Blog

Don’t forget about us. We are here and we are in need. And most of all we are worth it. We’ve been left alone. Abused. Abandoned. Widowed. Orphaned. We may be broken. We may be used, but we have so much left to give. I know there are a few. A few good ones. Willing … Continue reading Don’t Forget About Us; On Dating and Marrying the Divorced, Widowed, or Single Parent

Sitting in the school drop off line, watching the kids and parents as they come and go. One particular day a particular dad caught my eye. His son would not let go of him. Tears ensued. Dad was patient. He tried many things. Only to have his son follow him right back to the parking … Continue reading Helping Your Child Who Wrestles with Drop-Off Anxiety; Special Needs or Not!

The disciples. All staring at each other, confused, feeling lost. They’d been anticipating relief from their suffering; the oppression of the Romans that they’d endured for years. They thought their time was now, only to find their time was no where near, at least not the way they’d thought it would be. Not the time … Continue reading When God Says Not Yet

Okay so it’s not a complete load of crap. It is, in fact, a fairly accurate description of how things work. The strong survive. We like to think of ourselves this way. Those of us who can pull ourselves up by our boot straps. Those of us who need the least help. We can get … Continue reading Survival of the Fittest is a Load of Crap; A Special Needs Mom’s New Year’s Resolution Hope

Don’t stop inviting us. I wrestle with migraines. Sometimes I have to cancel plans last minute. Don’t stop inviting me. A few of my children struggle with difficult behaviors. Sometimes we have to pace ourselves because of them and say no. Don’t stop inviting us. Our family has a rigid custody schedule. Sometimes we have … Continue reading Don’t Stop Inviting Us: A Peek Into the Holidays in a Special Needs, Blended Family

The memory is vivid. More so now than ever before. Standing in the wading pool with a friend, she said, “Oh hey there’s Amber! Have you met her? She’s great.” We were all in our swim suits and all I saw was tattoos, covering her body. She was tall, with short hair. You know, that … Continue reading When You Feel Unknown and Alone

Like waking up from some sort of deep sleep, the dreams were vivid because they were real. The fog began to clear and all at once I could see again. Grief had stolen so many years. I opened my eyes and suddenly my little kids weren’t little. They weren’t preschoolers or toddlers anymore. I’d lost … Continue reading When Grief Steals Time

Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but it's what's in the middle that counts. So when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up. And it will.          {Hope Floats Movie} We are at the beginning. And the end. And the middle. Saying goodbye … Continue reading Life Is Now: Hope For Times Of Transition

Dishes clang. Voices, so many voices. Laughing. Chatting. Whining. Food falling on the floor. My head spins back and forth, listening to the stories. Laughing at the jokes. Catch the cup. Give a reminder. Smile and nod. Cut some food. Reach for a falling fork. Life is moving so fast, on fast forward, a reel … Continue reading One Slow Second; Life In An Adoptive, Special Needs, Blended Family

I was reading a book. A really good, insightful, helpful book. I was eating it up. I couldn’t wait for the next chapter...it was something about limitations, and I thought, “Heck yes, this one’s for me! Yes, tell me how to deal with limitations.” Disappointed does not even begin to describe my feelings. The author … Continue reading When This Too Will NOT Pass