"God Knows My Name" by Beth Redman

I have had my share of dark days since my child was diagnosed with autism nine years ago. The isolation of the parent of a child with autism can be depressing and lonely.

I am looking for someone who has walked a similar path of isolation, a someone who can encourage me.

Beth Redman does that in "God Knows My Name".

Redman is not an autism mom, but she knows what isolation is. She shares on page 89, "There have been so many times we have clung to both our sanity and our faith by our fingernails, but faith and trust in God Almight brought us through."

On a rough day with autism, I completely "get" that.

Redman reminds me in a relatable way of examples from her own life and Biblical examples that all of us have rough times, sometimes very rough and rocky times, and she reminds me, through scripture, that God indeed knows my name; He created me for a relationship with Him; and that I am not isolated and alone, that He is there with me, for me.

"God Knows My Name" comes with a study guide at the end, with a Bible reading, discussion questions, and a prayer. I think "God Knows My Name" would make an excellent study for a group of autism moms, although the discussion questions can be private journal questions, too, in an individual study. This book arrived at a good time for me. Thanks, Beth, for sharing your story and encouragement with me.

"God Knows My Name" is priced at $12.99, specially priced at CBD now for $9.99, and will be available in early August, 2010.

The B&B Media Group sent me a review copy of God Knows My Name, Never Forgotten, Forever Loved, by Beth Redman. I received no financial compensation for this review and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Travel the World, Schoolhouse Planner June Module e-book (TOS Crew Review)

I get a little bit excited when I'm offered a unit study from TOS to review or given one as a freebie with a purchase. !!!!!!! I've seen enough of them to know that they mean quality, versatility, and opportunities to learn. The June 2010 Module is no exception. Priced at $7.95, this particular module is 56 pages** in length, and features a topic that my homeschooler has been asking about lately (other countries), and is titled "Travel the World".


**Note: Of the 56 pages, four pages at the beginning of the module include the cover page, info page, and TOC. Four pages at end of the module are ads and one page is a link to other for-purchase resources at TOS store.

One of the neat aspects of this kind of product is that we are able to click on the live links and go to more information about a subject quickly, without having to sort through a long list of hits on what can turn out to be a wild and crazy internet search. Sometimes an internet search turns into so many rabbit trails we can't remember where we began, and the live links directly to a solid source eliminate the issue of rabbit trails. (I do crack up a little when a live link in a resource for homeschoolers takes me to a govt school web site.)

The June 2010 module offers a variety of activities for the littles through high school.

The versatility of the modules is wonderful for a child with scattered skills-a parent can more easily individualize by picking and choosing activities that fit each skill set. A family with several children at different ages would be able to tailor to developmental levels, too. We don't work through them from beginning to end as a unit study. We take smaller sections to work through. My big challenge is finding a way to catalog my e-books in a way that I can locate what I need when I need it.

Some of the activities and puzzles are good to print and load into a clipboard for travel or waiting rooms.

Additional costs: You will need a computer, printer, paper, and toner or access to a computer and printer to use some of the activities in the e-book. Some of you may choose to print the entire book, although you'll still need to use the e-book online in order to access those live links to more information and games.

I really like the e-modules because we can use them our way - to follow an interest in depth and we can create our own little unit study by using part of one. They have always fit a need at our house where relationship development is at the front and center of our autism intervention. When I find something we can do together to address relationship goals and objectives, to give my daughter practice in between-you-and-me, while sneaking in some academics, that's a win-win for me.

A sample of the module is available for download HERE.

To read the reviews of this product by other Crewmates, please visit our Crew blog.

I was given a complimentary copy of the June 2010 Module of The 2009 Schoolhouse Planner, "Travel the World" to review. I am not financially compensated for this review and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

Does she feel like that all the time?

I heard part of a Steven Wright comedy concert on the radio. One of his jokes sent me wondering about my daughter with autism:

"You know how it feels when you're leaning back on a chair, and you lean too far back, and you almost fall over backwards, but then you catch yourself at the last second? I feel like that all the time."

Do individuals with autism feel something like that all the time?

Read more: http://www.cracked.com/article_15330_interview-with-steven-wright.html#ixzz0trZ8QZVJ

Finally Skating Again!

A entire month has passed since my Skating Princess was last on the ice. Travel, illness, the coach's vacation, transporting a sib to camp have kept us away from the arena.

I didn't know if the Skating Princess's legs would tremble and wobble today or not.

She amazes me! She had a fantastic session today!

This exercise sometimes has her screeching in protest.

Check out this scaffold:

Being off the ice for a month meant my girl needed a little practice on some skills to remember how they work:

Purely Products - a MamaBuzz Review

I received two interesting products from Purely Products to review with MamaBuzz.

Purely Products: Responsible products for responsible living.

Purely is focused on developing eco-friendly products for clean and healthy living for families, while also helping kids.

One is the Pocket Purifier ($29.95), a battery operated germ-killing gadget that uses light to sanitize items. It also has a flashlight on one end, making it dual purpose. "Handheld germ eliminating light uses UV (ultraviolet light) to sanitize surfaces (keyboards, cell phones, computer keyboards, kitchen countertops, sinks, public bathrooms & transportation, toys, pacifiers, bottoms/interior of purses & diaper bags, etc) UV nanotechnology kills 99.9% of germs that cause colds & flu, plus e-coli, salmonella, mold, fungus, and MRSA (staph) without chemicals."

The gadget is small and lightweight, and it broke almost before we could use it. Maybe it does kill germs and the size is right for carrying in a purse, diaper bag, or suitcase, but ours flat out fell apart and we could not get it to stay together. The top wouldn't stay on, the bulb kept falling out - I was not impressed. It felt cheap. (And I wondered, is there mercury, the second-most toxic element on earth, in the bulb? Yes, there IS, and how am I supposed to dispose of the bulb?) When we held it together and tried to turn it on, the light was quite dim. I'm not sure it did its germ-killing job. I took it on a trip with us to use in a hotel, but the fact that it would not stay together was a big problem for me. Mercury exposure is another problem for me. Mercury is a known neurotoxin, not safe at any level or amount. I wish it weren't in a light bulb.

# # #

The Sun Mate ($19.95) is a handy little gadget for determining exposure to the sun, anytime, anywhere. It's easy to use - press the little button and read the meter. For parents concerned with sun exposure, this one fits in a purse or pocket and is simple and quick to use. This one stayed together and appeared to work correctly and is something I wish I'd had a long time ago. Go HERE for 25% off a Purely Products order.

A percentage of every Purely Products sale supports diaperLove, a non-profit providing diapers to children in need. For more info, go to http://www.diaperlove.org/.

Go HERE to read other reviews about these products.

(Disclosure: This is a MamaBuzz Review. I received a Pocket Purifier and SunMate, free of charge, from Purely Products, for the purposes of this review. I am not compensated financially for this review and am not obligated to provide a favorable review.)

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Penny's much neglected flower bed...

We had a swift, heavy rain shower yesterday that left my calla lilies pretty enough to photograph:

Some of my photographs were fuzzy.

I went out later to take some more.

The heat had dried the raindrops.

This mint was transplanted from my grandparents' home more than 600 miles away. I wish you could smell its wonderful mintiness. (Is mintiness a word?)

A toad joined me. See him?

The pale yellow flower was the most challenging to photograph.

The striped ones are so beautiful!

My flower beds could benefit from a lot of little weeding.

Which Math Program???

Ruth Beechick's book continues to help me think about how skills and functions develop. I have been pondering on her words about how concepts of math develop in her book, "The Three R's", thoughts I happened to find on a web site about preschool math (so I'll provide the link for you in case you're interested).

from http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/preschool-math-activities.html

Children develop through three modes of thinking about numbers:

manipulative mode – working with real objects e.g. beans, cups, spoons

mental image mode – using mental images or pictures of real objects

abstract mode – using number concepts without thinking of images of objects

Which math program that includes manipulatives as part of the program is the right program for us?

Math U See

or

Right Start Math

or

Zillio

?

That is the question.

I welcome opinions and experiences from you.

Miscellany Monday

My double-ear infections improved during the seven-day course of antibiotics, but now that the antibiotics are finished, my ears are worsening. Time to call the doctor.

* * *

A couple of years ago, we bought new bedroom furniture for eldest and moved her "old" furniture (handmade, hand painted, beautiful) into little sister's room, replacing the plain twin bed (actually half a bunk bed) in little sister's room. Little sister is on the autism spectrum with language processing issues. In recent weeks, she's told me how she misses her old bed and how we upset her by changing her bed two years ago. I am amazed that she is able to tell me that information now, and sad that she was not able to express her upset two years ago when we were moving furniture around.

* * *

My son is confident that his baseball team will not only win sectionals, but state, as well, and get to play in a neighboring state at the national level. I love his confidence! ;)

* * *

My skating princess has not had ice time in a while. Illness and travel have had us missing several weeks of lessons. Last week, she asked, "When am I going to skate again?"

* * *

The increase of "autism" with illness still astounds me. When we treat the illness, the yeast, the allergies, the pain, the "autism" decreases. Why people fight a "cure" or "recovery" is beyond me; I do not understand that perspective at all.

* * *

When "autism" increases in my girl, finding the reason isn't always simple, but is always rewarding to see her feel better.

* * *

With a niece or nephew due at Christmastime, my family is already discussing Christmas plans. Gives me five months to think about how to get us 600 + miles south of here in time to be with my sibs, parents, aunt, uncle, grandmother.

* * *

A set-top interactivity problem has occurred. Please try again after a brief time. Comcast's definition of "brief" is very different from mine. We haven't been able to use On-Demand all weekend, much to the dismay of my younger daughter.

* * *

I pray that we find a church home for all of us, not just the NTs in my family, one that "gets" autism and food allergies and is ready for us.

* * *

Dust bunnies and laundry, I think, come from a Latin root word for "eternal" or "infinity".

Caution

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