A Voice For Autism

Heidi is following in mom’s footsteps. Over the years my mom has helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society and spearheaded teams and events for Relay For Life. Now Heidi, with that same ambition and desire to give back, is starting the foundation for her own charitable organization to promote awareness and funding for the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. today - Autism.

A Voice For Autism is a fundraising effort to benefit early intervention and special needs programs, as well as research and awareness. It employs the visual arts to benefit the nationally recognized organization Autism Speaks.

A Voice For Autism's Gallery Event 2008 will be held on November 17TH - December 13TH. Many successful Utah artists have been invited to donate original paintings to be exhibited in reputable businesses across the Wasatch Front. All proceeds will go directly to Autism Speaks.

Visit avoiceforautism.org.

Feeling of Fall

Did I already mention how much I love this time of year?
One of my favorite poems describes my feelings of fall:

To Autumn
By John Keats

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Bob? …What? …Yes …Yes

When awake from a nap, Emily’s little voice calls out to me, “Bob? …Bob?” To which I respond, “What?” Then she answers back “Yes”, followed by a “Yes” from me. Subsequently the same conversation is repeated over and over until I go in and rescue her. “Bob? …What? …Yes …Yes”. I just love my precious baby girl!

FYI

Heidi donated a gorgeous oil painting to Art Now for Autism, a foundation partnered with Autism Speaks. All proceeds go directly to the foundation to benefit autism awareness and research. The donated artwork is reasonably priced. Heidi’s painting has been set at $250. Any art connoisseur would attest that an original ‘oil on canvas’ at that price is a steal. Heidi is an amazing and talented artist. Check out her painting entitled Shawnee's September on the Art Now for Autism website. Select gallery then painting (…notice the icon).

In God We Trust?

This election year has exposed a people in pursuit of something other than an upright and moral leader. Why do we need a Moses when we can erect ourselves a golden calf? As long as the head of our country can captivate us with words, look faultless on camera, and persuasively debate, what more could we want? Certainly we are NOT looking for a Moses; for he was none of those things- just merely a man, slow of speech, called of God to lead his people. He was honorable and virtuous- qualities we now regard as diminutive. (1)

Why do we need a leader who can produce little more than promises and long-winded speeches? - Because we desire a president who could more aptly dazzle us in the role of commander and chief in the next summer blockbuster.

What happened to the good principles, reverence in God, devotion, and self-respect that established our great nation? Certainly it was not hate, greed, and deceit that fathered our beginnings, yet these evils have crept in among us and are viewed with a blind eye. We seek not the absolute truth, rather tiresome versions of the truth.

This quotation summarizes my feelings as I listen to politicians and media officials debate the issues:

Now listen to me, people, for this is the key – evil can be twisted into virtue if you phrase it just right. Any vice is acceptable if you cloak it as an issue of freedom. Any immorality is worth fighting for if you tell them they are fighting for choice, if you wrap it in the mantle of privacy and freedom. So take their moral agency and turn it on them. But be patient … be patient … it takes time to turn the truth upside down. (2)

The father of our nation recognized the importance of faith in the almighty God, whom he gave credit for our great prosperity:

We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained. (3)

1 Exodus 4:10

2 Chris Stewart (The Brothers, pg 101)

3 George Washington (Inaugural Address, 1789)

October

My favorite month of the year is October. I love the bright-colored leaves, the cooler weather, and the smell of the air after an autumn shower. It is the onset of the holiday season.

I was married in October, so of course I also love October memories. Our second Halloween together Eric bought me a spiced-pumpkin candle- he and I love the smell of pumpkin pie in the oven. Though we burn it all year round, for some reason it smells best in the fall, lit inside a clean kitchen with cool air permeating through half-open windows.

11

The day after his birthday Tyler asked if he could postpone doing his homework until 4:11. Why not 4:10? Well, that was last week. Everything this year will be about the number 11. It’s out with the old (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3…) and in with the new.