13:00.001-05:00

I stand amazed at our God. What an incredible evening we had at BECOMING....

I love it when I have the humbling opportunity to be with other sister's in Christ and share hearts. A time spent challenging, laughing and growing together. I was honored to have the opportunity to speak at our BECOMING gathering with an incredible Dangerous Woman, Traci Bowling. She is not only an incredible mother to her kids, she is also a woman who has placed her hand in God's clasped hand to capture the wisdom He has for her and she has not let go!

Before I forget, thank you, Traci for sharing about LIFE VERSES!

I was also incredibly moved by the ladies who came. You all amzed me as you picked up your own light bulb and threw it! If you want to know what that was all about...you just need to come to one of the BECOMING gatherings!

And....to all of the DANGEROUS WOMEN OUT THERE....never forget that you are HIS! Claim it! Live it! Share it! Be Dangerous for HIM!

DANGEROUS WOMEN

DEAR GOD,
Please make us dangerous woman.

May we be women who acknowledge our power to change, and grow, and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely
May we be strongt and gentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May we never hesitate to let passion push us, conviction compel us, and righteous anger energize us.
May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.
May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.
May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus. And in that name, and by that power, may we change the world.

Dear God, please make us dangerous women. ~ Amen

Excerpted from Lynne Hybels book:
Nice Girls Don't Change The World

BECOMING Dangerous Women

2010-01-12T20:18:00.000-05:00

How many of you women know another lady who needs to know they matter? That they need to know they can make a difference? That they are valued? That they are cherished? That God has given them something specific that is just theirs? If the answer is yes, then invite them to come with you Friday at GCC! God is on the move and He wants you to know something unique about yourself!

See you all FRIDAY @ 7PM

BECOMING HIS DAILY,

Angel Thompson

"It is never too late to discover that who you really are is exactly what delights God and what the world needs." Lynne Hybels

1007 S Broadway Geneva, OH 44041 440.466.7689 http://www.genevachurchofchrist.org/

Autism Treasures!

2009-12-05T19:54:00.000-05:00

Just a quick video made for our OASIS group tomorrow afternoon! Just sharing my treasures of Autism.

Have a great snowing evening all.

AUTISM YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW...

2009-11-30T08:50:00.000-05:00

Saturday evening Joshua opens Daddy’s Bible on the hotel bed and finds the book of Joshua. He asks me to help him find 1:9. I sat down beside him and flipped through the delicate pages until the Bible rests open to Joshua 1. Joshua scanned the page as I led his eyes to verse 9. He began to read, “….Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

He then took a breath, and with a “chomp” of his teeth, he closed the Bible and hopped off the bed.

It's Sunday morning and we are getting ready for church. With a hop, a chomp, and a knock of the knees we are now headed to the van to begin our adventure to see and worship with old friends.

Joshua and Faith make their way to Xtreme Kidz where they are greeted with hugs. He makes his way to the climbing wall with a hop, a chomp, a chin knock to the shoulder and a snort.

Church is now over and we are having lunch with our friends. He and Toby have a great time sharing pizza and talking. Joshua looks down the long table and grabs my attention. He asks through chomps and head nods if he can share his cheese pizza with Toby. As he hears yes I see him hop in his seat and give Toby some of his pizza.

We are on the long drive home. He leans forward and says to Faith, “Hey Faith…I love you.” She responds back, “I love you too.”

He spends the next hour and a half singing, snorting, nodding, chomping and “hopping” in his seat belt.

We are finally home. What an incredible weekend we had with friends!

Joshua’s chomping increases as his chin hits one shoulder then the next. He walks down the hall stopping to knock his elbows on the wall and knock his knees together.

He is now having trouble going to bed as fear creeps into his thoughts. He begins to talk about school and feeling as if he cannot achieve anything and feeling as if he knows nothing. I begin to share with him all he knows and marvel with him of his incredible ability to know so much about things. I can see in his eyes he feels overwhelmed and he begins to cry over the anxiety. I reach over and cradle his head as he cries. I then walk him up his ladder to his loft and sit with him. His chomping and nodding are so constant he can barely get a sentence out in tact. He then looks at me, and through the anxiety of tics he says, “Mommy, do autism boys ever marry girls and do autism girls marry boys?” I answer yes. He then says, “Do autism boys marry autism girls.” I begin to tear and answer his question again with a yes. He then looks at me through chomping and states, “That is good, because we don’t laugh at each other.”

I looked deep in his brown eyes and asked him if he feels different than other people. He did not look through me as sometimes he can. His eyes engaged and he said, “Yes.”
I wish I could say that this entry has some deep meaning. Yet, today it’s just a mommy who longs to comfort her son who is struggling with his Autism. A mommy who sees her son in such anxiety that if I could…I would take it on just to give him a moment of peace.

I looked in his eyes when he said “Yes”…that he felt different and I told him that I was so thankful that God made me his mommy and that I love everything about him, especially his autism. I then reminded him of his verse in Joshua 1:9
“….Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Life is so uncertain…yet there is one thing that is constant during the moments when fear creeps around us daily, and that is our LORD is with us wherever we go….we do not have to be terrified.

SHE

2009-11-03T19:07:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share today...

Watch Nooma 021 She in Faith & Spirituality View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

BECOMING....Ladies Conference 2009

2009-11-02T14:37:00.000-05:00

The Church of Second Chances Women's Ministry, BECOMING has invited you to a Beth Moore Video Conference: Measureless Love

Come and join us! You will hear about God's Love for you in a whole new way....you will not leave the same!

9am Worship
9:15am Conference Begins
Lunch is Provided.

COST IS FREE

Call or email today to reserve TICKETS!

440.466.7689
dannagcc@gmail.com

Pigeon holed...the forgotten....GO!

2009-10-05T22:23:00.000-04:00

The pigeon holed, the forgotten, we are blinded by what we see. Not by shear sight, but by choice and they are dying right before you…and me.

I cannot sleep. I don’t know if it is the physical pain I am in or the pain that is seeping from the very recesses of my soul and heart.

I know that people “use” the system. I know that people buy what they want and beg for what they need. I know people “use others” to gain and remain in their own pit…and yet there is this one phrase within a commission given to all of us who say we are followers of Christ. Not even a phrase but a word…GO! Go therefore into all the world…..

Don’t you find it interesting that He did not say, BRING THEM TO THE CHURCH. WAIT FOR THEM TO COME. HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM AND THEY WILL…..

Today my job sent me on an interesting journey…one where I found myself along with a colleague driving through a park…not filled with swings and sand boxes. It was filled with trailers that did not even resemble anything livable. Many did not have sides, the insulation was exposed. When glanced you could see a family inside. Another did not have windows and inside were lights and pictures…another family trying to survive. “Home” after “home” we drove by in search of a family we had a call on. We both have

seen worse, but today hit me hard as it did her.

A “park” filled with the forgotten, those we have pigeon holed as “users” of the system where we say if they want they need to come to us and then, maybe we will help.

What if it were me?

I called Matt and asked if we could do a mobile soup kitchen. We currently have this ministry that meets at the church, yet as I looked at these “homes” knowing that there are more than 47 kids who live there….many without transportation my heart heard the word GO! It wasn’t WAIT FOR THEM TO COME BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE FACILITY.

How can we show people the Christ, the Savior, the Lord, the GOD of second chances if we continue to pigeon hole them, close our eyes to them and wait for them to come?!

If my memory serves me…CHRIST WENT TO THEM…He walked right up to the woman at the well. He walked up to the adulterous woman. He walked up to the tax collector. He walked up to the hungry, bleeding, poor, sick, desperate, suicidal, homicidal, lost, in search of meaning, drug addict, alcoholic, user… He walked up to….me and He walked up to you.

We are called to be His Ambassadors of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

The pigeon holed, the forgotten, we are blinded by what we see. Not by shear sight, but by choice and they are dying right before you…and me.

LIFE INSIDE THE BOX OF A JIGSAW PUZZLE

2009-09-30T21:37:00.000-04:00

NEW DEVOTIONAL BOOK!

We all have a plan in our heads of how we “think” life ought to be when we marry and have children. When those plans are shattered, it is like someone came up to your card table while you were putting together a jigsaw puzzle and the pieces went everywhere. Yet, your puzzle did not just hit the floor, it scattered to the winds and you now stand there with an empty box.

Life Inside the Box of a Jigsaw Puzzle is a book about finding God’s Grace, Strength, Hope and Understanding inside the Spectrum of Autism. I am a parent who is inspired daily by our son who was born and blessed with Autism. May you find blessing, hope...and a new look within the puzzle of Autism.

Publisher: Angel Thompson/Unleashing Potential Ministries

Language: English

Country: United States

Edition: First

Version: 1

You can order a copy today by clicking LIFE INSIDE...

"IT'S OKAY TO DROP THE BALL"

2009-09-05T13:27:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I have sat at my computer to write my thoughts. Our summer was filled with constant activity. School has begun with both kids going everyday and the Lord opened the door for an incredible position for me to work with Children Services as an assessment caseworker. Huge changes.

Today as I sit here I am reminded of something I wrote in 2006, something Christ challeneged my heart and life with through my son and I just want to share it with you.

Section from:

THE TRUE INTIMACY OF BECOMING A WATER WALKER

Author: Angel Thompson

"IT'S OKAY TO DROP THE BALL"

It is not uncommon or out of place to see Joshua with his hands full of items, everything that makes him feel comfortable and "intacted". He has Autism, and the things he clutches in his hands bring him a sense of "stability", a sense of peace.

Something interesting happened the other day that impacted my life and made me reflect on my walk with the Lord. Joshua was walking towards me and his "things" kept falling as he tried to make his way to me. I could see the desperation in his eyes as he tried to slowly make his way to where I was. At that moment I threw my arms open and said, "Run to me." As I said that he threw his "comfort" items down and ran to my open arms.

Hebrews 12:1-2a states, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…"

As I think of my son running to me hindrance free, I am humbled once again. From Joshua I am reminded that in order to run this race, in order to make it towards the Prize, which is Jesus Christ, in order for me to have that intimate relationship with God, I need to "throw off everything that is hindering" me. All of those things that keep me from His embrace of love, grace, mercy, compassion, protection…If I would only let go and look up, I would see that He has my race marked out for me.

Don't you just love that part? Our race has been marked out! Do you think the Israelites realized that when God was going before them in a cloud during the day and fire at night? He was scouting the path, marking the way.

What are the things in your life that you are trying to "run" with? For me, it is the worry over finances and wondering "how God, are we going to make it this week? Where are we going to live? How will Joshua transition?" My worries and incessant need to figure out what to do entangles me and keeps me only inches from His embrace.

Joshua has realized he needs to throw everything aside to be in my embrace. This morning he was dressed in his OSU football outfit. Shoulder pads, helmet, football…he is a miniature line backer. As I threw my arms open, he came running and just before he lost himself in mommy's embrace, he dropped the football.

What is the "football" that you are holding on to, that entangles you, which keeps you from that intimate relationship with God? What are the things that give you that "false" sense of security to where you cannot see the path He has marked out for you?

Our walk is not a football game, you can drop the ball. He will pick it up and show you the path, the race He has marked for you as you walk in His intimate embrace.

TEAM WITH OASIS

2009-08-05T17:43:00.000-04:00

Hey all. As many of you know, Matt and Angel’s son, Joshua was born with Autism. They founded an organization back in 2004 after he was diagnosed to reach out to other families and those who live on the autism spectrum. This August 15th, in Wooster, Ohio, Midwest Innovations is hosting a walk-a-thon for OASIS. All proceeds will be raised and given to OASIS so they can continue their outreach to these families. Matt & Angel have put together a team to walk. If you would like to go with them to help bring Autism Awareness, they will be leaving the church parking lot @ 6:15am the morning of August 15th. (the walk begins @ 9am) You can go to the OASIS website, http://www.oasisautism.org/ and download a pledge sheet or even donate online. If you cannot join them, that is okay. Please be in prayer for this walk and for the families that attend and those OASIS touches. Matt and Angel’s goal and vision has not only been to meet the physical & emotional needs of the families and individuals, but to also meet the spiritual need of Christ…the hope that only HE can bring…that there is light out of the darkness.

OASIS Administration

CALL 2 FALL

2009-07-02T18:30:00.000-04:00

Call 2 Fall is a national prayer effort taking place on July 5th, where Churches and believers gather together to pray for our country and repent before God.

Click: CALL2FALL to learn more.

Because I love HIM.

2009-05-14T16:22:00.000-04:00

I don’t know what sparked the question that led to her prayer. Was it that she hears about God daily? Was it the prayer that I fervently pray for her? Or was it just GOD’S timing for her?

As she danced around the kitchen in her princess dress and gloves she said, “Where does God live?”

“In heaven”, I answered. As I began to ask her questions about Jesus and what He did for her, she danced into the other room to look at herself in the mirror. Our conversation continued talking about following Jesus and having Him in your heart, and I asked her what that would mean. She said, “You then will live in heaven.” I asked her what happens if you don’t follow Jesus and have Him in your heart?” From a distance by the mirror I heard, “Ooooo, then you go to hell.”

She came back into the kitchen and continued to spin and twirl. As she did she said she loved Jesus and wanted to live in heaven. As I shared with her what she needed to do…. in a twirl she said with a smile as she looked up, “Jesus come in my heart.”

At that moment began more questions from me. I wanted to see if she was truly grasping. She shared that she knew Jesus died for her on the cross. She stop mid twirl when I said Jesus name again and she said to me, “You mean God?” “Yes, honey.” (She gets that God and Jesus are ONE. Last year she put that together.)

So, we then prayed and she decided that she wanted to use “Bibleman’s words to pray.” Apparently his words sound cooler than mine. So with a simple nod she prayed and asked Jesus into her heart. When I asked her why she asked Jesus into her heart she simply said, “Because I love Him.”

Her journey begins.
I will not doubt the authenticity of her prayer. I will continue to lift my little girl and boy up to Jesus and pray that He gives me wisdom and knowledge to continue cultivating HIS LOVE AND PASSION into their lives. That they grow as HIS.

Lord, I just had a great conversation with Faith, and I know you heard it and that you also had a great conversation with her. Please guide her footsteps and may they continue towards you and in you. Help her to grow with Godly integrity, character and discernment. Give me wisdom to always point Joshua and Faith to you and teach them your truth!
Wow…is all I can say!

He meets Him in a yard filled with dandelions...

2009-05-11T11:49:00.000-04:00

My son has this unique relationship with God. I could sit here and say that I am envious and that I long for that, and yet the truth is…I can have that...I do have that…one that is individual and totally and fully “ours”. (Mine and God's)

The other day as I drove around on the lawn mower cutting our "field", I could not help but to be captivated by my son who stood in the grass, dandelion “fuzz” flying around him, arms stretched upward with his face towards the sky. He would stand still and then spin and then stop and sway as if hearing some sweet sound of music only known to him.

Later he asked to ride with me and as he nestled his head on my shoulder I asked what he was doing with his arms up in the yard and he said, “Talking to God and praising Jesus.” When asked what they talked about he said “I cannot tell you, because that was God and I talking.”

He had found his “prayer closet” and went there to talk with Jesus. Uninhibited by what was happening around him, he was able to “sift” through it and find solace with God.

To understand how profound that is….individuals who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder have a hard time “sifting” through all the noises and sensory things that invade our lives daily. As you are reading this there are sounds happening around you and yet you are able to sit and concentrate to comprehend what is on your screen. For people like my son, it is like the GRAND FINALE at the 4th of July happening inside their head all the time and they have to “sift” through it…so…you can understand why I sat in awe as God and Joshua met in that yard and he and Jesus talked and sang together. It was so intimate that Joshua did not want to share the details, only that they "met"…because it was HIS TIME with HIS KING.

My son grasps the meaning of Ephesians 3:19, 20. He knows the power Jesus has in his life and he soaks up the fullness that he has been given because he belongs to HIM.

Do you know that you can know that fullness….that power….if you are HIS…it has been promised to you because HIS SPIRIT lives within you!
I challenge you today to read Ephesians 3:14-21. Meditate on it, soak it in….then go find your “yard” and meet Him there…..He’s waiting!

The shameless advertising continues....

2009-05-09T10:32:00.000-04:00

As some of you know, we here at GCC will be doing a 3-Day Sport Camp instead of a traditional VBS. We are excited as we get the humbling opportunity to work with the kids in our community to inspire them in their walk through life and touch them with the love of Christ. We also have a unique opportunity to inspire them to help other kids by participating in Nothing But Nets, a campaign to help prevent malaria across Africa.

Millions of people die each year from malaria - but there's a simple, life-saving solution, and all it takes is $10 to buy a bed net, distribute it to a family, and explain its use.

You can help support our kids at SC3@GCC Camp as we raise funds by making a secure online donation. Click on the link below to donate or even Join our TEAM by Sending Nets and Saving Lives:

http://www.mynothingbutnets.net/TeamPage.aspx?Lang=en-CA&TSID=232301

For more information on how YOU can participate in Nothing But Nets, please visit us at http://www.nothingbutnets.net/

Thanks for partnering with us!

See you at the net!

Angel Thompson

www.genevachurchofchrist.org

SC3 @ GCC....yes, shameless advertising!

2009-05-06T13:41:00.000-04:00

I am pumped! I know, it is only May and I am already pumped for summer. Okay, you maybe thinking because of the great sun, biking by the lake, cook outs….yet I am pumped because for 3 days, we at GCC are going to do something unique to reach the kids for Christ in our church and in our community. Instead of doing a traditional VBS, we have decided to have a 3-day Sport Camp.

Why you ask? Why when everyone else is doing the VBS programs that are filling the Christian Book Stores? Why when, from the past, we “know” that tradition works?

If there is one thing I have learned from being a missionary it this simple thought, “just because it has worked before doesn’t mean it is the ultimate “cookie cutter” for all people.”

Let me quote a stat from Outreach Magazine:
90% of Americans either watch, read or participate in some sports-related activity once a month. More than 70% are involved in sports once a week.

Does that answer any of the “why’s”? What a unique opportunity and venue to reach kids. 3, 2 hour days packed with God truths and principles for life wrapped around soccer skills, puppets, challenges, prizes….Yeah…I’m pumped!

So, here’s a quick shout out to anyone from GCC: Come and be part of our GCC TEAM to share the “gaming principles of Christ” with some incredible kids in our community.

One more shout out to all my Grace PEEPS! If you know of anyone that plays on the Grace College Soccer Team that would love to give 3, 2 hour days in June to show some kids their soccer skills and love for Christ….drop me an email! angelt@oasisautism.org

Our kids will not leave the field the same and I guarantee, neither will you!

SC3 @ GCC
Dates: June 10, 11, 12
Who: Kids 5 yrs - 5th grade
Time: 5pm – 7pm
Location: Geneva Church of Christ.

Hey, if parents register their kids on line and they COME…the first 15 get a soccer ball!

See you at the net!

(Hey, if you have a strange desire to donate shin guards for us to give away...)

Journal rambles...

2009-04-28T14:51:00.000-04:00

I was just sitting here in a moment of pondering when God brought back a journal entry I wrote 2 years ago, and I thought, “I would love to share that today….” Then I remembered….that journal is nestled nicely, deep in the recesses of the computer that crashed. The computer that states it no longer has a hard drive present.

I love computers. It doesn’t take me long to sit down and figure something out on them and begin creating. Having fibromyalgia I also find it easier to type away on the computer than to literally write with a “writing instrument”, although I still enjoy “pencil” journaling.

Yet today as I sit here “tapping” out my thoughts I feel a sense of loss. My thoughts and heart were in the words saved within the hard drive that died. Over the years I have journaled and have been able to go back and read through my old journals that I wrote in my own hand. My friends always tell me that to read anything I write would take a decoder. So, I started adding “decoders” at the top of my letters to help them. That became the joke.

Anyway, now I sit here realizing that a section of my thoughts are gone.

Do you all remember when movies came out on DVD? It was the beginning of the end of VHS, right? We were told that DVD’s and CD’s would not only replace our audio and visual tapes, but it would be the last thing you buy because they would last a “life time”. Whose lifetime? How many of you find that your VHS videos last longer than your DVD’s?

Matthew 24:35 states, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will NEVER pass away.”

I love that passage. We live in a very temporal world and knowing that the words of my Lord are forever…..Never changing….His promise is set with a seal. Even if someone takes my Bible away from me…I can hide His words in my heart to recount because they are ETERNAL.

My earthly journal is gone, yet obviously, my LORD’S “JOURNAL FOR LIFE”, has not, nor can be destroyed and increases in number daily! From the written, to the typed, to the computer, to translators, to audio, to visual….His HD….cannot be damaged, tampered with….and if it is hacked, those who read it contents…may they be changed for eternity.

You know what I find most interesting and impacting. No matter what blog entry or what we deem at incredible and worthy of remembrance….most often, we never remember those. Yet, I can remember His words of promise to me and in those moments of uncertainty, it’s not my journal entry I go to, it’s not someone else’s blog….I remember His Word and cling to that!

Song of Songs 4:7 “You are all beautiful to me, I see no flaw in you.”
Nahum1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”
Proverbs 25:25 “Like cold water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land.”
Proverbs 16:19 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I have plans for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
2 Corinthians 1:22 “He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

The short list of a few tucked in my heart...

I will FIND YOU!

2009-04-24T18:04:00.000-04:00

Usually I plan my words carefully when I write, and yet this week something happened that altered the way I view my children, all that is precious, why we are here….every thing. I don’t even know how to “eloquently” type it, but just to share the “rawness” of it all.

We were home...all doors locked...and we could not find Faith. We looked everywhere, tore the house apart...I'm on the phone with 911 not believing this is happening and stating, "This cannot be happening!" I couldn't think of our address or what she was wearing. I kept thinking, “How did they get in the house…how did they get past me?" Apparently I voiced that a few times as the dispatcher tried to calm me. All I could feel was emptiness and loss.....life without her....Okay, I'm starting to cry thinking about it. The lady from 911 said that the Police where on their way.... Joshua was crying and screaming for Faith. (I realized how much she is his anchor)....I went into her room to try and focus. Weeping and sobbing. I heard the lady say, "If you find her sleeping somewhere, call us back." At the moment I looked down and there was Faith…fast asleep laying in-between her bed and her baby's cradle. Such a small space and she blended in with the bed, floor and her doll’s blanket. I fell to the floor just sobbing. I picked her up, cradled her and as I held her tight she woke up and asked, "Mommy, can I have a banana?"
All I could do was sob. We all engulfed her with a hug, Matt than sat on the edge of her bed with tears, holding his heart and Joshua hugged her saying...I couldn't find you...I miss you...I love you...I couldn't find you....

I told Matt, my biggest fear happened. I have always been afraid of losing the kids and not being able to find them.

I began to think about what I felt when I thought someone took my daughter, when I thought she was lost, and then I thought of God...billions of His children lost...what agony and pain He must feel as He calls out to them and they don't hear Him because they are walking around asleep.

I NEVER want to go through that again. If I never want to experience that again…I can only imagine what God has been feeling all of these years, decades….We study about it, we talk about…and now I have a small glimpse into HIS pain and it gives me an urgency to wake THEM UP FROM their sleep walking.

As I held Faith in my arms, sobbing with joy...I can only imagine His tears of joy when I woke up and ran into His arms!

I held Faith’s hand all night…I couldn’t let go. I’m glad God has given me His hand…and that He will never, ever let go.

Goo Goo....Go into all the world....

2009-04-10T18:40:00.001-04:00

Go into all the world….
I love that verse and today, as parents, we were able to not only talk about what Christ was telling us to do….we got our “sandals dirty” and let our kids be part of the action. Nothing says outreach like GOO GOO bars!

It took us 3 hours to walk to different businesses, banks, stores and gas stations here in Geneva to pass out Goo Goo bars and hand them a special invite card.

As parents, it was exciting and humbling to watch our kids begin the outreach journey of “Go into all the world…” Joshua is quite a little evangelist, which is no secret. He has been that way since giving his life to Jesus. And Faith did not want to miss any of the action. Our little “shy girl” was not afraid to walk in and give a gift and invite people to come to GCC for Easter.

“Lord, as silly as this sounds, I know to your ears it is not. Please go with each goo goo bar and the invite cards that touched the hands they were placed in. May your Spirit draw them to where they can find YOUR WATER OF LIFE! Thank You for asking us to join You today in reaching Geneva for You. May today stay in the hearts of our kids and may they continue to have a burden to reach out and share Jesus in our community and beyond. In Jesus Name…Amen.”

I was created for eternity…

2009-04-04T13:31:00.000-04:00

Matt and I have been studying 1 Peter. I remember during my college and seminary years studying this book, and yet, I learn something new, something that God points out to me that is crucial at this moment in time, in my walk with Him and others who share that they, too, are followers of Jesus.

It was verse 7 that made my heart stop, but to fully grasp it, let’s also read verse 6 and 8 along with 7 from chapter 1. (Verse 7 is in bold)

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,”

I grew up in a time, in which I find continues to permeate throughout churches, and that is one of “just say the prayer.”, or dare I even type, “Just get baptized.” I can vividly remember during a revival that we were told if we “but come forward and say the prayer than we would be saved from hell.” It was not shared with me or those who were with me that, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

I recently drove past a sign with the photo of a soldier and it read, “We don’t accept applications…only commitments.”

Verse 7 in chapter 1 of 1 Peter is talking about commitments versus applications. I believe there are many out there today, walking around with the application in their back pocket or tucked away in the “did it” file but never made the commitment. In the book of John, chapter 6, verse 60-70, it talks about those who did just that and when they heard what it would mean to commit to following Jesus…”many deserted Him.” In this chapter in the book of John, Christ is telling them and us, “I don’t accept applications…only commitments.”

As I read 1 Peter 1 and camp in this chapter and the verses above, my heart truly cries out in praise, glory and honor to HIM. I don’t have to see Him to know He is here and that He alone is walking with me through the trials I face daily. It is true when it states there is an inexpressible and glorious joy. It is almost…ineffable to describe, but it fills me because I know the goal that is ahead of me and it is far better than all I face here. My salvation in HIM is set with His stamp, His deposit of the Holy Spirit in me when I decided to walk past just the “application” and stepped across the line and committed!

I was created for eternity…nothing this world holds will satisfy!

Tent Pegs and Canvas...a day of ramble

2009-03-12T14:09:00.000-04:00

I have never been a lover of change, and yet I married a man who thrives on it. My things stay in the spot I place them. My books go back in the spot I pulled them from. During our first year of marriage Matt wanted to change the house around every week. We finally came to a compromise of changing it every 6 months. Our son arrived and once he was diagnosed with Autism the word “change”…changed.

Even though our son is not a lover of change (just like his mommy), and it takes him months to transition, I am amazed at how he lives and faces change.

When you surrender your life to Christ….one who never changes…have you found out that things are in a state of constant….change? I would venture to say that today we live our lives with “TENT PEGS” in our back pockets, that I married a man who loves the smell of canvas and since my decision to follow Jesus back in 1987, I have inherited the same love and so has our son and I pray for that love to enter our daughter as well.

Okay, canvas has thrown you, hasn’t it? The Israelites lived in tents…traveled where God led them and they would put down their tent pegs and raise their tents and CAMP there. Claim it there, be there, explore there, engage there, look for opportunities there, glean there, worship there…JOIN HIM THERE.

The moment I forget the smell of canvas or that I have pegs in my back pocket is the moment that I become stagnant and complacent. I want to be ready at any given moment for a God encounter when He is saying…”Look, did you see that…go!” Or, “Listen, did you hear that…bask in it, lavish here with me…” “Join ME!”

Tent pegs and canvas does not mean “moving” in the literal sense. It represents the opening of your heart, mind, soul and strength to be totally HIS, that if He but whisper you would begin to unfurl your tent somewhere to join Him. What that looks like is between you and Him.

My son has been learning about the “tent pegs and canvas” as he shares his love for Jesus with everyone he meets. Just yesterday he asked the Dunkin Donut girl if she could hear his JESUS music. (Penny, he loves it when I say, O hear O Joshua…)

When I have to literally pull up my tent pegs I feel a bit like Paul. Mind you I did not have to walk miles or sail for weeks or months, yet my heart aches when I have to leave those that I have shared hearts with to encourage, equip, build up….

For those I came to visit and with in a moment of wind had to leave…I give you the words Paul gave Philemon and know that my heart is ever drawn to each of you.

“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother (sister), have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”

The Parable of the Ear of Corn

2009-03-10T22:55:00.000-04:00

I don’t even know where to begin. I have started this entry twice. First to talk about the God encounter this past Saturday at a ladies retreat that God orchestrated me being able to go to….

Learning about rest and what that really means to rest in God. Continual learning about worship and what that entails in my relationship with Jesus….

I was so blessed to be able to spend the day with an incredible group of ladies, and during that day we were asked to take an hour to be quiet and rest. If any of you know my life and our family, you know that “rest” is something not in our vocabulary. My rest usually happens when everyone else is asleep and yet that is also some of my “busy time” to catch up. Ahh!

So, we were asked to have quiet time….resting in God. I walked to my van to find a piece of pink paper on the windshield telling me to move my van immediately because it was blocking the road. So, I drove to find a place to park….finally found a spot at the front of the camp site. By that time I had 30 minutes left for my “rest” time with God. I decided to go for a walk with my MP3 to focus on Him. Music opens my soul and He has a unique way of capturing my heart. On my walk I noticed something….an ear of corn left in the now empty field that once harbored acres of corn filled stalks. I actually stood for a while staring at this corn cob as the words played from Casting Crowns:

She is running A hundred miles an hour In the wrong direction She is trying But the canyon's ever widening In the depths of her cold heart So she sets out on another misadventure just to find She's another two years older And she's three more steps behind Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see? Oh does anybody even knows she's going down today Under the shadow of our steeple With all the lost and lonely people Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

As the music played, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and took a picture of this corn cob. I then thought, “Walk back to the van and get your camera.” So, I made a mental view of where I was, found a marker and quickly walked back to the van to get my camera (in my time of rest)…when I came back I could not find the ear of corn. I looked at every marker and could not find it. I was now on a mission. I walked back to my van and began scoping down the drive along the field…looking for this ear of corn. I can only imagine what those in the camp office thought.

When I finally stopped and got out of my van three things hit me…three things that God showed me in my “rest time” with Him through an ear of corn in an empty field.

First was the field was white unto harvest, and yet there was one left and no one cared to come back for it.
Two, how easy it is to miss an opportunity to touch someone’s life for Christ when we are in a hurry to get somewhere or do something. We think we can just come back to our “marker” and it will still be there.
And three…I couldn’t stop looking…I wanted to find it. I was reminded of Christ parable about leaving the 99 to look for the 1 sheep and did not return until He found it.

How many of us only view life with Christ in the bigger picture that we run through ministry and miss those who are left bruised, hurting, seeking, longing…
How many of us rush in our lives, thinking we can come back to our “marker” and miss an opportunity…only to find them or it gone?
How many of us would search for the one?

I don’t know what “rest” means for you in you walk with God? I do know that He wants to give us HIS fullness and in my walk He showed me something about that fullness.

Then and Now...Set Free

2009-02-27T09:55:00.000-05:00

While reading through my 2006 journal this morning I ran across something I wrote; something God challenged my heart and others when we were planting a multi site. Since that year nothing has changed with the challenge because Christ has not yet returned and I found that those words remain strong and true. So, I wanted to share some of them with you today. (I did change the date to 2009 since the application remains.)

He was a captive living in the tombs, broken chains around his arms and ankles. He wandered around talking to himself and mutilating his body. They only things that kept him company were the never ending voices and demons in his mind.

Years ago I remember working with a man who was held captive by alcohol and drugs. One day we found him sitting outside the door to the ward. He had been drinking and “shooting up.” He was bleeding profusely from his arms and sides where he had sliced himself open. When asked what happened all he could say was, “I just wanted the demons and voices to go away.”

Both men held captive. I can only imagine what the first man experienced when he saw Jesus coming towards him. In scripture it talks about how the demons bowed in homage. I cannot help but believe that this man who was captive, deep inside knew this was the very MAN who could free him, and that Jesus looked beyond the demons that chained him in darkness and saw his soul, his pleading for freedom, his longing for life. Do you know what Jesus did? He set him free. Let me say that again. He set him free.

I want to paint another picture for you. The year is now 2009 and God has called us to join him in setting people free. (Matthew 28:19; Colossians 4:3,5-6) People held captive by whatever false hope they seek to find peace, acceptance and love as they walk around in darkness…searching for freedom from the chains. I believe God is looking at each person and sees their soul, and He is calling us…us, to go and be His voice to set them free.

The passion to follow Jesus

2009-01-26T18:04:00.000-05:00

There truly are no words that I could use to describe the intense emotion on feels when witnessing someone being baptized.

There are no words to use when it is our son except...GOD, YOU AMAZE ME, BLOW ME AWAY EVERYDAY. You captured him in your arms, placed eternity in his heart before he was even thought of and he followed that to You. I will never forget the day he first prayed to you for snow. I will never forget the day he prayed that you would provide money so we could go to McDonald's. I will never forget the day he asked you into his heart. I will never forget the days he worked hard to put his face in the water. I will never forget the first time he shared Christ with a lady at WalMart....and I will never forget this day when he shared with everyone that he was following You! Thank you for the work You have done in his life, and the work You will continue to do! I am amazed! I am humbled!

Be sure to watch the clips at the end.

Traveling with Angel today....my thoughts....

2009-01-17T21:58:00.000-05:00

It is no secret; I did not grow up with my parents my entire life. It is not a secret that my father has been married more than once, twice, three times….you get the idea. My brothers and I lived with our grandparents for a while when we were toddlers and when my older brother and I were 12 and 13, we went to live with them permanently while my two younger brothers lived with my dad and then, wife. I wish my two other brothers would have been with us….I really missed them and growing up with them under the same roof.

It’s true there is a deep longing in the heart for family, parents….love and acceptance. No matter what your past is, even if you try and deny the longing…it is there. I remember when I was overseas, talking with a fellow missionary and she asked me if I thought my birth mother loved me. I remember sharing at that time that I did not believe she did. She then asked me if I had a longing for her and I was very quick to say, “NO”. She, of course, did not believe that. There was a longing there that I did not want to believe existed.

Did you know that we have a deep longing in our very souls for God? We have a deep longing for our Heavenly Father? Oh, we may try and deny that…but it is true. I remember being outside of His family…trying to fill the longing, trying to find purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 states:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Just reading those words bring tears.

And then I read in Psalm 139:15,16
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I remember the intense love that grew as I carried Joshua and then Faith. It is truly something ineffable. Now, here is our God who knew us before we were even formed. He placed within each heart a desire for eternity. That “taste of the sweetness of LIFE” with Him. Can you grasp the immensity of that? A longing for Him in our hearts….we were HIS before we were even born. Then sin enters the world and snatches His LOVE and all these years He has been pursuing to take HER (US) back. I remember when I gave my heart to Him….i thirsted for HIM, could not get enough of HIM. Even in my “veteran” years as a follower….I still cannot get enough of HIM.

Joshua asks me daily if there are “don’t knows” (people that we don’t know) who are going to Hell. He has a burning to tell them about Jesus; (and does every chance he gets) that incredible Hope he has found and continues to learn and thirst for. Just today he was trying to grasp that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ONE God.

To answer my friends question…I do believe that my birth mother loves me. I am sure she has the deep longing in her heart and that her birth children are just beyond reach. My mom has been incredible with trying to understand my relationship with her…even the need for relationship with her, whatever that may look like. (And I thank her for that.) Living most of my life with my grandparents…my heart misses them…yet I do know, because of the eternity that was placed in their hearts just like you and I and them accepting HIS pursuit…I will one day see them again.

Oh Lord, what a day today has been for reflection on my “eternity gift” that you have placed in my heart on so many levels. May my eternal heart along with the eternal hearts of, my children, my husband, my friends, & my family always long for MORE of You…and, to quote the verse that Joshua continued to say today:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

To be an adjunct...?

2009-01-13T13:40:00.001-05:00

Okay...it's snowing and I need to just have fun with words...which I know will cause someone to have the need to write and correct me...but that is the joy of just having fun!

I love reading the titles of faculty and staff members of colleges and universities because the wording makes me stop, ponder and at times....chuckle. Why is it that in the same school you will have people listed as Associate Professor and others listed as Adjunct Professor. Don’t they really mean the same thing....You are “an associate” of that program? Or, did the person who was typing just get tired of typing Associate and decided “let’s really make our school look cool. It seems like we have a lot of people listed as “associate”...let's find another word for "associate". So they hit their thesaurus and see "ADJUNCT", and thus you now have "Adjunct Professors.

Seriously, which one sounds better. Associate….sounds like you have at least two years experience or Adjunct...add on helper. (My husband shares, over my shoulder, that since he cannot pronounce the latter he thinks it sounds more important.)

It's a snowy day...I think I'll be an "adjunct baker of cookies" with Faithy today!

Hoping you all can be an adjunct today!

NT's can learn social behaviors from kids with ASD

2008-12-30T15:26:00.000-05:00

Our son has Autism....I know, most of you know that.

As parents of a special needs child, there are things that you never think you will ever hear and when you do....you are totally blown away, humbled and PROUD of your child. Many of you have heard us praise God for every thing Joshua has accomplished and for the things that we know he will.

Learning to communicate, talk when they were not sure he would be able to.
Learning to ride a bike on his own.
Becoming STUDENT of the Month at his school.
Publishing his first book.....
And then....this Christmas hearing the words that WE as parents never thought we would ever here....

As we sat with our friends and their child...who is an incredible, precious and loving little girl and a very typical 3 year old, (totally love it); we heard the words....."Try and be like Joshua and Faith."

Matt and I looked over at our friends and chuckled saying, "We never thought we would hear those words...that someone would encourage their child to be like Joshua." (We know he's great!)

This just proves that just because a child has a disability...it DOES NOT define them; and, that Neurotypicals can also learn and glean life skills from our kiddos.

Thank you, Lord for how you work in our kids lives....

It's true, we NT's can also learn appropriate social behavior from our kids on the spectrum.

Letter to Santa

2008-12-22T19:26:00.000-05:00

This evening I walked out into the living room to see a note and cookies. Joshua was planning early. I smiled as I looked at this and at the same time I was reminded of my son’s Autism and where it has him.

I’m not talking about his mind and that he will “always be as a child.” (He has displayed incredible maturity in his thoughts. I do believe his faith in Christ will always be like a child...I don't mean immature...but rather always knowing, believing and trusting that Jesus is who He says He is. That He is his Savior and that He is the one he goes to with all his needs and praise...leaving them there and knowing that God heard him. Something many lose as they grow older.) Believe it or not, our son knows that Santa is not real. He will tell you that Santa is just a character, and that Mrs. Claus and the elves are also fake. He knows that I will be the one to eat the cookies and drink the milk. So, why put out the letter and cookies? Because that is what people do. He has watched and heard people talking about putting out cookies. There are commercials on TV about it, TV shows that do it and families tell their little ones that they need to remember to put out cookies and milk for Santa.

Our son is a mimicker. He looks to everyone for social cues. That means, he looks to you and me to see what we are doing. This is his way of coping and “fitting” into our world. Whether we do something that is appropriate or not appropriate…he will mirror back what he sees. So…the cookies and letter are a reminder to me of my son who lives with Autism, and how he longs to be part of our world and wanting to know how to live in our society and to not only relate, but have relationship.

I learn so much from Joshua that continues to draw me deeper in my relationship with Christ. Yesterday was one of them as he told everyone at church, “We all need to follow Jesus because he died on the cross for our sins and now He is alive.”

My prayer this Christmas…is that my life…my social cues will be those that draw Him deeper in his relationship with Christ.

How are you living your life? Who is watching you? People don’t have to have Autism to take on our “social cues”….how we face life, circumstances…moments that challenge our daily life. The stop light, the slow driver, snow, frustration, anger, fear, anxiety, joy, praise, humbleness…

Thank you, Lord for Joshua’s letter. Thank you for the reminder and thank you for the talk he and I had about the letter…and the talk we had about YOU. May my walk each day be one that reflects You. May it draw both my children towards You and may they fall deeply in love with YOU!

Another Bizzare Moment in our lives...

2008-12-20T18:17:00.000-05:00

What can I say....

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Ramblings....not induced by any type of Egg-Nog

2008-12-17T18:37:00.000-05:00

Just some of my "before Christmas ramblings"....and no, I have not been in the Egg-Nog.

This has been an incredible last several months since we arrived here in Geneva. I am noticing that the ground doesn't freeze this close to the lake...it just stays...mushy. Still waiting for the real COLD to hit and counting how much wood we have for the rest of winter. Has anyone else noticed that winter lasts longer than any other season? Yeah, what's that all about?!

I do need to share some of my favorite quotes from my kids:

My favorite Joshuaism's of 2008

"You don't see that everyday!"

(look closely at the photo above...do you see Joshua?)

"Can I write a letter to Santa?"

"Joshua, you do remember that Santa is not real, right?"

"Yeah, but the guy in the Red Suit is."

His letter said:

"Dear Santa, I love you. You are the best delivery guy. You are very very nice. By: Joshua"

My favorite Faithyisms of 2008:

"Hold on to me mommy so I don't blow away."

"The sun must have lost his shiny clothes."

"Okay, that is totally freaking me out." (said with the hand moving back and forth)

Okay, my tea cup is empty...need to refill, and snuggle by the fire. May you all have a warm winter night.

Letter from Nepal

2008-12-02T19:11:00.000-05:00

I am humbled and honored to have two incredible friends who live in Nepal. I met them when I was at Grace. I remember the love Bethany had for Andy and their journey as a couple realizing that together God had something incredible instore. Bethany is from a beautiful province in Canada and Andy is from Germany. For years they lived in Germany as missionaries and then God did something incredible...He moved in their hearts and took them to Nepal.

I am so honored to catch a glimpse of their journey every month as either Bethany or Andy send emails and photos. This new area God has called them to is...let's just say living in the Western World we tend to forget. My heart is stirred upon every letter and this one in particular hit my heart and I wanted to share it with you, along with the photo's Andy sent us. If you think of it, please remember them, their family and those God has called them to take HIS HOPE to, in your conversations with God.

________________________________

Dear Friends,

I just got done shoveling snow and chipping ice off our front steps (we've gotten 3 feet of snow recently). What a change from installing solar panels in a t-shirt among the very poor in Nepal, trekking around remote Mugu to visit prior ministry locations, and scoping out future projects.

Very early this morning, Lou and I concluded our 24 hour trip home from Nepal.

Thank you so much for your prayers on our behalf. God carried us through this time in miraculous ways. There were no flights available to the Mugu district, so we flew to the neighboring district Jumla. From there Lou, Bob and I did six days of strenuous trekking over high mountain passes to get to a district where we've been involved with past projects. We are looking to the Lord for future ministry opportunities in this area. While not planned, this trekking proved to be a good thing in many ways. We had a chance to stay in Nepali homes and get a better grasp of the ways of these people - rice and dahl, smoke, friendliness, material and spiritual poverty, curiosity, and much more. We also enjoyed and benefited from spending time with the two Nepalese Christians who accompanied us. One, a former trekking guide and the other, an elder in one of the new churches. We learned so much from and about them. We are thankful for God’s protection in this remote area where medical help is a long way off.

God...

...gave us strength to make it up the mountains with our packs
...strengthened our knees on the long descents
...led us through a snow blizzard high on a pass

...healed my ankle which was getting so bad that I was beginning to think of calling a helicopter

...mercifully shortened the time of stomach flu that hit during our time in Mugu

...gave us opportunities to share the gospel with people held in bondage by Hinduism

One of the saddest moments was during the visit of the village where Lou led a ministry team in March of this year. During that time a baby was born to a local family. Thankfully (and miraculously) the baby is still alive. Almost half of all children born here die before their second birthday. However, as we sat on the ground around the wood stove eating flatbread the lady had just made, we learned that the husband and father of the family had suddenly died out in the forest just 7 days prior. In the corner, the man’s brother sat in sackcloth, mourning. The mother looked very sad as her 5 children gathered around. Their religion offers them little hope. We pray that her eyes will be opened and that she will have a personal encounter with the God of hope!

We also visited the village where we will be taking a team of students from the international school down our street. Please pray that God would be working both in the hearts of the people of this village, as well as the hearts of the students that will be going.

It was a joy to visit the area where I had been in March of 2007. Since then, a number of people have come to Christ. Several churches have been established and Nepalese nationals are part of an area-wide outreach going on. Now we are planning projects for 2009 and are excited to see how God will continue to work in Nepal.

Thank you for praying for Bethany and the kids here in Leysin. Bethany was very busy here as she held up the fort and continued working with the youth. Now, final preparations are underway for a Christmas play outreach, followed by a potluck dinner this coming Sunday, December 7. Please pray that this would go well and that God would bring people and speak to their hearts.

We thank you for standing with us and wish you a worshipful Advent as you celebrate the hope we have in Christ who has come and is coming again!

Celebrating Jesus, our hope!
The Maier family

Andy & Bethany,Gabriella, Adrian, Jeffrey and Brianna
CrossWorldSwitzerland/International

P.S. I’ve attached a few pics. One with our assessment team (l to r: me, Lou, Resham (former guide), Shandra (church elder), Bob). One with the lady who lost her husband. One with me helping install solar panels in a village in Jumla district.

Jelly Pirates: 7 year old boy with Autism publishes first book

2008-11-17T12:55:00.000-05:00

For 1 1/2 years I have been sharing my life, my thoughts, my family and my children's remarkable moments that have challenged me in my walk with Christ. Today I have the opportunity to share with you another story of inspiration from our son, Joshua. As most of you know, our son has Autism....okay, instead of writing it I will just share the press release with you below! Just wanted to share our excitment with you!

_____________________

Joshua is 7 years old and has Autism. Joshua lived in his own world which seemed to trap him where he would spend hours screaming and banging his head. After his diagnosis he began speech therapy and occupational therapy as well as early intervention and eventually mainstreamed preschool where he had very involved teachers & therapists.

Joshua wrote Jelly Pirates when he was six. The story was inspired by the Smuckers Jelly packets that sat on the table at the Kaffee Haus in Wooster, Ohio. It is a cute little tale of Jelly Pirates in search of honey treasure.

Since that day, Joshua’s imagination and expression of stories continues to grow and he is excited to write another book in the future which he has already titled: Jelly Pirates and Friends.
"As parents of a child on the Autism Spectrum, we are told our children will have difficulty with expression of emotion and words. We have found that to be true, but when not pressured and allowed to enter their world and when they invite you in…it is amazing what you will find."

To purchase your own copy, click JELLY PIRATES.

Joshua is the son of Matt and Angel Thompson, Founders of the Organization for Autism Spectrum Information and Support, Inc. (www.oasisautism.org)

“All the Way Across to China”

2008-11-10T18:21:00.000-05:00

I love being able to share my thoughts and life with each of you. I love it even more when a friend sends me their life story and I have the opportunity to enter it with them and celebrate. I asked my friend if I could share the story she sent to me about her son, Nick. Nick has Autism and what she describes left me celebrating with tears...how incredible is our God in the lives of our kids! Thank you, Kathy for allowing me to share a part of your life story with AFF!

“All the Way Across to China”

My experience with Autism has taught me that figurative speech is very hard for Nicholas to understand. He doesn’t really follow things like “It’s raining cats and dogs”, or “I feel under the weather today”. He is a visual thinker, so he probably sees actual cats and dogs falling from the sky, or someone under a thunderstorm. For him, “It is really raining a lot today”, or “I am sick” would be better ways to express those situations.

My two “neurotypical” children, however, use figurative speech easily. My son Alec, 8, started a routine at bedtime in order to express “how much” he loves me. He would tell me, “I love you, Mom”, and I would tell him “I love you more!” and he and he would think about that, then say, “I love you this much” and stretch his arms out as far as they could go. Then I would stretch MY arms out, and say, “ I love you this much times 10”. One night Alec was having trouble finding an amount high enough, so he said, “Mom, you know how many stars there are in the sky? Well I love you all that much and then triple that.” Amazed by his ability to think in such terms, I laughed and said “Wow! Triple stars! I’m not sure I can beat that!” So ever since, Alec has said “I love you triple stars”. It is such a sweet thing to hear coming out of his mouth. I hope he never stops saying it.

Kaitlyn is younger but she is not one to be outdone. She watched all this and came up with her own cosmic measurement of love, and simply tells me “I love you outer space”. This also makes me laugh out loud and she likes to tell me this not just at bedtime, but often, which often draws quizzical expressions from people when they hear her say it.

Nick, however, has difficulty thinking in such a way. He would watch all of this from his bed, and mostly he would interject with reminders of things he wants. “Mom, you need to buy me a guitar”. “Mom, I want you to buy me a Cleveland Browns uniform”. “Mom, you need to get me a train and build a train track”. It was a continuation of the list of nearly a thousand things he recites to me all day, every day. And my response was always the same, “Ok, Nick, we will try to get the things you want the most. Goodnight, Nick.” To which he would just say “Goodnight”. “I love you, Nick”. “Love you too, Mom”. “How bout a good night kiss, Nick?” And of course he would give me a kiss. Then “How bout a hug, Nick?” Which was followed by a hug. Children with autism are often uncomfortable showing affection, and Nick is really no exception. He has his moments where he will spontaneously hug me, but they are usually at times when it is not expected, like when I am cooking dinner. He can surprise me with a hug which involves his whole body, and he literally climbs up my body with his arms anchored around my neck. Since he is nearly 5 feet tall it can be a painful experience. But his expressions of love are not taken for granted by me, and I will drop what I am doing and return his hug.

So these “figurative” expressions of how much love we have for each other went largely unnoticed by Nick, and he never offered up his own comparison. Until the other day. He surprised me! I was talking to him on the phone while I was away for a week on vacation and he was staying with his dad. We had a conversation which existed mostly of Nick telling me (again) what I needed to buy for him while I was away. Right at the end of the call, Nick said, “Bye, Mom, I love you all the way across to China”. I laughed out loud and said “Wow, Nick! All the way to China? That is a lot of love”. And I could tell by the tone of his voice that he was pleased.

Moments in time...that is one that will be forever frozen within me. Little snapshots of progress made for Nick in this journey of autism. It seems that recently I have been seeing more and more of them, which fills me with hope for his future. I recently read “Born on a Blue Day” by Daniel Tammet, an adult with Aspergers syndrome with savant abilities. The book was very uplifting to me, as it explained from real experience what growing up with autism is like for someone. They don’t feel as isolated as we fear. Social interactions with others are just something that really aren’t a need for them. And a lot of the things that make them different, their odd behaviors and obsessions, are the things that as an adult make them unique and sometimes help them fit in and function as an adult.

I don’t know if Nick will continue to use his descriptive term. But even if he doesn’t, and if his affection has to be prompted by reminders from me, that’s ok. I know he loves me. All the way across to China.

Kathy Wood
www.25kids.com

What one man values is not always valued by another

2008-11-05T16:25:00.000-05:00

To have extra cash we will have a yard sale where we sell off things that are “cluttering” the garage, attic or basement. In hard times we will have another yard sale and sell more precious things that, in the future, we maybe able to replace. Ever been there?

How many of you have heard of “Cash4Gold.”

It is a true place that will take your precious jewelry (gold, silver, platinum), melt it down and give you cash for it. Those pieces that you paid either double or triple digits for. Maybe an heirloom given to you…a wedding band, class ring from generations, anything broken and not used.

Matt and I have had garage sales for extra cash, we have had garage sales in hard times and yes, we have…just recently sent in some old jewelry (gold) to help during uncertain times. As I packed the insured bag that came with the kit I reminisced over how much I paid for the chain that now lay with in the contents of cuff links, and gold earrings. I remember the cost of the earrings when my grandmother bought them.

With that knowledge of “paid price”, we were anticipating what would come back in the mail. I remember when the check arrived and opening the edges to find the official check amount accompanied by a letter that stated what was “deemed” as precious and what was not. What was seen as not precious did not arrive back to our house and more than likely has been tossed aside. The check read, “$3.13"

Matt and I have decided not to cash it because it speaks a parallel truth to our society and how we measure what is or is not of value.

To me, the items I mailed in that tiny insured envelope were precious and had heavy value. Just as my precious metal items were tossed away, we as a people so quickly toss things aside in our world as having no value. An unborn child, the child or adult with a disability. The homeless person on the corner. The drug addict who has come in for treatment for the 8th time. The alcoholic who has lost everything and is grasping on each minute for hope and freedom. To the divorced parent who is struggling to find either forgiveness or to forgive. The teenager seeking purpose and has been rebelling. The pregnant daughter who is unwed. A follower of Christ who is struggling with depression. The person who isn’t a follower of Christ and we have “no time” to truly sit and chat with them, befriend them…we just want to tell them what we think they are "doing wrong" as we glare and huff with self righteousness….anything that does not fit “my box”. These people and more are what are placed daily into the “cash4gold” baggy and labeled, “not precious”.

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:11-13

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

"...He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior..." Titus 3:15, 16

My Question: What do you hold, view, label as precious?

The Challenge: Now, step back and ask yourself, “What does God hold, view, as precious….and may we begin to do likewise.

Disclosure: As a small child I was treated and viewed as not precious and that I had no value. In my Junior year of college my counselor gave me this verse and I carry it in my heart daily...the words of Christ to me...I give them now to you:

“You are all beautiful to me, I see no flaw in you.” Song of Songs 4:7

Much love,

Angel

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-08T09:56:00.000-04:00

Hey ladies.As some of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Some of you may remember when I was going through testing 2 years ago when they found a lump during my annual exam. I was fortunate and praise God that the lump disappeared. My grandmother had breast cancer...she was a 40 year survivor.

They say that most lumps found are non cancer, yet that should not stop you from having your annual breast examine and mammogram as well as doing your self exam at home monthly.

I wanted to share an incredible new site with you and want to encourage you to remember to have your annual testing as well as monthly self examinations. Early detection is key!
http://www.liv.com/

Much love,
Angel

Oh...just wanted to share this video from Anita Renfroe with you all! :O)

In light of this month and in honor and memory of my grandmother, a 40 year survivor....I give you...Anita Renfroe

“screecher preacher”

2008-10-01T19:58:00.000-04:00

Life is filled with uncertainty…this human life we live. This is something that many hear me say and talk about. Yet, I usually don’t stop with talking about the “uncertainty” of life, but that it leads me always to what is certain, and that is Christ in my life.

Over the past several years life has truly proven to be “uncertain”. And, if my eyes were only looking to what I could “tangibly” see and touch my foundation would have crumbled years ago.

As I think of that foundation I was reminded of a passage that I have often prayed for my friends. (Ephesians 3:14-21) As I reflected on it this evening, God brought two verses to my mind, and I sit here with tears as my eyes trace the words on the paper.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (20, 21)

Why would this section cause such emotion?

This past weekend has been one of those “immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine” weekends.

Let me share with you what I am talking about. On Friday Matt and I went out on a date, (thank you, Becky for watching our kids). We had to make a few stops for church items...that is just par for the course of ministry. Now I jokingly call our car the “screecher preacher” because we were in need of new brakes and everyone knew it…okay, everyone could hear it. This weekend happened to be the Annual Geneva Grape Jamboree and Matt stopped downtown to see where our jump house and booth were to be set up. There was a lot of traffic and roads being closed as tents and booths were going up all over downtown. We saw John from church and asked if he knew where we were supposed to be and then it happened. "Klunk…klunk…” The “screecher preacher” lost it’s brake pad. So, now instead of "screeching...." we “hissed” down the road to our home and parked the car.

This was truly going to be an interesting and now challenging weekend. It just so happened to be Joshua’s last soccer game, award day, the Grape Jamboree and we were now without a vehicle. We were hoping the brakes would last until Monday because a friend offered to put new ones on for us. However, due to our adventurous date moment....I reserved a car via Enterprise for the next morning. When I called at 9am, Jason shared that he was the only one in the office and they would not be able to come to our house until after 10am, which meant Joshua would miss his final game. I called Matt and shared what we were looking at with time and cost...which is always a fun moment in anyones marriage, I don't care who you are....it just is. When I got off the phone I just sat with my face in my hands and talked with God. “Lord, you know where we are at, and what we need. I’m asking for a miracle because I have no idea what to do.” Two minutes later...I kid you not... Matt called and told me to cancel the car. He shared that Don was on his way and they were going to let us borrow their car until Monday. Joshua would make his final game and we did not have to find funds to pay for a rental. Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

You would think that was the end of my story…but it is not. As you all know, we have a son with Autism. Life and surroundings can and are very overwhelming for him. We are careful as to where we go and gear for what could happen. I always have a plan ready. Well, on Saturday, he along with his teammates rode on the church float…in the parade. That's right, hundreds of people…..no where to go when you are in the center of people with a child who has extreme sensory issues. He did amazing. No meltdowns and when it was time to leave he understood and stuck with the plan.

Sunday arrived. I had no plan to have him ride the float on Sunday…the really BUSY day of the Jamboree. We were going home after church and I was hoping to take a nap for the first time in years. However, just before my eyes closed…my phone rang. “Honey, I need you and the kids to come down and ride on the float.” Okay…this was not in my plan, and yet I found myself in the car, driving down Liberty, walking to Swan Road to the float. Here we were sitting on the float…going down the road, waving and smiling. Guess what? You guessed it, he did great. He was overwhelmed, but regulated himself to cope with what was happening! I was amazed and so proud of him!
Immeasurably more than all we ask and imagine.

I know Joshua will still have really hard days. I know that our car will screech again. I know we will face uncertainty, but one thing I am certain of is that my God can and does do immeasurably more than ALL I ask or could ever imagine! And to Him alone…I praise!

To end this I just want to share a quick story that just took place 10 minutes ago. Joshua watched a news story about a dog that was attacked by a shark, and how this little jack russel was recovering. He asked me what happened and I shared that he had been bitten by a shark. He looked at me and said, “Let’s pray for him.” Here are the words he spoke to God…His Lord that heals. Mind you, I did not in any way tell him what to say….

“Dear Jesus, please be with this puppy that was bit by a shark. Please heal him so he gets better. Jesus you like him, and I love you, Jesus. In Jesus Name, Amen”

Immeasurably more than all we ask and imagine.

I never tire of seeing God's moving

2008-09-23T20:04:00.000-04:00

No matter where I am, I never get tired or tearless when I witness God's moving in peoples lives.
The below clip was filmed a year ago. Matt, along with other Pastor's from New Hope Community Church stood in Round Lake Christian Assembly Camp and baptized around 100 people.

Can I be president....?

2008-09-18T12:27:00.000-04:00

I need to be cleaning for tonight’s meeting, yet I am drawn to sit and record something my son did last night on the way to soccer practice.

When Joshua arrived home from school he took a work page from his back pack with a picture of Pres. Bush and began talking to me about the President. He showed me the picture and then talked about wanting to be like the president. He then asked me if he could be president someday and if he could live in George Washington’s house. I explained that the new president would live in the White House in January. He rationalized in his mind that if he were president that he could live in GW’s house. Yet, since a new president would live there he asked if he could be Abraham Lincoln and live in his house. He asked if he could also have a wife and have children. I shared about Pres. Lincoln’s house being a museum now and that “Yes, when he is older he may marry and even have children." He thought that was interesting. (Okay, the conversation with my son who has autism, was amazing enough...yet, keep reading and you will see why I was even more amazed and humbled.)

On our way to soccer I heard Joshua in the back seat praying. This is what he prayed for, “For sticks to build a house so he could have a place for his wife and children.” Okay, why am I inspired by this?
One, I did not say, “Why don’t you pray to Jesus about that.” Joshua did that on his own. He went straight to the Lord, whom he has asked and left many things at His feet before and has witnessed the Lord’s moving in his world... and he believes it will be done.
Two, He prayed that God would provide for him and his future family. Did you catch that? He prayed for God’s provision for his future.

How often do we try “ to make a way and fix things” in our own human attempts and never ask God for HIS help?
He tells us in scripture to “ask, seek and knock and it will be given unto you.”
In these days of uncertainty with the economy, and how many families and individuals are facing financial difficulties, here was a little boy, in his own words and petition to God, teaching his mommy once again to ask, to seek, to knock…..to trust.

Lord, thank you so much for the treasure in our son. Thank you that he has such an understanding of Your love for him and that he never even hesitates to talk with You and seek You. I pray that his passion to follow You continues to grow and that he continues to gain godly character, integrity and discernment. Also, thank you for the Trust In Your God Relationship 101 lesson. Great reminder! In the midst of it all....we give it to You!

House photos by http://www.fotosearch.com/

It’s raining here.

2008-09-13T23:14:00.000-04:00

It’s raining here. I’m tired, and it’s raining here.

The season is changing, Faith is noticing and…it’s raining here.

I have found that friendships can be like seasons that change and that…it’s raining here.

Just when I think I have come to grasp “contentment” with change, I find that…it’s raining here.
Like my son who has Autism, the change is never “content” and…it’s raining here.

God has His reasons and it’s all for His glory, and through the midst…it’s raining here.

I have come to learn that a broken pot can receive water and give water….so let it rain here.

Life is uncertain, no matter the circumstances we face, life is uncertain. Nothing human can stop the rain that happens to pour on our lives at times, and it is then that we need to just stop trying to fix it with our preverbal umbrella of human solutions. The rain we face can represent anything that disrupts “how we think” life should be. It can represent a moment of loss or illness. It can also represent a newness about to begin. No matter the uncertainty you face today…in the midst of the down pour or light mist….just let it rain knowing that Christ is the one who brings calm to the pouring and misty storms around us.

Woman in Rain Photo: by Rinderart www.dreamstime.com
Rain Photo: www.fotosearch.com

Just a moment of thought after a letter from a dear friend who shared news from a mutual friend that was only for a season. Thank you, Lord, for that season.

Rambling Journal Thoughts that you are privy to...

2008-08-18T20:35:00.000-04:00

As most of you know, we have two children. Joshua and Faith. Faithy is our typical child who says some of the most interesting things. Her expressions are priceless as is her sarcasm. She is precious. Joshua is our oldest child and he has Autism. He is a card, full of imagination always coming up with new ideas for adventures to have…even if they are in his mind.

With typical kids you know they grasp a great deal…they are not adults and should not be expected to react so…they’re kids who have emotions, feelings and thoughts. Most times when you hear a child has Autism, your first thought is that because it is a neurological disorder it means they “don’t get it” or “they are slow”. That is not true, actually, quite the opposite. Joshua soaks in so much more than we realize. At the tender age of 6 he blows us away often with his profoundedness of life and how he takes it in.

When you have a child with special needs, your desire is to live forever. Any child wants their parents to live forever. I remember crying to my grandma when I lived with them, asking her to “never die”.

Last night Joshua ran up to Matt with tears and said, “Please don’t die, when I become a big person, please don’t die.” He is beginning to grasp what death is and that he would be alone. As his mommy I told Matt that I pray daily that I would live to be 120…unless Christ returns first.

He sat on my lap the other night and asked me about marriage and if one day he could have a wife. He then said, “I want to marry and have children….can I do that?” My 6 year old, with Autism is already planning for his spouse and family. He has a desire for relationship…he has grasped and has a deep desire for what God has created us to have, and that is relationship with Him. Our little boy who almost stands to my shoulder longs for love from another and has a desire to pursue that. Wow.

As a parent of two precious children, my desire is to be Christ’s reflection before them. That they grasp that they are made in God’s image. (Faith realized last night that God and Jesus are the same…she thought that was cool) That they learn that life is sacred and we are not enemies with people. (Sometimes I think we as Christians forget that). I pray they see the love Matt and I have for one another and for them, that they see the love we have for others….that they experience Christ’s love and it draws them to HIM.

I’m so pensive today…maybe it is the reality of life lately through my children, through this new journey here, through the most interesting situation of uncertainty that is before us. (the only certain thing I know and grasp to is that Christ is my Lord and one day He will return.)

This is truly one of the most scattered notes I’ve written in awhile, yet I’ve been studying and thinking of what true spirituality is, what it means to embrace the spirit and I have been challenged again by my son who just so happens to have Autism.

I guess I have rambled long enough. Have a great week all. Praying you experience God in a unique way that causes you to embrace His Spirit…and find His complete grace.

...the inspiration is our son...

2008-08-02T15:59:00.000-04:00

This entry is not filled with words of wisdom. It is just a simple, short story of God’s moving in a young boys life, and how God once again shows Matt and I that through HIM all things are possible. As we watched our son today we saw the words in Jeremiah 29:11 come to life…again.

The story…the inspiration is our son….and there is nothing I could ever write that could inspire my walk more than watching my son beat the odds of Autism that he lives with daily.

Below this clip you will read a short paragraph about this incredible ministry in sports today.

Upward, where Every Child IS a Winner!
Sports are a great way for children to learn about teamwork, respect for authority and sportsmanship. The sad part is all those things are being lost in today’s sporting society. With an Upward sport, these key essentials are included to create the best sporting experience for every child that participates. Each Upward Sport is designed to reveal the winner in every child. Every child plays. Every child learns. Every child IS a Winner!

www.upward.org

Hearing Devices...random thoughts....

2008-07-28T17:45:00.000-04:00

No matter how you try and hide the fact that you are losing your hearing...it is never easy to try and adapt. Adapting is not always funny. Okay, sometimes it is...okay, most times.

Here are just some of my thoughts...in a 2 minute clip...about hearing devices. Be sure to wait after the credits so you can hear Joshua's quick thoughts!

Just my thoughts...

2008-07-22T17:35:00.000-04:00

Ever have one of those days when you sit down to type and your fingers freeze? The past several days as I have sat and started to type my blog entry God has stopped my fingers from typing. Until today as He has been speaking to my heart and thus, my fingers are tapping.

Over the past several weeks and throughout the day I have been pondering what is important.

There is a huge part of me that wants to shut everything off, sell everything and move deep into the woods to get away from all that gets in the way of what is important.

Think about it…what is truly important…

I look down and watch my daughter sitting in my arms, wanting my embrace, my love, my time. (important) I hear my son running down the hall (because he doesn’t walk anywhere) wanting to show me something, wanting to hear praise and wanting “chin lovin’s” as he calls it. (important) At night I watch my husband sleep knowing he wants me near him, even when he sleeps. (important) I open my heart to hear God’s voice, as He wants me to know Him more intimately and I also hear and sense the urgency in my time with Him. (important)

What urgency? Sometimes we forget the urgency because of all the chaos and noise around us. It doesn’t hit us until something happens to stop us…whether it is the loss of a job, a friend, a spouse…something happens and you find yourself standing with your face against it and you cannot escape to the right or left.

What urgency? That all would come to hear and know the saving Grace of Christ. Those close to us and those around us in our community and beyond.

How? By the reflection of how we live, how we deal with circumstances in our lives, and we respond to situations that arise. Time we spend, meeting them where they are, speaking their “language”, which doesn’t always mean a foreign language. Maybe it’s through music, sports, video…whatever the avenue…finding what touches them and meeting them there and sharing with them in a unique and relevant way the SAME Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I think of importance and urgency I never want in my vocabulary to be the phrases that I have heard others say:
“Oh we don’t do that here”
“If you don’t feel like your needs are being met, find some place that will meet those needs.”
“If you don’t like it, just leave.”

As the Body, we should not only feel the urgency, but we should also be exploring, finding and implementing whatever avenue necessary to heed that urgency call.

This entry is in no way meant to offend, nor is it a pointing finger....just my ponderings today as I sit back and reflect on what is important and listen to the winds of urgency.

The Calling

2008-07-15T17:44:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading something so earth moving...it has caused me to fall at the Lord's feet. It is humbling, true and powerful.
No words could I pose to even come close to the heart words penned on the link I will ask you to click on. I do know this...our children and reaching them for Christ....is crucial. They are this generation and the generation to come.

With that said, my heart agrees with Roger Fields. I remember reading something like Roger's words in my Great Great Grandfather's writings....it is awe striking and knee bending to know that the passion to reach our kids extends beyond one generation to another....may it continue with the power of our God.

http://www.kidzblitz.com/PDF%20Files/Calling.pdf

His Only,
Angel

SIKE!!!!

2008-07-10T22:48:00.000-04:00

I love the imagination of children. I love watching my daughter play and I love listening to the conversations she has with her toys. I love how she has sparked imaginative play with Joshua and how his imagination has soared.

For a child on the spectrum of Autism, imagination is not something they come to easily. So, when he has these incredible moments of imagination I just sit and rejoice. Often with silent tears...except this night. My tears were mingled with OUT LOUD LAUGHING, and I was not alone.

I noticed that Joshua had found his black snow pants, mask and a black t-shirt earlier today. These items were found when he decided to take down all of the boxes on his shelf and empty them. Yes, his room looks like a store exploded. Yet, that is not the story of the day.

Matt and I arrived home this evening from a date night. I walked in and sat down to talk with Becky as the kids played around us. At one point during our conversation I noticed Joshua had put on his snow pants. No big deal. Yet, after I noticed he ran back to his room. I did not think a thing, after all, this is not "unusual" for our house. Our kids are constantly changing their clothes.

A few minutes later, Matt came out from the back of the house and was standing in the kitchen, joining in our conversation when we heard a knock at the door. He began to walk over to the now dark area where the front door is and all of a sudden...... Joshua walks away from the door...all dressed in black with his mask on and Matt jumps, and does a "man scream" (you women know the sound I'm talking about). Can you picture it? Matt, with his hand over his heart, "man screaming" as Joshua jumps into the kitchen stating, "Sikes is here."

We laughed so hard at Matt's response and Joshua's look...all we could think was, "Yes, you totally siked out daddy." I cannot be certain, but it is possible that Matt streaked his pants when "Sikes" jumped out. I've heard "fear" releases all sense of muscle control and the reflex takes over.

Sometimes you just need a "SIKE!!!" moment.

Just a nonsense entry about...THE WEATHER

2008-07-08T14:48:00.000-04:00

As I'm researching I notice the weather flashing ORANGE on my computer screen...."91 degrees".

So, I click on it and it does say it is "91" with a severe Thunderstorm warning. (which it did arrive moments later like a little hurricane)

As I look down and read the weather board on my screen...it stated that the temp is 84 but it feels like 87.

Okay...so where does 91 come in?

Ah, it's 84, feels like 87 when cloud covered and 91 in the sun????

It's 84, and the sun has you believing it's 87 with it's hypnotic rays, but it's really 91 and it's laughing at you because you only put on 15SPF????

Seriously, what does that mean, and why can't they just pick one temperature?

Okay, I've been in the sun too long!

photo: www.dreamstime.com

Cardboard Testimony

2008-06-17T20:42:00.000-04:00

This is truly one of the most powerful things I have seen in a long while.
There are no words that I can say to add to this....just watch.

Jesus Makes Me Feel Safe....Reflecting Back

2008-06-12T14:32:00.000-04:00

It is not often that I find myself repeating a post, however God has been drawing me to a post that I first placed in our family blog back in July of 2006, and later to this one.

I'm sure He has led me to my own thoughts and words as we face new adventures, moments of uncertainty in our new chapter of our journey with Him together as a family and individually.

As He moves in my own heart this week, I pray He shows you something unique in your walk with Him, your life with Him. And that in the midst of it all, you lavish in the warmth of His presence in your life.

JESUS MAKES ME FEEL SAFE
Taken from: Chronicles of Judah The Chronicles of Judah are about the Thompson happenings as we live in the AUTISM World and more.

My son never ceases to amaze me…or rather, how he views God and how God points me to HIM through this precious little boy standing before me, who says the most profound things.

I am always in a study of prayer and recently it has led to a small study of the tassels of the prayer shawl. In the book of Numbers, God told Moses…rather commanded that they make tzitzit (seet-see), tassels on their cloaks. Tassels on all four corners with a blue cord on each. This was to remind them of God’s commands so they would not stray. Jewish men still wear them today, and I have come to know some Jewish women who do the same.

As I continued to study this I became fascinated as I read about the prophecy in Malachi and the tzitzit and how this brought a puzzle piece together for me in the New Testament. Rather, it added more to the event that took place.

The woman heard that Jesus was coming to town. She had heard of Him and the stories of those delivered by his touch. She knew she had to make her way to see Him. She had been suffering for years with a medical condition that left her bleeding. In some translations they say she had an “issue of blood”. I had a friend who had a very similar disorder and it left her weak and in pain most of her days.

So here was this lady, making her way to Jesus…in pain, weak. The crowd was thick, so many people. I can imagine a lot of dust everywhere coupled with immense heat. She sat down and waited. After a while she looks up and sees Jesus coming, but now she lacks the strength. Do you know what her thought was? Of course you do. She thought that if she could but touch the hem of his garment, his cloak, his tzitzit she would be healed. Do you see the power in her thought and then in her action? She remembered Malachi’s prophecy.

Malachi 4:2“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in it’s wings…”

She then acted on it. The wings represented his cloak. She was healed immediately. She found healing and peace in Jesus. Why do I say peace? Well, another thing I have begun to discover as I study, the word “Shalom”, which is what He said, “Go in peace”, means more than what we “think” it does. What do you think of when you hear the word, peace? No strife. No conflict. Harmony. Yet the Hebraic meaning goes deeper. To quote Rob Bell, “Shalom is the presence of the goodness of God. It’s the presence of wholeness, completeness…Jesus blessed her with God’s presence on her entire being.”

Now, how does my son figure into all of this? How have I been challenged by his “profound” statement and actions? The cross is his tzitzit. Every time he sees one, and it could be how the branches are on a tree, he is reminded of Jesus and immediately says, “Jesus is off the cross, thanks.” Tonight he saw a cross and he started talking about Jesus. Then he said something that I honestly will never forget…. “Jesus makes me feel safe.” Completeness.

You may not have a “prayer cloak”, yet my question is, what is your “tzitzit”? What reminds you to keep your eyes fix on Christ? If you are His child, His desire is to bring you complete wholeness…even in the midst of what we walk through we can have completeness. Our son still has autism, I still have Thyroid disease, fibromyalgia…but I have wholeness in Him because of Christ.

Much love
Angel

God our Father, Walk through my house and take away all my worries and illnesses; in Jesus' name Amen

(Just 19 Words)

Faith's Fish has....Sleep Apnea?

2008-06-06T22:21:00.000-04:00

Today was our family FISH Adventure as we replaced one fish that died over night with another without Joshua knowing, to giving Faith's fish CPR with my CPAP machine until Matt arrived home with a machine to allow air to filter through the water so they could live.

As I stood there with Faith, looking at Matt with the "The fish is dead eyes", Faithy quietly said, "Daddy, Pokey needs a breathing machine like you and mommy...she's upside down and needs to breathe."

Faithy stood beside me as I blew air into the fish bowl with my CPAP machine through a straw I had attached to my breathing tube. Her fish just laid on the bottom of the bowl, upside down, laboring for every breath. Faithy and I kept encouraging her, "Come on Pokey, you can do it..." It only took 10 minutes and she was upright and another 15 and she began moving.

As I watched her swimming around in the water I began to think how quickly in life we give up when things seem "dead", impossible, out of reach, beyond our vision instead of trusting that God sees life beyond the laboring breath. Look at us. Before Christ we were "walking around dead". He could have took one look at us and said, "That's it, flush them down the drain." Instead, He continued and continues to pursue us throughout time because He loves us, created us and we truly belong to Him. Yet, through our labored breathing we have to be willing to take the "clean air" from the "CPAP machine" He provided when Christ died for us. That gift of LIFE. LIFE eternal! (you all know that I know it was not a CPAP machine that gives us life...it's just a metaphor.)

Okay, so you are a follower of Christ and you find yourself still "laboring to breathe". Let me encourage you to flip over and look up...He is still there. When the day seems impossible, when the task seems out of reach, when you have lost your vision of what you are doing or where you are going....remember that He sees beyond the impossible, that He is able to do immeasurably more than you can ever imagine(Eph. 3:14-21)...that you are HIS daughter and your vision is to simply seek HIS face first. (Matthew 6:33)

Whenever your mind seems cloudy, murky, laboring...just remember a little fish who suffered with "Sleep Apnea", and may you find your gaze on Christ.

Under the Blue Sky

2008-05-28T17:48:00.000-04:00

Our four year old really asks some of the most interesting questions. She is asking questions that our son has never asked and it has been interesting and an adventure having a typical child. I love their differences and how God made them both so unique with a hidden ability to point one to the throne of Grace.

One question she asked was, “Mommy, do dogs take cat naps?” We still laugh about that question. However she asked me something a few weeks ago that every typical kids asks…yet, it wasn't the fact that I actually heard a typical “why” question, it was Joshua’s answer and her response that caused me to stop.

We were driving to Wooster for Joshua’s weekly therapy when Faith asked, “Mommy, why is the sky blue.” As I began to explain “why” the sky was blue….Joshua quickly said, “Sissy, Jesus made it that way.” She looked at him and said, “Oh, okay.”

There was no questioning, no need for “science” to explain why. They both have come to understand who Jesus is and how He has been and continues to be active in their lives. All it took was saying, “Jesus made it that way”, and she was satisfied. After all, this is the same Lord she asks me to pray to when she is scared, not feeling well, or when we travel. It is the same Lord she sings praises to and lists “Thank you’s” to at night before she drifts off to sleep…He is the same Lord that, just the other night, she shared with us is the one who died on the cross and forgives us.

Sometimes as we get older, for some reason, we lose the “understanding” of who Christ is, who God is. Or, maybe we just never grasped the truth that our children seem to discover, abide in and cling to. My prayer for my children and what I continue to learn everyday is knowing Christ. Really grasping, discovering, understanding, having it deep within the heart and wearing it in your head. (heart and head knowledge) That in the darkest moments, the valleys they walk through…that they will cling to the truths of His character. That in the moments of mountain tops and joyous flight that they remember the truths of His character. That in those moments they will always be in praise of Him…with no need of proof, but just remembering that it is all because of Jesus.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Hence, the sky is blue because Jesus made it that way.

And with that….she walks with her hand in HIS...under the blue sky.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HARD....

2008-05-22T11:11:00.001-04:00

Since our move at Easter, it has been hard to keep up with my writing. To be honest, with all of the transitioning for Joshua...it has been an adventure. I would start to write and it was as if God was saying, "I don't want you to share that at this time...."

There was this silence in my head as I focused on helping Joshua to transition to a new school, trying to find therapy closer (don't you just love the gas prices) as well as transitioning as a family to a new area.

Today God began to move in my heart and thus through my fingers. This entry may be more of a moment of therapy for me in journaling it than a challenge that usually comes from my fingertips, yet this is what God wanted me to share with you....with that typed....

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HARD....

I used to loathe it when people would say, “It takes a special person to have a special child.” Or this one, “God gives special kids to special parents.”

I know people mean well, and that people really don’t know what to say when they find out your child has an illness or disability and all they can usually come up with is the universal quotes listed above. Those statements used to seem like “platitudes", a cliché, yet I have come to see and wear them with humble honor.

In the movie, League of Their Own, Tom Hanks who plays the coach of the Peaches makes an eye opening statement. Granted, it’s about baseball, yet I can truly see how it relates to being a parent of a child with a disability:

It’s supposed to be hard.
If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it.
Hard is what makes it great.

Our life relates whole heartedly to his statement….and it truly comes down to perspective. What makes our life on the spectrum of Autism so great is that we reap in all the joys of our son’s victories. When people say he cannot, this little guy does something incredible that defeats all the obstacles that are set before him.

What makes it great is that we have learned more about life, acceptance, and being thankful for everything through our 7 year old son who lives daily with Autism and coping with those who don’t get it. I stand humbled and in awe as he thanks Jesus daily for his Autism…with no pause or wavering in his voice.

What makes it great is that God entrusted him to us to care for, raise, build up, encourage and share with him about the saving grace of Jesus, and that Jesus loves him…just for him.

I have had people come up to me and say, “I could never do that…what you are doing.” (Yet, one never knows what they can or cannot do until it is there before them.) Again, it comes down to perspective.

It’s true…it’s hard. None of us were ever promised that life or that parenting for that matter would be easy. For crying in the weeds…childbirth was not easy. If it were men would give birth just so they could eat all they wanted and gain a gut….wait, some already do that.

To say Hard is what makes it great….
I would have to agree. There days where it is really difficult, yet we have learned that no matter what the circumstances….they don’t define who we are as parents, or who our son is.

To say Hard is what makes it great in no way makes us martyrs.

Nah, honestly…I am proud and humbled to be Joshua’s mommy. A boy who loves Jesus, and has a tender heart for those who are hurting. Who will cheer someone who is in the midst of therapy to encourage them to continue and will rejoice with them when they finish. A boy who will stop and pray if he hears an ambulance siren, and will ask his sister, “How did you sleep?” and even is willing to sit in her room to “protect her from bad dreams so she can sleep.” A boy, who still enters his own world, becomes overwhelmed, has meltdowns, yet will work so hard to learn new things and loves an adventure. A boy who has Autism, and accepts that this is how Jesus made him.

Even though our move two months ago has been very difficult for Joshua ….

Hard is what makes it great…

As he sits and quotes his life verse,
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

Dandelions On The Windowsill

2008-05-04T20:39:00.000-04:00

Does every mother dream of their child bringing them a bouquet of dandelions? I know I do. When we found out we were pregnant with Joshua, my heart leapt. I thought of many things with this precious one….one thing I looked forward too was having a window sill filled with Dandelions in the summer. Waiting for the day when the first dandelion sprouts and watching it plucked and given to me as a treasure.

I remember how our dreams blew away when we heard of Joshua’s diagnosis of Autism along with the “dandelion seeds” as they blew into the air to spout elsewhere.

I love how God moves in our lives. I have found that just as He gathers our tears, He has a unique way of gathering the wind that holds our desires. This week and today the dandelion seeds made there way to our house and onto our windowsill from an incredible treasure given to us 6 years ago who finds joy in the smallest details of life. Today he watched a bee gathering “nectar” from the dandelions. “I’m just watching them get the “honey” from the flower”, he said.

We often look at Dandelions as a nuisance, in the way, everywhere…as if they are ruining the “value” of our “home”. So we cut them down and weed them out.

In our life, our community, our world there is a field “white unto harvest”….or can I say, “yellow for the picking”. Often times I think we have placed such a barrier around our own “house” with a desire for the “outward appearance”, that it possibly becomes far to easy to forget that there are hurting people walking past us, with us, looking at us….reaching out for “water” and desiring to know where we found the “window sill” of hope that brings light and life. (John 8:12) God has placed all around us a field of “Dandelions”, a field where we once lived and His windowsill is waiting for our “harvest”. (Matthew 9:37,38) Will you venture out and walk amongst the “field blanketed with dandelions” and bring them to HIM?

1 Corinthians 3:9 "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

The TRICK of dubbing

2008-04-18T21:11:00.000-04:00

My daughter kept asking if we could go to the library, and since we are still rather new to our area, I got on the internet to find the library in our town. Directions in hand and off we went.

Joshua, she and I arrived home with books and a video. The video that was chosen is extremely important because our Veggie Tale Jonah video broke and when Joshua saw it he was excited to sign it out. Unfortunately it has sat on the counter for two days. I really did not look at it because after all...it's JONAH. Today Joshua asked, "Can we watch Jonah." Not looking at the video, I quickly pulled the tape out and explained that they would have to watch it in Faith's room since her TV has the VCR in it. Off they went to her room. I placed the movie in the TV and came back out into the kitchen.

It was only a matter of minutes when I noticed something. Now, many of you know that I am losing my hearing....my conversational hearing. Makes for fun moments....like this one. I stopped what I was doing because I realized that I could not understand what was being said in the movie. I knew what was happening, yet the words sounded all garbled. Can I just say I had a moment....albeit brief, of panic. I walked into Faith's room and looked at the TV.....it was like lightening hit my brain once my eyes hit the screen. I walked over to look at the jacket and there it was...."Dubbed in Spanish".