Celebrate Special Needs Victories!<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAutumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.\u201d <\/em> This is my favorite time of the year. The long days of summer have passed; the cold, East coast winter has not set in yet. It\u2019s still warm enough to get outside to enjoy the sunshine on our faces.\u00a0 And the deep, warm colors are appearing everywhere we look\u2014pumpkins, trees, shrubs, plants. Beautiful!<\/p>\n Celebrate Autumn<\/strong><\/p>\n In our home, autumn brings with it a natural slowing down of life. We have settled into the new school year after a few bumpy weeks. The days begin to get shorter and we start to note, sometimes daily, how soon the evening comes. We seem to buy more hot cocoa at this time of year, preparing for cool, crisp nights and brisk mornings. I can\u2019t bear to turn the heat on, not yet. Soon enough it will go on and warm our home, but for now you\u2019ll find us snuggled under blankets, putting on a pair of socks and enjoying the last few days of keeping the windows open.<\/p>\n Celebrate the Past Year<\/strong><\/p>\n This is the time of year when people begin to reflect back on the year. For some it\u2019s been long, for others it seems to have passed too quickly. Yet it seems that we all take some time, during autumn, to reflect and remember. With each leaf that changes color, with each vibrant color of fall plant, we pause and realize that we are one moment closer to finishing another year.<\/p>\n We deal with special needs in our home, and this has taught us so many things. One of the most important, though, is that each moment is special, and each victory is worth celebrating, not just for this son, but for all of our children! As I reflect on the year our kids have had, I\u2019m always amazed\u2014so many noteworthy remembrances. They are learning and growing remarkably well, they are all healthy, all have their special interests and are pursuing those, all are showing spiritual growth and depth. I cannot ask for more!<\/p>\n Celebrate Small Victories<\/strong><\/p>\n As I consider, particularly, our son with special needs, a wonderful thought occurs to me. We have intentionally focused on celebrating every small victory for him and for our other two children. Every one of them. Because of that, my heart is full.\u00a0 As I pause and look around at each warm, vibrant shade of autumn, I am overwhelmed\u2014each changing leaf, each lovely shade of autumn, represents a warm memory of our year. Maybe it was a pronouncement of physical health by our favorite pediatrician; maybe it was a new skill learned and mastered; maybe it was a kindness extended to another. We\u2019ve come a long way and every autumn gives me a chance to reflect in that and to enjoy the warm remembrances that fill my heart!<\/p>\n Celebrate Your Family<\/strong><\/p>\n Thank you, Becky, for reminding us to celebrate special needs victories, even the small ones. How about you? Did you think of something to celebrate? Please leave a comment so we can celebrate with you.<\/p>\n Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop-up box and the second at the bottom of this page.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#b4dbc0″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiJCeSAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl9hcmNoaXZlIn19@” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100px” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”title” header_font=”Rubik|500|||||||” header_text_color=”#44465f” header_font_size=”14px” header_line_height=”32px” body_font=”Rubik||||||||” body_text_color=”rgba(0,6,69,0.6)” body_link_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_css_main_element=”font-weight: 400;” border_radii_image=”on|100px|100px|100px|100px” border_color_all_image=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical_image=”20px” box_shadow_blur_image=”40px” box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(68,70,95,0.27)” image_max_width=”100px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#42313A” button_bg_color=”#EBDCB2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_comments][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”159deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#42313A 0%|#EBDCB2 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#42313A” background_color_gradient_end=”#EBDCB2″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#1c1259″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|0px|5px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”horizontal_optin_column_1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_align=”right” header_text_color=”#45107a” header_3_font=”Dancing Script|700|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#B4DBC0″ header_3_font_size=”45px” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_signup mailchimp_list=”JolenePhilo|89f719a52b” layout=”bottom_top” first_name_fullwidth=”off” last_name_field=”off” email_fullwidth=”off” module_class=”custom_emailoptin” _builder_version=”4.16″ form_field_focus_background_color=”#42313A” background_enable_color=”off” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#42313A” button_bg_color=”#B4DBC0″ button_border_width=”2px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” button_custom_margin=”5px||||false|false” button_custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_width_all_fields=”2px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”EB Garamond|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#B6452C” header_font_size=”50px” header_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”current” show_more=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_color=”#42313A” meta_font=”||on||||||” read_more_font=”|||on|||||” read_more_text_color=”#B6452C” read_more_font_size=”12px” pagination_text_color=”#B6452C” pagination_font_size=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Celebrate! New guest blogger Becky Hallberg talks about how to celebrate special needs victories as her son makes his way through life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" \u201cAutumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.\u201d <\/em>\n-Albert Camus<\/em><\/p>\n This is my favorite time of the year. The long days of summer have passed; the cold, East coast winter has not set in yet. It\u2019s still warm enough to get outside to enjoy the sunshine on our faces.\u00a0 And the deep, warm colors are appearing everywhere we look\u2013pumpkins, trees, shrubs, plants. Beautiful!<\/p>\n\n In our home, autumn brings with it a natural slowing down of life. We have settled into the new school year after a few bumpy weeks. The days begin to get shorter and we start to note, sometimes daily, how soon the evening comes. We seem to buy more hot cocoa at this time of year, preparing for cool, crisp nights and brisk mornings. I can\u2019t bear to turn the heat on, not yet. Soon enough it will go on and warm our home, but for now you\u2019ll find us snuggled under blankets, putting on a pair of socks and enjoying the last few days of keeping the windows open.<\/p>\n\n This is the time of year when people begin to reflect back on the year. For some it\u2019s been long, for others it seems to have passed too quickly. Yet it seems that we all take some time, during autumn, to reflect and remember. With each leaf that changes color, with each vibrant color of fall plant, we pause and realize that we are one moment closer to finishing another year.<\/p>\nWe deal with special needs in our home and this has taught us so many things. One of the most important, though, is that each moment is special and each victory is worth celebrating, not just for this son, but for all of our children! As I reflect on the year our kids have had, I\u2019m always amazed\u2013so many noteworthy remembrances. They are learning and growing remarkably well, they are all healthy, all have their special interests and are pursuing those, all are showing spiritual growth and depth. I cannot ask for more!\n As I consider, particularly, our son with special needs, a wonderful thought occurs to me. We have intentionally focused on celebrating every small victory for him and for our other two children. Every one of them.Because of that, my heart is full.\u00a0 As I pause and look around at each warm, vibrant shade of autumn, I am overwhelmed\u2013each changing leaf, each lovely shade of autumn, represents a warm memory of our year. Maybe it was a pronouncement of physical health by our favorite pediatrician; maybe it was a new skill learned and mastered; maybe it was a kindness extended to another. We\u2019ve come a long way and every autumn gives me a chance to reflect in that and to enjoy the warm remembrances that fill my heart!<\/p>\n\n
-Albert Camus<\/em><\/p>\nSubscribe for Updates from Jolene<\/h3>\n
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![\"Celebrate!](\"http:\/\/differentdream.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/church-300x300.jpg\" "\\"Celebrate")
<\/a>\n\nCelebrate! New guest blogger Becky Hallberg<\/a> has learned to celebrate special needs victories\u2013even the small ones\u2013as she homeschools her three children, one of whom experiences sensory deficits<\/a>. Today she introduces DifferentDream.com readers to her family and talks about what they're celebrating.\nCelebrate Special Needs Victories!<\/h3>\n
Celebrate Autumn<\/h4>\n
Celebrate the Past Year<\/h4>\n
Celebrate Small Victories<\/h4>\n
Celebrate Your Family<\/h4>\n