Stories & Updates

A Summer of Faith, Family, and New Beginnings

This summer has been one of growth, change, and a fresh direction for Faith, Family, and Autism. What started as a space for sharing homeschool resources and autism tools has now evolved into something more personal—a reflection of my journey as a neurodivergent mom raising four neurodivergent boys. It’s a place where my faith, my family, and autism naturally weave together into the daily fabric of our lives.

Instead of focusing on being a general resource hub, the blog will now showcase our real experiences—what we’re learning, how we’re growing, and the ways we navigate life together. My boys will soon join me in this adventure with their own blog sections launching around Christmas. This isn’t just my story; it’s our story.

Our Summer Adventures

We spent our summer outdoors as much as possible—hiking new trails, going on spontaneous family drives, vintage shopping, and enjoying local parks and beaches. One of our favorite traditions was simply opening Google Maps, pinning a random location, and setting out to explore. Whether it was a hidden trail or a local eatery, these little adventures reminded us that discovery can be found anywhere.

At home, we worked on becoming more minimalist and teaching the boys executive functioning through chores, daily routines, and organizing their spaces. It wasn’t always easy—especially with changes in our living situation—but learning flexibility and building life skills has been invaluable.

Learning Through Living

Our homeschooling this summer leaned more into an unschooling style, rooted in the idea of “living education.” Instead of memorizing and regurgitating facts, I want my children to truly learn how to learn. For geography, we dove into an immersive study of Turkey—exploring its culture, language, stories, food, music, and even cooking traditional meals like donairs and Turkish breakfasts.

We also began Mystery of History, Volume III, explored the Renaissance through digital notebooking, and deepened our faith with Bible studies in the Gospel of John, the names of God, and Spurgeon’s Spiritual Warfare. My older boys worked through Every Young Man’s Battle, while all of us enjoyed Jesse Hurlbut’s paraphrased Bible together.

Faith and Emotional Growth First

In our home, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and life skills come before textbooks. I believe mental health, self-esteem, and being grounded in faith are the foundation. After all, facts can always be relearned—but emotional strength and spiritual grounding are what carry us through life.

That’s why we’ve also focused on coping mechanisms, grounding strategies, and making space for joy. From reading in hammocks to watching family movies, our summer was filled with connection and learning in ways that reach far beyond the classroom.

Homesteading and Home Rhythms

Though we skipped a garden this year (thankfully, given the hot, dry season), our homestead was still thriving. We’ve been preserving apples for pie filling, relying on last year’s abundance of tomato sauce, and making plenty of freezer meals. The boys are learning to bake, cook, and prepare meals in bulk so we can enjoy more free time during the week for family adventures.

Looking Ahead

This new direction for Faith, Family, and Autism feels right. It’s no longer just about sharing resources—it’s about sharing our lives. It’s about honesty, faith, resilience, and showing how a neurodivergent family grows, learns, and thrives together.

And soon, my kids’ voices will be added here too. Because this story isn’t only mine—it’s ours.