LOUDER THAN WORDS

OUR SWEETEST JOHN JOHN IS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM, AND WE HAVE BEEN SO VERY BLESSED THAT HE IS HIGH FUNCTIONING. SO WHILE READING THIS HEARTFELT, HILARIOUS BOOK BY JENNY McCARTHY AGAIN I WAS COUNTING MY BLESSINGS THAT MY SON LOVES TO CUDDLE WITH ME, HE TELLS ME HE LOVES ME (AND HIS FEW SELECT FAVORITE PEOPLE), AND HAS SUCH A HUGE SPARKLE OF LIFE IN HIS EYES. JOHN IS DOING SO GOOD IN SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH HE HAS HIS OWN AID TO KEEP HIM ON TASK HE IS IN A REGULAR THIRD GRADE CLASS ROOM AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIS AID TO HAVE HIM BE FUNCTIONING MORE INDEPENDENTLY.

JOHN HAS THE MOST ANGELIC ENERGY, HE REMINDS ME HOW SIMPLE TO KEEP THINGS AND TO LOVE AND LAUGH MY WAY THROUGH LIFE. DON'T GET ME WRONG THERE ARE TIMES WHEN JOHN GETS GOING AND IS REPEATING, HAND FLAPPING, REPEATING,HAND FLAPPING OVER AND OVER UNTIL HANNAH SAYS "OK- JOHN THAT'S GOOD!" OR I ASK HIM "JOHN, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?" OR BEN ASKING "JOHN, ARE YOU JUST SO EXCITED?" JOHN WILL JUST START TO LAUGH AS IF HE REALIZED HE WAS DOING SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND THEN HE SAYS SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY LIKE" OH MOM COME ON I AM JUST ENJOYING THIS MOMENT".

JOHN HAS BROUGHT MORE PEACE AND HUMOUR INTO MY LIFE THAN ANY OTHER PERSON. I PRAY THAT BEN AND I ARE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR JOHN JOHN AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY NEW THINGS TO CONNECT WITH HIM, AND HELP HIM BE ABLE TO EXPRESS ALL OF WHO HE IS. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY ALONG OUR JOURNEY WE WILL BE LAUGHING AND LOVING HIM FOR THE SPIRIT AND BOY THAT HE IS RIGHT NOW.

I LOVE JENNY

BECAUSE SHE IS SO HONEST AND HILARIOUS IN HER JOURNEY WITH AN AUTISTIC SON. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO HAS AN AUTISTIC CHILD OR IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU WHO HAS A "CRYSTAL CHILD". IT REALLY LETS YOU INSIDE OF ALL THE HEARTACHE AND ENERGY MOTHERS OF THESE AMAZING CHILDREN ARE DEALING WITH, AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY CAN USE. IT PROVIDES HOPE AND EMANATES THAT FAITH IS TRULY THE KEY ALONG THIS BUMPY RIDE.

-IT EVEN TALKS ABOUT HOW JENNY HAD THE MISSIONARIES OVER A FEW TIMES, AND THE GRATITUDE SHE HAS FOR THE "MORMON TABERNACLE CHURCH" AS SHE PUTS IT.