Hey God,

You are awesome.

Thank you for the many great things in my life.

Not to mention everything but thanks for…

Friends.

The Ocean.

The feeling we have on the bare arms when the sun comes out from behind a cloud and splashes sunlight down on us. That was a very nice touch…

I am also grateful for the end of break dancing.

And for weeks like this. I feel different….

Oh, and thank you for Hot N’ Spicy Pork Skins. I am sure you don’t get too many comments on that one…but you at least have one fan of them in me.

Father, I have seen a lot of great things this week.

I have seen children who have in many cases been ignored by society in a place where they are accepted and loved.

I have seen children who are fractured show glimpses of the person who is inside clawing their way out.

I have seen children who were told by people back home that they can’t do “typical” things do some incredible things here. I have seen these children ride horses, rock-wall climb, have dances, and grow deep friendships.

I have seen determination in these children.

I have seen courage in these children.

I have seen parents coming to grips with their child who is newly diagnoses with autism.

I have seen parents who are heartbroken find comfort in the arms of other parents who know exactly what they are going through.

I have seen parents angry over the treatment of their children back in their hometowns.

I have seen parents ready to sacrifice everything they have for their children.

I have seen parents who have lost their children to illness come here to lend their hearts to other parents who are hurting.

I have seen determination in these parents.

I have seen courage in these parents.

I have by the end of this week seen some parents let go of their anger.

I have seen siblings of children with autism have a place to come and share their feelings.

I have seen these siblings have a chance to have a safe place where nobody will judge their family.

I have seen these siblings form fast and important friendships with one another.

I have seen the courage in these siblings to have the pride in being a brother/sister to a special needs child. They walk unafraid.

I have seen people from all over sacrifice their time, money, and talents to come here and help these little children.

I have seen kindness of a therapy team that only sees the good in these special children.

I have seen courage in the people who have served these children. Courage to maintain hope despite the obstacles that autism puts in their way.

I have seen my own family take important steps on our journey together.

I have seen my wife console other parents with her incredible grace.

I have seen my two “typical” children help lift my autistic son up when he falls.

I have seen my autistic son do things this week that I would never have imagined.

I have seen his first kiss.

I have learned a new motive for kissing.

I have seen myself spending more time in quiet.

I kind of like that.

As I am sure everyone else does as well.

I am not a good enough student to remember all the lessons I have learned this week,

One of the things I have learned is a few reminders really….

I am reminded that EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE is deserving of dignity.

That despite any mental or physical impairments a person might suffer with their life is of no lesser value than mine. They are as beautiful as anyone else.

I am reminded that autism is not my fault.

I make too many apologies for my son.

I am a freaking’ idiot. But of course you know that already…

I won’t walk timidly any more.

If I believe in the fact that EVERYONE deserves dignity then I will no longer be afraid of what other people might think about our families autism journey.

I know that this might be a problem for some people.

This is where I need your help.

Grant in me the courage that I have seen in these special children. Give me the courage to embrace things that are scary to me with their own fierce determination. Allow me the perseverance that these little angels have to pick myself up and try again.

Give me the courage that I have seen in the parents I have lived among this week. Give me the courage to stand and fight for my little guy.

Give me the courage that I have seen in the siblings of the special needs children. Give me the courage to walk as unafraid as they do.

Grant me the courage of the people who put on this camp. Let me have the strength to wake up each morning and tackle autism with the same patience, love, dedication of these fine people.

Please God bless everyone affected by autism.

Bless us parents who are lost and angry. Help us find peace. Help us remember that our struggle is not one we face alone. Help us develop thick skin. Help us to look for hope. Help us to remember that our families journey will not be swayed by the opinions of others in our neighborhoods, schools, or communities. Help us to love more. Help us heal, and to not choose to remain broken, Help us. God help us….

Bless the Children who live with autism. Help them find peace in who they are. Many of them already know there is something a little different about themselves. Please aid them in finding out how they fit into the puzzle. Give them a chance to know you. A chance to love. A chance to experience the joy and pain of everything that life offers. Bless they children so that they remain as loving and accepting of EVERYONE as they are. Bless the children who have been given up on. Help them find people who can help them. Help these children. God please help them….

Bless the brothers and sisters of children with autism. They are often forgotten about. They do not get the attention that their special sibling does. Please give them peace. Help them not to ever be afraid to be the brother or sister to a child with autism. Bless them with thick skins too….they will need it. Help them find hope, so they can share it with their parents. Bless them with patience, understanding, and love. Help them heal. Help these siblings. Please God help them….

Bless those who are serving special needs children. I think you already know how I feel about them. If you can provide them each a winning lotto ticket I think that would be a nice gesture.

Bless the people who don’t know anyone with special needs. Grant them understanding/acceptance and lack of fear of people who are different then them.

Bless the folks who mock children or people with disabilities. Most of them have no idea what other people are going through. Give them a chance to learn empathy, compassion, and love. Now the folks who now exactly what they are doing…well…please bless them with big ole’ zits.

Big nasty zits. The ones that need their own mailbox.

I know that doesn’t make sense.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to me.

I wanted to get this out before we left tomorrow.

I know I don’t pray much lately.

Probably since the Bronco Season ended.

I will do better.

Thanks for loving us.

Oh, and if there is anything you can do about getting CBS to un-cancel Jericho I would be grateful as well. I feel like the writers were just hitting their stride…

Bless us God…

Help us….