The Bible- and experience- teaches us it truly is more blessed to give than receive. I’ve found giving the “best” gifts DO NOT require money. Rather, the price of giving – the dearest cost- is counted and measured by “sacrifice of self”. Here are 31 free, but priceless gifts I’ve discovered I can […]
Christian family, Christmas, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
Ah- Sweet- precious- naive Bethany. What’s a mother to do???? Soooooo, Bethany’s latest escapade is matchmaking. Enter Daniel__________. Great Guy! Single. Enjoyable. Kind. Loves God. 27ish. Good Looking. (I can say that because I’m old enough to be his mother. 🙂   I guess you could say he’s the “total package”.  (Yes girls- […]
down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are ALL the work of Your hand. Isaiah 55:4 October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Down Syndrome- a new world- a new journey- a new understanding I was 40 when I finally met someone with down syndrome. We named […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Â Isaiah 55:8 NLT Bethany’s quirky thinking never ceases to surprise me- (but God’s not surprised by our “human” thinking.)Â We may be created in His image but even the most brilliant thinkers thought processes […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
Ordinary. Normal. Typical. Mainstream. When Bethany was born, I cried, worried, obsessed about her future and what it would look like. I just wanted her to fit in. To be “normal”. Normal. Ordinary. Like everyone else. Oh, brother! What in the world was I thinking? I never wanted our other kids to […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
“You are the light of the world–like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 Our baby- the youngest of 7- blew out 16 candles last month! what? Yep- Bethany is Sweet 16….. In March, I’d thrown a big dance party for my Dad’s 90th birthday and Bethany was enraptured. […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, special needs parenting
Jeff, Bethany, and I settled in our seats, with a mega bucket of popcorn and drinks, escaping the heat of the day to enjoy the newly released movie- FINDING DORY. (sequel to Finding Nemo) Warning- Total Spoiler- Don’t read if you don’t want to know 🙂 Finding Nemo was BB (Before Bethany 😉 […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
The LORD marches out like a warrior; He stirs up His rage like a man of war; He makes His anger heard; He shouts aloud; he declares His mastery over His enemies: Isaiah 42:13 Our culture soft pedals the fierce, warrior love of God. Ummm- hello- to be a good God- He has to defeat […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs
I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27 We recently celebrated our 36th anniversary! We had such a lovely time in Kansas City- 24 hours of much needed get away to just enjoy one another. Looking at our pictures- you would think we’re worry free- […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” ~Charles Dickens If that doesn’t describe the paradox of life- I don’t know what does. The rhythm of this life is bi-polar. The beat is booming and the tempo erratic. [Tweet “Don’t panic. I AM with you. I will #help you and […]
Christian family, downs syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
[Tweet ” I knew you before I made you in your mother’s womb. #FatherGod Jeremiah 1:5″] Meet our son, Noah, his wife, Sarah, Silas (4), Nehemiah (2), and Johannah Our grandsons, Silas (4) and Nehemiah (2) came over to play at our house. “Nana! Can we play church? I’ll be the preacher […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joy in the journey, special needs parenting
If you remember my “Dating, Down Syndrome, and Dreams” post- I started praying about what were some things we can do to ANCHOR Bethany’s life to “enjoying the now.” [Tweet “God knew we’d need fun and friendship in a warm, cuddly package- #puppies were His answer. “] One of the surprising possibilities that […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
That was the headline I saw in a Christian magazine. Can Someone with an Intellectual Disability know God and be Saved? My answer: DUH! If God has perfected His praise from the mouth of babies and nursing infants- then He certainly can reveal His love and goodness to anyone and everyone He created! But […]
baptism, Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting
[Tweet “Want an honest, simple, love-filled insight about life?- ask someone with #downsyndrome. “] The birds were singing, the sun was shining, the air was crisp and cool. Bethany and I swung clasped hands as we walked. “Mom. I’ve been thinking.” Laughing I said, “I love your thinking! What have you been thinking, […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey
I made the picture below, my FB profile picture because it shouts HOPE! LIFE may be killing us now but there is GLORY and JOY and REDEMPTION beyond our imagination! Jesus is undoing death and it’s sting. Jesus is overcoming darkness with light! Jesus won’t stop unfolding His Father’s Kingdom until the last enemy […]
Christian family, down syndrome, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parenting