exhaustion

He Turns 40; We Turned the Unexpected Journey Into a Spirit of Adventure!

He Turns 40; We Turned the Unexpected Journey Into a Spirit of Adventure!

A spirit of adventure has helped us care for Joey, and sustain us these past 40 years, and hopefully into future years. We chose to make the journey an adventure something like this, both from and to these five things.

Four Signs That I'm On The Struggle Bus

Four Signs That I'm On The Struggle Bus

I am no stranger to struggles as someone raising a child with special and medical needs. It is easy for me to downplay the degree to which I am mentally struggling. But I now see that when I claim to be fine when reality suggests otherwise, that’s an unhealthy denial. Here are four signs that my struggles are not “fine,” and some things that have been helpful for me, when I acknowledge these symptoms.

Seven Ways to Lift the Exceptional Burden of Special Needs Families

Seven Ways to Lift the Exceptional Burden of Special Needs Families

Anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness, stress and exhaustion. Pick a feeling and a special needs caregiver has experienced it, and not occasionally or seasonally, but often daily. We could all use a helping hand from a friend or a stranger or a church parishioner, someone who gives us a tiny boost of hope when we need it the most, but special needs caregivers are in an exceptional category. Here are seven tangible ways you might consider lifting their exceptional burden just a bit.

A Prayer for Minimized Losses and Multiplied Gains During COVID-19

A Prayer for Minimized Losses and Multiplied Gains During COVID-19

Until God releases us from threats like COVID-19, my family is leaning hard into prayer. In many ways, we’re paraphrasing a very helpful prayer prayed over our daughter from so many years ago. I hope extended families, friends and churches will join us in praying this prayer, too.

Camp Corona Burnout?

Camp Corona Burnout?

It is week number whatever since COVID-19 began. The cutesy Facebook posts highlighting everyone’s Pinterest projects are starting to fade. The smiles are starting to looking more strained as parents are wondering how much longer they will have to be the counselors/craft room directors at “Camp Corona.” Are parents at risk of “burn out?”