Autism: Missing Big Brother on His Mission

We had a sweet moment with Nathan tonight. He was wandering through the kitchen and he stopped in front of our “Jordan" (Elder Anderson) shrine. Children with autism understand things better when they can see them visually, so I got this cool little chart where we put one sticker on per day that Jordan is gone. It is a visual schedule of how long he is going to be gone.

Anyway, Nathan stopped right in front of this sticker schedule and was looking his “called to serve” poster. Then he said, "Called to Serve." As I approached, he put his finger on Jordan's picture and rubbed it up and down and said, “Jordan.”

Then he read the writing at the top of his mission map and said, “Ohio Columbus Mission.” It was sweet and it made me a little teary. Sweet Nathan was thinking of his big brother tonight. I know he misses him but I think the visual stickers help him understand how long he will be gone and the map shows him where he is.