True Colors-Tan

         He is not here. He has Risen

Tan is the color of the doughnuts I use every year to share the true meaning of Easter with my kids. I didn't get any pictures today which is a first. We had a wonderful Easter and I loved seeing their smiles and screams of joy. I also ate too much. Maybe I'll stop the doughnut tradition next year. Maybe next year the Bunny will also cut back on the amount of sugar in the baskets. WHEW these kids were on fire this afternoon. I was glad the water guns that were left provided a much needed outlet. It was a beautiful and blessed day. 

Tan is also the last name of the "Joy Luck Club" author Amy Tan. A best selling book about mothers and daughters. A favorite of mine. As parents of kids on the spectrum we do belong to a club of sorts. There is also much joy in our hearts and minds, although it seems at times we are as empty as Jesus' tomb. Because of Him I have the courage and the strength and the forgiveness I need to raise child somewhere over the spectrum. 

" So this is what I will do. I will gather together my past and look. I will see a thing that has already happened. the pain that cut my spirit loose. I will hold that pain in my hand until it becomes hard and shiny, more clear. And then my fierceness can come back, my golden side, my black side. I will use this sharp pain to penetrate my daughter's tough skin and cut her tiger spirit loose. She will fight me, because this is the nature of two tigers. But I will win and giver her my spirit, because this is the way a mother loves her daughter." -Joy Luck Club

I hope you all had a blessed Easter!

Thanks for reading~

Jessica 

Splish Splash

I'm just going to say it. The Easter Bunny is a bi$ch. Every year she puts the same thing in Emily's Easter basket knowing it will cause her to have many meltdowns that day. The Easter Bunny is also very practical and frugal though, and likes to give things that will last longer than a chocolate bunny or a basket full of junk. Several years ago she started putting bathing suits in the baskets. It's been chaos and crying every Easter since.

This Easter was no exception. The wide-eyed surprise of finding the bathing suit brought squeals of joy that would make any bunny proud. However the joy was fleeting as the association between bathing suit and swimming crossed her mind. I could see it like a movie scene. The smile. The glance at the bathing suit. The look outside the window. I knew it was coming although she never said a word. After three intense rounds of crying throughout the day I finally succumbed to the stress and did what I knew would make her happy.