Easier said than done. Seeing many of our friends on social media taking trips to Japan, Italy, France, Greece, Egypt, and all around the USA, keeps us ever mindful that our feet are firmly planted in the nation of “caring for special needs”. Not a complaint; just a fact. We have done our fair share of travel; no complaints, there. We have many memories of Europe and even USA travel thanks to the help of family and friends; but we can not JUST GO! We recall, while speaking at a FAMILYLIFE WEEKEND TO REMEMBER talking to a young group of about 5 couples from a church (while family cared for our ..read more

Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest says it’s easy to say, “’Fret not,’ but a very different thing to have such a disposition that you find yourself able not to fret. It sounds so easy to talk about….. ‘waiting patiently for Him’ until the nest is upset-until we live, as so many are doing, in tumult and anguish, is it possible then to rest in the Lord? … Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances at all, but on your relationship to God Himself. Fussing always ends in sin. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our Lord never worried and He was nev ..read more

The school year has begun for all the children. Goals are made; classes are full go; children know what to do to make their studies and extracurricular a priority. Simplify that to our own lives and we have to ask, “Is our marriage a priority?” So many of us are very into our children’s lives and the activities they do to keep busy and active; but what about us? Where do we fit in our own lives and then furthermore, what about those of us parents caring for children with special needs? The list of caring for what the kids are doing mounts up quickly-some far beyond the school day! And then bey ..read more

Do you often think that your everyday spiritual life shows little progress in growing spiritually? When our girls were little, we could see their daily and even moment to moment physical development progress and changes, but our now 42- year-old son Joey (who has special needs) was different; his progress was often so hard to identify as really moving forward, yet, when others didn’t see him for a while, they could easily identify his progress. In our spiritual lives we’d love to have the fast progress that everyone notices, but often, our learning is slow but hopefully steady! I’d like to thi ..read more

Impressed recently about this idea, I have realized that we don’t often give others a chance to share their “moment” without others (or myself) wanting to share a similar experience or story. Something that happened to us recently has us really reflecting and being much more observant of letting others share what is important to them without topping their story or telling our own unless they ask. Upon being asked how we were, Joe shared that I (Cindi) had just gotten out of the hospital and shared in 2 sentences how critical I was in the ICU -going in for one reason and other things popping up ..read more

Mary was in a time of waiting as she waited for Jesus to be born. Could she have known the “full picture” of what it would mean for her to carry the Christ-child? She had to endure looks and speculations of others, perhaps including Joseph, but together they endured and embraced the “waiting room of life” and welcomed the Messiah in due time. Have you ever found yourself in a time of “waiting?” Maybe it was for test results, or a health issue, or your loved ones’ diagnosis, or a job, or marriage, or….? During that time of waiting, perhaps you prayed, perhaps even fasted, and still no answer fr ..read more

We often think school is all about our kids; and a lot of it is, but a lot also rests on us as parents. As parents of child with special needs, our attitude, and the way we approach teachers and situations is very important. While we are many years post school, there were a few things that we found helpful and we hope you will to: Don’t deny that your child has special needs. Make your child your priority. Advocate for him or her. Your school system should give you the information on laws every time you have an IEP conference for your child. Be sure to read and understand the information befo ..read more

Hot days, no rain, and my flowers were wilted and exhausted; bent over and looking depleted. Taking my sprinkling can outside filled with fresh cold water, I gave every flower a good drink as the day ended and shade covered them. Even before the morning sun, I could see those flowers starting to come back to life; but the next morning they were alive, perky, and pretty! If only getting refreshed were possible! If only a glass of cold water could replenish what we’re lacking….but can we really get refreshed? We know the usual suggestions to get refreshed: Get rest Have times of quiet Sleep Do ..read more

QUIRKS Facial expressions and some mannerisms of mine were recently brought up to me as something that someone found irritating. The interesting thing is that this person also has some facial expressions and mannerisms that I find irritating. It was nice to have a good talk to work out some of the differences, but the truth is that many things we do are our own quirks and differences that others recognize in us that we don’t (they are our blind spots) and are sometimes things that others need to love us through and sometimes simply overlook lovingly. Quirks might not be just our facial express ..read more

The following is done: Christmas letters and cards (and pictures, of course!) went out to be received the day after Thanksgiving! (Always my goal!) Christmas gifts purchased. (Immediate family and a few friends only.) Christmas gifts wrapped or bagged (My homemade fabric ones get reused yearly-so so easy!) and under the tree. Menu for Christmas Eve is planned. (Instead of a meal this year we will all contribute appetizers and graze while we play games.) Do you feel behind and are you experiencing the pressure? I sure hope not; but when some see this list, many say they are so behind and don ..read more