Happy Birthday Cody!

It's this dude's birthday today. This guy trusts like a child, loves unconditionally, and is doing his part to make saints out of sinners. He has proved doctors, psychologists  and educators wrong, beat the odds more times than I care to remember, and has touched the heart of each person that is lucky enough to know him, while at the same time, tested every fiber of their patience. Gosh, I love him! 

Happy 34th Birthday Cody!

Family Vacation Gone Terribly Wrong

My son, Chase, his wife and two children set out on a much anticipated vacation Saturday. About half way to their destination, it began to sprinkle, quickly turning into a hard rain. Talitha, my daughter-in-law, was driving when their Chevy Blazer hydroplaned, sending the vehicle sideways down the left hand side of the freeway, then rolling two and a half times, landing on the driver's side in the median. Chase climbed out of the passenger window and pulled the windshield off with his bare hands to get to his wife, who was bleeding and had a huge cut from her eyebrow to the top of her scalp. Many people stopped to help, including two nurses and one EMT in training, but Chase, in his adrenaline rushing haste, didn't think anyone was getting his kids out of the car fast enough, so he climbed to the bottom of the Blazer, opened the door and unbuckled his four year old, while a Good Samaritan went in for their toddler. 

Two ambulances came, one for Talitha and another for Chase and the kids. They spent six hours in the hospital, getting glass out of wounds and stitching up Talitha and Chase. Amazingly, their little boys were uninjured!

The fact that Chase and his little family came out of this accident alive, without even so much as a broken bone, is indeed a miracle. 

Many of you have asked how you can be of assistance. What Chase and his family REALLY need is another vehicle. Please click on the red link below for an explanation and opportunity to help. NO AMOUNT OF MONEY IS TOO SMALL. We sincerely appreciate ANYTHING that you can do!

Replacement Car Deposit Fund

Locked Out

Last year, in June, I wrote a post called 'Who's Weird, Besides Me?' I talked about Cody's autism and the fact that he won't do certain things, like get out of bed on his own in the morning. Then, in October, I wrote a post titled 'Miracles Happen' about how, after 29 years, Cody drained the bathtub without being told. This week we experienced yet another miracle. Let me share with you what happened.


It was evening and Cody and I were home alone. We were following the usual routine; I had just fixed Cody a bath and told him to get in. After a few minutes had passed, I went back to the bathroom, like I always do, to see if he was undressed and in the tub. The door was locked. I knew there was no way I could pick that lock before his bathwater turned frigid, so I did the only thing I could do... I talked to Cody through the door. Our conversation went something like this:

Me- "Cody, you locked the door. I cannot get in to help you unless you unlock it."

Cody- "Oh maan!"

Me- "Cody, you're gonna have to get your naked butt out of the tub and unlock it."

Cody- "Oh maan!"

Me- "Cody, if you don't get out and let me in, the water is going to get really cold. Do you want to sit in cold water?"

Cody- "Oh maan!"

Me- "Cody, YOU CAN DO THIS. You're going to be wet and that's okay. Get out of the tub, unlock the door for me and get back in."

I stood there listening through the door and couldn't believe my ears. I heard him actually get out of the water and unlock the door! It was all I could do not to laugh, partly because it was so cute seeing his dripping head and naked butt climbing back in the tub and partly because I was ecstatic that he did something I thought he'd never do.


This brings to mind the words of Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never give up!"