Hope

I love this introduction to a informational station about autism.  It is relevant to any hardship or trial in life, not just autism.

Dewitt Jones, a photographer for National Geographic coined the phrase, “By celebrating what’s right, we find the energy to fix what’s wrong.” For so many of us, autism is what is wrong. These days, autism frequently hits very close to home. It defines a son, a daughter, a neighbor, a niece, a student, a friend, a husband, or even oneself. We grieve with each new diagnosis, we exhaust our resources trying to research and reverse its effects, we weep through sleepless nights when it pierces our aching hearts. And then to our surprise, we rejoice and celebrate the unexpected gifts that autism has brought us. We find that though autism challenges us, it doesn’t take away our happiness. In fact, through our eternal perspective, we find more than comfort. This adversity has taught us to “be of good cheer, and…not fear, for...the Lord (is) with (us), and will stand by (us).” D&C 68:6. Come meet the faces of autism. Learn not only what autism is, but how much we enjoy the unique and powerful gifts from our autistic loved ones. Celebrate with us what is right with the wonderful faces autism, and together we can fix what’s wrong. 

Sally-Ann

 

The Longest Day.........

Our last day in Tasmania!!!  The time went to quickly for me, I don't even like to write it, even now.......all these months later!

We packed stuffed everything into our car, said good-bye to Willaway Apartments and headed off.

 

We stopped at Braddon's Lookout in Forth to have one last look at the countryside.

We stopped off at Dianne's and Graham's, Dianne and Katrina were there, so we got to say good-bye again!  I'm a glutton for punishment!  It was so nice of Katrina, Jason and Andrew to come all the way from Western Australia to see us.  Hopefully, on our next trip, we will be able to to to WA ourselves.

Joshua and Jessica wanted to stop at

Ashgrove Tasmanian Cheese

on our way to Launceston.  We had driven by there several times and the car park was always full, they wanted to see what it was all about.  I don't think the fact that there was "food tasting" involved had anything to do with their desire to have a sticky-beak??? he he he

 

The first thing that we noticed as we drove-up was the weird cows that they had at Ashgrove.

Judge for yourself!!

 

Here is one up close and personal, just in case you didn't get a good look at the first cow.

There are still a few hippies hanging around Tassie.

The tasting area and shop.

They even had a Milk Bar.

We came away with some yummy cheese, crackers and a cheese knife.

We climbed into the car once again and headed to Launceston.  This would prove to be quite a little adventure because I don't know my way around Launceston very well.  It did go better than I thought however!!!

We went to the main shopping area in Launceston and we were not terribly impressed.  We did find a nice place to have some lunch and then we walked to the monkey park.  I know this park probably has a proper name, but if you say, "Where is the monkey park?" everyone knows exactly where you want to go.

 

Monkeys at Monkey Park

Fish ponds

Sam swinging at the park

Sam and Mum going for a ride

This was Sam's favorite part of the whole day - riding the train.

We went to the Cataract Gorge to have a look.  It was very convoluted to get there, I had forgotten!  But, we finally did find our way there.

 

 This map made it look so easy......it lied.......big time........

We had a picnic with our cheese and crackers - very delicious.

The big kids went for a ride on the chairlift.......

There they are.......way up there in the air.

This photo doesn't do justice as to how high up they were.

 

The peacocks wanted to share our cheese.

Peacocks can run very fast........

but, so can Sam.

Suspension bridge over the Gorge.

We had enough........tired, border line cranky, so we headed off to the airport to turn in our rental car and wait for our flight.  Airports are not a great place to be when you are tired and border line cranky.  In fact, by the time we actually sat down in our seats on the airplane, we were no longer border line cranky........some of us more so than others.

The flight to Sydney was eventful.  Normally calm me offered to have Sam spend the last 15 minutes of the flight sitting on a certain gentleman's lap.  Joshua told the gentleman to settle down.  Jim was going to help him settle down.

The remainder of the flight I gave Sam free reign in kicking the back of the gentleman's seat.

Swearing at a 3-year-old child who was up way past his bedtime and happened to be autistic, didn't sit well with me.  He also swore at Joshua, but if you have seen Joshua lately, he could have probably taken care of himself.  Besides, the passengers sitting around us were on our side.  Moral of this story?  Don't mess with cranky Purdys.

The car they sent to take us to our apartment was way to small, so we had to wait for a bigger one to be sent.  Sydney had changed a lot since I was last there.  Our apartment was in the middle of the business district, had a great view and exceeded our expectations.

It was good to climb into bed.

Sally (don't mess with my kids) Ann

Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory?? Not quite, but close!

Our last full day in Tasmania was spent saying good-bye to people and trying to fit in all the things we wanted to!

We followed our usual morning routine, we tried to get out the door a little bit earlier than usual.  We drove to Penguin and said good-bye to Birdie, my step-mum.  It is always sad saying good-bye to people, but with some it is harder because you know that you will probably not see them again.  That is the reality of living thousands of miles away from family.  Birdie has always been very loving and good to us and we love her.

After visiting with Birdie for a little while we drove on to Burnie to see my sister Gayle.  Gayle had 2 of Dad's fishing trophies and gave me one of them.  How I was going to get it home without breaking it into a thousand pieces was going to be a challenge!  It is a fish vase, pretty darn ugly, but of great sentimental value.  Gayle is so much like Mum, it is scary!  Gayle is a wonderful sister.  It was also very difficult to say good-bye to her.  It didn't help that all through our vacation time in Tasmania, Gayle kept telling people, "You had better make the most of seeing Sally-Ann, it is probably the last time we ever will!"

We took the scenic route back to Ulverstone.  We bought some lunch and went to ANZAC park to eat it.

 Much of my childhood was spent at ANZAC Park in Ulverstone.  It was right down the road from our house and my friends and I would ride our bikes or walk down there all the time.  

The playground is a lot of fun.  Space rockets and space ships are the theme.  There is a very long and steep slide that goes down the hill from the car park.

Love the fountain.  When I was a kid, you could put 20cents in thingo (can't think of the correct name!) and the fountain would start.  There would be different coloured lights that would flash under the water.  Not sure if it does that now.

T

This a view from the wharf looking back at ANZAC Park.  My friends and I would walk under the bridge and then along the wharf to go fishing.

The last time I was at ANZAC Park was for a family get-together on Boxing Day 1986, right before I left to go to America.  This picture is a little blurry, that is probably fitting, because it brings a tear to my eye.  many of those in this picture weren't here for this trip.
I love my family.

We met up with Ann and Mike Fitzpatrick at House of Anvers.  House of Anvers is a chocolate factory that has a tasting shop and a restaurant.  Yum, Yum!!  They had MaryAnn Woolley with them who I know from growing-up in the Devonport Ward at church.

 

 The big kids love the tasting area and the shop!!

Samuel loved the garden, especially this little truck!

 We all went to the restaurant to catch-up and to have..........

 some delicious hot chocolate and some of us may have indulged in........

 some of the decadent desserts offered.


We did take photos of everyone, but when I downloaded pictures from Joshua's camera.......they were gone......just like that..........very frustrating.........next trip.........a fancy, smancy camera.........will not improve my picture taking, but will make me feel better.


After over indulging, we drove into Latrobe to see Dianne, Graham, Katrina, Andrew, Jason and Anthony.  Katrina and Jason were shopping and when they came back Katrina had scored a great deal on Ugg boots.  So, of course one of our children then decided that they wanted a pair of Ugg boots......back to Devonport to find them.

We also tried one more time to visit my friend Pam Clarke, but, no luck - insert frown face here.


Once again, a good day.  We spent the night doing laundry, playing spades and, of course, Tim Tam slamming.

Sally-Ann

Christmas Message.......a little early

As a side not to the below post.  Since posting this, I have  found out that Joshua's sources were incorrect and the little boy that was lost in Nova Scotia was not the grandson of the family we stayed with.  Although that gives us relief for the family we know, it is still a heartbreak for the family we don't know and they are still in my thoughts and prayers.

__________________________________________________
I haven't posted for a while.  Have some ready to go, just need to add photos.  I am missing a crucial piece of equipment however, the cord for the camera to download my photos!!  So, this isn't what I intended to post.  I usually try to keep my comments upbeat and happy.  Not today, but hopefully I will have a good message. 

Just after dinner tonight, Jim asked me if I remembered the family that we had stayed with in Sydney, Nova Scotia, when we went to pick Joshua up from his mission.  I have a pretty good memory, so of course I did!  Joshua had told Jim today that their grandson had died.  He was 7 and had autism.  Jim had told Joshua not to tell me because I already worry and fret over Samuel, didn't want to add more fuel to that particular fire!  But, it was troubling him.

Click on the link below for the story

James Delorey

I've read similar stories in the newspaper and heard them on the news.  My heart always goes out to families who lose a child.  But this time, even though I didn't know James and his parents, I have met his grandparents and Joshua spent a great deal of time with this family.  The pain and grief of losing a child can be overwhelming, it crushes you.  The fact that little James had autism only makes it more "real" to me.

Such sadness at this time of year, when everything is supposed to be "merry and bright."  I hope that the family can draw comfort from remembering the birth of the Savior.  A little baby that was born into this world to give us all hope, to give us all peace, to show the way back to our Heavenly Father.  Back to our Heavenly Father where we will hold our loved ones and cry tears of happiness instead of tears of sadness.

 Tonight, and in the days to come, I will say an extra prayer for the Delorey family and for all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.  In a Christmas address, Gordon B. Hinckley said,        

 “all of us stand a little taller at Christmas. All of us feel a little more generous, a little more forgiving. All of us are disposed to be a little more kind. And this is of the very essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Those words have been going around in my head.  It is a message we should remember all year.  Sometimes it takes a tragedy to remind us of what is important and what we need to be doing,  Tonight I held my wonderful little boy, who happens to have autism, a little closer.  I gave my 17-year-old daughter a extra hug.  After I finish this, I will go and tell my husband again that I love him. Tomorrow I am going to put a rose on the grave of our little Emma.  Next Thursday I get to give my oldest son a hug after several months of not seeing him. 

I have much to be thankful for this Christmas season.

Sally-Ann 

Birthdays, Halloween & Things In-between!

Last week was very, very busy!

Monday afternoon, Jessica had a piano recital/Halloween party and Samuel had his first Occupational Therapy session.  After that it was MacDonalds for dinner and then we went in search of the the

GREAT PUMPKIN

for

Family Home Evening

Jim and I spent Tuesday evening at a seminar on Autism at St. Joseph's Hospital.  It was very informative.

9am Wednesday morning, Jim and I made a decision that is going to change our lives forever. 

We took Samuel to look at Golden Retriever puppies.

We pick up our puppy on Saturday at 5pm

Puppy proofing our house has been worse than baby proofing our house.

Paradise Golden Retrievers

Samuel and I then zipped across town for a hearing test.  Sam passed with flying colours.

Wednesday evening, Jim and Jessica went to a special college open house at church.  The different Latter-day Saint schools were represented and had information on their school for high school seniors.

Sam and I went to church to make some copies for the boy scouts and afterwards we went to

for a

This is probably Samuel's second favorite food!!!

Can't remember which day I took this photo.  We had some Italian bread to go along with our dinner, Jim was trying to teach Sam how to tear a piece off the loaf.........Sam just said, "Tank you," and took the whole thing!

Thursday, at approximately 6am, Samuel turned 4-years-old! 

We had Halloween cup cakes to celebrate.  Later that day, not at 6am.

Jessica had a harp concert that night.  Jim and Sam stayed at home and did manly things like wrestling, spitting and watching baseball.  There was possibly some more cup cake consumption that took place.  No one would admit it, but there was a lack of cup cakes on the plate and a copious amount of crumbs on the couch.

Friday night

Saturday morning was SAT prep class for Jessica.

I cleaned the house.

and then...........

Samuel had never carved a pumpkin before.  Last year we didn't get a pumpkin because we were in Canada.

Jessica passing on her knowlege of removing pumpkin guts.

Of all the tools we had on hand, spoons proved to be the best thing to dig out guts.

Great big globs of ooey gooey pumpkin guts

ooey gooey pumpkin guts

ooey gooey pumpkin guts

Great big globs of ooey gooey pumpkin guts

and me without a spoon!

.............wait a minute........we do have spoons!!!

Being our resident artist, Jessica took over the carving.  A simple ghoulish smile was not good enough for her this year.

Samuel was just exhausted by the whole thing!!!

I know this is a bit out of focus, but Sam followed me around saying, "CHEESE", until I took a photo!!!!  He kept getting up really close and then backing away.

We spent the afternoon melting at a Trunk and Treat at church.  Great activity, but boy was it hot!!  Sam was very excited when he discovered that all he had to say was, "Trick or Treat," and people put candy in his bag!

Right before we headed off to go trick or treating.

Can you tell what Jessica carved on the pumpkin??

Jessica went to a Halloween party, she took off before I could get a picture of her, so this one will just have to do!!!!

Sunday was a normal busy Sunday!

Monday, we finally got to give Samuel his birthday cake.

Samuel loves "Blue's Clues", so that is the cake he got to enjoy!

Sam's puppy will probably be named Blue

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Saaaaam

Happy birthday to you!!!!

Sally-Ann