There are days I don't know what to pray. This whole thing is so much bigger, scarier, than I ever could have imagined. I don't even know which way I want it go. This is bigger than me. I've always had a pretty good handle on medical terms. And special needs was something we finally felt comfortable in. Nothing we dealt with was too emergent. I had time to research, ask, or Google!, to my … [Read more...]
The Strongest Strength
Has anyone ever asked you, "Why are you so tired?" Let me count the ways. First of all, it's not just the kind of tired at the end of a long day. It's not the kind of tired after a work-out that pushed your limits. It's not the kind of tired after a big event. It's something so much more. I don't think I need to write out a list of possible reasons why you feel sucker-punched and unable to peel … [Read more...]
How’s Special Needs Parenting Working for You?
In May of 2016, our daughter, her husband, and their one-year-old son moved in with my husband and me. Not for a few weeks or months until they found their own place to live. But permanently. Forever. As in, we are here to assist them while they raise their family, and they'll be our caretakers when we can no longer care for ourselves. When people hear about the arrangement—even though we … [Read more...]
New Priorities for Parents in the New School Year
With the new school year picking up speed, it’s easy for me to forget the lessons hard learned over the summer. My gracious Father has been very committed to teaching me about living in true peace, and I want to be intentional about wrestling with the moments that send peace running to the hills. Many of those moments are connected to my children and their various challenges. After an episode like … [Read more...]
Why Women’s Conferences Need to Consider Moms of Kids With Disabilities
I spoke at a Christian Women’s Conference last weekend. There were more than 600 women in attendance and as statistics would suggest, there were several women who parent kids with disabilities. We connected, we shared, we laughed, we cried together. Every time I attend a Women’s Conference I walk away thinking, “There should be a workshop in all women’s conferences designed for mothers of kids … [Read more...]
3 Reasons To Dream
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. The doctor said, "Your son has autism" as he wrote prescriptions for an MRI and EEG to rule out any brain tumors. I remember staring at my son and thinking what does this mean. My husband quickly asked the doctor, "Will he go to school? Will he be able to go to college?" I was numb. My … [Read more...]