May 21, 2009, 11:30 a.m.~
Terri Hershey here. Hope this finds you well; sorry I haven't written. Been busy, you know. You know how that goes, especially in my case. I am dealing with a ballooning belly (yes, I'm pregnant; due around Christmas time!), and the demands of my seven-year-old son, David Patrick, who has autism.
Right now, though, it's just me. David's at school; he won't be home until three thirty, which gives me three and a half hours of total freedom. (Ahhhh!! I love these moments! It's moments like this I live for! :) )
I am happy to report I'm over the morning sickness. I had it bad!! Oh, it was horrid! Poor David didn't understand why mommy kept getting sick every morning; somehow he felt it was his fault, and he acted especially beastly at times. I had to try to reassure him that it was okay, that it was part in having a baby, that it was normal.
Poor David wasn't convinced.
I am sorry to report that David did not make it for the AGT tryouts. Right before we were to leave, he had a meltdown, and during the audition, he got stage fright and cried his heart out. I felt so bad for him!
He absolutely loves to sing, but only when he's in the mood.
When he does, he has the voice of an angel. He has a beautiful singing voice!
During the auditions, one of the kids I know from church did make it to the televised portion, a sixteen year old girl named Ronee' Reaux. She is sixteen, as I just said, but she has been blessed with an incredible singing voice, as well as musical ability. During the tryouts, she sang a Cajun song and played an accordion. She was very good! I pray she makes it; she has the makings of a true superstar of the future!
She is disabled, too. Not autistic; her disability's more physical. She has JRA, plus asthma and allergies; however, none of that has ever stopped her. She is absolutely amazing!
Speaking of church, our church is having a Cleansing Stream retreat this weekend, our second one. I'm not going, but I do know people who are, people of all ages. I know some kids who are going as well as quite a few adults. Maybe I'll go next time they have a retreat (sometime in November). Couldn't hurt! :)
We're also having a revival in June with the McKameys from Tennessee and the McGruders from Missouri, and on Memorial Day weekend, we're having special military-themed services, plus we're feeding the veterans of our community.
I am so glad I am a part of Christ Community Assembly of God: they've welcomed us with open arms, and they have ministry opportunities for families with children who have special needs. I am part of one such ministry; we have a parents group that meets every week, and it's been cathartically healing for all involved. I know I don't feel so alone, and it's nice to know that there are other families who are going through "things".
David's discovered a new love: basketball. He loves to play basketball after school with his friends from school, and he is very good at it, too. I will have to make sure to get him a basketball soon if he continues to do well in both school and socially. He's been an absolute angel lately, and I am hoping it lasts!
The last meltdown he had was at the America's Got Talent tryouts. That was about a month ago. He's been very good lately; I will have to reward him by giving him a dollar raise in his allowance and getting him a new basketball (and not let him know about it, let it be a total surprise!).
Well, I am going to get ready to go to the store, then out to eat (today, I'm going to Rosa's Cantina, the new Mexican restaurant here in town; hear it's very good; I love Mexican food!). Rather, I'm going out to eat first, then go to the store. I will then come home and relax until the bus brings David back home at three thirty. I will write in here again soon with another update; hopefully by then I will find out what I am having! :) (I know, I know: I'm having a baby! LOLOLOL)
Until then, this is Terri Hershey signing off! Take care and God bless you always!
~Love, your friend in Nashville, Tennessee, Terri Hershey. :)
