Why do I have a blue light on my house this month?
I could light it up blue for the women in my support group, who have given me the gifts of laughter and strength.
I could light it up blue for the people I have met since my son’s autism diagnosis who are always there no matter what time zone they are in now.
I could light it up blue for my friends who have fought so hard for the appropriate educational placement for their child.
I could light it up blue for the children diagnosed this year and the thousands more to be diagnosed in the years to come.
I could light it up blue for the families who drive by my house so they know they aren’t alone.
But the most important reason I light it up blue?
I light it up blue for my family.
So I can show them that there are other families just like ours.
So they know that the stigma does not exist in our house.
So my boys know that what makes them different makes them special.
So their brother sees that we’re part of something global.
So he feels less alone.
So WE feel less alone.
On our first World Autism Awareness Day, we looked like this:
Then we looked like this:
And today we look like this:
I can see the progress in these pictures. I can see the hard work and the tears and the love.
When we shine a blue light on our house, we are shining the light on those beautiful faces.
I light it up blue for them.
“Lay it all down
Got something to say
Lay it all down
Throw your doubt away
Do or die now
Step on to the plate
Blow the door wide open like up up and away
Let’s light up the world tonight
You gotta give up the bark and bite
I know that we got the love, alright
Come on and light it up
Light it up tonight” – Light Up The World from Glee (original song)
April 2, 2012 at 10:22 am
Those faces are what it is all about! Beautiful ..
April 2, 2012 at 10:33 am
No matter what time zone….shining a light for you too, my friend.
April 2, 2012 at 10:44 am
Such a wonderful post. =)
My Son is autistic, and I just sent the link for “Light it up blue” to some of our Family and Friends!
Have a wonderful day!
April 2, 2012 at 10:51 am
They’re so beautiful!
April 2, 2012 at 11:16 am
Those beautiful boys! (And this was a beautiful post…loved seeing them grow…)
April 2, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Beautiful post and gorgeous boys! Thanks for sharing, Alysia!
April 2, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Lovely post.
April 2, 2012 at 3:30 pm
It’s amazing that the world comes together to raise awareness about individuals on the spectrum. Last week I blogged about how Erie, PA is participating in Light It Up Blue…You can read about it at allaboutautismbni.com.
April 2, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Beautiful and touching.
April 2, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Beautiful!
April 2, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Your words so beautiful…..they hold such truth…..thank you for lighting it up blue today and every day.
April 2, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Great post. So fun seeing the pictures of how they’ve grown. I know from watching my own crew grow that those pictures tell stories far beyond a thousand words…
April 5, 2012 at 8:38 am
Fabulous reasons for lighting up blue! How your boys have grown, in all ways…wow 🙂
xx Jazzy
April 1, 2013 at 10:35 pm
[…] think about the posts I have written in the past. What it mean to us to “Light It Up Blue“. Why I share what I […]