August 1, 2019. Today I will be ordering my copy of The Autism Discussion Page On Stress, Anxiety, Shutdowns and Meltdowns. Proactive Strategies for Minimizing Sensory, Social and Emotional Overload. And how are you this morning?

Many of us are on vacation, getting ready for back to school, and tidying up the last bits of summer before we begin another season with its own special challenges.

My own household received some disconcerting news yesterday. My husband of 45 years needs a hip replacement. But he cannot presently have one, due to half his heart bring enlarged, Humera treatment for Chrohns disease (Which may have caused his enlarged heart to begin with), Diabetes, and the need to lose a substantial amount of weight.

Where to begin? First, we start with the ortho doctor. An appointment is waiting in the wings for him. Second, we connect with his GI doctor to determine if indeed Humera is the correct choice for him. We want to prevent further damage to his heart if at all possible. Third, we set about getting the excess weight off, even though nothing has seemed to work before.

Daunting prospects. But we will do anything we can to hold together these ripped up remnants of the tents we live in here on earth.

We have so much to be thankful for, in spite of this recent news. We will do the best we can. One of our Nashville church elders, a distinguished gentleman of eighty-something years ,relayed this account of the Night of the Tornados some years ago.

"Houses were destroyed left and right, everything was pitch black, and the winds howled around me. Entire homes were being lifted into the air and tossed around as easily as if they had been children's toys. I prayed to God....'Lord, you know where I am. I ask for your protection for me and my family. ' Though the damage was great all around him, not one stick of wood was harmed, not one brick even had a single scratch on it. Elder Ross's prayers were answered that night.

Our lives are like a tapestry. Beautifully designed and pleasing to the eye on one side. When turned over, you can see all the knots, twists, and tangled up strings. Corrie ten Boom (Survivor of the holocaust, author of the Hiding Place) gave this as an example of the lives we live here on earth. Pain and suffering co- exist with joy and happiness. Often we cannot see which way to go. Darkness surrounds, and we feel alone, abandoned.

We don't have to feel that way forever. Faith may express itself in strict forms of worship, a broad spiritual philosophy, or anywhere in between. Each one of us is different. But, as it has been said so many times, we have more in common than that which separates us.

I really believe that the moderators and volunteer mentors who " man the stations" here at Mayo Clinic Connect do indeed understand this principle. That we are all here to help each other and to be that Village.

It feels comforting to be part of a tribe. Varied, different, colorful....beautiful.

Love and light to you all, me lovelies.

Mamacita Jane