Ugh…Transformers
I knew it would happen one day. My son has Transformers. My brother played with them and now Ethan plays with them. I didn't understand them then and I don't get them now. I tried to warn him. When you open the package, don't move anything. Don't turn anything. Just...
Celebrating Birthdays, Special-Needs-Style
How do you celebrate the birthday of a child with significant disabilities? This turns out to be a problem for many families. Birthdays are important events in many cultures. They mark significant milestones in the life of children and can be major social events. But...
Eating Ice- Summer Treat or Warning Sign?
At first I thought our daughter, Anna, was eating ice because she was hot and bored. In North Carolina, we put ice in our drinks, and there can be a natural progression from using the ice to cool your drink, to eating the pieces that were left behind after you finish...
You Ain’t My Momma!
So if you're from The South, you've probably heard these words before: "You Ain't My Momma!" Please imagine this being said with attitude. There might be a flip of the hair, a swivel of the head, or a snap of the fingers. I have quite a few memories from grade school...
Experiencing Grace at Family Camp
What did you do this summer? My family attended one of the Joni and Friends family camps. We didn't just have a good time there. We experienced the grace of God. (No, this is not an advertisement. I'm going to take some time describing the camp; but there are some...
All’s Well in a Jail Cell
Our Sunday School class just began a new unit on Joseph. You know the story. He was his father's favorite which made his brothers despise him. He had a dream that revealed an elevated position and shared it...with his brothers. They were pretty much fed up with him,...
Life is Not an Emergency
Occasionally a good maxim finds its way into my mind, and begins to help me rethink the ways that I go about living this life I've been given to live. Like actions speak louder than words, or a stitch in time saves nine, sometimes these simple truths help me make good...
Neighbors
It was a rare moment of quiet in our house. The television was blaring at top volume, but at least all the people were relatively content and peaceful. The doorbell rang, and I had to get up to answer it. I was curious who it could be. We rarely have people drop by to...
Mephibosheth
I have learned a great deal about disabilities from the story of Mephibosheth in II Samuel in the Old Testament. Mehphibosheth is the son of King David's friend Jonathan and grandson of King David's enemy Saul. He has a disability; he is mobility-impaired, lame in...
His Strength, My Weakness
My son, Caedmon, was born with clubfeet. They were severe, though not the most twisted that clubfeet can be. He has had surgery to try to correct it. It didn’t work, really, not nearly like it has for other kids I’ve met and read about. He recently went through...