Indy Ex-Pat: Special Needs

Hi Redeemer MOPS moms!

Some of you don't know me, so I'll start by introducing myself.  My name is Beth Williamson.  My husband is Andy, and our children are Silas, 4 1/2, and Nora, 1 1/2.  I was part of your group for the last three years and planned to return this year to work on the Publicity team with the very talented Mary and Cheryl; however, it seems that God had other plans for us.  Over the summer, we felt led to move from the Indianapolis area, where we had lived all our lives, to Raleigh, NC, a place I had never even visited.  Mary suggested that it might be interesting if I write occasional blog posts about what it's like to make a major move with a family.  Before I get into all of that, though, I want to share something with you that has a tremendous impact on the choices Andy and I make, including our decision to move.  Our son is autistic.  Although he is high-functioning, we still have to think about things the average family doesn't.  We don't just need good schools; we need good special education services.  We don't just need health insurance; we need insurance that will pay for autism therapies.  We don't just need new friends; we need friends who will be patient with Silas and expect the same from their own children.  The list goes on and on, but it's all part of the "beautiful mess" that is our unique parenting experience.  So, for now, I would like to leave you with an essay by children's writer Emily Kingsley that has nothing to do with moving but definitely describes where I am.

WELCOME TO HOLLAND

by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandt.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Fall Recipes

submitted by Amy Heneisen

Pumpkin Cookies
utterly amazing, even without the carmel topping!
Makes 3 dozen

Mix:
1/4 c. butter
3/4 c. Crisco
1 c. sugar
1 c. pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Add:
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix well.  Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 8-12 minutes (depending on size of your spoonfuls) at 350 until top of cookie springs back quickly when touched lightly.  If your finger leaves a dent in the cookie top, the cookies need more cooking time.  Cool 1-2 minutes on cookie sheet and remove to wire rack to cool completely.  *Be sure cookies are completely cool before icing.*

Carmel Topping
Bring to boil in saucepan:
3 T. butter
1/4 c. milk
1/2 c. brown sugar

After boil, cook for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and add:
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. powdered sugar

Mix well.  Dip cooled cookies immediately.

Oatmeal Apple Cookies
(from www.food.com)
Makes 2 1/2 dozen

3/4 c. shortening
1 1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 c. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour
 1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3 c. quick oats (not instant or old fashioned)
1 c. peeled diced apples
3/4 c. raisins (optional)
3/4 c. coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 and grease cookie sheet.

Combine shortening, sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla in large bowl.  Beat at medium speed until well blended.

Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and soda in small bowl and mix into creamed mixture at low speed until just blended.

Stir in oats, apples, raisins, and nuts.

Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough about 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake for 13 minutes or until just set.

Cool for 1-2 minutes on cookie sheets, then remove to cooling rack to cool completely.

Hot Spiced Apple Cider

Combine in large pot and simmer about 30 minutes:
1 gallon cider
1 tsp. allspice
12 whole cloves (OR 1/2 tsp. ground cloves)
2 sticks cinnamon
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar

Add:
1 c. orange juice
2/3 c. lemon juice

Heat and serve. Can be frozen or refrigerated and served again.

I typically make 1/4 recipe (1 quart cider) for our own family at a time.

School Panel Audio

We are thankful for an excellent school panel this week! Four schools were represented, including:

- Paramount School of Excellence (Mr. Tommy Reddicks, School Director and Ms. Peggy Purvis, Office Manager)

- The Oaks Academy (Ms. Robin Shaw, Admissions)

- Classical Conversations (Ms. Debra Radke, Director)

- Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Magnet Programs (Ms. Jennifer Botts, Magnet Program Director, and Ms. Christy Shaul, Magnet Coordinator)

If you missed the meeting this week, or have a friend who would like to listen, please access the school panel audio at this link: http://www.redeemindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MOPS-School-Panel.mp3.