Monday, February 18, 2013

Brian...........

Brian Lamont.  He is so hard, and I will admit, this could be a very depressing post, because I am struggling with him at this point.

When we were approached about adopting Brian, and his sisters, we were told he had mild CP.  I do believe this is true, however, anyone who has spent 30 minutes with him can tell you this is the least of his issues.  Brian has autism, significant cognitive delays, anger issues, lying issues, post traumatic-stress disorder, ADHD and the list goes on.  He was also abused, neglected, and kept stuffed away in his bedroom for most of his life, before he came to us.  There are very clear reasons for many of his behaviors.  His former caregivers were cruel to him, and blind to his needs.  So, we were basically handed this child, whom we had no idea how to deal with.  Brian's issues were things I had never been exposed to before.  But we knew we were his family, and we moved forward.

Brian can be so incredibly sweet.  He tells me he loves me.  He likes to have his back rubbed.  He makes me pictures at school, and appreciates simple things I do for him.  But he also punches and kicks the younger children.  He pinches them so hard he leaves welts and bruises.  He lies continually.  I can never believe a word he says.  When confronted, his entire demeanor changes, and he gets an eery look on his face, and is completely non-responsive to anything you say or do.  It is a wee bit frightening.
Simply asking him to take a shower can be a war somedays, but then others, it is no issue at all.

I am noticing a pattern to his behaviors, and I am seriously wondering about the possibility of him being bi-polar.  He will goes several weeks with excellent behavior.  And then we will have "hell week".  Right now, we are having a bad time.  But hoping we are almost done.  He is currently in his room, after punching Toby in the back, and pinching him so hard on the leg that Toby has a bruise already.  And then of course, he lied, and said that he was simply "pushing Toby off of him".

Please keep us in prayers.  I try SO hard to see Brian through God's eyes.  But it is a daily struggle.  I feel like I am constantly on guard with him, making sure he does not seriously hurt anyone.  He is a child of God's and I am privileged to be his new momma.  But this momma needs some prayer warriors to hold her up right now!

Bless you all.   And my hats off to you mommas who have autistic children.  You having been given a pretty big task.....God must think you are pretty special and capable!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Finding Joy!

Hello friends!  Just a quick note to let you know we are all thriving!  And finding JOY in all we do!

Daley has been amazing lately, sleeping better than she ever has, so happy all of the time, and being more mobile than she has ever been!  She brings me joy!

Dale and I are celebrating 25 years of marriage this month.  Wow, I feel old!  My sweet husband is such an amazing man!  Best thing that God ever gave to me!  He brings me joy!

Brogan, Zachary, and Landon have settled into their new home in NC.  And God has chosen to anser my prayers.  He has provided them with Christian friends, and they have even found a church they like there!  This brings my heart such joy!  Love them and miss them dearly!

Patrick is home this semester, attending RCC instead of ONU.  It is great to have him home to help with the kids and the farm, and saving us lots of money, with the lower tuition costs.  Patrick is such a great guy.  He brings me joy!

I have gotten lots of joy our of basketball this season.  I have 7 playing.  Watching Keagan and Timmy's team take on Bronwyn's team has been crazy!  I cannot believe how good they are all playing!  Impressed!  And Toby and Brian are playing together on a team as well, and are both doing fantstic.  Brian's team has accepted him so well, that is a blessing.  And little Rory man is doing his best to make baskets and steal the ball on the 1st grade team, with mom and dad as his coach!  My first time coaching, and I love it!  And Meng is a cheerleader, and is showing the church just how loud she can yell!  Basketball this year has been a blast, and I look forward to it each week.  It brings me Joy~!

Brittany is taking her 2nd semester of guitar lessons, and WOW she is getting good!  Hearing her play, brings me....you guessed it....JOY~

And Brianna.  I am struggling finding something she is interested in!  Besides boys!  LOL  Brianna is a crazy, funny, sweet, helpful child, who brings me joy!

Lastly, my critters are bringing me lots of joy this season.  I have had 15 lambs born on the farm so far, with more to come!  They are all so beautiful, and remind me how amazing the gifts of life is!  There is simply no way these babes were an accident of nature.  I have every belief that God created each and every living creature, by His hand, and for a great purpose!  Amen!

Do you need some joy?!?!   Aks God to show it to you.  There are things all around you, that if you take the time to notice and enjoy them, they will bring you JOY!

Blessings, my dear friends!