My daughter is many things to different people. Her Down syndrome says something to most people even when they don’t know her. But to me, there’s one attribute that best describes my daughter. She is the most loving person I know.
Bringing Love to Life
Every child receiving services in the special education system is required to complete a series of assessments every three years. One question I was asked at least every three years was particularly haunting: Where do you see your daughter working and serving in the community in 5, 10 or 15 years? I have often asked God to give us vision, and I’ve learned that Jesus measures a person’s value and success very differently than the way we do.
Five Ways to Recycle Our Words
Sometimes words flow out of our mouths and we wish we could grab them and take them back. Other times our thoughts come out as words that aren’t really helpful and beneficial. In marriage and in parenting, our words can land hard on little hearts—and our hearts—if we’re not careful. Let’s consider a few ways we can repackage and recycle our words (and thus our actions) into ways that are helpful, beneficial, and life-giving.
Three Truths for CHD Awareness Day
February 14 is the date to celebrate love in the hearts of two people, and it’s also Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day. Initially, our daughter’s heart diagnoses came as a shock. My husband and I didn’t know how to process the diagnoses and the treatments. Years have passed, and we now have a healthier perspective. Today, I share three truths I discovered as a mom of a child with a CHD.
The Gift My Son Gives To His Sister
Jaycee’s Down Syndrome and medical conditions have influenced the relationship between her and my son. While Elijah is younger, he often acts like an older brother. He looks out for her even though she is bigger in size. They understand each other, even with her limited speech. So I wasn’t surprised by my son’s recent choice of a Christmas gift.
