Thankfulness

I'm trying something new today. I am going to write what I am thankful for. It is the month of thanks and giving isn't it?

1. I am thankful for my family. They come first and foremost ahead of everything else. My parents have been there to support me through every step of my life. They have supported me in the decisions/choices I have made and they have helped over come the obstacles I have face in my life. I have to give thanks to them because I wouldn't be who I am if it weren't for them.

2. I am thankful for Melissa and Dickinson Mental Health. I wouldn't have come as far as I have it it weren't for them. If it meant driving long distance to see the specialists I needed to see to get this far in my life with success, I wouldn't have it any other way. I thank you guys for not only providing services, but reaching out to satellite offices where you can see more clients. I thank you for holding a charity ball that raises money for autism awareness and more services. I thank you for the invitation to the charity ball this year where I was able to share my success. I thank you for supporting my blogging experience and letting me share and advocate for others. I thank  you for letting me instill in others that people on the spectrum can be happy.

3. I am thankful for camp chameleon. Camp chameleon was there for me for 10 years. I will never forget the day when I met my neurologist Dr. Famiglio for the first time. She introduced me to camp and I went until I was to old. I am fortunate enough to give back to those who helped me so much. I am thankful for the experiences you have given me to just be a kid. The experiences you have given me to be in nature. The experiences to be exposed to others with special needs. The experiences that have helped me build my foundation to help others as an adult. You did so much for me. I remember the carnival, and the dog show my first year. I remember the bug treasure hunt in the med shed my second year. I remember making soda/mentos rockets one year. I remember climbing the rock wall for the first time. I remember going down the zipline the first time. I remember the movies we made. I remember when cat in the hat visited my cabin. I remember elmer fud. I remember the gigantic alien that came visited us. I remember the hay rides and the sheriff's house. I remember KJ the guitar lady. I still love her. I remember king joe. I remember the pudding contests. I remember my first time in the tree house. I remember play the drums with K. I remember trick-or treating and J chasing after my rabbit tale. I remember the J trio. I remember the aster egg hunt, the thanksgiving dinner and the unbirthday. I remember when Santa came to visit. I love you all and can't thank you enough.

4. I want to thank big brothers, bit sisters. I will never forget the day my mother called you out of urgency. It was during a time I was struggling. You told us that the wait wouldn't be long. I remember having my intake and thinking how fortunate I was to be able to have a big sister. I remember meeting my big sister. I remember asking if I could have been matched by my birthday. I remember having that wish come true. I remember the great activities I did with my bigs. I remember the picnics. I remember the day we got to meet the women's basketball team. I remember our girls groups. I remember the positive and caring situations I was always placed in with you guys.

5. I want to thank Melissa that has been there all the way for me. Melissa you stepped into my life at just t he right time. I was just starting high school and we didn't know what we were getting into. You were there and you understood me. You understood my family and you understood what we needed. You understood that I was unique and that you could still help me. You were able to give me practical strategies. You were there when you had to leave, to guide us in the right direction. You were there when we didn't want to start traveling. You were there when we decided we wanted to travel. You were there to suggest I start writing a blog. You were there to encourage me through rough times. You were there with your spirits high when I was struggling with driving. You were there.

6. I am thankful for sunny days and there understanding of me. To be blunt and honest, I would probably be fired from any other job if I gave them the crap I give you guys. You were there when I was growing and learning how to deal with people. You pushed me when Iw as stubborn. You were there when you knew things weren't right. You are there to be an advocate and teacher for me. You are there to help me do better. You have a connection with my mom like no other.

7. The creamery is always there for me as a peer oriented job. I thank the creamery for being a more task oriented job. This job is a place to interact with my typical peers and to feel good about myself. You are there as a social outlet. I don't know what I did without you before. Thank you

8. i have to thank the doctors that have kept there cool with my nonsense. I have to thank them for listening to me even when things don't make sense. I need to thank the doctors who think my side affect  complaints are weird, but trust me when I say they are real. The doctors are there to show me that I everything will be okay. They are there to keep me healthy. If I didn't have doctors who listened, I probably wouldn't be sane right now. DARN LAMICTAL

9. I'm thankful for the autism support group on campus. I am thankful for the friends I have made through there. The experiences I have been able to share and learn from are more than I can ask for. I have somewhere that I can go and learn from others just like me. I have a place where I can use clinical terms that people understand because they have the same issues. I have peers that get my sense of humor. I have people to hang out with and who don't care that I am different.

10. I am thankful for my mothers coworker who has saved me form the brink of insanity on a number of occasions. In October of last year she had started working for my mom from our house. A couple days before thanksgiving I had asked if she could bring her kids up to hang out the day before thanksgiving. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving her kids were in a car accident when she called us to let us know she wasn't sure she would make it in. Today her kids are doing great and she did come in for a little bit that wednesday. She decided she had to leave early though which made me upset. She understood me though and knew I struggled with change. She took the effort to let me and her daughter make cookies and then we went grocery shopping. She compromised by taking me to get groceries since she couldn't stay the whole day. She is always there for me and my mother. The trips to the bank and to the grocery store to keep me stimulated. The stays at her house so I could have a break from my own family and since I can't have typical sleep overs. The safety net when my parents are away. The lunches out with my mother and I to the waffle shop and quickie chickie. The McDonald's sweet teas she insists on us getting even though I don't sleep at night. The times when we turn across a 4-5 lane. She is also there to support us when my mothers thinks I am going to be famous due to some reality show. She is there for my mother and I.

11. I'm thankful for so many things in my life. The fact that I have a roof over my head and a family to love me. I have people that care about me and I have hope for the future. I may not have said everything I am thankful for but there are so many things. I have thankfulness in my heart.