Looking Back and Moving Forward

As I look back over 2008, I am amazed by the changes this year has brought in my life. And the biggest change by far has been my introduction to the world of blogging.

I had no idea when starting Another Piece of the Puzzle last January that I would connect with so many other moms (and dads) who were also sharing their experiences of having a child with special needs, or that this would become such a source of strength and encouragement to me along my own journey.

The adventure continued in April as Genevieve Hinson at Mother of Confusion organized Bloggers for Autism Awareness – a group of parents, professionals and individuals committed to blogging about autism to spread awareness of the disorder. I decided to engage my passion for sharing information and published a series of Autism Resources posts. After the original month had ended, the blogging continued as we were invited to become a permanent autism channel at BlogNetNews.com.

Of course, the biggest excitement of all was being invited to be a part of the amazing team here at 5 Minutes for Special Needs. I am so thankful for the honor of sharing my thoughts and ideas here and for the wonderful community that has sprung up around the site. I have learned so much from the other writers here and from all of you who share your experiences and perspectives in the comments. I especially appreciate those of you who have participated in Try This Tuesday, as it is near and dear to my heart.

As we move into another year, my sincere wish is that each of your families will be blessed with health and happiness. I welcome your comments and questions, as well as any suggestions of topics or issues that you wish to see explored more on this site.

And, as always, please feel free to email me any time at trish[at]anotherpieceofthepuzzle[dot]com with your suggestions, questions, or if you just need a listening ear.

P.S. I'm having my first giveaway at Another Piece of the Puzzle, so stop by if you're interested in learning more. The prize is three Bounce DVDs from Spectrum Connections.

Trish can be found here every Friday in addition to hosting Try This Tuesday. You can also find Trish blogging at Another Piece of the Puzzle and rambling at Autism Interrupted.