Perhaps you can relate to emails and voice mails like these that I’ve gotten: “Mrs. Wallin? Hi, this is Marion from the school. We need some things for the holiday party in class tomorrow. Will you bring [something that takes more hours than you’ve got in the day to prepare]?” “Hi Laurie, this is Andie. Someone stepped down from this task at church. Can you fill in for a few [years] … [Read more...]
Have a Merry Messy Christmas
The world rushes by you—a flurry of last minute shoppers—pushing, stressing to get it all done. You look around and see the harsh florescent lights, thick mall crowds and crammed parking lots. You listen and hear tinny, overplayed Christmas songs, car horns, and toddlers crying. Have you lost your holiday spirit? If so, take a Christmas Break! Close your eyes and imagine the stillness of … [Read more...]
When Life Is Not a Hallmark Card
It’s true. Misery loves company. And probably the reason one of my favorite shows is The Middle, a sitcom about the misadventures of a mid-western family not very unlike my own. Duct-taped appliances? Special needs teens and a seat-of-the-pants mother? Check. It’s a show that makes me laugh because the Hecks (or rather their script writers) “get it”. Life is a daily walk into the precarious … [Read more...]
A Shepherd’s Story of Good News
It’s that time of year again. Merry Christmas and ho-ho-ho. The Greatest Story of All – the one about God taking on human form in the birth of a baby – tends to get trampled in the rush to the mall the day after Thanksgiving, and swept away with all the wrappings and ribbons on December 26th. It happens year after year, despite the best of intentions. But imagine this. Imagine for just one … [Read more...]
Happy Thanksgiving, Little Town on the Prairie
My husband and I weren't looking forward to our first Thanksgiving as parents of a baby with special needs. The little town on the prairie where we lived was 750 miles from the University of Nebraska hospital in Omaha where our son had already had 2 surgeries, the first when he was less than 24 hours old. The surgeon insisted on scheduling a follow-up appointment before releasing our son after the … [Read more...]
SO Much To Be Grateful For!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34, NIV ~ Sitting in a meeting with a local business owner, I found myself sharing with him what I share with everyone who seems to feel sorry for those of us raising children with special needs. We are SO blessed to be living at this point in time and in this country. We have SO much to be … [Read more...]