BLOG
How 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 moreOn Motherhood, Meals & Mayhem | Mother’s Day 2014
Breakfast of Chumpions One winter morning in 1988, I ran out the door on my way to school. I was late, per usual, so I skipped breakfast. High school seniors are too cool for breakfast anyway. My mother wasn’t having it. She chased me out to my car in her pajamas, and pressed a half-eaten SKOR bar and Coke into my hand. “Must eat something!” she insisted. A Coke and a candy...
read moreSpecial Siblings: Why It Doesn’t Have to be a Snowman
In honor of Autism Awareness Month and National Sibling Day (April 10), today’s post celebrates the unique, complex and extraordinary bond between special needs “Sibs” and their differently-abled brothers and sisters. Do you wanna build a snowman? Come on let’s go and play I never see you anymore Come out the door It’s like you’ve gone away We used to...
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 moreHow To Support Special Needs Families & Ministries | BASS Conference 2014
This is my family. Over the last ten, post-diagnosis years, these fine folks have looked for excuses to line our pockets, knowing full well we have gaping holes in them. My parents have provided us with uncountable financial support, particularly during our chaotic Early Intervention Years, when we hemorrhaged money for therapies ($7,000.00 a month out-of-pocket.) St. Patrick’s...
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 moreSpecial Teams (The Kicker) | A Post-Game Huddle
Confession: I’m not much of a football person. I just can’t wrap my brain around all the rules. I’m not a rules person. As they say in the Pirates of the Caribbean, “Rules? They’re more like guidelines, anyways…” Most of the time, I’m like this, But I can get into a Super Bowl party (who doesn’t love a snack buffet?) One of my primitive questions was, “Lemme get this straight: ...
read moreGot a Heart for the Disabled? How to OVERWHELM a Special Needs Family
In summer 2012, our family had the honor of being interviewed by Joni Eareckson Tada. Getting personal time with Joni and Ken was a privilege already, let alone being featured on her radio program. But we had no idea that would lead to being selected for the annual Valentines campaign, “Hearts for the Disabled.” Almost a year later on February 14, 2013 we came home to several...
read moreWhen Your Temple Gets Wrecked: From Hallowed to Hollowed & Back Again
Perhaps an ultrasound detected an abnormality: a potential genetic defect. Perhaps physical evidence presented itself at birth: a disfigurement. Perhaps years went by of blissful childhood, until subtle hints began to emerge: a series of missed developmental milestones, or a disconcerting sense of “something just not right.” Regardless of how incremental the onset, the...
read more20 Ingredients to a Rock Star Special Needs Dad & Husband: Encomium of Eddie
January 13, 2014. My husband turns 44 today. He hates a fuss over him. Well, too bad. His wife happens to be a grateful special needs mom and writer. Pardon me, as I hijack my own blog to celebrate my man on the world wide web. 20 Reasons Why Eddie Kim is a Rock Star Special Needs Dad & Husband 1. When trauma struck, he didn’t fall apart. We didn’t lose him to...
read moreUnbroken Faith
Subscribe
Subscribe to receive new blog posts, updates, and exclusive content.
Connect with Diane
All rights reserved | Copyright 2018 | Privacy Policy
