I am not even sure where to begin! It has been a long time
since I posted and so many changes have occurred. Maybe a quick update on life:
Ashley is 15 years-old and doing well. We have finally got
many of her health concerns under control. She is still homeschooled. She continues to do well with her speech
device. We are very excited about the program we have set up for her and the
people that work with her. We have always been fortunate to have the right
people come along at just the right time. This is especially true as we balance
her needs, my center, and two other active children.Hailey is 14 years-old and entered high school this year. She likes high school better than middle school because she gets interaction with more diverse people and she gets to choose more of her classes. She is doing great in school, and enjoys participating in debate, scholar’s bowl, and tennis. This spring she will try forensics and track. She stays very busy! And she is very much a teenager with all the good (a person with her own thoughts and opinions) and bad (moody, stubborn) that entails!
Josh has had his ups and downs over the years, but is really settling into himself. He is proof positive that hard work and a lot of prayer can go a very long way. After homeschooling last year, he has returned to public school at a different school district and he is thriving. He no longer needs special services. He played football and now basketball, has made new friends, and is keeping excellent grades. It is amazing to see how successful he has become, and we are enjoying him at home too!
My husband started a new job that he really loves a little over a year ago. We took a long, hard road, but life is really good now. I am so thankful and blessed. We have worked so hard to get where we are now, which has made us enjoy it so much more!
I finished my Master’s program in the spring of 2014 and
became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the fall. Together with
another autism mother, I have opened a center called Pathways Alternative
Center for Education, Inc. (PACE). At PACE we provide
services for children with autism and other special needs and support for
parents. We are so excited to be able to offer services that up until now have
been unavailable in our rural area. It has been a long and tedious road, but I
am so excited about PACE. It feels really good to be able to take our personal
experience and use it to impact the lives of our families for the better. As
much as I love my job, it can be heartbreaking to see children and families
struggling. My one hope and prayer is that I can help to make sure that the
things that happened to my own son and daughter don’t happen to the children
that come to our center.
