Welcome to Rootabagga's Rambling's

     I have been praying for a while on how God can use me in other people's lives. A way that I can express what He has done in my life and the lives of my children. To share how He has gone above and beyond the prayer's and reached into my heart and changed it. I am dedicating this blog to the Lord and the way He has reached into my life and given me everything I have needed to raise children with special needs.
     In today's society, individuals with physical special needs are finally being treated with respect and admired by many for their ability to overcome their differences. With the right assistance, special needs individuals can lead a normal healthy life. They can succeed and make an inpact in others lives through their determination and ability to overcome adversity.
     Much like physical special needs, those who have learning issues that effect one's ability to hold down jobs has risen as well. Everywhere you look you will see those who are termed as "slow" or "mentally retarded" being able to work in stores and offices. The smiles on their faces as they do their job with a spirit unlike what you would find in many today. The joy that is in their hearts, shows on their faces everyday, that brings a smile to your face when you see them.
     These two categories of people are dear to my heart just as much as my next category of individuals. I believe this category of people is most often misunderstood due to the ignorance of those around them. Now I do not mean to insult anyone by using such a harsh word but to emphasize those who do not want to learn about those sharing the world around them. 
     People who suffer from a mental illness usually suffer in silence, shame and loneliness. Although times are changing and more people are aware of all the different special needs in others, mental illness is still considered a "taboo subject". One can take an IQ test to determine how smart you are. One can take a blood test to determine if you have something medically going on inside of you. Some can even visually see that someone is disabled but there is no blood test for mental illness. There is no "hands down" proven way to determine who will develop a mental illness and how it will effect one's life or the lives of those around them.
     I pray that this blog will open people's hearts and minds to what it is like to live with mental illness, whether it is your own or that of a loved one. A peak into the mind of a mother who struggles to raise children with mental illness and share both the heartaches and the joys of it. Lets take a walk in the shoes that may or may not fit, because there is no "correct way" in dealing with mental illness. Just like everyone on the face of this earth, there is no two alike (except for twins, LOL) and that goes for special needs individuals as well.

God Bless all who read this and may it touch you, and give you the strength to carry on.