Stephanie Nielson's "Heaven Is Here"

I love Stephanie Nielson.

Watch this short video and you won't be able to help yourself from falling in love with her too.

Maybe you saw her on Oprah a few years ago.  She's incredible.  

You'll feel like a colossal wuss if you complain that you're having a "bad day"ever  again after you learn her story, read her blog, and feel her courageous spirit.  

I agree with you, Stephanie.   Each of us has our Heaven right here.

As Fine As A Bee's Wing: An Essay By An Old Friend, Inspired By My Daughter

An old friend of mine from my 'former life' in Maryland reached out to me recently. I met her when CB was about 4 years old and attended a private program for children with Autism. CB had a same-aged classmate, K, and I quickly befriended his mother, Lori.

After my move from Maryland to Jersey I fell out of touch with Lori. But through an accidental email, we reconnected. Still an Autism activist, and as you will soon see a great writer, Lori sent me a link to a recently published essay in Age Of Autism, a daily web paper about the Autism Epidemic. She wrote about CB... MY little CB... changing her name to "Riley" and mine to "Theresa." I was stunned that CB made such an impact on my friend's heart and mind and immensely honored that she wrote about my child so sweetly and with such affection and poignancy. And, of course, it brought me to tears mid-afternoon.

You can read this beautiful essay written by the talented Lori Brozek and inspired by MY CB (aka 'Riley') over at Autism One HERE.

And The Lemonade Award Goes To....

I was very touched to receive the wonderful Lemonade Award from fellow blogger, Laughing Stars over at Stark Raving Bibliophile. I "cyber met" Ms. Laughing Stars during her book promotion of Frankie the Walk N Roll Dog. She is a very talented writer, writing coach and publicist as well as an avid reader. As an avid reader myself, have enjoyed her amazing and well-written book reviews on Stark Raving Bibliophile! I always check out the books she recommends!

In receiving this award I also get the exciting privilege to PASS this award along to bloggers who inspire me with their attitude and gratitude.

The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that honors blogs that demonstrate great attitude or gratitude. Here are the rules for accepting this award:

- Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
- Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here are my nominees for the Lemonade Award!!

If you do nothing else in your entire life, go and read Claire's blog, Life With A Severely Disabled Child. Seriously. Now. It is phenomenally powerful, provocative, insightful and real in that stripped down, gritty, real way that you seldom see. Because few can really "go there." But Claire does. Her posts began several years after her typical 5 year old daughter had a stroke and became severely disabled. This is more than the story of life with a disabled child... it is what is in Claire's head and her heart. There is inspiration in her honesty and courage not just in what she deals with, but that she shares her struggles with the vulnerability of her own humanness. When I read her posts, I am both shattered and redeemed. Heartbroken and inspired. Filled with both pain and with awe. And often she is just so flippin' funny and sardonic I laugh outloud! Full of important medical information, honest opinions, and the daily challenges of non-typical parenthood it is also full of brilliant writing, evocative metaphors and imagery, and is often richly spiritual. When I read this blog I am deeply and powerfully changed.

And, while I am on the topic of phenomenal writing, I HAVE to include Elizabeth from A Moon, Worn As If It Had Been A Shell . First of all... the best blog title - Ever! She loves poetry, so I would love her simply for that. But oh, there is more! A seriously talented writer/published author, she can move me to tears, touch my heart, make me smile, and comment with intelligence and sharp wit on a social issue. She is funny, sensitive, poetic, genuine, and mesmerizing to read.

The inspiring Fully Caffeinated blog is where I go to feel grounded, enlightened, and joyful... like I am taking a big, meditative, cleansing breath. I love Carrie's snippets of life with her son Rojo and her photos and reflections on life's "big picture" resonate deeply with me. She keeps it real when life gets her feeling down, but in her honesty her perspective always brings her back to center. She is a breath of fresh air and a superb talent.

The MINUTE I went to Tanya's blog, Teen Autism, I knew this woman was a phenomenally talented writer and quite an amazing individual. I was hooked by her first post and remain quite an addict! She has accomplished so much as a mother, as an advocate for her son and for all affected with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. In fact, she just went to TIBET on an amazing philanthropic/educational/awareness journey. Her writing style is sensational and her posts poignant and honest.

Michelle at A Day In My Life literally takes you through a day in her life... or should I say a day in her head... and I laugh myself silly! In her style, which is reminiscent of Erma Bombeck, this mother of 2 little boys and a jack of all trades, gives you a window into her life as a stay at home Mom and you realize that someone else out there thinks the same silly, fun, mommy-brained way as YOU do.

When I go to the beautiful site Rhema's Hope (Autism In A Word) I literally cry. Every time. CRY! I'm not exaggerating. Rhema and Hope are beautiful twin girls, one neurotypical, one with Autism. Rhema and Hope's amazing mother documents what her girls teach her about love, life, and motherhood with such attention to detail, deep faith in God, poetry, and emotion. It is impossible not to be moved and strengthened by her wisdom, courage, and how she faces moments of challenge. Her spirit is beautiful. Her writing phenomenal. Her words always powerful, moving, and quietly inspiring.

Calling The Shots is a newer blog and I am so glad to have found it! Beth is a wonderful writer, breast cancer survivor, and a fountain of support, encouragement and information for educating people on how to advocate for their own medical care. Candid and wise, Calling the Shots provides expert advice from her own experiences and is a must read if you or anyone in your family is sick.

I am so IN LOVE with my newest discovery, Michelle at Just Eat It. This is a blog I want to eat up... totally devour. Michelle's style of writing is so conversational, natural, familiar, quirky, funny, and true that you feel like you are having coffee with a good friend when you read her posts. It's like, I want to BE her good friend, but she's like really far away. And, I'm probably too lame for her, because she's really cool and down to earth and sassy and intelligent and her kids are like the world's most beautiful children. She's super funny and truly gifted as a storyteller. She's totally authentic too and really open about sharing her ups and downs. You just got to visit her!

I totally struggle with parenthood, feeling balanced and in harmony and serene. What I love about Mama Om is its unique slant on addressing the idea of finding peace, engaging in "peaceful parenting" (a phrase she defines on her blog) and being positive. Stacy is very insightful, humorous and relatable. This gifted writer and mother of 2 helps me feel like I'm not the only one trying to find the garden of Zen in the minefield of motherhood! You'll love her too.

Today

Today is any day and every day. I woke up to Tink sitting on the bathroom counter, playing with the toothbrushes. Then Pink ran into the room, snuggling between her father and me. Rella began wailing, but happily greeted me (with a boogery face and a saturated diaper that had actually burst open and her pjs were full of the urine bally things). I looked out at the dreary gray sky, watched CNN, made my tea, tried to get closure on a 5 day argument with my husband. Typical day in the life.

Today, across the country, another mother looked at her 16 month old daughter for the last time. Today, for this mother, was the first day of every parent's worst nightmare. Today, her baby daughter (the same exact age as my own little Rella) grew angel wings. Her baby died.

It's amazing to me that life is filled with people this very moment, this VERY moment as I'm typing on this computer, as my baby is napping, as my 4 year old comes down and nags me for the hundredth time about dying Easter eggs that there are human beings crying, losing, aching, grieving. Saying goodbye.

I did not know this woman named Heather Spohr or her daugher Madeline Alice. She lives in L.A. I know of her because she is one of over 100 contributing bloggers on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog site (I blog for the NJ Moms Blog, one of their sister sites). I've never met her in real life or cyberspace, nor have I read her blog. But her news was posted today on the site and for some reason, that was enough of a connection to break my heart. The fact that her daughter was born the exact month and year as my youngest was also very profound.

Today, my girls will annoy me, aggravate me, and drive me up a wall. They will make me laugh, hug me and snuggle in my lap. I will smell their hair, kiss their plump cheeks, and sneak into their rooms after they fall asleep and think how much I love them. I will wake up tomorrow and they will run into my room, jump on the bed, breathe their stinky little morning breath in my face, and we'll start our day. Together. There are no words to express the gratitude I feel for this daily gift. The gift of my crazy, adorable, rambunctious, loving, beautiful children. The gift of one more day, and hopefully a long lifetime, of never knowing such heartbreak.

To learn more about contributing to the March of Dimes, in honor of all the children and families who live such heartbreak and grow angel wings far too young, visit The Spohrs Are Multiplying or the March Of Dimes.

My Latest Post On "Autism Sucks"

Visit Autism Sucks (a great blog by T.) and read my latest post on the Autism "Club."