What Is Real Right Now

Sending strength and love your way. This seems to be a struggle for our time. A struggle of professional Mothers with the extra twist of a neurologic disability.
I pray you will have the strength to maintain your choice.

I rarely comment, but I want you to know I will be praying for you and Chris. I've read your blog for years, and your honesty and openness are part of what I find so inspiring here. I hope the challenges you feel right now lead you both to a deeper, stronger relationship! {{hugs}}

Hugs and good thoughts coming your way :)

Dear Ali,My prayers and positive blessings to you and the family. You have picked me up and inspired me in so many ways that if I physically could be there I would be hugging you and the family and giving humble thanks for our blessings. Did you know that a challenge is the Lords way for you to chose your growth and trust in Him.I can share with you on the days that I was most down and depressed reading your blog and you sharing your story and family
gave me the lift and strength to move on. See He used you as an instrument as He does always to each of us on a one on one, day to day, minute by minute, basis. When we are in midst of the challenge or chaos we often cant see the clearing but as the movie "7 days to Utopia" said S F T
SEE IT FEEL TRUST....THAT IS HIS WILL. I am adding you to our prayer chain and definitely will offer a special intention Mass for all of you . blessing and Hugs

You are blessed,

Sharon Dryjanski from Phoenix AZ Creative Quest class
ps. Simon is awesome. I am amazed how he has advance so well with reading and so on. Now Anna she is your sparkler!! If you could reply on my email I have something to mail to you but do not know where to send.

I'm praying for you and hoping that you are able to turn to the Lord and His Word not only for personal strength, but as a way for you and Chris to become closer as you become closer to the Lord.

'...troubles they may come and go
but goodtimes be the gold
so if the road gets rocky girl
just steady as we go
shine shine, shine on me...'
Steady As We Go ~ Dave Matthews Band

Listened to this song a million times while going through a rough spot with my husband, so thought I would share. Thanks YOU for sharing. Thank you for being so real to us, your fans.

Steady as you go - SHINE! xoxo

You are in my thoughts Ali! Life certainly is messy....but its worth it! All the best!

Oh, Ali. You are so brave and an inspiration in so many ways. Best, best wishes to you and your family. Love.

[...] Let it be something good. var addthis_product = 'wpp-261'; var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};While reading some of my favorite blogs the other day, I stumbled upon this beautiful and wonderful quote that Ali had on her blog HERE. [...]

Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. I'm sending lots of thoughts, prayers and love!

Kids, work, life put strain on a marriage, special need kids just add another layer of complexity. No one is able to do everything, even with help.

As others have said, I hope that you and Chris are able to get together and talk (Wookie & I found a counsellor/someone outside helpful at times, not helpful at others) remembering that there were connections and that they can be nurtured again with work from both sides. We've come out of it stronger, more able to find ways to connect - book club using Five Love Languages, making sure we do dates even if it's just sitting in the garden admiring the moon or going for a walk.

One of the most useful things to me was right at the beginning of our marriage during the clearness meetings to allow us to get married someone suggested this exercise: to write down a job description for yourself and the other and then share it in a loving manner. Agree what things you NEED and what things make you happy, remembering that those things will change but returning to that idea of mutual support has kept us together for the last quarter of a century.

I'll be holding you all in the light.

Ali, my mother told me that ".. marriage was the hardest job I'd ever take on and it was also the most rewarding." Then she later told me the same thing about children. I am 52 , married at 30 and have been married for 22 years this year, mostly happily, but there have been some dips in the road. As a Christian, I truly believe the "'til death us do part." And coming from there, you ask yourself: do you want to be happy or unhappy in your marriage, because for us, there is no third choice. Having young children, can be a tough stretch and more so for the mom who feels pulled. I tell my younger friends, to think about not working full-time, because, man, the time just blows by! Families need a center. Moms need time for themselves, but men and children need period. Women need other women - mothers, sisters, friends, cousins. Having time to connect with other women in your life stage with similarly aged children is very therapeutic. We tried, with help, for 4 1/2 years to have a child and God heard our prayers and my son is now 16 and will be getting his driver's license in a month. I a have been home for the last 15 years, except for part-time work of no more than 2 or 3 full days a week and they were at his elementary school. Thw women's movement told a lie when they said we could have it all. Because the truth is you have it all , just not all at the same time. Wow, sorry I'm down off my soapbox now. You are in my prayers tonight.

Ali my prayers are with you. May you find the srength in these difficult time. Thanking you for sharing something so personal and intimate about your life.

marriage is full of ups and downs. I just hope your down time is fast and that soon you and Chris will be climbing back up that hill together. (HUGS)

Ali,
I only get to my blog reading on the week-end so I'm only now reading this post, and my heart is breaking for you and your family. I hope and pray that you can all weather the storm and come out stronger after the chaos subsides. Whatever the outcome, know that you have an enormous amount of support out here and are wished nothing but happiness and everything good. You have been such an inspiration to me over the years and are one of my favorite peope that I dont know (although it feels like I know you well). Keeping you in prayer and sending a huge cyber hug your way. Pamper yourself this week-end - you so deserve it - treat yourself to a cute pair of fall shoes or something - it wont fix anything but it might draw a smile. Hang in there Ali - one day at a time. XOXOXO Linda B

thinking of you, and hoping that the challenges you face make you stronger, individually and together

Thank you for sharing everything that is "real" in your life right now. Someone once told me, "Marriage is work." That is so true in so many ways but I am finding that it's the hardest job to be both a wife and a working mother. Sending positive vibes to you and Chris.

Marriage is awesome but not easy and certainly worth the effort. God's blessings to you and Chris Ali as you work together to form a yet stronger union. Remember thru God all things are possible...

Ali, you are so very brave to be putting so much out there. I hope you could feel the love and support that has come forth for you. I am 62 and have been married 42 years and have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. I do not need to tell you that it has not been easy. It has been real raw life. It has had so many joyous moments I could have burst. You are in my thoughts.
Thank you so much for the quote at the end.

Thank you for sharing "real life". It sometimes is messy :( you'll be in my thoughts and prayers. Loads of love- Kate