Giving Thanks Day 15 ~ Unexpected Joys

Today, I am thankful, and truly grateful for those who understand Autism and the array of colors that are on the spectrum.  I am so grateful for the wonderful people God has placed in my life that has given me support, advice, understanding, empathy, information and most importantly just "get it".  From the moment Elliott was diagnosed, countless people reached out to help us and led us in the directions of multiple therapies.  I remember telling them "I don't want to try and figure this out on my own, what has worked for you, because we were making up for lost time."  I remember thinking that there is nothing Elliott couldn't do, we just have to find a way that his mind will learn things.  I also remember early on, that there was no right or wrong way to work with a child on the spectrum.  What works for one, may not work for another...and I felt that some battles were worth fighting, many times more than necessary.  I never considered Elliott as "labeled", I saw his abilities, and I am a "pushy" parent when a challenge arises....I know that not everyone understands what raising a child on the spectrum is like, and truthfully, I don't think I could ever fully explain it myself.  I often describe life here like a jack in the box, everything going along in a beautiful melody then POP out of nowhere a surprise comes out of nowhere (sometimes it's a meltdown, sometimes it is a new challenge, and sometimes it is an unexpected joy)....I have said that like a Jack in the Box, we never really know what the day will bring...each one is vastly different.  I realize society will not care if Elliott has a diagnosis or not, in fact, many do not even notice his day to day struggles, and it is my job as his mother to advocate for him, to get supports in place for him, and to help him grow so that he can do anything he sets his mind to.  I couldn't do any of this if not for the love and support of countless angels.  One in particular, Anji Bauder Budzynski gave me an immediate comfort after Elliott's diagnosis.  We reconnected on Facebook and in one phone call talking about my son and his diagnosis...it was a comfort hearing someone else saying "I get it" I remember not feeling so alone, and comforted with the "you too? I thought I was the only one" conversations. Then she packed up a box of books, and a DVD and sent them off to me.  One book, An Unexpected Joy....was exactly that.  Altered forever my view of how life would be.   It was a book that I laughed, cried, and connected with.We all have hopes and dreams for our children, and one day something happens that makes you see things as you never had before.....there are unexpected joys.  Elliott's diagnosis has transformed our lives in ways we never thought possible, we've had miracle moments, challenges, lots of reprioritizing, progress, trials and errors, indescribable moments filled with so many unexpected joys that even to this day I cannot completely wrap my heart around them all!  And then, countless others crossed our paths over the years, family supports, therapists, teachers, doctors, friends as we continue on this journey.  So today I thank my support network, the many lives that have reached out to our family offering hope, love, help and understanding....you all have been an unexpected joy and we are truly blessed to have you in our lives.  Joy is truly greater when it comes unexpected <3