Everyone who comments from now until noon Thursday, I will donate $1 per comment to the Autism Research Institute.
Anyone who's been reading here awhile knows I have a 20-year old autistic brother. (Backstory posts here and here) I'm posting a photo from Christmas, he, my other brother Sam and my ex-stepdad pick a Saturday before Christmas to spend the day with us. Now, buying gifts for a 20-year old autistic guy isn't exactly easy. He gets on a "thing" and gets real OCD about it, so as long as I find out what his latest craze is, I'm good. Currently, he is very into comic book heroes, so I got him two t-shirts and he really liked them a lot. It was really the only time he said much, he's doesn't get very social, even with me, he goes back to writing little notes in his memo pad or kind of muttering to himself, so I was really happy to get a reaction out of him with the shirts.
And, to sweeten the pot I have an earring and pendant set for Autism Awareness that is brand spankin new, still in the package (so you could give it as a gift if you want) that I will give away! If you'd like to be entered for the random drawing for the jewelry, say so in your comment, I'll be using Random.org to determine a winner. If you're not the jewelry "type", simply leave a comment to add another buck to my total. One buck per person!
This should be interesting, I think I had 3 readers last year at this time. Now I have more readers plus I have some readers who have a loved one with autism who might send all their readers over. It could be my biggest charitable donation of 2008!
***Also, the very fab Julie Pippert is donating this lovely book about autism from a sister's perspective (hey, sounds familiar) and will send to the winner of the random draw once I get a name and address. THANKS JULIE!
If you'd like to donate also, click on the button below, it may work and then again, I may have completely messed it up. I set it up to take a donation as small as one tiny dollar, so anything is lovely and nice and I thank you!
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64 comments:
Oh... those earrings and pendant are jus fabuluth!
Keep me out of the drawing, but whip out that first dollar bill and stick in Autisms g-string.
Put another buck in the Autism bucket girlfriend =)
Great photo of your brother ... big smiler!
Wonderful! Thank you for being such a great example for all of us on community, charity, and using what you have to make changes - of any size!
I love the picture!!! (And the t-shirt!)
Add another $1 in the pot for me. Thank you for doing this and bringing awareness to autism.
Great picture!
comment...comment...comment...
Throw a buck in for me!
This is the best reason to delurk I've come across so far!! Thank you for what you are doing. Your brother is so handsome!! I'm glad he enjoyed his gifts.
I'm back to delurk for your cause!
I love commenting for a good cause!!!
I rarely comment on your blog, but I read it all the time using Google Reader. Keep up the good work!
Enter me in for the drawing... even though I'm not technically a lurker LOL.
Great cause - any money that goes towards your brother or my little girl is money well spent!
What a great photo of your brother. My cousin's son has autism and I don't think I have ever seen him smile or have that much life in his eyes! But I totally get what you mean by him being really in to one thing. (My cousin is really in to horror movies). I am going to make my own donation to the bucket this month.
You are a great inspiration.
Awesome idea, and an awesome cause. Another dollah in da pot for me! And I love the earrings and pendant, so put me in the drawing. I'm gonna link this entry today, see if I can't send anymore love your way.
Delurking and shaking my booty all over the place - gonna earn mah dollah!!
xoxo
What an excellent plan all round. I'm all for de-lurking and that looks like a lovely collection. I shall absent myself from the prizes as I already have a similar collection myself [of course]
Best wishes
I'd like to throw in a brand-new book to your pot, if you think it will help your fundraising and you are amenable to the idea.
I'll cover cost of book and shipping to your winner.
It's our children's autism book (a book for children about children with autism).
It is nice to go back and learn about your wonderful Brother! I mind a boy who is Autistic (Before and after school.) He has opened my heart and mind in many ways.
cool shirt!!!
Dollar #16 right here (if I can count properly). Way cool idea, but I don't think you know how popular you really are. You may go broke, but at least it'll be for a wonderful cause! :o)
PS I'd like to enter the draw....too please.
I'll comment.
~Jef
I remember reading about your brother and thinking of just how awesome he was.
I'm so glad you got a good reaction from the shirt, that must have been such a great gift in itself!
Yes, I love keeping up with your brother! Or, Should I say, You keeping us up-2-date with his happenings and how great he is.
I dont know much about autism, i should really get more informed!!
Another drop in the bucket....... here's to fillin' it up!
That's an AWESOME t-shirt. No wonder he liked it. Frankly, I think any guy would love it.
Another one for the bucket!
Another comment, another dollar!
Good luck!
I'm gonna cry! Praise God for people like you! Keep it up!
Ok, you made me comment instead of just lurking. Put me in the drawing also, I have a friend with an autisstic son who would love those earrings.
I don't have to be in the drawing (let's improve everyone else's chances by at least one). I don't have a lot of money but I matched your dollar.
What a great idea! You might have to break the bank with this one. =)
Put a dollar in that bucket for me! But..don't enter me for the drawing - I'll leave those for someone else! I love the picture - I guess you got him just the right gift this year!
What an inspirational post! Fabulous, just fabulous. And I too dig the shirt. :)
A lot more than 3 readers. An autistic man in his 20's goes to our church. He's very nice but it can be difficult. If you are nice to him (which we are) then he starts calling all the time. It takes a lot of patience. I can't imagine being the caregiver.
What a cool thing for you to do! I have a student right now who is autistic- he's very high functioning, . I have a soft spot in my heart for him.
Have you read "The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time"? Very interesting peek into the world of an autistic boy.
What a great idea! He's clearly into that shirt!
So glad I chose today to stop in and visit! :) Delurking. A regular irregular. :)
Kiss another dollar goodbye!
Great idea! I'd love to be in the drawing because this is one of my favorite "causes". You are right, so many people know some one with some sort of autism spectrum disorder. There needs to be more awareness because people don't realize how different the symptoms are from one person to another. That kid you are thinking "what is his problem" about may actually NOT be "just bad". (I have a friend who's son is afraid of balloons and he freaked at the mall and people were actually saying these things so she and her son could hear her).
Thanks for doing this.
wtg and congrats...good on you for doing this and raising awareness...
wtg again!!!
What a great photo of your brother.
He looks so happy! :)
Hey, I was one of the original three readers!
For your brother, for autistics everywhere, and for their families as well.
I am not a usual lurker, but I got here from another blog, and decided to not only call myself a lurker for the cause, but a subscriber as well.
this is awesome! i recently found you, so this is a great time to introduce myself!
i am a pediatric OT in a private practice and my buddies like your brother mean a lot to me.
best of luck!
What a catching smile your brother has!
I missed "delurking day" too. How does one get one the distribution list for that memo?
But I don't need a special occasion to leave a comment for you. :-)
I got here from another blog and I just wanted to say I think what you're doing is great! I'm really bad about commenting normally, but this time I couldn't resist.
Oh Sunshine, honey, you knew I would show up for this didn't you? I'll be running something -don't know what yet - come spring when they have the "Cure Autism" walk in State College, PA and my kids and I regroup our team -"Maya's Team" for that event. (Last year -first time doing this- our team raised over $2,000 towards the Cure Autism Now foundation.
I hope you don't go broke doing this but at the same time, well - you know what I mean there - get lots and lots of commenters!
Any lurkers who'd like to hear more about what autistic kids can and often do, stop by my blog and read about my sweetness, my granddaughter, "Miss Maya" who is my little princess, big time.
I'm just so proud of you and your spirit, Sunshine!
Babe. I am having a hard day. A hard week. My Boo, blessed with the lower end of the spectrum but a through the roof IQ (NOT a good mix) is currently in the shower. Screaming. Nothing new about the screaming, today it is in the key C or somesuch apparently. It is just so much louder in the bathroom. And it is 9 o'clock at night. And Moo, his 16 year old sister is washing his hair. Cause she is the only one allowed to.
Hearing that you have a brother like my Boo, makes me want to read your story. But not tonight. Tonight I need to escape Autism. But thankyou for this post, and the linked posts that are open in my browser and I will read tomorrow.
Sweet shirt!!! I'll email you my address so you can send me one. ;)
Me Too! Me Too! You do the most awesome things for all the right reasons!
Your brother is very handsome and what a smile...would light up a room with "the Flash" t-shirt.
You know I will delurk for autism! What a terrible disease. If I win, I will give the jewelry to fellow blogger Michele with an autistic son.
Thanks Sunshine, you rock!
I absolutely love & it touches my heart that you do this! My 9 year old son is living with Autism and I'm walking soon here in a month for Autism Speaks for him. Put me in for the giveaway! I love that picture of your brother too!
God Bless you!
Michele
There you go, being all awesome again.
Your brother is too cute!
This is wonderful. Thank you.
Love the picture. Jeni sent me over for this worthy cause. Keep up the good work!
jeni sent me over but I had been lurking here for a bit anyway - I loved one of your comments somewhere and I bookmarked you and Ive been reading and waiting for something bright to say LOL
What you're doing is amazing and I'm thrilled to be a teeny part of it and I will de-lurk for good now.
Found your post through Suddenly Sometimes. Good luck!
Holy crapamoly! Look at all these comments. Great idea, sunshine. You rock!
Jeni @ Down River Drivel sent me over! What a great way to put your blog to use for a good cause!
I think that you are wonderful.
Golfwidow sent me over... I've worked with autistic kids and we tried to start a sailing program but didn't get the funding, donations or even the volunteers we needed. It was still a lovely couple of days with the kids on the water. I'll be reading your blog again. Hang in there. Here's to kicking autism's ass... -Batten
Golf Widow sent me as well. I was confused for a minute; a lady called Sunshyn writes about her autistic grandson.
The drawing is inappropriate for me, but I applaud your attempts!
A great idea. And what a handsome brother you have. Keep up the good work!
I love that picture. His smile is absolutely catching.
I am totally late on this, but here it my comment!!
I'm late but I hope my comment still counts.
-Saedel
I am totally late...but thank you for doing this. My 21 month-old son has autism and sensory processing disorder, so for us, this is the beginning of the journey. I appreciate the awareness you are bringing to this and also showing how wonderful and amazing people -like your brother-shine through. I have posted about my son on my blog here and there and I am a blog friend of Jeni's...www.snoopmurph.blogspot.com
Am I too late?
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