When we received Noah’s diagnosis, a chromosomal deletion, a genetic mutation, a lifelong condition with many nuances and unknowns, it was difficult to see beyond our circumstances. It hurt. We ached for our boy, we mourned normality for him and for ourselves. In him, we officially stepped across the threshold into the world of special…
The God Who Sees
“I see a life redeemed, a story unfolding….”
Hold steady
“I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 As we say goodbye to the old year and take our first steps into the new, let’s not forget the arts of remembering and reflecting. Look back. Check your calendar, Facebook memories, or…
Pathways and rivers – Trusting God through the wilderness of a new diagnosis
September 2016. I answered a phone call from my son’s specialist while walking into work. I heard the words, “chromosomal syndrome” and “22q11.2 deletion,” and it felt like my world literally shook. I literally had to sit down in an empty waiting room of the hospital where I worked at the time. Over the next…
There’s always a BUT”
(I know, that title. Hear me out. I kinda liked the title, anyway.) 2 Corinthians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. I love Paul’s writings, first of all. He is always so persuasive, so direct, so genuine. Strong in his faith, loving toward others, but never subservient or weak. But 2 Corinthians…
Why we all need grace (and how to give it)
I had a conversation with a very good friend the other day. She is also a parent of a child with special needs. We were sharing stories, encouraging each other just by the common bond that is special needs. There are things that only caregivers of people with special needs can know. We mourn the…
Grace Story
Ever feel so defeated? And then have guilt because YOUR story of defeat is just NOTHING compared to somebody else’s? Welcome to parenthood. Hello, my name is Morgan and I’m currently experiencing guilt. Guilt for handing the screaming baby off, just so I can poop. For just. Not. Caring that my older kids are whimpering…
Little funerals
I heard on a podcast a few months ago from Emily Freeman about the importance of allowing yourself periods of mourning, even for things that we don’t traditionally think of as needing to mourn. She wasn’t talking about the awful circumstances that require legit grieving, like the death of a close friend or a failed…
Speak the truth. Cling to the truth. Act on the truth.
Dreams. They’re just dreams. Crazy, mixed up, scary, but not real. Thoughts alone. Manifestations of neurons. Pictures and fragments in a blender in my head while I sleep, trying to sort themselves out. I dreamed that I knew I was about to witness my husband’s death. Some sort of gentleman’s duel, sort of, only it…
When Faith (and Parenting) is Hard
Evenings. They’re hard with kids. Even if we’re closing up a good day, with cooperative children, sweet kid kisses, and relative sibling harmony, evenings can really suck. But today wasn’t a particularly blissful day in parenting. And it was definitely hard by supper time. Gideon goes overly emotional with buttons sticking a mile out. Noah…