Provision

When I say provision do you think of food? Ordinarily I would too, though "I'm not a big eater." Ha!

However, let me go on record as saying there are more important provisions than food. When I look back at our journey through autism thus far, there are some pivotal people who the Lord has provided for us at just the right time in truly miraculous ways.

Danielle, was the first case manager for Reid's home program. She became way more than that, like a counselor and trusted advisor. What amazes me still is how we had met in Bay Area through an early mentor mom to me, Irma Velasquez (she has since started Wings Learning Center). Reid had had a facilitated playdate with her son, Aaron, which Danielle facilitated. We connected on some gut level and remembered each other. In less than a year's time, we both were planning a move back to San Diego. Danielle confided that she might also be relocating to work at the UCSD Autism lab.

Timely enough, we had a shoe-in for our home program --someone I already trusted fully. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Danielle had gone to our church as a college student. Our shared faith further bonded us and blurred the lines of professionalism. Suffice it to say, I was very comfortable with her in the house training our team and spending long hours with Reid. We cried when she left at the acknowledgment of God providing exactly what we needed in those early days.

Carla, was part of the glory days on Danielle's team. We hired her with the same gut feeling that she'd just plain be good. A Canadian expat, she worked part-time as a guidance assistant in our local district. Little did we know what mysterious ways the Lord was working in then. I will never forget the first time Carla and Reid came into the kitchen after their closed-door play session. They were singing little Sunday school praise songs, which were Reid's only words at the time. I was flabbergasted to see that Carla knew them! God had provided.

We cried when she drove off for Florida in that orange Penske truck, not knowing that she'd be back. The amazing recurrent blessing of Carla is that she moved back for another year under very different circumstances for a Masters in Real Estate. The gift of that year was for me as much as Reid. It marked a million milestones in both our lives and moved me forward in writing, mothering, and sisterhood, for that is what we've become.

Kathryn Mary, cousin Kat, has been a similar kind of gift these past 5 months. She has been friend, confidante, family member, sous chef, and breath of fresh air to all of us. For such a time as this, she has helped us shift our focus to Allie's imminent college decision; she offered a naturally occurring novelty of socialization for Reid; and without realizing it helped us raise the bar on many habits--whether wearing pajamas, shutting the bathroom door, or flossing more often. She left a week ago and we cried then too.

As I near the completion of Kelly Langston's Authentic Christianity Challenge, I think being authentic is acknowledging that the best things in life come from Him. In so doing, I also project that what He's done before, He will do again. The Lord will provide.

Who or what has God given you that you couldn't have arranged yourself?

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:16-18

So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:20-22

And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:13-15