Pieces of the Puzzle Ministries

06/14/2024

04/17/2022

04/16/2022

Interesting research.

Research led by Mark Shen, PhD, Heather Hazlett , PhD, and Joseph Piven, MD, from UNC-Chapel Hill is the first to demonstrate overgrowth of the amygdala in the first year of life, before babies show most of the behavioral symptoms that later consolidate into a diagnosis of autism. This overgrowth ma

04/03/2022

One of my favorite quotes related to autism. Something we would all be wise to remember. No two people with autism will be the same.

Dr. Stephen Shore – Special Education Professor, Adelphi University, Advisory Board Member

“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”

04/03/2022

04/02/2022

Wear your blue on April 2!

03/31/2022

I relate to this article in so many ways…Be watching for special content this April…with autism awareness month starting tomorrow!

But our younger son James is considered non-verbal , using about 100 words appropriately. We can’t communicate in the ways most moms and sons communicate, but we have our own special methods.

03/27/2022

Make sure to eat @ Walk-Ons on April 12 between 4:00 and 10:00 to help spread Autism Awareness! 20% of all sales go to PARA! Make sure to Bring the Flyer With You!

03/02/2022

Registration is now open for the Burkhart Walk for Autism 2022! https://bit.ly/36XoDtq

02/22/2022

02/04/2022

One of my favorite hymns is Great Is Thy Faithfulness. It just helps me to remember that no matter what this life brings, my God is faithful. No matter the season, He will never fail. All I have needed, He provides. Every day I see new mercies that could only come from His mighty hand. Praise His name.

Carrie Underwood’s performance of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” featuring CeCe Winans as part of “My Savior: Live From The Ryman.” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”...

02/02/2022

Depending on Jesus as our Rock

By Rusty Berry
I have a nephew who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at the age of six. The good news is my nephew will soon be a 21-year-old adult who is doing well as a college sophomore. As you can imagine, the years growing up with Tourette Syndrome caused my sister's family to go through many ups and downs due to the consistent inconsistency it brings. But through those ups and downs, I remember a comment my sister made several years ago that has stuck with me and even impacted how I view our walk with our son's autism today.
When talking about the impact Tourette Syndrome had on her faith, my sister talked about how the journey taught her not to get caught up in the fluff, such as what type of church music is played, special church programs offered, or is there a coffee bar; but to learn what it meant to truly just depend on Jesus. All those other things are good and can be great tools for Christians and churches. But the foundation of our faith is fully depending on Jesus Christ for our salvation and lives going forward. Let's be honest, there are times in life just knowing and believing Jesus is our foundation is all we have.
One of my recent Bible reading times took me to Psalm 18 where David refers to the Lord as his rock four times throughout the chapter. In doing a little research, you'll learn the chapter was written during a time when Saul was chasing David, with plans to kill him. Yet the Lord continued to keep David from being harmed by Saul and other enemies he had at the time. Hindsight allows us to know David eventually no longer had to worry about Saul chasing him, how great a warrior he was, and eventually becoming king. When this Psalm was written, David was at a place of worry and fear of what the next day might bring. However, he chose to continue to put his trust in the Lord because that was all he had at the time.
As a special needs parent, I think worry and fear are things that come naturally with the job. We see the mental and physical struggles, worry about our child being accepted by other kids, and ultimately what does the future hold for them, especially when we are gone. Even as Christians, I'll be honest saying those feelings can sometimes take their toll on our faith. We have a small viewpoint on what's going on and sometimes it doesn't always look good. But just like David in Psalm 18, we can hold on to that belief knowing that Jesus is that rock or foundation we can depend on when everything else seems shaky.
Matthew 11: 28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."