I will never forget when my wife Sam & I first got the diagnosis that our son Connor was on the middle of the spectrum with Autism. We started hearing all of these startling statistics. They were not statistics concerning kids with special needs, they were percentages based on parents with special needs children. Some said it was 88%, others said it was 83%, a number I heard a lot was 80% of … [Read more...]
What Wonderous Love Is This?
Have you ever wondered why we call the Friday before Easter “good?” What’s good about humiliation, crucifixion and death? We don’t call it good Friday because we want to celebrate suffering. No, we call it “good” because, were it not for Friday, we wouldn’t have Easter Sunday. In order for Christ to conquer sin, death and darkness, he first had to enter into it – wholly and completely. He … [Read more...]
Mothers Share Truths Learned Because of Down Syndrome
Today is World Down Syndrome Day! March 21, because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of the 21st chromosome. Many use this day as an opportunity to educate, or spread awareness of the different challenges that these individuals face. It is a day set apart to celebrate our kids, siblings, cousins, friends, and neighbors with Down syndrome. Celebrate Down syndrome? Yes, I know, it might … [Read more...]
Reckless Love
Do you ever worry about your child’s future? Find anxious questions crowding your mind? Where will she live as an adult? What job will be best for her? Who will care for him after you’re gone? How can anyone ever care for him as well as you? I’ve lost countless hours of sleep to these kinds of worries. And then I saw a movie that helped me look at my son’s future in a whole new light… Last night … [Read more...]
Letting Go
Chelsea and Charlie in 2005 Philipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Chelsea came in the room, “Mom look I got another college theatre scholarship!” I was so excited for her and very proud. She is 6 years older than her brother Charlie who has autism. She was about 9 when we got the diagnosis. She didn’t really understand at the time. Even when he wasn’t talking and … [Read more...]
The Cart Before the Horse
Living in Lancaster County, PA—home of the Amish—we see a lot of buggies around here! So the phrase "don't put the cart before the horse" calls forth some pretty strong imagery in my mind. Instead of envisioning a horse prancing along the roadside, pulling a buggy behind it, I can vividly see how different it would be if that same horse was trying to push that same buggy down the street. It would … [Read more...]