I'm excited to share a modified excerpt from my new book (for digital release in February 2018) for autism moms, maximizing professional productivity while doing special forces parenting. To get an advance reader copy and other resources, click here. 3 year old resolutions... It's 2018 and I've just about lost my motivation to work on those resolutions. To be honest, they are a little boring … [Read more...]
Autism and Dementia: How Do We Cope?
Last week, on a gloomy Thursday afternoon, I sat in the prayer room on our retreat center’s property with a student from Miami University. It was the first meeting of a spiritual mentoring relationship. I lit a candle and made her a cup of tea. Frankly, I wondered if I had anything to give that day. The day before I’d visited my mom, who is careening headlong into full-blown dementia. I’d … [Read more...]
New Year’s Resolutions with a Twist
The new year has come and with it comes conversations about New Year’s resolutions. There are some very intentional folks out there who set aside time to think over the previous year and set goals for the upcoming year.There are other individuals that are more whimsical and just wing it, putting together a list of things on the spot when someone asks them what their New Year’s resolutions … [Read more...]
Faith Over Fear
In 2017 like for any special needs families there were a lot of hills and valleys. We saw our most fruitful year in ministry in helping special needs families with Champions Clubs and in our own family we saw our son exhibit behavior with acting out like we hadn’t seen since he was a little boy. From the occasional what we would call "chin business" (pressing his fist very hard against his chin) … [Read more...]
Just Us
We have the awesome privilege of getting away together as a couple to speak around the country on the topic of marriage. We love what we get to do, but even so, as we are surrounded by 500-1500 people, we are not alone! We love that we have various ministries in which we are involved, but often we have to divide and conquer (one staying home/one going) in order to be a part of the event. Very … [Read more...]
How to Craft a Heroic Response to Your Holiday Special-Needs Challenges
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...]