September 2012

Parent support Group to meet at Hope Center Tuesday Sept 4, (not at church)

I don't know where to start!  This is the last day of the month and I cannot wait for the clock to turn.  We have some fun stuff lined up for September and I think you will be excited for us. The details cannot be disclosed until each event happens, but I can tell you I need as many people to take part as we can find. 

We will have three different online campaigns going during the month.  We will explain and promote them all on Facebook, but only one is truly a Facebook project. If you are reading this you can take part in all three. So what we need from you is to share and pass the information on to as many people as you can. As the information comes to light, we ask you to e-mail, post on Facebook , Tweet it, Google + it, Instagram it, Foursquare it, anyway you can think of, SHARE IT!  I ask that you BLOW up your social media; that's it just pass it on.

I am super excited to tell you that we have been asked to have a booth at Fort Worth Music Fest. September 28& 29th. Rene will be out of town and I am very scared. This project will be on me. She is not helping me at all! I need help, help, help! We are planning to display and sell artwork and hand-painted greeting cards. (all created by Hope Center for Autism clients) We will get a sign-up sheet for families to help run our booth, and visit with people about Hope. I have never attended but am told it is a ton of fun.  If you might be interested in hanging out, manning the booth, share your awareness with others or just be there for moral support, please email me so I can get you on the volunteer list. 

I’m ready for this, are you!?

September 4,2012 Support Group Topic????

See picture for your hint 

It takes a Little Time.

Today, I was part of two parent training sessions. These parents are working very hard to make lifestyle changes to help their children. I is such a huge job to be "on" 24/7 and then to come back in a week and be accountable. I could not be happier with the changes that are happen for the kids. Well, for the families, when the child is better the household is better. Keep up the hard work. We are so proud of you!

Yesterday, was one of the best days I have had in months. I think it is due to the time I have invested in myself lately. Many of you may know, I live with some serious pain from a neck and back injury from a car wreck years ago. For four weeks I went for acupuncture twice a week and now the past 3 weeks I started a new treatment going at least one time a week. I am very pleased. My pain is much less than it has been in years. Why am I telling you this? Well, I had to invest in myself so I can keep doing for others. I would love it if you all could take a minute and see what can you do for yourself? No one is going to take care of you but you. The Hope Center did not fall down while i was away, they were able to hold it together for me to be out a few hours a week. And now Hope Center and I am much better for it.  Parents please try to take care of yourself, just a little each week. You and your family will be glad you did.
I know several of you have stated how hard things are right not getting back to school and finding a groove.
Give yourself a little time. Slow down.
Relax and listen............
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHnELbm-iQs

Take a sec and Be Still

Be Still.

Post written by Leo Babauta.

Be still.

Just for a moment.

Listen to the world around you. Feel your breath coming in and going out. Listen to your thoughts. See the details of your surroundings.

Be at peace with being still.

In this modern world, activity and movement are the default modes, if not with our bodies then at least with our minds, with our attention. We rush around all day, doing things, talking, emailing, sending and reading messages, clicking from browser tab to the next, one link to the next.

We are always on, always connected, always thinking, always talking. There is no time for stillness — and sitting in front of a frenetic computer all day, and then in front of the hyperactive television, doesn’t count as stillness.

This comes at a cost: we lose that time for contemplation, for observing and listening. We lose peace.

And worse yet: all the rushing around is often counterproductive. I know, in our society action is all-important — inaction is seen as lazy and passive and unproductive. However, sometimes too much action is worse than no action at all. You can run around crazily, all sound and fury, but get nothing done. Or you can get a lot done — but nothing important. Or you can hurt things with your actions, make things worse than if you’d stayed still.

And when we are forced to be still — because we’re in line for something, or waiting at a doctor’s appointment, or on a bus or train — we often get antsy, and need to find something to do. Some of us will have our mobile devices, others will have a notebook or folder with things to do or read, others will fidget. Being still isn’t something we’re used to.

Take a moment to think about how you spend your days — at work, after work, getting ready for work, evenings and weekends. Are you constantly rushing around? Are you constantly reading and answering messages, checking on the news and the latest stream of information? Are you always trying to Get Lots of Things Done, ticking off tasks from your list like a machine, rushing through your schedule?

Is this how you want to spend your life?

If so, peace be with you. If not, take a moment to be still. Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already. Just be in the moment.

Then after a minute or two of doing that, contemplate your life, and how you’d like it to be. See your life with less movement, less doing, less rushing. See it with more stillness, more contemplation, more peace.

Then be that vision.

It’s pretty simple, actually: all you have to do is sit still for a little bit each day. Once you’ve gotten used to that, try doing less each day. Breathe when you feel yourself moving too fast. Slow down. Be present. Find happiness now, in this moment, instead of waiting for it.

Savor the stillness. It’s a treasure, and it’s available to us, always.
—
From the Tao Te Ching:

It is not wise to dash about.
Shortening the breath causes much stress.
Use too much energy, and
You will soon be exhausted.
That is not the Natural Way.
Whatever works against this Way
Will not last long.