Corry's Journey

 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.

 They are plans for good and not for disaster, to 

give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11. 

  My son Corry is pretty much amazing and the journey God has placed him on is  full of promise and hope.  When Corry was in kindergarten he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder (ADHD) and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).  When I first heard this I was not fearful, but yet relieved.  Since he was two years old he always seemed to struggle.  In fact so much that when we attended church I was constantly getting called out of service to come and take care of him.  I would find him either sitting on a chair outside waiting for me, or better yet hiding under a table looking overwhelmed. Then I would listen to his wrong doings by the teacher and my heart would just sink and I would try not to let the tears flow. I felt like a failure as a parent, because I could not get my kid to mind. What looked like disobedience was actually Corry's inability to process all the simulations his brain was trying to process.  The teachers never let me feel that way or gave me to cause to feel that way.  I would let doubt and condemnation come in I loved my church family and as a newly single mom I knew this is where I needed to be.

     

     We are blessed to have a Christian doctor and when I told her that I did not want Corry on medicine she fully supported my decision. She helped set up some occupational therapy, recommended for him to get some classroom modification for school and music therapy.  All these things really helped Corry and me with his ADHD/SPD.  As a parent I did everything I could to make his life better.  I loved seeing him come out of his frustrated shell and to be able to be in public without feeling overwhelmed.  I mean he still had his moments where if I did not have his favorite style of socks available a meltdown was sure to follow.  One day after a series of rough days, and daily phone calls from his teacher, we were at the store buying laundry soap.  I stopped what I was doing and watched my son.  He was going down the aisle and straightening all the boxes and jugs of laundry soap.  That crushed me, I got to see for the first a little bit what Corry struggled with.  That night I was crying out to God, begging him to take this burden away from him.  God very clearly spoke to me, " No, I gave this to him for a reason.  He will use it to help others like him".  My next plea was, Okay give me the tools to help him".  A peace came over me and I knew in that moment Corry would be fine. 

    It was not until he was in second grade did I talk about medicine with his doctor.  She told me, "I am glad you waited two years before putting him on medicine and we will start it slow and watch how he does with it".  That is exactly what we did and it has been a tool for him ever since.  A way to make it through the school day without melting down or not getting his work done, because he could not focus.  I had gone into prayer about it and God again spoke clearly to me, " If he had a cold, or any type of illness you would provide medicine for him".  It was a hard decision  but with the help of his doctor it was a successful one.  Quick disclaimer:  medicine is not for every kid and it to me should be treated as a case by case situation.  I am not in any way saying if you have a kid with ADHD should put your kid on medicine.  Do you research and if you are a praying person ask God for direction.

Corry and Skyler 

      Now Corry is ten years old full of life, and full of confidence.  He is here with his best friend doing what they do best have fun.  They were supposed to be raking up apples in Skyler's back yard...As you can see they devised a fun way to do this.  As I was driving Corry home from school today he was telling me about his day.  ( I love the fact he still does this!)  When I realized he was telling me something important I focused completely what he was saying. He used to have a friend who would bully him relentlessly so much that I requested that they not be in the same class the following year.  What Corry was telling me was that he was up getting some papers and "Tony" (name has been changed) came up to him and said, "You know Corry, all that bullying I am doing to you is going to affect you one day". ( apparently the two boys classes share certain reading times together.)  Corry responded with, "No it is not, because I am not going to let it".  The teacher noticed they were talking when it was supposed to be quiet time, she asked them about it.  Corry very calmly in front of the whole class told her about the conversation.  She then turned to Tony and said, "You know he is right and Corry I am proud of you".  when he told me all of this I told him how proud of him I was and how much I loved him.  I reminded him he still needed to show Tony grace and always be kind to him.  A year ago Corry would not have been able to do this.  He would have believed what Tony said and not told the teacher.  God has a plan for Corry and I am excited to watch him on this journey God has placed him on.  God has a plan for you and your kids.  If you are a parent with a special needs child just know that they are not disabled they are differently abled. God will give you the strength to endure and press in.  If you have any prayer request about your kiddo's Jennifer and I would love to join you in prayer.  Just leave a first name or initials in the comment box and we will pray for you and your family.

~ Blessings, 

   Missie~

  The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him! Exodus 15:2

Corry and one of his many ways sleeping.