The book of Psalms contains some of the most beautiful promises ever written. As a father, I have discovered that the psalms capture the love, heartache, joy, and weariness of parenting children with special needs. The book of Psalms is the place you can go when you're hurting and needing a reminder of God’s faithful promises. Mom…dad…I encourage you to find a psalm that speaks to where … [Read more...]
The Power in Your Story
I remember the feeling of awe I had when I first connected to the Internet in the mid 1990's. I was amazed that suddenly I could connect with people from all over the world. I began blogging about my families' journey with autism in 2004, and I did it simply to record our story. I wanted to have a way to look back and be encouraged by Alec's progress whenever I was having a hard day. I never … [Read more...]
The wildness and beauty of the special needs road
I stood in the middle of a vast clearing. The breeze gentle as it stroked my face, and the air carried the sweet aroma of wild flowers. The sun delivered beautiful golden rays that pierced their way through cotton clouds and gently touched the horizon. There I was, eagerly waiting for the glorious moment when I would get to take my first step into the beautiful road that lay in front of me. The … [Read more...]
Setting a fly free, learning to hold on in special needs parenting from author Gillian Marchenko
Setting a fly free, musings about special needs parenting from author Gillian Marchenko When special needs parents struggles, sometimes all they can do is hold on. Because their children are worth it. I sit here on Wednesday morning, second cup of coffee in hand, greasy hair, same yoga pants from yesterday, Polly and Evangeline (who both have Down syndrome) watch Angelina Ballerina for the … [Read more...]
Make Lattes, Not War
Forgiveness. It seems like a 1,000-pound bench press, a crushing load, impossibly heavy to lift. But forgiveness isn’t a one-time heft above our heads to declare our spiritual duty done. It’s more like a marathon. (Or, for those like me, who shudder at the thought of running a 5K, it’s more like a really, really long-distance stroll—preferably with a coffee in hand.) But whether you … [Read more...]
Lessons from Cart Man
I went to see a Christian counselor for awhile when I was a senior in college. One of the most memorable things she ever said to me was, "To love someone is to call them forth, with the loudest and most insistent of calls, to be all that God created them to be." Wow. There are so many good places you can go with that one. And so many not-so-good ones. That's why it was safe for an effective … [Read more...]