Since the first of March, grief has been my not-so-quiet companion. I try to keep most of my crying contained; when I’m in the shower or times when my two sons and husband aren’t home. But the grief and sadness burst out at random and inopportune moments. When will my eyes stop leaking? According to medicinenet.com grief is “the normal process of reacting to a loss.” It goes on to list … [Read more...]
Even in the Hard Times
This past Saturday, as we prepared to leave for the farmer's market, my husband and I received the heart-breaking news that Audrey, a young woman with autism who lives at Safe Haven Farms with our son Joel, died unexpectedly on Friday. In her mid-20’s, Audrey was a larger than life kind of gal. She loved to dress up, loved all things Disney, and rarely used her “indoor voice.” A beautiful young … [Read more...]
Why Do We Weep?
...Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?” “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. … [Read more...]
A Letter To My Adopted Child’s Reactive Attachment Disorder
Dear Reactive Attachment Disorder, You are not my favorite person right now. In fact, you're a bully and I'm still waiting for you to move out of my house. You've bound my girl for ten years, already. Isn't that enough? Yes, you kept her alive for a short season. Yes, you helped her cope when life bounced her from home to home those first years. I get it. But ever since then, you've been a loud, … [Read more...]
Trusting In God In the Midst of Trial
Stephen was stoned to death. He trusted in God completely, even as he was being falsely accused, he trusted in God and he still lost his life. My husband preached about Stephen on Sunday and I kept thinking about our own family, our own trials, our own suffering, how disability impacts us and how often I cry out to God to help me, to help our family. Trusting in God in the midst of trial … [Read more...]
Special Needs Parents: I give you permission
Are you a parent to a child or children with special needs? If so, I have a message for you today. I GIVE YOU PERMISSION. I give you permission to be tired. I give you permission to cancel a therapy session. I give you permission to feel weak. When it comes to your child with special needs, I give you permission to allow a little grief to co-exist with other emotions like love and … [Read more...]