A Different Kind of Christmas

One evening in October Bill and I were sitting around with the kids talking about how hard it has been to loose family members the week of Thanksgiving.  This Christmas we would be missing another family member, my brother.  We were talking about how hard it was to find the magic of Christmas and reminisced about Christmas in Colorado where Bill and I grew up and gave birth to our children.  We spontaneously decided to book flights that night while the tickets were cheap.  It was a little challenging for Bill since no other plans were made, but we quickly talked him into it.  

A couple of weeks later our son-in-law was in a tragic car accident and was in a coma and ICU for several weeks.  As the weeks passed it was hard to think about going to Colorado and it especially was for Sarah.  Clay was now out of the coma and ICU and had been moved to a rehabilitation center.  Everyone thought it would be good for Sarah and Chloe to go relax and play in the snow for a few days, so reluctantly she decided to go.  

There was a lot of preparation getting ready for the trip but finally all eight of us were on a plane.  I took a deep breath and relaxed.  Jack, our 2 year-old grandson is quite a seasoned traveler and for Chloe, our 2 year-old granddaughter, this would be her first plane ride.

We were welcomed to Colorado by my sweet brother and his wife and headed for Estes Park the next day.  When I am in the Rocky Mountains it always feels like God is standing there waiting to say hello. The mountains show so many sides of God.  They show His majesty, power, and beauty to name a few.  We spent a wonderful week shopping, eating great food, playing in the snow, snow shoeing and visiting friends.  One of the highlights of the trip was having coffee with one of my heroes, Les Avery.  He was the senior pastor of the church I grew up in.  He is 80 years old and took the gold this year in the Senior Olympics in biking.  He rides 150 miles a week.  He is such an inspiration!!

We bought a few little surprises this year but other than that, we really didn't buy presents.  The trip was the present for everyone.  This made the Christmas process very relaxing.  We are home now and it is Christmas Eve.  It does feel a little strange to not be opening presents in the morning but our focus this year has been a lot more meaningful.

This morning I spent a relaxing morning running some errands with my daughter and granddaughter.  This afternoon Bill and I went to visit with his mother who is suffering from Alzheimer's.  She spent most of her visit talking to her imaginary friends but she was happy and that makes us happy.  Sarah was having a hard day so we went out for a nice dinner and then she went to be with Clay while we took Chloe to church to sing about Jesus and watch it snow.  My sweet Chloe loves to go to church and loves to pray.  She often says, "MeMe pray Daddy's boo boo's."  We always stop whatever we are doing and pray for her daddy's boo boo's.

Tonight some friends of Sarah are over playing games and we are cooking breakfast for tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow we won't be getting up to a house full of presents and people but we will be taking breakfast to Clay's family and the wonderful therapists taking care of him.  It is a Christmas that we will never forget because so much has changed.  We know that you can't take anything for granted.  What matters the most is family and seeing each other through the tough times.

Tonight I am so grateful for all of the family memories made this Christmas.  I am thankful that our  daughter Bethany and her family were able to visit with Ed's family and they will be back soon.  I am thankful that Clay is doing so well and is getting stronger every day.  I am thankful for the strength I see in Sarah and I am especially thankful for Christ and His presence in my life, no matter what the circumstance.  

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Communication Strategies

       In my last post we discussed different types of hearing loss and how it affects communication.  In this post we will talk more about communication strategies.  As the holidays are rapidly approaching and we spend time around more groups of people in a variety of settings, we all encounter more background noise.

     With people who have hearing loss having communication difficulties in large groups is very common.  It is important to remember that communication is a "two way street".   There are two primary "rules of thumb" to keep in mind.  Number one, try to keep the background noise to a minimum.  People with hearing loss have trouble sorting out what they want to hear from background noise.  At home this is easy, simply mute the TV or turn off the music or dishwasher to communicate.  Out in public or in larger groups it is more difficult, however, to control background noise.  You want to manipulate the environment to give you the best chance of hearing.  You do not want to be in the middle of the group.  Get off to one side of the group and get the majority of noise behind you or get around a corner if possible.  This allows your pinnas or ears to reduce the sound coming from behind you and enhance the sound in front of you.  Number two, always make sure you can see the speakers face.  Again a person with a hearing loss has difficulty hearing certain speech sounds that are important for understanding speech like, F, S SH etc.  These speech sounds, however, are the easiest sounds in our language to lip read.

     Hopefully these strategies will improve communication for everyone. As always,  questions or comments are always welcome.

William J. Boggess, M.S.

Types of Hearing Loss

I thought it might be time to take advantage of my husband Bill's knowledge and understanding.  Bill has been an audiologist for the last 27 years and has worked in clinic and hospital settings.  He counsels  families on dealing with hearing loss and how to improve communication within the family.

On a personal note, my father lived with a moderate hearing loss in his later years.  He struggled with dinner conversation and often would just withdraw because it was so much work to hear the conversation.  He avoided restaurants that were loud for years.  As I get older and have started having problems with the same type of hearing loss, I can appreciate how Dad felt.

So many of you will be gathered around parents, relatives, and friends that suffer from mild to severe hearing loss during the holidays.  I thought it might be helpful for Bill to share some information and strategies for individuals and families that are affected by hearing loss.

Types of Hearing Loss

By Bill Boggess

I thought for this first post we could review hearing loss since there are many types and degrees of hearing loss that will affect different people in different ways.  There are three types of hearing loss, conductive, sensorineural and mixed (both conductive, sensorineural).  A conductive hearing loss is a hearing loss due to a mechanical problem with the ear, such as ear wax or fluid behind the ear drum - something that interferes with the sound being sent to the inner ear.  This particular type of hearing loss affects communication strictly by reducing the volume of speech.  Speech is not distorted, just heard softer than normal.

The second type of hearing loss is a sensorineural hearing loss.  This is the most common kind of hearing loss.  This type of hearing loss is typically permanent and is sometimes referred to as a "nerve type hearing loss".  There are many causes of this type of hearing loss including hereditary factors, noise exposure and general health conditions such as diabetes.  This type of hearing loss can affect different pitches to varying degrees.  For example, if the hearing loss is in the higher pitches (treble region) someone will hear the volume of speech fine but may not be able to understand what is being said.

Now, because this type of hearing loss is in the inner ear, the inner ear may loose some of its' "fine tuning" capability.  Under these circumstances,  if someone is talking too fast, the person with the hearing loss will not be able to understand what is being said, or foreign accents can be difficult to understand and more commonly the individual will have trouble understanding speech in large groups or a lot of background noise.  So, certain environments can be more difficult than others so hearing may appear inconsistent.  Finally, the inner ear can sometimes distort speech significantly.  Under these circumstances the person will need to see the speakers face to have the best opportunity to understand.

The last type of hearing loss is a mixed hearing loss and is a combination of the first two.  Because it is  mixed you have all factors of hearing loss come into play in terms of communication.

In our next post we will discuss rehabilitation options and communication strategies for people with various types of hearing loss.

Thank You For Praying

Dear Friends,

It has been awhile since I last posted.  I am so sorry.  We have been trying to adjust to our new "normal" and sometimes that takes awhile.  Our son-in-law is gradually improving.  We are so grateful for all of your prayers and support.

Clay was in a terrible car accident on November 10 and broke three places in his neck, along with several breaks in the skull and along the spine.  When he was taken to the hospital he was in a coma.  We are three weeks out now and he is showing movement on both sides, is following commands, is swallowing, breathing on his own, sticking his tongue out, and starting to mouth words.  We are so grateful for the improvements he has made.  It truly is a miracle!

It has struck me that disabilities and challenges can affect your family at any time.  All of the things Bill and I have communicated in our trainings are repeating in my mind.  God is in control.  He has a special plan and a purpose for all of us.  God can use our greatest weakness to bring glory to himself.  Look at the person, not the disability.  Celebrate the things we can do on a day to day basis.

I am proud of all the hard work Clay has done to become stronger and overcome the obstacles in front of him.  I am proud of Sarah for being right there by his side to encourage him and push him forward.  I am proud of Chloe for just seeing Daddy and giving him all of the love he needs.

Thank you for being there for our family and extending the love of Christ.  We appreciate your continued prayers for Clay and his family, Sarah and Chloe.

Blessings-

Deana

Why, God?

     It is 2:30 am and I can't sleep.  Just a month ago I was at a hospice center with my little brother and now I am in ICU with another family member.  So much of me is overwhelmed.  I feel as though I am continually having to shift gears because my life has changed in a matter of moments.  The pain and the losses seem unbearable at times.
     I must confess that I wonder, "Why, God?," a lot.  I don't understand why there is so much suffering in the world.  I don't know why my loved ones have to go through so much pain.  But I do know this ... God loves me, God loves you, and He desires for us to have a blessed life.
     I have so many blessings around me and I know that God continually goes before me, no matter what happens.  He will protect me, guide me, and love me no matter what.  I hold onto that every day.
     I am sure that my trials pale in comparison to some of yours.  I feel heavy hearted about the things some of you must be facing.  All I can say is, never let go of God.  He loves you with an everlasting love and has great plans for your life.  Don't be afraid to question Him, just be available to hear His answer.
     With much love....

Growing in Ministry

     It was 1995 and I was entering a new phase of my ministry journey.  I had no idea what I was doing but I did know that I was doing what God wanted me to do.  I was joining Bill in special needs ministry.  We had spent a lot of time looking back over our lives to see what God had prepared us to do and it became clear to us that we were prepared to serve in this way.
     On that first Sunday I walked down to a room that we set up for our handful of children affected by special needs.  We had a table, a few toys, a cabinet, a gate and a couple of volunteers. I had read a number of books about children with autism.  The books I had read years ago made autism sound hopeless and the children were unable to connect and love.  I had broadened my understanding in college as I went through some courses in Occupational Therapy but I still had a very limited view.
     On that first Sunday, however, my perspective and heart was changed forever because Michael had come into my life.  I was fascinated by Michael.  It was obvious that he was brilliant but it was also apparent that it would take some time to build a relationship with him.
     Michael seemed to be fine without me but I sure wanted a relationship with him.  He would walk around the room the whole hour repeating a phrase and moving his hand across his face.  He did this over and over again.  The first week I tried to talk to him but I mostly watched Michael.  He was happy. He was content.  He appeared to be in another world.
     After several weeks of trying to make conversation with him, it dawned on me that maybe I needed to enter his world before he would enter mine.  I sat down on the floor beside him and started repeating the words he was saying and mimicked his hand motions.  He immediately stopped and looked at me.  I felt like he was saying, "Hey, that is my gig!" That day, however, we made a connection.  From that day on, I always greeted him the same way with the same words and the same hand motion.  I entered his world and this opened the door for him to enter mine.
     Over the next several weeks our connection grew.  Then one Sunday he entered the room reciting a long list of names, ending with the name of a major motion picture company.  He was reciting all of the credits from a movie he had seen the night before.  I kept thinking about his incredible ability to memorize and thought, he could probably memorize scripture.  The next Sunday I started working with him on scripture memory and he was incredible.
     My friendship and love for Michael grew over time.  He was full of love, hope and tremendous abilities.  I loved Michael for the incredibly gifted person he was.  I also loved what he taught me about people.  If we are willing to step into another person's world for a little while, they will be more likely to enter into ours and we both just might learn something from each other.
     In the 16 years since then I have been blessed by friendships with a number of people with autism.  I will never be the same and that is what great friendships are all about.

Exciting Opportunities

     It has been a wonderfully busy day!  This morning Bill and I were able to thank a church for their continued love and support of children and families affected by special needs.  Only 5% of churches offer special needs ministry so it was exciting to thank them for welcoming all of God's children into the church family.  They have faithfully served for 17 years now!
     This afternoon we were able to attend the initial meeting for a church that desires to start a special needs ministry.  It was exciting to see six people attend with another three that couldn't make it.  What a great start  to getting such a vital ministry off the ground.  They were already planning to offer buddies for two hours and were dreaming about starting an evening of respite for families.
     I love that God lets us share in the celebration of seasoned ministries, as well as the excitement of brand new ones.  Thank you, God, for giving us front row seats to the great things you are doing in the churches in Austin.

What is Your Wall?

It has been a very introspective month.  At the beginning of October I was trying so hard to find some time to work on the special needs book.  I felt such a strong calling to get it finished but I also felt God's hand on me telling me to slow down because I have something else to learn.

For the last several weeks our church has been going through a series called "Walls."  We have taken the time to determine where our thinking is off and how it keeps us from being closer to God.  When I took the test on what my wall is, I ended up with the result, PRIDE.  I never really saw myself as struggling with pride. I have always struggled with low self-esteem and lack of confidence.  But God has wanted to reveal to me what my pride is all about.  I have pride in several ways but one of them is being self-sufficient.  I think I can do it all on my own.  I am prideful when I need someone to step in and help.

Well, apparently God has been anxious for me to deal with this pride.  Over the last two weeks, I have missed a week of work, people have brought in meals, cleaned my house, given me money, mowed our yard and showered me with gifts.  This is wonderful and a huge blessing but for someone with pride, it is a little overwhelming.  I have to work through feeling that I have let people down, that I can't keep up, and yes, that I can use some help.

When I was with my brother in his last days, it was fascinating to watch him go through a stage of having one foot in this life and one in the next.  He was so weak he couldn't take care of himself.  He was so tired that he didn't have any strength left and he was completely dependent on others.  I saw strength in him, however, because he was so dependent on God.  He went through a stage of evaluating his life but then he seemed to quickly surrender and trust God with his life.  I think that took more strength than fighting.

Ten days have passed now and yesterday I turned 50.  There is still some fight in me but mostly, I just want to surrender and let God do what God wants to do.  He has a plan for the time I have left.  I don't need to prove anything to myself or anyone else.  I just need to surrender and say, God, I will do whatever you ask of me and I will do it on your strength and not my own.

Instead of evaluating my life by asking "Has my life mattered?" and "Have I accomplished anything?,"
I now want to take everything one step at a time and ask, "God, what do you want me to do today?"
Then I take one step at a time, trusting in God's plan.

We all have challenges and we all have strength to work through our challenges but if we take a step back and rely on God, we will be stronger.

The last 48 hours have been emotional, horrible, beautiful and spiritual. My little brother is in his last days of life here on this earth. It all feels incredibly unfair. Larry is only 46 years old and is way too young to be at the end of his life. He is way too kind to have to endure this amount of pain and yet, here we are.  I have always known, however, that God is kind and that He walks every step of iife with us. I know he is with Larry right now and walking with him as well.

About 3:00 this morning I took a coffee break and talked to one of the hospice nurses for awhile. She shared with me that the end of life is the same as the beginning of life, only in reverse. You come into the world and go through labor. It is hard, it is stressful and every labor is different. No one knows how long it will take. It is different for every person.  It is the same with the end of life. We may have to go through a long labor. It may be painful and we may not know just how long it will last. It is just the completion of our journey on earth, rather than the beginning.

I think of it as the birth process for the next life, however.  Larry had many coaches during the labor.  We gathered around and prayed, we read scriptures, we read poems, we sang, and we even read a chapter of Winnie-the-Pooh.  We shared stories from the past with Larry and laughed together.  We shared all of the things we admired the most about him and then let him know that it was ok for him to go and everything and everyone would be taken care of.

During the "labor" Larry was gracious enough to demonstrate his love for us.  He gave hugs, blessed us, joked with us, tired to sing songs with us and even stroked my hair and cheek.  One of the most beautiful things was that he let us listen in on conversations between he and my dad who is already in heaven.  One day Larry raised him arm to the ceiling and was trying to grab something.  My sister-in-law asked him what he was reaching for and he said, "I will see you tomorrow, Dad."  She asked him if he could see Dad right then and how he looked.  Larry said, "He looks great!"  The next day he told Dad that everything was going to be alright.  Sometimes I wonder if he was telling Dad that he wanted one more day here.

As we entered the last two days of his life, Larry endured a pulse of 136 and a fever of 105.  As we swabbed Larry's mouth I kept thinking of Christ as he was on the cross, the suffering He endured and the liquids that were lifted up to him to bring him some comfort.

Larry has now gone to heaven.  I will truly miss Larry but I find great comfort in knowing that he is in heaven today, completely whole and completely in God's presence.  Larry endured many challenges in his life but is now healed.  I will miss you so much but rest in peace, sweet Larry, and enjoy our Dad and our Father today.

What Is Your Platform?

      I have been thinking about this question ever since I attended the "Colorado ChristianWriter's Conference" in Estes Park last May.  Prior to that weekend, the only understanding I had of that word was a small stage for someone to stand on and publicly speak.  A platform was not something I wanted to encounter.

     While I was in Colorado, however, I experienced another understanding of that word.  It means everything if you desire to ever be a published writer.  My platform must help you believe that I know what I am talking about.  It must make you want to listen to me.  It must make me sound like I have something to offer that no one else does.  It requires me to "sell myself."

     I have spent many hours reading about "platforms" and how important they are.  It actually makes me really uncomfortable because as a Christian I have always felt like I needed to fade into the background and not draw attention to myself.  The attention should be on others rather than myself.  Therefore, it is really a stretch for me to consider building a platform.
     Dictionary.com gives us the definition of a platform as:

plat·formNoun/ˈplatfôrm/

1. A raised level surface on which people or things can stand.

2. A raised floor or stage used by public speakers or performers so that they can be seen by their audience. 

     I find the second definition interesting; "so that they can be seen by their audience."  "Being seen" is not always self-serving.  Being seen can make an impact.  Being seen can change the course of history.  Being seen can change someone's life.

     Helen Keller was seen and known around the world.  Her platform of being blind and deaf allowed her to make an impact on the world.  I know for me personally, every time I feel overwhelmed by something in my life I reflect on her and realize that if Helen Keller can learn to read and publicly speak when she is deaf and blind, I can overcome this obstacle.
     I think of Joni Eareckson Tada who has an international ministry, trains churches in special needs ministry, delivers wheelchairs around the world, shares the gospel around the world, and helps people at some of the darkest moments of their lives.  As a person affected by quadriplegia, she has a platform that I will never have.  She is able to be seen because of her disability and the courage she has had to not let it handicap her.
     Sometimes we have platforms that we are uncomfortable with.  They are platforms that we never would have chosen.  They may even be platforms that we are praying to be healed from but nonetheless, they are our platforms.  They give us a testimony.  They give us credibility in a certain area.  They make us unique.
     In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says,
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
     Nothing is more evident to me than my weaknesses.  I have lots of them but the beautiful thing is that Christ's power can then rest on me and be seen.  Any weakness I have can bring glory to God.  Just as my strengths and gifts can be a platform for sharing about Christ, so can my weaknesses.  As a Christian my desire is not to sell myself, but to tell about Christ.  Ultimately I ask myself, what is the platform God has given me so you can see that I know what I am talking about when it comes to Christ's love?  What is the platform that God has given me to help you hear my testimony?  What is the platform that God has given me to help you see that Christ has something to offer that no one else does?

     So now I ask you, what is your platform?

My dad was and is one of my all time heroes.  I can close my eyes and still imagine him.  I see him in the mirror sometimes, especially as I age.  I remember how he smelled.  I remember how his hand felt and I remember how my hand felt when it was in his.  I remember what he cared about.

Dad fought for the rights of others most of his career.  He fought for civil rights for so many people.  I remember meeting him at the bus so that I could walk home with him and hear about his day.  He would often talk about people with disabilities and would help me think through what the reasonable accommodation would be for someone looking for employment that had a disability.  I was always so amazed by the ideas he would come up with and how simple they were to implement so someone could have a job and support themselves.

This week I am constantly thinking about the disabling disease I have seen the most.  It is a disease that causes many challenges.  It is a disease that constantly causes you to come up with a new reasonable accommodation for dealing with the challenges of life that get tougher and tougher until it seems there aren't any reasonable accommodations to come up with.  It is cancer.

I grew up with a grandmother that was affected by cancer of the larynx.  She had to speak and breathe through an opening in her neck.  She was later struck by cancer again in her life and we lost her about 12 years ago.  My grandfather died from leukemia.  My paternal grandmother died from colon cancer.  My mother battled breast cancer but thankfully has done well for the last 17 years.  My precious father was taken by a form of cancer 8 years ago and now I am watching my brother suffer from renal cancer.

In our trainings we tell people to look past the disability.  Look at the person, rather than the disability.  But when my dad had cancer it became a part of who he was.  He would never be the same again.  Dad only lived with that diagnosis for 9 days but he used even that to make an impact.

In those last nine days of his life, he kept whispering to me, "Trust God."  I can still imagine him saying it to this day.  "Trust God."  I think that was Dad's "reasonable accommodation."  It allowed him and it allowed us to not be disabled by the disease but to learn how to live through it, trusting God.

From A Momma's Heart...

Dear Friends,

I am excited to share an article from the heart of one of my dear friends, Jana.  We have been blessed to walk a journey together.  We have been able to walk a journey together that is different, challenging and rewarding every single day.  

She has helped me grow, she has been a cheerleader on the sidelines of my life, and she has shared her "momma's heart" with me.  Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.  Grab a few moments and think about what she said...

Deana

I was never excluded at my former church because my child had a disability, but looking back, I wasn’t terribly accommodated either.  It didn’t matter to me at the time, though.  Everyone seemed to accept my precious little girl with Down syndrome, and for that I was blessed.  They smiled at her, spoke positively about her, and for the most part, seemed to embrace her.  That was enough back then.  It felt good, and I was happy. 

Not until I moved to my current church did I realize what Lexi and I were truly missing.  Inclusion, compassion, and earnest consideration in an open-armed church community.  It is wonderful.  Not perfect, but wonderful.  And a beautiful gift full of grace, and mercy, and love.  In short, we belong…and multitudes of people work very hard to ensure that we do.  That means a lot.  Actually, it means more than a lot.  It means that to this group of holy servants, Lexi and her relationship with God matter.  With their willingness to be inclusive, they are proclaiming that she, and the spiritual journey she is on with her creator, are worthy of respect, devotion, and humble sacrifice from her fellow believers. Oh, how she needs this church body, and they her.  Both with something to offer, and neither as complete without the other.     

Who would guess, then, that many parents and their children with disabilities don’t feel as welcomed in America’s places of worship as we have? Who knew masses of struggling, desperate, and isolated families never have the red carpet rolled out for them, because their congregations are too stuck feeding into unfair fear?  Fear of the unknown, fear of change, and fear of little faces that may not look like their own.  We know it’s dangerous to put more value on outsides than insides, or be more concerned with personal comfort than providing comfort, but it happens everyday.  Even in the church.  In the case of disability, precious people of God are being cut out, left out, and pushed out.  And I don’t mean pushed out of a potluck dinner. I mean literally pushed out the door.  

Doors, mind you, that are supposed to be opened to us all.  Sinners, saints, and everyone in between.  Men, women, and children of every kind.  The doors aren’t supposed to close when someone different, diverse, or disabled walks through them.  In fact, the Bible teaches us that those who are different, diverse and disabled are really the ones for which God is saving a front row seat!  According to Jesus, they are the group He’s got His eye on.  To Him they are not the damaged and the doomed, they are the treasured and the adored.  Not marginalized, but magnificent.  He values them, He yearns for them, and He wants them to have an equal place at His table.  

A table, by the way, that is glorified, not diminished, by their presence. To Christ, the disabled are divine.  Fearfully and wonderfully made by His own masterful hands.  No mistakes involved.  Not a single one.  Knit perfectly in the womb, for perfectly planned out purposes.  He knew what His kingdom needed, and His kingdom needed “Lexis”. Lots of them.  Those who may have smaller hands, but bigger hearts.  Those with fragile limbs, but unbending faith. Those who have more love than hate, more wonder than worry, more innocence than ignorance, and more happiness than hurting.  Those who demonstrate triumph over suffering, and exude light out of darkness.  Those who rise above a fallen world because of exquisite souls made incapable of tethering to it.  God knew that if the world was to see His reflection, it would be best in those who were set apart.  The ones who in their weakness, only He could make strong.  The ones He calls the “least of these”, in which when we care to look, we see the “most” of Him.

What church would not want those who are the “most” of Him in their midst?  What group of believers would not want to rub elbows with angels?  Maybe many of our houses of God need to actually listen to God, and rethink a few things along the way.  In Luke 14:12, Jesus said to His host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.  Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Each and every Sunday Christ’s followers need to throw a banquet and invite the Lexis.  Not only is it right, it is rewarded. And besides, if God’s chosen won’t do it, who will?    

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

Copyright 2011 Jana Palcer.  All rights reserved.

September 10th - Special Needs Ministry Training

We will be leading a Special Needs Ministry Training on September 10th at Hill Country Bible Church NW.  We would love to have you attend.  Please be sure to make reservations!

Special Needs Ministry Training Part II:  Austin, Texas
September 10, 2011

8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

"Advocacy vs. Influence:"  Sometimes we need to step in and advocate for adults and children affected by a challenge and sometimes it is time to stop advocating and focus on influencing a culture.  Join us for a one hour session on learning the difference.

B.U.D.D.Y. II:  This course will give you resources for structuring your ministry in terms of administration, leadership and volunteer development.  In addition we will cover the growing diagnosis of Autism, how it impacts behavior and how to love and understand those challenged by it.  We will also discuss strategies for classroom management and behavior modification.
 
     The cost per training day is $25 for a continental breakfast, lunch and materials.  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide childcare at this time.

     For reservations and questions contact Bill and Deana Boggess by posting on this blog or E-mail sntraining@hcbc.com or theboggi@aim.com.  We look forward to hearing from you.

You Won't Want to Miss This!

     Jessica Cox is an inspiration!  It is amazing to see what she has done with her life.  Watch some of the clips and interviews.  She will help you realize all the things you thought you couldn't do just might be possible!

    (Please look for clips powered by YouTube on the sidebar)

Writing From Your Passion

     Over the last year God has started introducing me to new friends that love to write professionally or journal from their experience about their passion.  They have all been a blessing to me as I have read about their journeys.
   
     For my writing friends here are a couple of quotes that have been meaningful:

     "What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers."
     Logan Pearsal Smith "All Trivia," Afterthoughts 1931

     "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
     William Wordsworth

     If you haven't tried writing about your passions and the "breathings of your heart," give it a shot today.  You never know the impact it could make.  Send me a few paragraphs about "Overcoming Obstacles."

It Is a New Day

     Well, thanks to my wonderful husband I am back in business.  After four trips to the Apple Store (they have been incredibly helpful) the computer is up and running again.  I am connected with all my favorite people again and have 80% of my book recovered.  I just lost the last five chapters I wrote which is a bummer but I did pray that God would let me know in some way if I needed to change what I wrote.  I guess He has something else in mind!
     It will be a busy and wonderful week.  My daughter, son-in-law and grandson will be home from Costa Rica tomorrow.  I have missed them terribly!  I will start teaching on Thursday and will start writing as soon as possible.  It is a new day!

I Think It Is Time To Go To Bed

It has been an interesting week. Fifteen nearby houses burned this week due to the drought, the battery died in one car, the other car is in the shop and the third one doesn't have air-conditioning. My brother has gone to the hospital twice this week due to complications from his chemo treatment, my mother-in-law is slipping farther and farther away from her dementia and tonight the hard drive on our computer crashed with the book I have been writing on it. It is one of those days were you just go to bed grateful that you have a roof over your head, your family is around you, and tomorrow is another day.

Humility

     From my experience, if I had to label the years from age 40 to 50, I would call them "The Reality Years."  By this time you have made a lot of choices, chased a few dreams, and have laid a foundation for your life.  Then the storms of life start to come.  For some reason we are often shocked by them and wonder why they are only happening to us.  As I approach 50, I have learned to expect the unexpected.  I have learned that no one is exempt from the storms of life, and I have also prayed to have humility in the midst of it.
     In Proverbs 11:2 it says, "Be humble."  To quote Andrew Murray, "The truest form of strength lies in humility.  Here is a good definition of what it means to be humble, 'Humility is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing done to us, to feel nothing against us.  It is to be at rest when nobody praises us and when we are blamed and despised.  It is to have a blessed place in the Lord where we can go and shut the door and kneel to our Father in secret, and be at peace when all around is trouble.'"
     In the last month I have encountered friends suffering from physical illness, mental illness, financial difficulties, divorce and loss of a loved one.  Tonight I was reading the book Integrity by Dr. Henry Cloud and was struck by the following passage, "People feel cared about, and trust is built, when they know that we have a genuine interest in knowing them, knowing about them, and having what we know matter."
     In the midst of a troubled world, may we grow in humility as we face our own struggles and grow in grace as we see the struggles of others.

Ryan

     Every year I look forward to the parade of little people that will enter my classroom.  As we meet each other I only know a few facts about them and they only know that I look like a grandma and I teach in "The Castle Room."
     A few years ago a student walked into my classroom and captured my heart within moments.  He was small in stature but had a huge heart in that tiny little body!  He blessed me and taught me so much that year.
     Ryan made me face one of my challenges.  I had a very hard time hearing him so I wore hearing aides the whole year (it helps when your husband is an Audiologist!).  I am so glad I did because I wouldn't want to have missed a thing he said!
     As I shared earlier, I teach a unit on "How to Be a Friend to Someone With a Disability" by Joni Eareckson Tada.  During the month the children in my classroom earn money to send to Joni to refurbish a wheelchair for a child in another country that needs one.  That particular year, the money was coming in rather slowly.  I wondered if the kids were not understanding and if the unit was meaningful to them.  We moved on to our next unit and the kids and I prayed for the rest of the money.
     Over the next couple of weeks Ryan shared with me that he was going to have a garage sale.  Each day he would mention someone knew that had donated something.  I really didn't think that much about it.  Looking back on it,  Ryan was so excited and I wish that I had slowed down to pay more attention.
     The morning of his garage sale, God woke me up.  I jumped out of bed and told my husband Bill to wake up because we needed to go to a garage sale.  I had an address and a subdivision but no map (for some reason I thought I could just find it).  We drove around for awhile and ended up stopping at their neighborhood center to look at a map.
     When we finally arrived at Ryan's house it was 10:30 a.m..  The garage door was closed and there wasn't a sale in sight.
     As soon as I rang the doorbell I heard someone yell, "Mrs. Boggess is here!   Mrs. Boggess is here!"                        When Ryan came to the door I asked him if he was still having a garage sale.  He told me that he did have one but they had finished.
     I said, "Well, do you have anything left?  I would like to buy something."
     Ryan immediately ran out the door and opened the garage door.  There were all kinds of things on the floor.  It looked like a garage sale that a 5 year-old had set up.  He had told me earlier in the week that he made some paintings for the garage sale so I asked him if there were any left.  Ryan showed me a couple and I fell in love with one and asked him if I could buy it.  He said, "Yes" and I asked him how much it was.  He told me it would cost 10 cents.
    I said, "Oh no, I think at least $5."
     I turned to Bill and asked him if he had a five and as he pulled out a ten he said that was all he had.  I handed Ryan the ten dollar bill and he started to put it in his money bag and said,
     "There is no change."
     I started laughing and said that was fine.  I looked at his bag full of money and asked him what he was going to do with it.
     Ryan, looked up at me with such sincerity and said, "It is for the wheelchair, Mrs. Boggess, it is for the wheelchair!"
     I started to cry and thanked him over and over again.  What an incredible moment I will never forget! It had not occurred to me that it was for the wheelchair and here he was continually thinking about it.  He raised more than enough money to send to Joni and her ministry.   His beautiful painting still hangs in my classroom to this day.

Caregiver Course

Dear Friends,

I haven't actually attended this training but thought it might be helpful.  It is an "educational program designed to help family caregivers (no professional caregivers, please).  This program will help you take care of yourself while caring for a relative or friend.  You will benefit from this class whether you are helping a parent, spouse, friends, someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or across the country."

If you are interested, please call Community Ministry Office at 892-2433.  The cost is $10.  Everyone must sign up as there is limited space.  The class series meets once a week for six weeks.

Dates:  Wednesdays:  September 7, 14, 21, 28 and October 5 and 12
Time:  10:30 a.m. 0 12:00 p.m.
Location:  St. Catherine of Sienna Church
4800 Convict Hill Road
Austin, Texas 78749

Space is limited so register by August 29, 2011
Contact:  Esther Quintanilla 892-2433

Barbara

Dear Barbara,

I remember when I first met you I was touched by how kind you were and how well you took care of  your family. You always took care of everyone else first and served your mother and your aunt for years as they struggled with health issues.

In those early days,  I thought you had a simple life and a very small world.  You only completed 9th grade, you married at 15 and had your first child at 16.  You lived in the same house for almost 50 years.  You shopped at the same grocery store.  You didn't put gas in the car, but let your husband do that.  You prepared a drink for your husband every night so he could relax while you made dinner.  You didn't worry about what was going on in the world but you did follow soaps and "The Inquirer."  That was my perception of you, Barbara, for so many years.  I loved you for the person I thought you were but now I love you even more because I know more about how challenging your life really was.

You have encouraged me as a wife.  I never quite made it to your level, since I don't cook breakfast and oftentimes I don't cook dinner.  I also know that I have been a little fiesty as a wife and I am sure that has frustrated you at times but you have loved me regardless.  In addition, you have given me great advice as a mom.  I will never forget the times you said, "I could handle any stage my children went through as long as they don't get stuck in one!"  How true that is!

Over the years, I learned how big your world really was though and how incredibly strong you are.  You have faced so many difficult times in your life, Mom.  Your childhood was difficult, your first child died way too young, you lost your husband in a tragic car accident and a few years ago lost one of your sons.  You are one of the strongest people I have ever been around.  You hold onto faith and your family no matter how tough the trial is.

Over the last 5 years, we have had some amazing times together.  We have strung a lot of beads, had some fabulous dinners together and lots of laughs.  As your dementia started to progress you would often get sad about the changes you were seeing but you always had the ability to laugh about it.  As you had to make changes in your life by letting go of the car, the finances,  your beloved dogs, Muffin and Murphy, and your independence, you took it all in stride.  I knew it was killing you on the inside but you never complained.

I will never forget the day we were at the "Dollar Store" and I asked you to wait by the door while I pulled up the car so you wouldn't have to get out in the 100 degree heat.  As I pulled up I saw you get in the wrong car and sit on a young gentleman's lap.  At first you were a little shocked and stunned but you quickly started laughing and we laughed about that for years afterward.

Today I sit with you in the dementia unit holding your hand and telling you that everything will be ok.  You don't know who I am anymore.  You cannot retrieve words and everything is jumbled up in your mind but you know what Mom, you are still as sweet and kind as ever.  You shared with me today that you feel trapped and I can understand why.  I grieve for you every time I see you.  I wish that I could put your mind back together but I know God will do that for you someday.  I love you, Mom, and will continue to hold your hand.  You are an amazing lady and I consider it a privilege to be able to serve you.  Thank you for sharing your son with me all these years, for accepting me into your family and for loving on my children and grandchildren.

I love you, Mom.

Yeah, team!

It was a great day today.  I met with three other churches in Austin and "Joni and Friends" to share ideas regarding special needs ministry.  It is always exciting to come together to encourage one another.  God is moving in the city of Austin!

Ask and You Shall Receive

     Every March I teach a month long unit on "How to Be a Friend to Someone With a Disability" to my 5 year-old "Bridge" class.  I base the unit on Joni Eareckson Tada's curriculum.  It is always the climax of the year and such a blessing to watch.  The purpose of the unit is to dispel children's fears, answer their questions and help them realize that we all have abilities and disabilities and God can use them in powerful ways.
     For 5 years I borrowed a wheelchair for a month so that the "line leader" in my class could ride in it.  Inevitably the first one or two line leaders choose not to take a ride.  They didn't feel comfortable and to some degree, were afraid of it.  Usually by the third or fourth child I have a willing participant and before long they are all anxious to ride and "pop wheelies" down the hallway to lunch.  
     As the years went by It was getting harder to borrow a wheelchair so last summer I secretly started praying that God would provide me with a child's wheelchair.  It would be more comfortable for my friends and I would be able to use it whenever I needed to.  I knew I had a lot of contacts and would probably be able to get a wheelchair, however, I knew I would worry I was using a wheelchair that a child might need.  I told God that if He brought me one I would know it was His gift to me and was free to use.  
     I prayed all summer long that God would bring me one if I should have it.  Then early in the year I was sitting at "Circle Time" reading to my students and I heard a knock at the door.  I looked up and it was the gentleman that repairs the copier for our school.  I motioned for him to come in.  He smiled at me and said, "I have a child's wheelchair and I heard you might want one."  My jaw dropped and I said, "Are you kidding me?  Yes, yes I would love to have one!"
     It was a great start to the year and exciting to tell the children about God's provision.  Every time I look at it, it makes me smile because I remember how God provided.

SN Church Network Meeting

In the Network Meeting

Thursday, August 4

2:00

Bannockburn Baptist Church
Austin, Texas

Abington Center Room 306

 Dear Friends,

I just wanted to give you the information for a meeting that will be held at Bannockburn Baptist Church. They are making great efforts to network churches offering special needs ministry as well as getting more churches to start offering this vital ministry.  Please join us if you can!

Hello Everyone,

I am excited to get the fall started and in doing so we are hosting a meeting with Joni and Friends on Thursday, August 4 at 2:00 at Bannockburn Baptist Church.  Most of you have a Special Needs Ministry at your church already but we thought it would be great for all of us to get together to swap ideas and to support each other in this awesome ministry.  So please try to join us.  We will meet in Room 306 of the Abington Center.  Kay from Joni and friends would also like to meet with any churches in our area that may want to start up a ministry.  If you know of other churches, please forward this email to them.  Looking forward to it!  Please call me if you have any questions.

Blessings,
Amy Louis
Special Needs Director
Bannockburn Baptist Church
892-2703 x237
amyl@bbcfamily.com

Great Reads and Views!

     I just posted some great books that Bill and I have read and used under the "Resource" section of my blog.  Exceptional Teaching by Jim Pierson has been a regular resource in our special needs library.  It is full of helpful information regarding a variety of disabilities.
    I also highly recommend the DVD, "How Difficult Can This Be?"  In it, Richard Lavoie simulates a variety of learning disabilities and it truly helps you be more understanding and empathetic towards children with learning challenges.  He shares one of the best explanations of "fairness" I have ever heard.  It has impacted me as a teacher, as a mom and as a friend.
  

Recognizing Heroes

     Since I was a young woman I have enjoyed reading biographies and autobiographies.  It has always been fascinating to me to read about people's lives and how their experiences shaped them.  One of the heroes from my youth was Joni Eareckson Tada.  A simple dive into a lake changed the course of her life.  I cannot imagine enduring everything that she did, nor waking up to the reality of her new life.  What an amazing woman though.  In the midst of her trials, God gave her a platform to reach the nations and share her love for Jesus Christ.  If you are not familiar with Joni's life and ministry, I encourage you to learn about her.  Her testimony of faith will be a blessing to you.
     Quotes are like gifts to me and I wanted to share one of my favorite ones from Joni.
"In a way I wish I could take to heaven my old, tattered Everest & Jennings wheelchair.  I would point to the empty seat and say, 'Lord, for decades I was paralyzed in this chair.  But it showed me how paralyzed You must have felt to be nailed to Your Cross.  My limitations taught me something about the limitations You endured when You laid aside your robes of state and put on the indignity of human flesh.'  At that point, with my strong and glorified body, I might sit in it, rub the armrests with my hands, look up at Jesus, and add, 'the weaker I felt in this chair, the harder I leaned on You.  And the harder I leaned, the more I discovered how strong You are.  Thank you, Jesus, for learning obedience in your suffering... You gave me grace to learn obedience in mine."  Joni Eareckson Tada

"Immeasurably More"

     I have had writer's block for weeks now....ugh!  For the last four hours, however, God has let the words flow through my fingers as I worked on my book.  It felt good!
     In those four hours, God continually reminded me of how incredibly blessed I am and how He has prepared the path before me for whatever He has asked me to do.  I have gone through great trials and sorrows through the years, but I have also been incredibly blessed.  I want to encourage you to look back over your life and chronicle the trials and joys God has taken you through.  If you look closely, you will see a plan and a purpose emerge.  If you don't see it tonight, look again tomorrow.
     In Ephesians 3:20 it says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen."
     God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. WOW!  With that thought, just imagine what God can do in the special needs community, in the church, and in our own hearts!

Hilary

     About ten years ago I was leaving women's Bible study and was picking up my children that were helping in childcare.  One of the women taking care of the children caught my eye and I stopped to watch her for a few minutes.  She appeared to be in her late 20's but was blessed with the gift of being eternally young.  I found out later that she was 32.
     What struck me was how friendly she was and how competent she was with taking care of children.  She had an incredible ability to calm and reassure new mommies and seemed to instinctively know how to take care of little ones.  I was fascinated by her and stopped to talk to her for a few minutes.
     As the weeks passed I often talked to Hilary and grew to care about her more and more.  One Thursday I stopped by to say hello and she asked if we could have lunch together.  My children had plans and it happened to be my birthday so I said,
     "Yes, that would be wonderful!"
     When we arrived at the restaurant she struggled with placing her order.  I placed my order and then she took out her wallet to pay for the meal.  I told her that it was on me and she said,
      "No, I am buying your lunch because it is your birthday and I want to."
We argued back and forth until Hilary put her hand on mine and said,
      "Don't you realize how important this is to me?"
     I was instantly humbled, thanked her and then thought about the hours she worked to earn the money to do that for me.  When we sat down to eat, I really wasn't sure what to talk about.  I started by asking her about how long she had been working in childcare.  She told me about it and had so much excitement in her eyes.  You could tell how much she loved children.
     Then Hilary looked at me with a serious face and said,
     "But no one will let me do what I want to do.  I am a special needs person but I have gifts and I want          to tell children about Jesus.  I can do that!"
     I was stunned.  I was sad as I thought about how many times I had limited people.  I was also moved by her passion to tell children about Jesus.
     I merely made one phone call and I was amazed at how life for Hilary started to change.  Over time Hilary started having more responsibilities in childcare.  She was a listener for the AWANA program and eventually taught some lessons.  She started working in the school library and was an assistant for some of the art classes at the church school.  Hilary grew and grew and grew.  She has continually touched so many people's lives.
     Hilary and I met for Bible study and accountability for the next nine years.  I must say, Hilary impacted and taught me more than I could ever think about teaching her.  She challenged me, corrected my spiritual course when it was needed, she held me accountable and she made sure I grew in the process.
     I love so many things about Hilary.  She is honest about her abilities and disabilities.  She loves life.  She has an eternal childlike faith and she accepts people for who they are and where they are and then gently takes them to greater spiritual heights.
     Thanks for being my mentor for so many years, Hilary.  I love you!

Special Needs Ministry Training/Austin, Texas

Whether you are a church blessed with a few children or a number of children affected by special needs or a parent looking for support in starting a special needs ministry, we would love to have you join us for one of our training sessions.

Special Needs Ministry Training Part I:  
July 16, 2011 and February 4, 2012

8:30 am - 1:30 p.m.

"How to Start a Special Needs Ministry":  Attend a one-hour training that will help you think outside the box on what this ministry can look like.  We will discuss ideas on how to get your church leadership and
congregation on board, changing a culture and recruiting, training and motivating volunteers.  We will also discuss some of the obstacles and blessings you will encounter in this ministry.

B.U.D.D.Y. I:  Join us for a three-hour B.U.D.D.Y. training.  This training focuses on the nuts and bolts of working with a variety of disabilities and age groups.  During this portion of the training we will discuss behavior modification strategies, handling seizures, general safety and security issues, as well as many other topics.

Special Needs Ministry Training Part II:  
September 10, 2011 and March 3, 2012

8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

"Advocacy vs. Influence:"  Sometimes we need to step in and advocate for adults and children affected by a challenge and sometimes it is time to stop advocating and focus on influencing a culture.  Join us for a one hour session on learning the difference.

B.U.D.D.Y. II:  This course will give you resources for structuring your ministry in terms of administration, leadership and volunteer development.  You will also learn additional strategies for classroom management and behavior modification.
  
     The cost per training day is $25 for a continental breakfast, lunch and materials.  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide childcare at this time.

     For reservations and questions contact Bill and Deana Boggess by posting on this blog or E-mail sntraining@hcbc.com or theboggi@aim.com.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Additional Services:

     Make an appointment for a team to visit your church and help you get started or reach another level of ministry.  The team will be happy to share with your Sunday morning volunteers, whether they are mainstream or special needs teachers.
         

Frances

     I met her 31 years ago and I had no idea how much she would impact my life.  I was a freshman in college and was looking for a part-time job to help out with expenses.  I came across an ad requesting an aide for a woman in her 50's that had recently suffered from a stroke.  Her name was Frances.
     The first time I met Frances I was struck by what a classy lady she was.  She had a very successful career and a beautiful family.  The left side of her body no longer worked.  She could not communicate through speech but we quickly connected with our eyes.
     We hit it off instantly.  She knew that I didn't have any experience but she was incredibly patient with me and taught me so much.  I can't recall how she communicated it to me but somehow she asked me to teach her how to read and write again.  I had no idea how to do that but Frances guided me by nodding or shaking her head.
     She gradually added vocabulary and started writing again and we went on a lot of fun adventures.  She hadn't forgotten how to shop!  We spent a lot of afternoons laughing and having fun together.
     About 6 months into our relationship I received a call from her husband that Frances was ill and was not expected to live.  A few days later she passed away.
     I was incredibly sad over loosing such a sweet friend but to this day I am grateful for all that she taught me.  She taught me to laugh even when things are tough.  She taught me to face my challenges no matter how tough they are.  She taught me to continually search for ways to communicate when you cannot use traditional means.  She taught me to persevere.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

I sure wish I knew who wrote this story so that I could properly give credit to him or her.  It was passed onto to me a number of years ago and we have shared it at a number of our training sessions.  So many times we stop a seemingly inappropriate behavior and really, we are stopping something beautiful.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Wishing to encourage her young son's
progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert.  After they
were seated,
the mother spotted an old friend in the audience
and walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders
of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually
explored his way through a door
marked "NO ADMITTANCE."
When the house lights dimmed and the concert
was about to begin, the mother returned to
her seat and discovered that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights
focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.
In horror, the mother saw her little
boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the
piano and whispered in the boy's ear,
"Don't quit.  Keep playing."
Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached
down with his left hand and began filling
in a bass part.  Soon his right arm reached
around to the other side of the child,
and he added a running obbligato.
Together, the old master and the young novice
transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully
creative experience.
The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great
master played.
Only the classic,
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
Perhaps that's the way it is with God.
What we can accomplish on
our own is hardly noteworthy.
We try our best, but the results aren't always
graceful flowing music.  However, with the
hand of the Master, our life's
work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats,
listen carefully.  You may hear the voice of the
Master, whispering in your ear,
"Don't quit.  Keep playing."

Taking Next Steps

In my last post I mentioned I was at the "Colorado Christian Writer's Conference."  It was such an incredible blessing to even be there.  The parents of my students gave me a gracious gift of money and a plane ticket to attend.  God prepared the way for me in so many aspects and blessed me with some amazing and supportive friends.

When my father passed away eight years ago I made a promise to God that I would do whatever He asked of me, no matter what, even if it meant public speaking.  It has been an incredible ride since that day.  God started off that promise with my being asked to speak twice within the first month but I must say as long as you hold onto God for the ride, it truly is incredible.

My husband and I directed a special needs ministry for 13 years and a year ago we stepped out to pursue God's next steps for us.  We are trying to be available in whatever way we can.  We offer church training in an all day seminar and would also love to visit your church if you need help and encouragement in offering support to families affected by special needs.

For the last year God has laid it on my heart to share our 13 year journey and the mistakes we learned from as well as the blessings.  I am hoping to have the book published and released within the next year. I am so grateful for the ways my life has changed by serving in special needs ministry.  I look forward to sharing our journey with you and I especially look forward to hearing about yours.

Blessings-

Welcome to this blog

I am stretching myself in all kinds of ways. At the moment I am in Estes Park, Colorado at the "Colorado Christian Writer's Conference." I have learned to write query letters, proposals, interview with agents and editors and now, blog. What a week it has been!

So be patient with me as I take this next step. I am anxious to share what God is doing in my life, heart and ministry.