It's not often that I find myself stopping on the local Christian channel as I surf up and down the dial. But a couple of nights ago a woman preaching a pre-recorded service caught my attention, because she was singing an old Barry Manilow song in the middle of her sermon. "All the Time" is the name of the song and it transported me back to my youth and to how I used this song then to wallow in self-pity about my small-town boredom. "All the time, all the wasted time. All the years, waiting for a... more

Yesterday's church service was the traditional patriotic one for Independence Day. I have always been drawn to patriotism, perhaps because my birthday falls near the holiday, and from the time I can remember red,white & blue birthday cakes and fireworks were a part of my birthday celebration.

But as I sat there listening to one of our choir's best baritones belt out the Lee Greenwood tune, "Proud to be an American", this year's celebration felt different. I realized how fortunate we are to be in America, given all of LuLu's disabilities. Where else would... more

LuLu and I attended Vacation Bible School last week. I led her group of children (6 of them; all different ages) from station to station to learn the daily Bible story through crafts, drama, games and music. It was fun, exhausting and on a couple of days -- eye opening.

One day the lesson was about salvation (obviously; that's what Protestant VBS is about) and the discussion turned to reasons we needed to be saved, ways in which we have sinned. The discussion leader had us all huddled in our crews, sitting on the floor close together. She then announced that if any... more

Out of the mouths of babes...or at least 9 year-olds (a very interesting 9 year-old at that). There is a wisdom that exudes from LuLu that belies both her age and the severity of her disabilities. It always catches me off guard. And ALWAYS profoundly touches me.

Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School. VBS, just like everything else in LuLu's life, is a challenge. We have usually participated. But, it hasn't always been easy. I have to be her "crew leader" - meaning that I chauffeur a group of kids from station to station throughout the morning. It might be fun, except that it doesn't afford me a break from LuLu. And, depending on who else is in the group, it can... more

Typical or not... It was Easter. It was Easter indeed! Today was pretty much a "typical" Easter day for our "atypical" family -- i.e. meaning much different than the way others may have spent their holiday.

We started the day with our usual 6 am alarm and off to sunrise service. This is my FAVORITE part of Easter day. My awesome hubby and I always sneak out of the house leaving the children snug in their beds and the Easter Bunny baskets planted by their doors. We spend the next hour or so at an outdoor service in our church yard, where today the sunrise was a beautiful... more

Going to church is an adventure in emotions for me. For the past seven years attending church with LuLu has been more than an adventure. But it never ceases to amaze me what God has in store for us each Sunday.

Today was no exception. As is often the case on Sundays, LuLu awoke in a bad mood, grumbling about everything but not really upset about anything in particular. I herded her and her sister through breakfast and into Sunday clothes and piled them in the car, apprehensive that we would actually make it through the service, since I could see a meltdown... more

I get daily devotionals emailed to me from the folks at Purpose Driven Life. More often than not they are just what I needed to hear that day. Today's is not exception.

John Fisher (who is an amazing devotional writer) entitled today's entry "Time Zones and Faith"

He quotes a woman who is struggling through many trials in her life as saying: "I know discouragement comes easy, but I also know things happen when God is ready for them to happen and not a second sooner. God knows why he wants things to happen in the order they have to. We just need to be ready when they come.”

Wow! I wish I could say that.... more

On days when my life is overwhelming (like everyday) - music is a huge help for me. One of my favorites these days is the cover CD from a group called Casting Crowns (who won a grammy on Tues night for their latest album, Lifesong). It's Christian rock, but it's even more than that. One of the songs that I find so inspirational and descriptive of where I am and where LuLu is, is Voice of Truth.

In my mind the first verse is written for a child with a traumatic past or attachment disorder. A broken-hearted child who wishes, but can't find the strength within himself, to take a leap of faith to try to love again. The second verse seems to be more for the parents (and kids) and... more