What a wonderful video! Every school/club/person/church/organization/family should be so blessed to be able to see this heartwarming, informative “snippet” explaining how people with down syndrome are JUST LIKE YOU. This video highlights the lives of 3 teenagers with down syndrome and their friends. Great advice and insightful understanding that will be sure to strengthen and [...]
Read More disabilities, down syndrome, fallen world, inspiration, just like you, limitations, perspective, video
Today was a “gray day” Not outside, the sun was shining, but inside our home & hearts, a storm was brewing. It was the kind of day, you’re glad you’ve been “storing up” lots of inspirational words & absorbing the the tangible love of family and friends; because, just like we should store up money [...]
Read More Bethany, disabilities, downs syndrome, encouragement, inspiration, labels, limitations, perseverence, perspective, special needs, unique
This video is a must see! Pastor Rick Warren teams up with Nick Vujicic, shares with Oprah the “Wild Card of Life” that can change everything! Our choices & attitude & our faith toward God! We can’t control our environment, our genetics, our chemistry, our 1st relationships, our circumstances, or what we’ve been [...]
Read More disabilities, encouragement, fallen world, inspiration, Jesus will meet you there, limitations, living between the trees, losing hand, Nick Vujicic, Oprah, overcoming, overcoming by faith, perseverence, Rick Warren, saying no to suicide, thankfulness, transformation, treasure hunter, Winning hand
The Bethany Paradox There is no paradox in loving her- only in understanding……….. I love her so much it hurts- Embracing her vulnerable weakness Dismayed her DNA is destructively damaged. I cry, I laugh with joy, I worry & fret, I ache with longing, yet rejoice in who she is Her spirit- so [...]
Read More Bethany, celebrate, disabilities, downs syndrome, eternity, identity, inspiration, labels, life, limitations, living between the trees, paradox, treasure, treasure hunter
If you’ve never heard, read, or seen Joni’s story (yes, there’s even a movie about her amazing life ) you need to get to know this phenomenal woman and her faith in God! Talk about Eternal Perspective!!!! Click to visit http://www.joniandfriends.org/ Ask yourself: What if you suddenly lost your mobility? What if you became [...]
Read More disabilities, downs syndrome, encouragement, eternity, fallen world, God's glory, inspiration, Joni, Joni Erikson Tada, limitations, living between the trees, special needs, transformation
We all deal with “limits” in our human brain! I know I have days where I feel “brain fog” or “brain dead”. I go into a room and forget why I went there. LOL! I go to the grocery store and come back home only to remember what I forgot to get. (oh my ) But [...]
Read More Bethany, disabilities, downs syndrome, encouragement, limitations, perseverence, perspective, RAM
Way back when (gosh that makes me sound old LOL) I loved playing my records (Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, Jungle Book- then later, Donny Osmond & The Partridge Family) on my very own record player. I would carefully lift the “arm” that held the needle and place it gently so as not to scratch the grooves in the record. Scratches [...]
Read More Bethany, brain, downs syndrome, glitches, limitations, overcoming, perspective, phonograph needle, special needs
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book Psalm 56:8 God knows I must have a ginormous bottle and I’m fairly certain you do too. Sometimes, my “life between the trees” journey feels like someone unexpectedly pushed me off a [...]
Read More babies, Bethany, children, downs syndrome, fallen world, God's love, limitations, living between the trees, overcoming, perseverence, perspective, prayer, special needs, tear bottles, tears, thankfulness
Guest Timmy Stauffer- Part 2- I’m so blessed and honored to share Tim’s perspective with you. God has hidden treasure in the most surprising places. Cerebral Palsy is not ALL of who I am, but it is part of who I am. I don’t think I’ve ever consciously questioned God about why I was given [...]
Read More celebrate, cerebral palsy, encouragement, eternity, limitations, overcoming, perseverence, perspective, thankfulness, Timmy, Timmy Stauffer, treasure
My guest today is Timmy Stauffer… the son of our good friend from high school, Wayne & Debbie Stauffer. I was drawn to learn more about Timmy when Wayne posted on FB, that his son had never wanted to pray for healing from Cerebral Palsy. He has always believed that God will use it for [...]
Read More cerebral palsy, disabilities, encouragement, eternity, inspiration, limitations, living between the trees, perspective, special needs, thankfulness, Timmy
Monday morning we went to the Dr. and learned that Bethany’s eardrum had collapsed inward and was laying on top of the bones which shouldn’t be showing The picture is not for the faint of heart but this is NOT how your eardrum should look! Basically, the negative pressure sucked it in, diminishing the [...]
Read More Bethany, disabilities, fallen world, hearing, life, limitations, living between the trees, overcoming, prayer, special needs, thankfulness
I’ve lost my reading glasses so often, I’ve taken to wearing them on my head when they’re not needed. Unfortunately, I’ve often misplaced my spiritual spectacles too: the ones that fine tune my focus on the spiritual reality behind my physical circumstances. School is going great for Bethany and Bethany is immensely enjoying not only home [...]
Read More Akeelah and the Bee, Bethany, home school, home schooling, limitations, living between the trees, perseverence, perspective, school, spiritual spectacles, treasureIf you put on the right filtered glasses tomorrow night (31st), you could literally see a blue moon. Most of us will be content to gaze with our naked eye and see a typical, white, full moon. But no matter the color- tomorrow’s moon will be the 2nd full moon in this month- thereby gaining [...]
Read More blue moon, encouragement, fallen world, full moon, inspiration, limitations, overcoming, perspective, transformation“Bella! Bella! Babe, look me. What this word say?” Bethany’s patient, but firm teacher voice commanded Bella’s attention. Bella’s almond eyes crinkled shut as she smiled and shouted, “Mommy!” ~ About two years ago, I met a lovely lady named Patricia. Previously a dance teacher, she had put everything aside to become a stay at home grandma and help raise her [...]
Read More Bella, Bethany, celebrate, encouragement, limitations, overcoming, special needs, thankfulness, transformation
Though our constitution truthfully states that all “men” are created equal, the reality in this fallen world is: “All” are not equally endowed. As a mom, I try to be an “equalizer”. You know, keep everything fair and more-or-less-the same. I find it’s a formidable, if not impossible task when dealing with something abstractly complicated such as “intelligence”. When [...]
Read More Bethany, brain, disabilities, downs syndrome, encouragement, fallen world, inspiration, labels, limitations, living between the trees, perspective, promises, transformation, treasure