Seventeen Years of God Keeping JJ

Today is October 2, 2026, and my son JJ is 17 years old.

That is exciting to say, but it is bittersweet too. I am grateful the Lord allowed me to see this day. Then I start thinking about everything JJ has gone through, and that gratitude gets even deeper. When I look at my son’s life, I can see how God can change and rearrange situations for the good of those who love Him.

JJ has eloped multiple times. I am not talking about going across the street. I am talking about miles away. Every time, God allowed my son to return to me with no harm, hurt, or danger. Situations that could have ended very differently ended with JJ back home.

There have also been times when people mistreated him. There were things teachers did behind my back that I did not know about at first. But the Lord allowed me to see what was happening. He gave me the strength to speak up, fight for my son, and pursue justice for him.

I have seen so many miracles in JJ’s life. Today I feel blessed and honored to stand at the beginning of his final year before he turns 18. I want everything God has for him in this year. I am excited to see what God is going to do next.

JJ and John are the reason I transitioned TruBlu Brotherz into what it is becoming. This is for them. It is also for the moms, dads, caregivers, and autism parents who need to see that our children do grow up. As they grow, we can help them build a strong foundation, find their own lane, and experience more life.

It does not matter whether your child is verbal or nonverbal. It does not matter how hard this season feels while they are young. The work you are doing now matters. The routines, the advocacy, the prayer, the life skills, the difficult decisions, and the times you keep showing up are helping build something for later.

I remember the years when finding a job felt impossible because my children were young and I could not find people I trusted to care for them. If that is where you are now, please hear me. This season is not forever. What feels permanent right now may be temporary.

Jesus has given me what I needed throughout this journey. He has given me peace when my mind wanted to panic, joy when life felt heavy, provision when I could not see how things would work, and strength when I did not feel strong enough to keep going.

I am not telling you that nothing hard will ever happen. I am telling you that fear does not get the final word. Jesus does. He tells us not to worry. He supplies our needs. He can do exceedingly abundantly above what we can ask or think.

Stay connected to people, places, and resources that point you toward hope. If you do not feel strong enough to stay tapped in every day, tap in over here. I have been sharing this journey online since my boys were little. I have been present, stepped away when life required it, and returned as they grew. Through every season, God kept writing the story.

When my boys were six and seven, I did not see many people building a lane that gave families like mine hope for the future. That is what I want to help create now. I want autism families to see more than a diagnosis, more than today’s struggle, and more than the fear that tries to tell us our lives are over.

That fear is a lie.

There is still life ahead. There is still purpose. There is still room for our children to grow, for us to grow, and for God to position our families in ways we cannot see yet. Everything you pour into your child matters. The love, sacrifice, teaching, protection, and prayer are not wasted.

God is doing something bigger than me. I believe He is shifting the position of mothers, fathers, and caregivers raising children diagnosed with autism. He is equipping us differently. When we say yes to this journey, stay with our children, and refuse to leave them behind, we will see that our labor was not in vain.

Today I celebrate 17 years of JJ. Seventeen years of sacrifice. Seventeen years of protection. Seventeen years of learning that God already had my son in His hands from the beginning.

God was good yesterday. God is good today. God will be good tomorrow.

Come celebrate with us as we keep spreading the truth built like us. This is TruBlu Brotherz, and I believe what God is building through our family is going to help all of us win.