It has been two and a half weeks since we introduced Josiah to his therapy room and therapy pool. I was talking with my Dad this past Saturday about all of the positive changes we have seen. The improvements have been numerous! Last night, while Josiah slept, I woke to the sound of him laughing in his sleep. My husband has always warned me not to put too much stock in dreams, but, considering I have never heard Josiah do this before, it felt like further affirmation that we are seeing true joy in our boy. This video was taken on one of Josiah's much fewer and shorter van rides. Seeing him happy is priceless!
The pictures below are of a Facebook post from June 27, 2015 that popped up on my "On This Day" feed yesterday. Two years ago, we were desperate to find a solution for Josiah's swimming needs. We hadn't even thought of the fundraiser at this point. Two years later, our boy is swimming and has a calm and quiet place to help manage his sensory needs. We are amazed by the goodness of God and the generosity of so many!
While talking with my Dad about all the positives, I told him that I'm struggling some with how to still convey the truth of our situation without coming across complaining in any way. The primary purpose of creating this website was to raise the funding needed to help Josiah. But Jeremy and I also wanted to share our story as a means of further educating our friends, family, and community about special needs in general and severe autism specifically. And the truth is that we wake up every morning with the challenges of this disorder staring us in the face. Every hour of the day and often the night, its relentless glare is there. The truth is that there was poop in the pool on day two. The truth is that yesterday couldn't have been better until late afternoon when the clouds rolled in and Josiah had three back to back meltdowns. The truth is that this therapy pool and therapy room are making tangible and significant positive impacts on Josiah's quality of life. And every positive is a salve for the times of negative.
An equally important goal of creating this website was to publicly share the hope that we have found in Jesus. He alone renews our strength daily and sustains us through every moment of the day. His grace has been extravagant. Though we fail Him daily with our impatience, pride, selfishness, and lack of faith, He continues to guide us through this journey. His faithfulness is unending. The greatest gift Jeremy and I have ever been given is the gift of trusting in Jesus. The truth is that we are undeserving sinners, but He sacrificed himself on the cross to give His people forgiveness and an eternal hope that makes every day on this earth bearable.
Christy
*We are still trying to raise the funding needed to fix our massive drainage issues around the pool. If you would consider giving to help us protect all of the construction that has been done, we would be so grateful. Thank you!
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