A quote by Charles Schultz is framed on my desk, made perfect with a picture of Snoopy on his dog house pounding away on an old-fashioned typewriter. His beagle paws stamp out, “Happiness is Writing Your Own Story.” I adore this for three reasons: First of all, Snoopy is my hero; secondly, I love to write; and finally, Mr. Schultz makes a brilliant point—we constantly get to write our own … [Read more...]
It’s Okay
“It’s okay.” These were the words a godly counselor shared with me one day when I was distraught over my child’s diagnosis of autism. Clifford was a friend of the family and a marriage and family therapist who had come to town for a visit. My first thoughts were to scream at him, “No, it’s not okay. How can you say it’s okay?” But he was a wise older gentleman so I unraveled my emotional … [Read more...]
Living with Special Needs, Uncertainty, and Thankfulness
I tried to write this blog for several days in a row but was uncertain what to type. Uncertainty seems to be a theme in my life these days. The main source of uneasiness in my family has been searching for an explanation for our daughter’s medical symptoms for 10 months—and then some. For 6 years she has felt poorly and then a year ago more critical signs of illness began to develop. So once … [Read more...]
You (Not What You Do as a Parent) Are a Gift to Your Child
The week after my child was diagnosed with autism, I held it together for a few days and then sobbed uncontrollably while speaking to my friend/psychologist over the phone. I stood in the bathroom where I went to talk alone and gazed at my swollen eyes and red face in the mirror. I was in a panic because my child was three and had missed out on some intensive early intervention as her diagnoses … [Read more...]
Waiting for Beautiful: How to Make Peace with God’s Agenda When It Hurts
I checked my computer each hour for several days. First it was to see my daughter’s medical test results as she is sick with a diagnosis in progress. Next it was to receive a message from her doctor about the findings. After waiting a week, we finally received news that a clear diagnosis and solution is yet to emerge. She has been ill for six years. I’m disappointed, frustrated, and … [Read more...]
Grateful for “Well-Enough”
A few weeks ago I spent the day with my daughter in the emergency room. She is 22 years old and her blood pressure was 190/130. Yes, I wrote that correctly—190/130. Thankfully medication brought it under control, but since then our focus has been trying to discover the source of the problem. How quickly life and perspective can change. We discovered the high blood pressure at a routine visit to … [Read more...]