Autism & Alleluias Paperback – February 15, 2010

I have a son who is special needs. This is such a treat to read as a mom. It is not another how to make your kid better or make yourself better to take care of him. It breaks through to the reality of the situation. Your child is a child of God. They are special and there are moments when you realize that they help you see the world in a different/better way. Without this special person, you would not stop to smell the roses so to speak. This book is a blessing to help us see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

All good condition books. Someone wrote in ink on the cover of one of the books, but nothing distracting. I gave them as gifts. Very good perspective from a fellow parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Bottom line, there is hope for families affected by ASD.

This book is very encouraging for any one dealing with autism. With all challenges there is hope if you know how to recognize it.

This book so beautifully captured the love, frustration and hope of a parent for their child. The struggles are shared from the heart. This book shares the real, raw reality of parenting a child with Autism.

In autism & alleluias, Bolduc uses short chapters, "slice of life vignettes" to share real moments from her life and experience, moments that demonstrate God's hand on her family. Bolduc is, as always, authentic, never sugar-coating the experience of having a child on the autism spectrum. I was uplifted with Mrs. Bolduc as she let me, the reader, inside real moments she has with her son, not all pleasant, and yet she shares with me the intimate moments of gratitude and praise with her Father. Her experience reminds me that I am not alone on this pathway, that there are mothers who helped find the pathway before me, there are mothers on the pathway with me now, and we all have a God who cares deeply about us and what we experience. She reminds me, gently, lovingly, through her own journey and faithfulness, that I need to look for Him in little ways, because He is there, providing, loving. Bolduc begins each chapter with a verse of scripture that sets the stage for the experience to come, and ends each chapter with a short prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

Kathy tells readers Autism & Alleluias is not a biography or a book about treatments and therapies for autism. It is a book about finding glimpses of God through life's adversities. The chapters are short and easy to read, which is a plus. However, do not be deceived by the short chapters! I wanted to keep reading through many chapters at a time. Kathy also sprinkled some of her poetry throughout the book, offering another type of reading experience.The thing I appreciate most about Kathy's book is the way she lets us into her life. She does not add a high-gloss sheen to her story. Her candor draws the reader in, especially those who walk in a similar path. When I read about her son wanting to put a band-aid on Jesus' nail-scarred hand, I could see my own son wanting to do the same. I read "Joel needs a mom who smiles more" in amazement, as I have often felt that way. Additionally, Kathy speaks on my behalf when she tells God, "Sometimes my prayers for Joel are really prayers for me, the mom who feels as if she never gets it right."The beauty of Kathy's book is watching her move through stressful situations to an acknowledgment of God's hand and care. This snippet reveals the heart and soul of her book:"An hour later, in the car, I call my friend Patty, hoping to find a way out of the cloud that has darkened my morning. . . . Luckily Patty is home. I tell her the tale of the poopy morning. She laughs. I laugh.'The not-so-funny thing is I'm on my way to finish working on Autism & Alleluias. Where in the world is the alleluia in a poopy morning?' I ask with a groan.I can hear the smile in Patty's voice. 'You know, Kathy, I seem to remember that quite a few of your chapters begin with a groan before you get to the alleluia. The alleluia is there. You just haven't found it yet.' "What a wise friend, and what a great book. I earmarked a lot of pages, and I know I will read this book every so often to remind myself to look for the "alleluias" amidst life with an autistic child.

Have you ever wandered aimlessly alone through a bookstore (or online) and found a book that was written just for you?I don't think there has ever been a book that scratched so many of my itches as Autism & Alleluias by Kathy Deyer Bolduc. This handheld, personal treasure is a godsend of hopeful, gutsy true grit that lets me know I am still not alone on this road through adolescent autism to glory.My copy is already circled, starred, underlined and doggeared. Like a psalmist, Kathy tells it like it is in raw poetic honesty. In each of 39 vignettes, she captures God's intended purpose in real challenges and celebrates how her son, Joel, has shown her His grace. She does not stifle the truth like a proverbial church lady, but writes candidly enough to have me welling up and ultimately sobbing at the beauty of almost every 2-page devotional.She gets the daily calls from school; she knows the "anger that's been tamped down for months;" she "reads his moods like an investor watches the stock market;" "exhaustion is her constant companion." AND (not but), it has made her holy. Her "body remains in the front pew of College Hill Presbyterian Church, but her spirit stands in the sacred presence of God." I love that line!Thank you Kathy for being one of the saints who has gone before and written it done for our benefit. I would add you to the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame after Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Rahab.

I really enjoyed this book! As a pediatric occupational therapist, this book gave me a realistic and honest perspective into the life of a family with a child with autism. I love Kathy's writing style and her words give clear pictures. I would recommend this book to families who have a child with a disability and to those who work with individuals with disabilities.