The day Joey was diagnosed with Down syndrome, we left the geneticist’s office with a book called Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parents’ Guide. In the introduction, the editor encourages the parent carrying the weight of the heavy burden to take lots of pictures of their...
“I have to admit, Lord, I don’t really understand what You are doing here.”
I walked around my neighborhood, praying as I took in some fresh air. Praying for my husband, my children, some dear friends… and I realized I had been praying some of these same prayers over and...
As my head hit the pillow, my brain sprang into action. Worries I had kept in the back of my mind all day suddenly vied for my attention: What if my dad catches COVID-19 while he’s in the hospital for his cancer surgery? How am I going to homeschool three kids? When will I ever find...
I couldn’t sleep, I wasn’t eating. A knot twisted my stomach. I couldn’t focus on tasks that required more brain power than folding laundry. I was utterly consumed.
What was wrong? you ask. What hardship were you suffering that so consumed you?
Absolutely nothing.
My...
Almost a decade ago, I sat at dinner with a friend and wept. Postpartum depression wouldn’t relent, my husband’s business was keeping him busy far beyond the “normal” 40-hour work week, and my infant son had just been diagnosed with Down syndrome. I was struggling but...
We had a wonderfully low-key Thanksgiving this year. Lots of food, lots of fun, and lots of downtime–the perfect combination for this introverted mama. And a recipe for success for Joey, who can get a little overstimulated and a lot grouchy when life is turned on its ear, even for fun...
“Well, you just need to…”
I stopped mid-sentence.
Matt had been telling me about a project at school that was frustrating him—or to be more specific, a team member for the project who was frustrating him. Matt has big feelings and a crystal clear (in his own mind) sense...
Sometimes I forget.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t actually forget my son has Down syndrome. It is with us every day when we slog through reading basic books, every time I struggle to understand what he is trying to say, and every time I wonder if he doesn’t understand...
You guys, I am gearing up for a new season of ministry. A new website is coming. (Yay!) A new newsletter is in the works. (Woohoo!) And maybe one or two other new things that you’ll just have to wait to hear about……….
And as I prepare for the new, I’m reflecting...
I embarrassed myself yesterday. I walked into a situation with joy and confidence, and left feeling humiliated. And the worst part is, it was in the evening… so when I went to bed, my embarrassment played on a loop, keeping me awake long into the night.
Ugh.
It took a while before I...
