First Visit To Grammy & Pop-Pop's House...

Look@ThatSmile!

My Granddaughter:  Photography by My Daughter

R.I.P. Dick Clark

Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (November 30, 1929 – April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, best known for hosting American television's longest-running variety show, American Bandstand, from 1957 to 1987. He also hosted the game show Pyramid and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, which transmitted Times Square's New Year's Eve celebrations worldwide.

Welcome Alexis!

Our third grandchild was born on Monday, April 16th @ 4:16pm.

She weighed in at 8 lbs + 3 ozs and she was ? inches long!

R.I.P. Jonathan Frid

John Herbert Frid (December 2, 1924 – April 14, 2012) was a Canadian theater, television, and film actor, best known for having played the role of vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows from 1966-1971.

"We're Ready For Sunday School!"

Soon There Will Be Three...

Well, let the countdown to Monday, April 16th begin... there are two grandchildren now and very soon there will be three! I saw this wall hanging @ Cracker Barrel in Plymouth Meeting last year and had to have it. It's hanging in the bedroom where my grandchildren play and sleep when they come to visit. Now, I'm trying to figure out how I'm gonna fit one more in there! :)

HE LIVES!

Happy Easter from The Lady (Bug)!

R.I.P. Mike Wallace

Myron Leon Wallace (May 9, 1918 – April 7, 2012) was an American journalist, game show host, actor, and media personality. He interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers during his sixty-year career. He was one of the original correspondents for CBS' 60 Minutes which debuted in 1968. Wallace retired as a regular full-time correspondent in 2006, but still appeared occasionally on the series until 2008.

Agape Love: Good Friday

The Crucifixion By Anthony Armstrong
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do..." (Luke 23:34)

Thank You, President Obama!

For Immediate Release

April 2, 2012

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release April 02, 2012 Presidential Proclamation -- World Autism Awareness Day, 2012

WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY, 2012

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect young people and adults of every background, and millions of American families know the weight of their impact. On World Autism Awareness Day, we recognize ASDs as a growing public health issue and recommit to supporting those living with an ASD and their loved ones.

We have made great strides in our understanding of the autism spectrum, and today, children and adults with ASDs are leading independent and productive lives. However, barriers still remain for these individuals and their families. As a Nation, we share a responsibility to ensure persons living with ASDs have the opportunity to pursue their full measure of happiness and achieve their greatest potential.

Meeting the needs of Americans on the autism spectrum remains a priority for my Administration. Last September, I was proud to sign the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act, which provides critical funding for autism research, education, early detection, and support and services for children and adults. Under the Affordable Care Act, new insurance plans are required to cover autism screenings and developmental assessments for children at no additional cost to parents. Insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, and young people can stay on their parents' health insurance plan until age 26, easing financial burdens for families. With the Department of Education, we are making substantial investments in enhancing education for children on the autism spectrum -- from early learning to higher education. And federally funded research continues to explore how we can improve independent living, develop assistive technology, and advance vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with autism. For additional information and resources, I encourage all Americans to visit www.HHS.gov/autism.

As new policies and bold actions break down old barriers and reshape attitudes, we move closer to a world free of discrimination and full of understanding for our family members and friends living with ASDs. On World Autism Awareness Day, let us reaffirm our dedication to supporting those on the autism spectrum and their families, and let us continue the work of ensuring all our people have a chance at achieving the American dream.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2, 2012, as World Autism Awareness Day. I encourage all Americans to learn more about autism and what they can do to support individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

The Latest Autism Statistics

The following remarks were delivered by Mark Roithmayr, President of Autism Speaks, at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia on March 29, 2012...

Merriam-Webster defines the word epidemic as "Excessively prevalent. Affecting a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community or region at the same time."

With the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers now showing that 1 in 88 children in the United States are being diagnosed with autism – nearly a doubling of the prevalence since the CDC began tracking these numbers – autism can now officially be declared an epidemic in the United States.

We are dealing with a national emergency that is in need of a national strategy. At 1 in 88, we now have over 1 million children directly affected by autism. According to a newly released study the annual cost of autism in the United States is a staggering $126 billion annually, more than tripling the cost analysis from six years ago.

Behind all these statistics are real families, real individuals struggling each and every day. Some with autism are struggling to find satisfying jobs where they can productively use their talents and abilities. Others with autism have extremely complicated medical and social challenges. Make no mistake though, wherever one falls on the spectrum, all with autism struggle each and every day. And it is clearly time we, as a caring society, commit to a National Strategy. A comprehensive National Strategy that substantially increases all efforts to date. A call to action that:

• Funds more basic science uncovering the genetic underpinnings of autism.
• Funds more environmental research detecting the causes of autism.
• Accelerates the funding and development of effective medicines and treatments.
• Commits to a strategy where all children with autism from every background are diagnosed no later than 18 months of age.
• Commits to a National Training Corps recruiting more therapists and service providers as well as specially trained teachers and teacher assistants into the field.
• We also need to address the growing issue of adults with autism specifically around continuing education, employment, housing/residential living and community integration. Here too, we need a focus on a National Training Corps to recruit and train professionals to work with our adults.

As the nation's leading science and advocacy organization, Autism Speaks today calls on the entire nation to commit to this National Strategy, a true public-private partnership:

• From President Obama to each of the Republican candidates for President to all Members of Congress.

We desperately need further commitments from:

• The CDC and Dr. Frieden whose very funding of this prevalence study is in jeopardy of being cut going forward.
• Secretary Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Dr. Francis Collins and the National Institutes of Health.

And it is not the federal government alone we call on. We need the private sector as well as state and local governments to be part of this National Strategy:

• Right now insurance companies and the majority of self-funded plans under ERISA discriminate against families with autism denying reimbursement for the basic, evidenced based services that can often dramatically improve the quality of life for their children with autism.
• There are pharmaceutical companies who can speed the process of effective medicines for people living with autism to improve communication, socialization and behavior, the core symptoms of autism.
• We need companies across all industries to commit to hiring the 74% of adults with autism who believe they have the potential to be employed if just given the opportunity.
• And we need employers of all parents who have children with autism to become much, more family friendly as way too many mothers of children with autism have had to stop out of their careers to be able to care for their loved ones because their work environments could not find a way to accommodate their schedules.
• We need local school systems to deliver individualized and quality driven plans to meet autism's ever growing demand for appropriate special education services.
• We need faith based and community based organizations who can provide respite services for parents and caregivers as well as recreational and community integration opportunities for people with autism.
• And the list goes on to include siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors. At 1 in 88, we are now hard pressed as a nation to find anyone who is not touched by autism.

Ultimately the question we need to ask ourselves is why over the last two decades has there been such a tremendous increase in autism? Dr. Peter Bearman of Columbia University was funded by the NIH to answer this very question. His findings have revealed that the increase in prevalence is only partly explained by a broadening of the diagnosis, improved detection, and more awareness. A large portion of the increase some 50% remains unexplained. That is why we must aggressively fund research, including the critical study of potential environmental factors. We need to find the answers.

At 1 in 88, let me be clear, the United States is experiencing an autism epidemic. This is a national emergency, so we need a national strategy.

Have A Blessed Palm Sunday!