Post Title The Nightmare of the power going out!

I haven't posted in our blog at any time during the pandemic. To tell you the truth Greg and I had our hands full with Ben. Ben's whole world changed during the lockdown. Our schedule to sing for 2020 and 2021 was very busy and we were traveling more than we ever had and sweet Ben was loving it! We had just come off of singing on a cruise and singing a weekend in Florida and had sang at a local church here in North Carolina and then it happened. Things began to shut down and our bookings began to cancel. Ben's school shut down, the gym he went to 3 times weekly shut down and his world changed as he knew it. There were days when he would just sit and cry as I tried to explain the craziness that I didn't even understand! We took one day at a time and did the best we could with his mood swings and meltdowns. Those of you who deal daily with a child with Autism knows exactly what I am talking about. We started doing some Facebook live video concerts and that helped. We kept doing our 2 live radio programs and started doing 2 taped radio programs per week and that helped also. As time went on Ben got use to the new schedule and the new normal and things became ok. Just remember when life throws you a curve most of the time we learn to deal with it and we can adjust quickly but for adults and kids with Autism that is NOT the case. We have loved having Ben home with us all day every day and have encouraged Ben to paint more, get outside more, practice his music more and do more on our radio programs. God blessed us to be able to record a new Christmas project and also a new project entitled "He Is Able". We also filmed a video for "Ben's Song" during this time and that kept Ben very busy practicing and learning new music. God supplied all our needs even though we were not able to travel and do what we love! Bens Autism keeps him from adjusting to change well, but it is not keeping him from learning and accepting that things can't always be the same. Life has a way of throwing us curves and all of us have to learn the new normal and adjust. We are beginning to travel again and share Ben's story and our testimonies and God is opening SO many new doors. As a Mama it is so good to know that YES my sweet boy can adjust to new and different things. Thank you Lord for helping us and showing us ways to help Ben adjust and thank you for 2 years of slowing us down and giving us time to reflect and smell the roses. We never dreamed that there would be a full 2 years of this but God has been with us every step of the way and has showed us how to help Ben through it! We are trusting you Lord to guide our path and when those obstacles are thrown in the way please remind us that you are always there to help us if we will only ask.

Wow as I sit here tonight thinking about all the things the Lord has brought our family through over the years and where He has brought us from, I am amazed. After Ben was diagnosed with Autism I went through what I call a defeated stage. I knew from God's word that He was always there with us, and that He would never let us down, and that He was in control but until I trusted that, I was defeated! I went through a spell where I was mad at God and asked why......why did it have to be Ben, what had I done that this was happening to me and our family???. Then something just said to me Donna why not you? Trust me, I don't make any mistakes and everything that happens to you and your family is for my glory. From that day on there have been times that I have thanked the Lord for this trial called Autism. God brings us through tests to create our testimonies. If someone would have told me 20 years ago that Ben, Greg and I would be traveling and sharing our songs and testimonies about raising a child with Autism I would have probably told them they were crazy. But God has a way of working things out so that He receives the glory...... and I pray every time that we stand and sing and testify that He and only He receives the praise and glory. If we can help one other parent who is going through the toughness of a diagnosis or dealing with not knowing which way to turn or what to do, this journey has been well worth the trip. If we can help someone that does not know the Lord as their personal Savior to accept Him then there you go! Their journey just got easier! With Christ you can do all things but without Him you can do nothing. Ben is a living testimony to those words. As we take the stage at NQC on Monday in the new artist showcase I pray that people will see what God has done in Ben's life and know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He and only He can work miracles like that and above all that our hope lies only in the Lord! Thank you Lord for using us as your servants!