It's Christmas Eve. We've rushed, we've cooked, we've purchased. We worry that we haven't bought enough, or worry that we've bought too much. We tiptoe through difficult family gatherings and we miss those who are not with us this year. We compare our scantily decorated homes with the house next door. We yearn to make everyone happy... and doubt that we can pull it off. We try our best to keep … [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...]
Believe It or Not!
"Whether you know it or not, people are watching you." Those words in a sermon from my pastor have resonated with me for years. We parents raising children with special needs are sadly accustomed to uncomfortable stares or looks of disdain directed at our cherished children. It may be painful to endure the gawking of others, but it also gives us a unique platform to reach others. In … [Read more...]
Indispensable
"God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor." (1 Corinthians 12:18-23) Sitting with my son through an entire church service is no easy task. As a matter of statistical fact, … [Read more...]
Identity Crisis
I love it when my son Tim leaves me messages on my voice mail. They almost always start out with, "Hi Mom. This is Timothy Robert Hubach. Your only son with Down syndrome." Just in case I forgot. Well, one night, Tim (my "only son with Down syndrome") and I tried to make a quick trip to WalMart to pick up a few items. Afterwards, I arrived home declaring, "Never again on a Friday night!" Now, it … [Read more...]
Snooze Buttons, Train Wrecks and Finding Joy
It was pretty clear by the time I hit the snooze button for the fifth time. I didn’t want to get out of bed. Then words from Hebrews 12:2 I had read the day before came to mind: “For the joy set before him, he endured the cross.” I lay there, wondering, what is the joy set before me? What can give me such hope that I can endure mornings when I just don’t want to face another teen intervention, … [Read more...]