My son, Jerziah Micah, is ten years old.  

He also has special needs.

He has autism.  Basically, that means he doesn't relate well socially.  Meeting people or trying to make friends is extremely difficult for him.  

He can talk, but he doesn't talk much ... only when HE wants to.  He mainly stays quiet or hides behind me whenever we are out in public, such as we were last night, when our church held their annual "Harvest Day Festival" for the community.  

He did behave himself though, so I was real proud of my boy.  He didn't get lost or spazz out like he usually does when out in crowds of people.

Jerziah goes to a school for kids with special needs.  He is in the third grade and does well academically; socially, however, is another story altogether.  We are trying to help him, but it isn't easy at times!

Besides Jerziah, we have a daughter, Sydnie DaShaundra, four, and a second son, Kente' LaQuand, who is two months; he was just born two months ago today, so he's real itty-bitty.  Thank God, Sydnie and Kente' are healthy.  Jerziah is healthy, too, but he does have special needs, so that automatically sets him apart from most kids.

We live here in Nashville, Tennesssee.  I am a homemaker and my husband, Quincey (Q-Man), is a plumber.  He makes pretty good money; he's been a plumber now for over 14 years.  We've been married for 15 and have a very good marriage.

We go to Christ Commuity Assembly of God Church, which is a nondenominational church.  People of any faith or belief is welcome to come to one of our services.  Our church is rather big, but I know a lot of people there; most are very nice.  

On Sundays, I help out with the Special Needs ministry.  I help with the children between services and help direct people to the sanctuary and give them encouagement.  I love my job; I meet all sorts of wonderful people and quite a few have since become good friends.

Anyway, Jerziah loves to play football and basketball.  Those are his favorite sports to play; he is very good at them, too.  In addition, he loves to rap and sing, but he hates singing in front of people becuase he has such a crippling fear of being among people he doesn't know.  

That is too bad because God blessed my boy with a beautiful singing voice.

In addition to that, Jerziah loves to draw, paint, write poems or stories, and make sculptures out of clay or plaster.  He has always had a very creative mind.  He is extremely talented but his autism seems to hold him back because as I said earlier, he doesn't relate well with people he does not know.

Well, it's about time for me to pick up the kids (Jerziah and Sydnie) from school, not to mention, feed tiny Kente' his "lunch" (breast milk).  He is crying up a storm; poor little guy must be starving!  I will write in here again; until then, this is Jacquie saying so long! May God bless you abundantly!

Love in Him, your new friend in Tennessee, Jacquetta (Jacquie) Niles.