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“Let Me Know How I Can Help!” (This Will, Because They Won’t)
A House Under Siege Let’s say, hypothetically, flames engulfed my house in the middle of the night. To have my neighbor lean out his window and shout, “Let me know how I can help!” is actually unhelpful. I know my neighbors are good people. But what would be more helpful? If he ran over with a garden hose, a fire extinguisher, or dragged us away from the fire while his wife called 911. Then,...
read moreWhen Normal Is the New Weird | Special Needs + Typical Parenting (Belonging Neither Here Nor There)
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Many of us hold dual citizenship: Card-carrying creds from the world of Special Needs parenting, and membership in the “normal” world of typically developing children (“Sibs.”) We occupy both...
read moreHow Superheroes Decompress: Respites & Shawarma (A Tribute to Volunteers)
Confessions of a Respite Groupie Hello. My name is Diane. And I am a self-professed Respite Groupie. If there’s a church respite event within a 45-minute radius of our home: We. Are. There. “Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night…” Whatever, man. We are there. It’s the only event I’m ever on time for. It blows my mind that a group...
read moreHow Special Needs Ministry Benefits Volunteers & Churches | Meet Mr. Nick
In last week’s post, I shared about how Special Needs Ministries are needed to reach the 90% of special needs families who do not attend church. Most simply can’t. I also shared a few practical ways that extended –and spiritual– family can help. You can imagine how inclusive churches and special needs ministries bless special needs families like mine. And as a Special...
read moreWhat Now? Overwhelmed & Underqualified | When Life’s Got You Hiding in an Upper Room
“Who me? A Special Needs Parent? I can’t do this! I’m not qualified.” Growing up, I was afraid of those handicapped kids, tucked away in the portables at the rear of campus. I probably even used The R Word. Even as an adult, I avoided making eye contact with someone in a wheelchair. “Do I make eye contact, or is that rude? Should I open the door for them or is that...
read moreFaith Through Disappointment – Part 3: GET PEOPLE
Four-part series, “Faith Through Disappointment” continues. Of the “Four Gets,” the first is to Get REAL: Giving ourselves permission to grieve or get angry. The second, is to Get HELP: Be willing to lean on others. We were not meant to carry our burdens alone. The third, is to Get PEOPLE: God provides help through people, whether they understand our...
read moreFaith through Disappointment – Part 1: ALCF Women’s Conference 2013
On October 5, 2013, I had the privilege of speaking at my church, Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Mountain View, CA. It was an honor to be part of the teaching team for the annual Women’s Conference, composed of keynote Dr. Gloria White-Hammond, and five fellow workshop speakers: Each uniquely gifted and passionate about seeing women healed and made whole. For the 2013 theme of...
read moreGoldeluxe & The Three “Must Bears” of Special Needs Ministry
A tribute to special needs ministry champions who honor our families with “Gold-deluxe” service. I’ve been each of these three “Must Bears” at some point. Supporting complex families like ours can be a delicate, sensitive and prickly endeavor. Thank you for your calling, passion and dedication to serve where many others dare not tread. ...
read moreHow to help a SN Parent? Just LISTEN
Much has been written about how folks get it wrong: What not to say or do to a special needs parent, or how family fails to support them. Here’s how a supportive friend got it right. I have a dear friend named Cindy. Someone like me might consider Cindy an “unlikely” friend. Why? Between Cindy and her husband, they...
read moreSiblings Have Unique Needs, Too (Sib Panel Pt. 1)
Part I of a Four-Part Series on Special Needs Siblings In honor of April Autism Awareness Month and Sibling Appreciation Day on April 10 (yes, there is such a day!) our Special Adventure parent support group had the extraordinary blessing of hosting a Special Needs Sibling Panel on April 21, 2013. We invited four adult siblings who grew up with a special needs brother or sister to share...
read moreUnbroken Faith
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