Feeling Very, Very Blessed!

It is after midnight and my mind is going a hundred miles an hour.  The Christmas presents are wrapped and under the tree, the house is clean, the groceries are bought and my mind is consumed with so many exciting adventures ahead for me.  Sometimes I wish God had made us with the ability to stay awake ALL the time and I wouldn't have to rest.  There is always so much I want to do!

I have five more months of teaching and these are powerful months ahead!  My students will learn to read, they will learn more about God and they will learn about their own abilities and weaknesses and the power God has to use both of those.  My sweet kids are going to grow so much in the next few months.  They will meet some amazing people and they will learn the immeasurable joy of serving others.  I truly cannot wait!

God has been teaching me invaluable information regarding disability ministry through the "Beyond Suffering" course I am taking.  I completed all of the reading assignments, videos, and questions.  I have two papers to write and then I have completed the course.  I am humbled and amazed by all that God has taught me over the last couple of months.  It has been quite a journey!

Last but not least, I am so grateful for the beautiful people God continues to put in my path.  They have let me share in their struggles, their sufferings, and in their joys.  There is much to be said about walking the path God puts before us and trusting Him with our future.  I am so incredibly blessed!

New Resources!

Last week I was able to expand my library thanks to some wonderful gift cards given to me by my student's parents and some extra money I had set aside.  I thought I would share some of my purchases with you.  I know I love learning about new resources!

Disability Ministry:

• Including People With Disabilities in Faith Communities by Erik W. Carter
• helping kids include kids with disabilities by Barbara J. Newman
• Hearts In Motion A Four-Lesson Bible Study for Disability Awareness by Joni and Friends
• Life In the Balance by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Nonverbal Learning Disabilities at School:  Educating Students with Nld, Asperger Syndrome and Related Conditions by Pamela B. Tanguay
• It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend:  Helping the Child With Learning Disabilities Find Social Success by Richard Lavoie (Book and DVD)
• The Motivation Breakthrough by Richard Lavoie (DVD)

Helping Those That Are Suffering:

• The Healing Path:  How the Hurts In Your Past Can Lead You To a More Abundant Life by Dan Allender, PH.D.
• A Path Through Suffering:  Discovering the Relationship Between God's Mercy and Our Pain by Elisabeth Elliot
• Don't Waste the Pain:  Learning to Grow Through Suffering by David Lyons and Linda Lyons Richardson

I am on week 11 out of 16 in my course on "Beyond Suffering."  To say it has made an impact on my life is an understatement.  I truly will be a different person as a result of this course.

I don't know that the course has changed my thinking, rather it has enhanced it.  I believe the same things but with greater conviction.  I desire the same things but with greater passion.  I am humbled just as I was before, but with more tangible grace.

More than ever I believe that every person is created in the image of God, without exception.  I believe that people affected with disability need to be welcomed, assimilated, nurtured, and valued in the community of Christ.  I believe that God can reveal His power through our weaknesses.  I believe that we are called to not only welcome those with disabilities into the church, but we are called to actively seek them out, find them, and bring them into the church.

With greater passion, I desire for every child in a classroom to be valued, to be given a platform to tell others about God, and to reach their greatest potential.  With greater passion I desire for the family portrait of the church to be a mixture of races, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities to name a few.

I am humbled because I realize how much I don't know, how much I limit others, and how much I have to learn from every person that crosses my path.  It is only through God's grace that we can make a difference in the world.  It is through God's grace that we see our own limitations and the power of God that can be shown through them.

A Child's Point of View

I am enjoying my grandchildren so much.  They are six now.  I love this age because they have so much innocence and yet so much wisdom.  Next year I am looking forward to having more time to visit my J at school and volunteer if I can (I will have to brush up on my Spanish since he is in a dual language program!) I love how much he cares about people but he is so much more sensible than I am.  One of the things I love about J is he doesn't see color but he does see culture and he enjoys different cultures.  His mom and dad are doing such a great job of exposing him to a variety of cultures, languages, and economic situations.

C is one of my students this year which I am enjoying.  Tonight she told me that she sees Mrs. Boggess a lot but she really needs some Meme time.  She said Mrs. Boggess is the "best teacher ever" but Meme is fun to play with.  C asked me if she could give a speech tomorrow in class.  She said, "I have been thinking about something.  It is like this rock I have.  People aren't always beautiful on the outside but if you look on the inside you will see how beautiful they really are!"  Her parents are giving her such confidence and opportunities to express herself.  I am looking forward to her speech tomorrow and I hope the other students will want to give a speech as well.  I love giving them a voice.

I am amazed by how children "get it" so much better than adults do.  They don't have prejudice.  They don't put people in boxes.  No, unfortunately, we teach them how to do that.  I will miss teaching next year, I truly will.  I have had 165 students teach me so many lessons over the years that an adult never could.  

Tranquility

Since I lived half of my life in Colorado, I have always been a mountain girl.  The beauty of the Rockies is breathtaking and I could look at them for hours.  As a teenager I would drive up Turkey Creek Canyon whenever I needed to get "centered" with God.  The mountains ministered to me in ways that a person never could.  The mountains showed me the majesty of God.

Right now I am looking out my hotel window and enjoying the ocean.  I have only seen the ocean a handful of times and I am completely mesmerized by it.  It displays my understanding of God.  Everything was purposely created by God and it was good.  Everything God created has a cycle and an order.  The birds seem to know exactly where they are going and what they are doing and yes, all of their needs are met.

As the waves roll in I am once again "centered" and feel the tranquility God loves for us to enjoy.  There is such power in every wave that rolls in and I know those waves can render tremendous force should the ocean become angry.  God has a gentle and calming side but He also has a side that chastens and disciplines when it is needed.  Every movement of God has a plan and a purpose.

Forgiveness In The Midst of Suffering

In the "Beyond Suffering" course I am taking, I have been exposed to greater detail about the sufferings of those with disabilities during WW II.  It has been heart-breaking to learn that they were considered "worthless eaters" and were involuntarily sterilized and abused and killed.  It is hard for me to fathom the cruelty man can impart on others.

On my recent trip to Oregon, God divinely placed me next to two wonderful sisters on my flight.  I loved them instantly.  During our flight they shared their testimony with me.  Both of them, along with their parents and brothers and sisters, were in concentration camps during WWII.  My heart could not bear the stories they shared with me.  Even though this happened before I was born I feel an obligation to apologize to them for the pain and suffering they endured, simply because I am part of the human race that inflicted these atrocities.

Towards the end of our flight,  I asked one of the sisters how she worked through bitterness and anger and unforgiveness.  She said, "Oh I have to forgive because that is the only way I am free.  Jesus suffered so much more than we did.  I am very grateful."

My friend still suffers from nightmares at times and almost 70 years have gone by.  She has a beautiful heart though full of forgiveness for those that harmed her.  Her love for the Lord was very moving to me.  They both touched me in ways I will never forget.  

Thank you, Lord, for bringing them into my life.  May the sufferings they endured never happen again.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5New International Version (NIV)

Saying, "Yes!"

The last several days have been powerful for me.  Bill and I provided a 6 hour training on Saturday on disability ministry and I was able to partner with a very good friend today and share about ministering to the next generation with a group of pastors.

When I prepare for these talks, I am continually reminded of the incredible journey God has put me on.  Five years ago I would never have imagined God would have me speaking to groups of people about a topic I am so passionate about and all I had to do was say, "Yes."

When I was a little girl I remember wearing a coat to school every day.  I lived in Texas so it was rare that a coat was even needed.  I was painfully shy and struggled with my self-image so much that I hid behind my coat.  I felt more anonymous there.

My youth pastor often teases me that in Jr. High I would sit under the table and not talk to anyone and in high school, I finished up at school as fast as I could so I could get back to the comfort of home.

God has blessed my life in amazing ways since then... all because I said, "yes."  I said yes to Jesus, I said yes to ministry, I said yes to spending a summer at a convent, and 13 years ago, I said yes to doing WHATEVER God asked of me.

When my dad and hero died 13 years ago, I told God I would do whatever He wanted me to do.  As Mark Batterson says in his book, I was "All In," even if it meant public speaking.  At that time I was terrified to have to stand and speak about anything for more than a couple of minutes and now, well, I can speak for several hours and it not even phase me.

I share this because if I had never said yes, I would still be "under the table," hiding and embarrassed.  If I had never said yes, I would have missed out on a whole community of amazing people.  God keeps hinting that He is going to ask something of me that is way out of my comfort zone and He knows it.  To be honest I am quite afraid of saying yes to that one but now more than ever, I know that God has me and will always go ahead of me.

I am pretty amazed by the journey God has put me on and from my perspective, it has been pretty miraculous and definitely an adventure.  My question for you is, What is God asking of you?  What do you need to say "Yes!" to? I love Mark Patterson's quote, "And you are only one decision away from a totally different life." If you say yes to God, I promise you, it will be amazing.

20 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,  Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

Say yes to God, my friend, and then let me know what happened!

Are We Irresistible?

Bill and I recently spent a weekend at the "Irresistible Church Texas Disability Ministry Summit," sponsored by Joni and Friends.  It is hard to put into words how meaningful it was to me.

I wish the universal church was like this summit.  I met truly amazing people there.  They were passionate, compassionate, and so incredibly gracious.  There were a variety of people there with a variety of disabilities and I loved how authentic and humble they were.  

We all have challenges, every single one of us.  So often in our churches we try to hide the challenges and try to appear as though we have it all together.  When I was at the summit I felt like I could completely be myself.  I know I am not perfect and had no reason to pretend to be.  

While I was there I met a young man that is legally blind.  It brought tears to his eyes as he shared his passion to serve the special needs community.  Within seconds, you no longer saw his disability, you just saw his passion.  I met a young lady that shared how much she loves kids.  Due to her cerebral palsy she acknowledged that she wouldn't be able to chase kids around but she said, "I know I can share Jesus with them!"

I came home with a new sense of purpose and a deeper commitment to embrace who people are, their abilities and their disabilities.  It is kind of funny.  One of my good friends asked me if I like people with disabilities better.  I said, "Well, yes, in a way.  I find people with disabilities very refreshing.  They are authentic people."  When I say that I don't mean to single people out or separate them.  I just love the openness and honesty that often comes with a disability.

May the universal church become irresistible as we love and embrace people of all abilities.

Simple, Yet Intricate

As I have shared before, I am taking the Beyond Suffering course offered by the Christian Institute on Disability.  I am only on my second week out of 16 and I can tell it will be life-altering.

I have been involved in disability ministry, in one way or another, for 22 years.  I have been exposed to a great deal of information over the years.  I have experienced a variety of new situations and I have been blessed by knowing some amazing people, but what I am humbled by, is how much I don't know.

At this point in time it is absolutely overwhelming to me and even discouraging in a sense, that one can never be an expert on a group of people. Every new person you encounter is going to be different, there is always more to learn, and on a daily basis, another way for each of us to be humbled.

The beauty of this course is that it levels the playing field.  The more I learn about disability ministry, the more I embrace the truths we all have in common:

• We are ALL made in the image of God.
• We are ALL sinners in need of grace and forgiveness.
• We ALL have gifts that can impact the world.
• We ALL may need an accommodation for that gift to shine.
• We ALL have weaknesses or challenges that can be used to show God's power.

      It is really that simple! And it is really that intricate!

One of my homework assignments is to get to know someone new that has a disability.  I am really looking forward to it!  

Exciting Events

Dear Friends,

I am excited to share about two exciting events in September and October.  A good friend shared with me that "America's Disability Rights Museum on Wheels" will be in Austin from September 28th - October 1st.  The "Museum on Wheels" travels all over the United States so it will be a while before it will be in Austin again.  I encourage you to tour the museum and take your children.  You can learn more information by visiting their website:  http://www.disabilityrightsonwheels.org.

In addition, Bill and I will be presenting a 6-hour training course on disability ministry.  We would love to have you join us!  Please make reservations by contacting us on our blog, website (www.gracewithoutmargins.com) or through e-mail:  theboggi@aim.com.

Grace Without Margins Disability Training

October 17
Bethany United Methodist Church, 10010 Anderson Mill Road
Austin, TX 78750 United States + Google Map

Bill and Deana Boggess will provide a “Grace Without Margins Disability Ministry Training” at Bethany United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 17th. The cost will be $35 to cover training, materials, and lunch. You will find more information about the content on our training page on our website www.gracewithoutmargins.com. Please contact us if you are interested in learning how to welcome and assimilate the special needs community into the life of your church. What a blessing it will be!

Thank you for supporting disability ministry!

Deana

Beyond Suffering

Yesterday I signed up for a certification course, Beyond Suffering, provided by Joni and Friends International Disability Center.  A number of my friends have taken this course and I have wanted to for several years.  Since my life never slows down, now is as good a time as any.  I am looking forward to the challenge!

Here is a brief description of the course provided by Joni and Friends,

Have you ever suffered physically, emotionally or spiritually and wondered why? Do you have family members or friends with disabilities and struggle to know what to say or how to act around them? People with disabilities are considered one of the world's largest under-represented groups. The church is largely unprepared for the burgeoning disabled population. One of the primary goals of the Beyond Suffering Course is to address this issue by preparing leaders in ministry, education, medicine and science to become involved in this life-changing ministry.

If you are interested in this online course, you can register at www.joniandfriends.org.  Everything from Joni and Friends is high quality and will be a blessing to your life and ministry.    I hope to see you in class :)

How We View Intelligence

I have been reading the book, Brain Rules, by John Medina.  It has both educated and challenged me. I can now feel good about that 20 minute nap I take each day.  It is a great way to rest and refuel your brain.  

I am challenged by the suggestion that we need to walk 20-30 minutes everyday to get the blood flowing to the brain.  According to Medina, this practice can reduce your chances of dementia/Alzheimers by 60%.  

Medina also challenges how we view intelligence.  As a society we all like to measure and put a label on intelligence but Medina shares about some individuals that challenge our thinking.  Kim Peek was born in 1951 and a variety of diagnoses and challenges to face in life.  He was labeled mentally disabled and doctors suggested he be put in a mental institution.  Thankfully, his father saw the gifts in Kim.  

     He could read two pages at the same time, one with each eye, comprehending and remembering perfectly everything contained in the pages. Forever.

Most of us are actually familiar with this young man.  He is Rain Man.  And once again, we need to throw away the boxes we put people in.

The Body of Christ

Today I had the precious gift of visiting the church I grew up in.  I loved being home!  It was great to see so many people that invested in my life and my faith journey in particular.  I am forever grateful!

I was greeted with wonderful embrace from the lady that held my heart so many times in my teen years.  She gave me grace and the confidence to trust in God. All she had to do was look at me, wink, nod her head, and I knew she believed I could do whatever I needed to do.

I was served communion by her husband who shared the gospel with me and also got me through those awkward teen years.  When he served me communion he looked at me, smiled, and said it was his pleasure to serve me.  It brought tears to my eyes.

Later we shared hours of memories together, along with my brother, husband, and sister-in-law.  I could have talked for several more days.  It is hard to catch up on 35 years in an afternoon.

The other blessing today was catching up with a friend of the family that is now 86.  I asked about her daughter who was blessed with Down Syndrome.  I loved what she shared with me.  She told me what a blessing her daughter is to her and now that she is struggling with memory loss, her daughter has become her memory.  They work together to support each other.  

That is what it is about folks.  As the body of Christ we support each other in our abilities and our disabilities.  Whatever we may be struggling with, our brother or sister in Christ can fill in the gap.   We all need each other.  We truly do.

...until death do us part

I, (name), take you (name), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part. 

I have never seen these vows so beautifully demonstrated as I did the other day.  I was visiting a senior living facility and while I was waiting for a friend, I noticed an elderly man in the dining hall.  He had difficulty getting around and was in a wheelchair.  He was also pushing a walker alongside him.  He turned to an elderly lady that appeared to have dimentia and gently tapped her on the shoulder and whispered into her ear.  He reached over and embraced her arm to help her stand.  As he whispered words of encouragement, I realized this was his wife.  It was beautiful!

Even though the difficulties of aging are hard to face, I would be blessed to have my spouse by my side, helping me stand, and taking care of me.  I would be equally blessed to be able to take care of him.  What a beautiful example, Mr. and Mrs. Walker!

Throw Away The Boxes!

Even though I love teaching during the school year, I also love my three months of projects, playing with the grandkids, and the opportunity to read.  I try to read four books during the summer.  I am a little behind schedule, but I choose some pretty lengthy books this time around.

I have been reading The Preacher and The Presidents by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Place of Healing by Joni Eareckson Tada and lastly, Brain Rules by John Medina.  That is quite a variety of books!

Brain Rules is a book my daughter had to read for one of her courses in college.  She thought I would benefit from the suggestions the book makes on keeping people's attention during a training session.  I have appreciated the lessons on visual stimuli and how our brains respond to it.

What captured my attention the most, however, was the very first paragraph in the Introduction.  This paragraph made the book for me!

Go ahead and multiply the number 8,388,628 x 2 in your head.  Can you do it in a few seconds?  There is a young man who can double that number 24 times in the space of a few seconds.  He gets it right every time.  There is a boy who can tell you the precise time of day at any moment, even in his sleep.  There is a girl who can correctly determine the exact dimensions of an object 20 feet away.  There is a child who at age 6 drew such vivid and complex pictures, some people ranked her version of a galloping horse over one drawn by da Vinci.  Yet none of these children have an IQ greater than 70.

This is amazing!  As a society we try to think we are so smart by developing tests and formulas and based on those results, put children in a "category" of intelligence.  We have the potential of missing out on so much when we do this.  I will never forget a little boy in my life that could not communicate in a conventional way and as a society we could make all kinds of assumptions based on that.  However, he could recite ALL of the credits at the end of a movie just by seeing it one time!

For me, there are two lessons to be learned.  One, never underestimate the capabilities of the brain and two, don't put people in a box!  You just never know what someone has the ability to do, as well as the potential to do.  We just need to throw away the boxes and look for the unexpected gifts.

Brain Rules by John Medina. Published in 2014 by Pear Press.

Come visit our new website!

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  Ephesians 3:20

My journey with God has been one great road trip.  I never know exactly where we are going but I do know that God is going to take me to some beautiful places.  Every twist and turn is going to impact my view on life and every person I meet along the way will impact my perspective on people.    

I have been praying for the last year in particular that God would reveal His plans to me for the next part of my ministry journey and He has given me immeasurably more that all I could have asked or imagined.  God has been too good to me to be fearful.  I am just really excited!

It has been an exciting month working on the new website, getting brochures and business cards designed, and connecting with people that have similar visions.  I am up until one or two in the morning every night and even then it is hard to shut off my brain.

I are excited to share our new website with you.  Bill and I will serve together in training churches and I will also serve by teaching children.  We would covet your prayers and your partnership as we seek to support those affected by disabilities.  I hope you will join us in our excitement!

Come visit us at www.gracewithoutmargins.com and leave your e-mail so we can share the journey ahead.

Blessings,

Bill and Deana

Supporting Young Artists

I love to support the arts and I especially like to support talented young artists!  One of my favorite artists is Kimberly Dixon.  I have known her for 15+ years and I am so excited to see her incredible talent become available for all to see. At  www.kimsgifts.etsy.com. you can pick up her book, Under the Silence is Me - How It feels To Be Nonverbal, and you can purchase some of her beautiful artwork.  I proudly have one of her prints hanging in my home!

This weekend I met another talented young artist, Grant Manier.  You can view and purchase his beautiful artwork at http://www.grantsecoart.com.  He is already receiving awards for his artwork and   I am confident he will be famous someday.  His artwork is eco-friendly and you won't even believe the medium he has used.  What an honor it was to meet you, Grant!

Both of these artists have been affected by disabilities.  They are also blessed with great abilities.  I highly encourage you to visit their websites and stores.  If you know of other talented artists affected by disabilities, I would love for you to share them with me.  

Have fun shopping!

A Super Hero Day!

Joni Eareckson Tada is one of my heroes.  I first became familiar with her when I was a teenager and God has blessed me with the opportunity to be in her presence every ten years since then.  I have been blessed to see her graciousness firsthand, to marvel over her giftedness, and listen to her perspectives on God, people, and those affected by disabilities.

I was blessed by one comment in particular that she shared today.  "Own your weakness."  For me, it has taken forty years to understand that God's power and strength can be revealed through our weaknesses.  For me, when I personally own my weakness it is then that God can do amazing things.

Joni also blessed me today by hearing her talk about her love for Christ and her sweet relationship with Him.  If you are not familiar with Joni and her ministry, I highly encourage you to spend some time on her website and reading her devotionals and books.  http://joniandfriends.org.

Thank you for a special day today, Joni.  I hope to see you sooner, but if not, I will see you in my 60's!

Adjusting To A Disability

It has been almost a year since Bill's table saw accident.  I will never forget his phone call from the ambulance, "Deana, can you bring me some clothes?  I seem to have cut my pinky off."  I had no idea how much damage was done until I got to the hospital.

Bill had cut off his pinky, but had also severed a number of tendons, two arteries, and most of the muscle and nerves in his hand.  The first surgery took about 3 1/2 hours and the second one was about 12 hours.  This summer he will have to have another surgery on his hand and we are praying that will be the last.

Bill has had to overcome so much this year.  The nightmares were horrible for awhile.  He has had to become ambidextrous. but is left-handed now for the most part and uses mostly dictation software.  He had to have his bike rebuilt so he could adequately use the brakes and has had to learn to face his fears when he hears the sounds of power tools.  He has severe pain in his hand a great deal of the time.  If he wears a glove it helps his brain to focus on the pressure rather than the pain and it makes it more bearable.

It has been hard to watch Bill be in pain and have to relearn so many skills a different way, but the great thing is, he has.  All of the phrases we have used in disability ministry have taken on a new meaning now.  "You can still do it, you may just have to do it differently."  

The other day God gave us a precious gift though.  I was with my mom at a restaurant and said hello to a gentleman that was leaving as we were leaving.  I asked him if he was a veteran and he told me he had served in the Korean War.  I told him that my father and father-in-law had too.  This gentleman endured many injuries from serving our country, including a missing arm and surgeries on his other hand. On his hand he had the same surgery that Bill is going to have.  

I cannot describe the amazing spirit this gentleman and his wife had.  I was very moved by their story and invited them to come over and meet Bill and have some dinner with us sometime.  It makes me sad to think I would have missed out on some amazing people if I hadn't said hello.  It reminded me that God is always going to go ahead of us and provide us just what we need.  Encouraging friends that can understand our situations are a tremendous blessing.

As we get closer to the surgery at the end of July we would appreciate your prayers that Bill will gain more strength and movement in his hand and that the scar tissue will be at a minimum.  We are also praying for release from the pain in his hand.  Thank you for praying.  We are so grateful.

Stay Tuned...

It is now almost 3 o'clock in the morning but the new ideas for our ministry are pouring in.  Over the years I have learned to take advantage of these moments and stop everything to jot down the ideas as they come.  I can catch up on sleep later!

I have been praying for months about what God wants us to do in the next phase of the Special Needs Ministry and I must say, I am very excited!  I covet your prayers as we pray through this process.

Be watching for a new name, logo, website, and great opportunities to minister and grow together.  God never ceases to amaze me with the adventures we can go on if we just stay open and watch for where He is working.

Stay tuned....
Deana

10 Things To Think About

1.  How do you describe people?  Do you start with their weight?  Their disability?  How about starting off with the characteristics that draw you to them.

2.  If you suddenly had a disability, what would you want people to know?  How would you want people to treat you?

3.  What disability is the hardest for you to understand? Would meeting a person with this disability make you uncomfortable?  Spend some time learning about it on the internet.  Then when you meet someone with that disability, you will be much more understanding.

4.  Walk a mile in someone else's shoes and then write about the experience.  

5.  The next time you are parking somewhere, think about how close you really need to be.  Leave close parking spaces open for those that really need it.

6.  When you see someone with a child that has a disability, say hello to the child and tell the parent how beautiful they are.  All parents love to hear compliments about their children.

7.  At your next family gathering, make sure everyone feels included.  If older family members start to withdraw they may have a hard time hearing.  Help make the situation easier on them and even encourage them to get their hearing checked if needed.

8.  Visit a loved one that may feel shut-in or isolated.  Take them some flowers or take them on a walk.

9.  If you know someone with a disability, take one of their siblings out for a coke or ice cream and have some special one-on-one time!

10.  If you know a caregiver, send them a card thanking them for all they do or offer to help and give them some time to themselves.

Living Shoes

This week I have been reading my book, Living Shoes, to my students.  I always love talking about shoes and the stories behind them.

On Monday the kids brought in the shoes of someone that works hard.  Most of them brought in their daddy's shoes and told me how hard their dad works to take care of them.  Yesterday they brought in shoes of someone they see as brave or courageous.  They shared some great stories and some of them even brought in their own shoes and shared a story about when they have been brave.

Today the children brought in the shoes of someone that makes them feel happy and loved.  One little girl proudly shared her mother's wedding shoes with us.  I was impressed by how many kids brought in the shoes of one of their siblings.  They were very sentimental as they shared how their siblings make them happy. 

I brought in a little wooden shoe I carved in one of my Occupational Therapy classes over 30 years ago.  I also brought in a large wooden shoe that is over 50 years old.  I shared with them that I would walk around the house wearing the shoe when I was a little girl.  Later my daughters walked around in that same shoe and now my grandchildren do.

Tomorrow we will talk about children that do not have shoes to wear and the children will bring some in to donate.  I love to buy Toms because for every pair I purchase they donate a pair of shoes to someone that needs them.

I encourage you to take your child to the shoe department the next time you are at the mall.  Pick out a pair of shoes and see who they remind them of.  It can bring back a lot of fun memories!

P.S. You can visit my blog at:  http://deana-livingshoes.blogspot.com

Two Special Blessings

In the last two weeks I have had two wonderful blessings.   A little over a week ago I was able to meet with Eric Jones, the Joni and Friends Director for Texas.  This week I had the added blessing of meeting with Stacy Hodge, the Church Relations Manager for Joni and Friends for Texas.  Both of them were so gracious and encouraging in helping me figure out my next steps in ministry.  More importantly, however, they were such a testimony of God's love and compassion, especially in regard to the special needs community.

The Joni and Friends ministry has been a blessing in my life for 30 years.  It is exciting to see how they have been in and out of my life in different ways over the years.

If you are not familiar with their ministry, I highly encourage you to take a look at their website.  I could tell you about the ministry but would not be able to do it justice.  They can communicate so much better than I can.  http://www.joniandfriends.org

Joni and Friends serves the special needs community in a variety of different ways through Joni's books and art work, family retreats, wounded warrior retreats, and their "Wheels For the World" program to name a few.  They also provide training for special needs ministry in churches.

Take a minute to visit with them.  I know you will be blessed.

The Big Celebration!

It was a wonderful day today!  The kids and I were excited all day and couldn't wait until the big celebration!

I shared a special story about a butterfly of course.  I wish I knew who the author is because this story has meant a great deal to me over the years.

The Cocoon

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.

One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making any progress.  It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go not farther.  then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily.

But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.  The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened!  In fact, the butterfly spend the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.

It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.  If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us.  We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

And we could never fly.

I am so proud of all of my student's parents.  They let their children struggle a little bit.  They let them empty their piggy banks, give up their tooth fairy month, sweep driveways and all kinds of other chores, and create a market to raise money for children that need wheelchairs.  The students wings are so much stronger now and they will be able to fly to higher heights!

The kids each shared what they had done to raise money and then Steffani, the Director of First Foundations, thanked the kids for all they had done.  She held up a check revealing to the children how much money they had raised, 

$3,000!

Enough for 20 wheelchairs!

I introduced the children to Eric who is the Area Director for Joni and Friends.  I think he was surprised by how much the kids knew about Joni and her ministry.  He gave them special gifts and one of Joni's beautiful paintings for our classroom.  He was such an encouragement and even had tears in his eyes as he thanked the kids.  

It was a special day and I feel so honored and blessed to be able to watch it happen!

I love my students so much and I hope as they head off to "Big kids" school they will remember the things they have learned.  They have met a number of powerful people over the last month.  I hope the children they encounter next year will become dear friends, no matter what their abilities are.

She Made Us All Happy

On our last day of learning about intellectual and emotional challenges, we had a special treat.  One of my students brought in her dog that is taking classes on how to be a therapy dog.  She is a beautiful dog and will be used to comfort and encourage people living in nursing homes, people suffering from emotional trauma, and even our veterans who have suffered all kinds of loss and need encouragement.  It was sweet to be with her because she made all of us happy during the time she spent with us.

The children learned the difference between service dogs and therapy dogs.  I know I learned a variety of things I didn't know before.  Thank you, sweet girl, for visiting us and adding joy to all of our days!

Days 19 and 20: Kids Helping Kids

On Tuesday and Wednesday of last week we held our "Market Days" in the lunchroom.  The kids were so excited to sell what they had brought to raise money.  We had a great variety of items this year:  headbands, hair clips, bracelets, necklaces, shark tooth necklaces, gently used books, decorative paper clips, fruit snacks, refrigerator magnets, homemade cookies and treats, popsicles, scripture memory books, a raffle, artwork, and doggie treats.  It was great to see the kids so excited but I also enjoyed seeing how other parents and the staff supported the kids.  I had several teachers make a point to stop by and thank the kids for what they were doing to support children with disabilities.  I loved seeing the kids bring in bags full of money with their names and the amount of money written on a bag.  The bag that especially got to me said, "Love Money" on the front.

We were also blessed to have a family come in and share with our class last week.  I love the momma of the family.  She hosts a blog that I always enjoy reading.  She shared with my students about her son that has difficulty walking and eating.  Her son is feed through a feeding tube and she demonstrated how this works by having a feeding tube in a teddy bear.  The kids were curious but no longer surprised. The kids have grown so much over the last several weeks.  They respond to every new situation with compassion.

Several of my students shared through the week about friends they have with disabilities.  They spoke openly about the challenges their friends face, but were also quick to share about their friends talents and gifts.

We are coming to a close on our unit about, "How To Be A Friend To Someone With a Disability."  It is always bittersweet for me.  I am anxious to finish counting the money and letting the children know they difference they have made but I will miss introducing them to such amazing people.

Days 17 & 18: Market Days

Today was exciting!  We had our second day of "Market Days."  The kids have been working for three weeks raising money and today they sold handmade items to raise more money.  I love the excitement on the kids faces!  They are so generous and excited to give more.

The beautiful thing about kids is how quickly they understand generosity and sacrifice.  They don't compete with each other.  They just get excited for every dollar that is raised.  They all purchased from each other at the market to be an encouragement.

I know tomorrow I will have 15 precious kids anxious to hear how much they have raised all together.  I will keep them in suspense until next Tuesday and then we will celebrate!

Bridge Class, I am so proud of you!  

Day 16: Learning About Intellectual/Emotional Challenges

Intellectual/Emotional challenges are probably the hardest for me to explain to kids but in many ways, they dearest to my heart.  Children that struggle in this area are so often misunderstood and left out.  How do you help children understand what it feels like?  This challenge is much harder to simulate.

I took out a large letter "b."  I asked the kids what letter it was, then I flipped it backwards and asked them what letter it was.  Next I flipped the letter upside down and asked them what letter it was and lastly, flipped the letter and held it backwards until they had seen the letters b, d, q, and p.

I explained that it is normal for them to get these letters confused at their age but soon it should stop being confusing to them.  Someone with dyslexia, however, may have a hard time keeping it straight for years and it will be more difficult for them to learn how to read.  We then had a great discussion about how we can encourage our friends as we all learn how to read.  We need to be encouragers, not discouragers!

Later I role-played some behaviors common among people who have autism.  The children started laughing.  I asked them if they thought this person was smart and they said no.  I then told them that the person I was acting out could see the quick tiny credits at the end of the movie and recite all of the names after only seeing them once.  They were amazed at how smart he was now!

The kids had numerous questions and we were able to have a great discussion.  I can hardly wait to see how they react to the different experiences I have planned for them!

We finished our day with a happy dance!  

The kids have now raised over $1,100!! 

That is enough for 7 wheelchairs!!  

I can hardly wait for the big day tomorrow!

Great job kids!!  

Days 14 and 15: How Much Do I Really Trust?

Have you ever tried to imagine what it would be like to be blind?  The kids did!  I asked them what they would miss seeing if they no longer could.  Here are some of there answers:

• My mom, dad, and brother
• Running the bases in baseball
• Walking in the woods
• Knowing where my sister was
• Seeing my dog
• Seeing everyone that I love
• Seeing my goldfish swim
• Seeing the pictures in my Bible
• Seeing my birthday party

Their answers were honest and revealing about what is important to them.  After our discussion I told them they would be going on a "trust walk" and would experience what it would be like to be blind.

They paired up with a classmate, one of them put on a blindfold and the other offered his arm to be a guide.  We went on a walk together.  I think it was equally challenging to be blind and to be a guide.  After we finished our walk, we traded roles.

When we returned to the classroom, I asked them what it felt like to be blind.  Their answers were:

• Scary
• Hard to see
• Hard to know where you were going
• Hard to know where I was
• I felt out of control
• Everything was different
• Cool!
• Creepy...it was dark and I couldn't see

When I asked them what it felt like to be the guide they said,

• Cool and it was nice being nice to a person
• It was fun telling them where to go
• It was fun to be gentle
• It was fun holding onto her and telling her where to go
• Cool!

We concluded our time together by looking through cards that showed different types of visual impairment.  It made us more grateful for our vision and more compassionate towards those that have a visual impairment.

Days 11, 12, and 13: Letting the Work of God Be Displayed

It has been wonderfully challenging to keep up this week.  When I am teaching the unit on disabilities it is always a bit of a challenge to keep up.  If I could I would walk around with a little notebook sharing all of the things the kids say, yet I always want to be in the moment with them and not worrying about writing things down.  Within every lesson I teach, they share something amazingly simple, yet profound.  They say something that makes me laugh so hard I have a hard time recovering.  And they will also share something heavy on their own hearts such as a loved one tackling a health challenge.  

My heart was heavy as one of the children shared about her grandmother's recent surgery that will make her life far more challenging.  With every heavy story from a child there comes a really touching one as well.  I have a little boy that shared about his grandfather that lives in heaven now.  He wanted to have a birthday cake for him today and told his mom, "I can blow out the candles for him because I know he can't."  I love all of the thinking behind that statement!  He misses his grandfather but he is also going to celebrate him!

One little boy had been rather quiet about the fundraiser and then today proudly brought in a check for $100.  He had been working hard for his dad to earn money to help "the kids."  When I handed him 100 butterflies with his name on them, he smiled and said, "That is a lot of me!"  Indeed, that was a lot of him...his thoughts, his time, his compassion.

We have had some great discussions over the last three days regarding visual impairment or blindness.  Today I shared one of my favorite stories from scripture.  It is found in the book of John.  A blind man was begging for money.  The disciples asked Jesus if his blindness was due to his sin or the sin of his parents.  Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, " said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."  I can hardly wait to introduce the kids to some powerful people, especially the ones that have let the work of God be displayed.

Day Ten: Giving From The Heart

The Bridge Class has raised over $400 now to help purchase wheelchairs for children around the world that need them.  I love the stories every bag of money represents.  It used to break my heart when they would tell me they emptied their piggy banks or gave their tooth fairy money.  It always gets to me but I know how valuable it is in their lives so it never makes me sad anymore.

We reviewed the signs we have learned and added about 20 more today.  It is exciting to see how easily it comes to them.  We also listened to a powerful composer who became deaf at the age of 30 but continued to write music that he could no longer hear.  The children loved Beethoven and many of them said they had heard his music before (good job, Mom and Dad!)  We will hear from two other musicians on Monday.  They aren't deaf but they are blind.

The highlight of my weekend was to ride my bike to a lemonade stand held by two of my students.  Their enthusiasm was priceless and it was touching to see their entire families involved!  

Day Nine: A Powerful Person That Could Not Hear

Today was wonderful!  We started the day with one of our favorite songs in sign language and then watched a fun song from "Signing Time."  I am really impressed by how quickly the children are learning sign language.  They have learned the alphabet and have now learned 46 signs from, My First Book of Sign Language.  I am always amazed by how much the kids can take in and retain.

There are so many fun and exciting things to learn about disabilities but there are also some hard things.  I told the kids that I was going to show them something that might make them a little sad but it will have a beautiful ending!  I shared about a little girl that was born quite some time ago and she was both deaf and blind.  She used to throw a lot of temper tantrums (they all gave me some great examples of a temper tantrum from their siblings) because she was so frustrated.  She lived in a world that was dark and quiet and she couldn't communicate but one day things changed.  I showed them the water scene from a movie about Helen Keller.  She couldn't see sign language but she could feel it and that is how she learned to communicate.  The kids were able to watch a reenactment of Helen giving a speech as an adult and of course the kids were amazed!

During the day we go through my butterfly box where the kids put the money they have raised for the wheelchairs.  They are always so excited to share what they did to raise money.  One little girl brought in $20.  I asked her what she did to earn it and she said, "Nothing."  I asked her how she got the $20 and she said her grandmother donated it.  I exclaimed,

"That is wonderful!  Did you share about what you are doing in your class?'  She told me that she told her grandmother all about it.  I said, 'That is wonderful!'  You have been part of the butterfly effect.  Joni told me about the children that need wheelchairs.  I told you about the children that need wheelchairs and now you have told your grandmother.  That is how the butterfly effect works!"  My sweet girl then had a big smile on her face and was very proud of her accomplishment.

We ended our time together by doing our "happy dance" song!  They have now raised enough money for two wheelchairs!

Day Eight: How To Be A Friend To Someone Who Is Deaf/Hearing Impaired

Teaching kids how to be a good friend is always fun to me.  I love to exaggerate the things we do.  I probably surprised the class next door when I started yelling everything I was teaching the kids.  I know I surprised my students!   I told them that making a scene to get a person with hearing loss' attention was not necessary and speaking or yelling louder wasn't helpful either.  Below are some of the communication skills I have been sharing with my students.  This information is provided by The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

How to Communicate with Someone Who Has Hearing Loss

When someone suffers from hearing, it is difficult (and frustrating) for them to communicate effectively with others. While there are a variety of assistive devices available to make sound louder, it is most important that proper communication techniques be practiced in order to maximize hearing and listening performance. Here are some tips you can use when talking with someone who has a hearing problem.

Get Their Attention

Get the listener's attention before speaking. Give them a topic related to the conversation so they have a better understanding of what to expect.

Reduce Background Noise

Try to eliminate as much background noise as possible. During conversations, turn off the radio or television. When you are in restaurants and social gatherings, choose seats or conversation areas away from crowded or noisy areas.

Speak One at a Time

Try to make sure only one person talks at a time. Include people with hearing loss in the conversation, but don't talk over other people.

Speak Clearly

Face the person and talk clearly. Speak at a reasonable speed. Do not hide your mouth, eat, or chew gum.

Speak Loudly

Speak a little more loudly than normal, but don't shout. Try to annunciate your words clearly and be conscious of the volume of your voice.

Repeat Yourself

It is not uncommon for a person with hearing loss to shake their head as though they understand what you've said. Ask them if the got the information and if necessary, repeat yourself.

Re-Phrase

Rephrase your statement into shorter, simpler sentences if it appears you are not being understood.

Have Good Lighting

Stand in good lighting, use facial expressions and look at the person's face while speaking. Even if the individual with hearing loss never studied lip-reading, they can gain a great deal of information looking at the speakers face and body language.

Be Understanding

If you feel frustrated trying to speak to someone with a hearing loss, think for a minute how it must be for them. Try to make it easier by changing words or re-phrasing statements.

As much as you want the person with hearing loss to hear what you have to say, they want to be able to listen, understand and participate. Coping with hearing loss requires cooperative efforts. If you think someone you love has a hearing problem, suggest they see a doctor for a hearing test.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and focuses on the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss and deafness.

Day Seven: Accommodating Hearing Loss

I love sharing about Jesus and the company he kept with my students.  He loved people like you and me and spent much of his time with people that had a disability.  We read a story about Jesus healing a boy that was deaf and how excited he and his friends were when he heard for the first time.

We talked about resources available to those impaired by hearing loss such as TTY's, Relay, texting, flashing lights, lip reading, speech therapy, and sign language.  The kids are growing up in an age where there are so many resources available and some of those resources all of us are using.

We also talked about our grandparents and how we can be supportive if they are experiencing hearing loss.  The kids even came up with some ideas on their own to aid in communication.

Day Six: The Deaf/Hearing Impaired

My classroom learned about another type of disability today.  We all envisioned what it would be like to be deaf or hearing impaired.  I went around the circle and asked them what sounds they would miss if they could no longer hear.  Most of them said they would miss the sounds of their friends voices and one of them sweetly said, "I would miss hearing my dad say, 'You are the best boy in the whole world!"

We did a variety of exercises to simulate hearing impairment and what it would be like.  I asked them if they would like to hear a person who is deaf speak.  I really think they thought they would sound the same.  I shared a YouTube video with the kids.  When the young lady started speaking a few of them started to laugh.  I just let them listen to her message for a little bit.  Then I asked them, "Can you imagine how difficult it would be to learn how to talk when you have never heard speech before?"  Their faces became concerned as they realized how difficult that would be.  

I told them they would probably hear a deaf person speak at some point in their life, or a person with another disability that might impair their speech.  We talked about how we should never make fun of each other for things that are challenging for us.  We should only encourage one another.

Our guest speaker came early this week since he had to work around his patients.  I have to say I am a little partial to this guest speaker, he is my husband.  Bill is the Director of Audiology for an ENT office.  He shared a clip from You Tube about how the ear works.  He went through the anatomy and function of each part of the ear.  The kids were amazed when he told them that the bones in their parents ears are the same size as the bones in their ears.  Bill talked about the function of ear wax, how to protect their hearing and showed them some hearing aides.

The kids loved learning about the ear but they became fascinated by Bill's impairment...he had a serious hand injury.  All of the boys especially wanted to know about the table saw accident.  Bill shared about the things he was no longer able to do and also shared about how he has learned to do a lot of things differently.  Bill wears a golf glove most of the time because it provides grip and stability for his hand.  He also wears it because your brain cannot interpret pressure and pain at the same time very well so wearing the glove makes his brain think about pressure, rather than pain.  Since he no longer has a pinkie he asked the kids who would like to pinkie swear and they all laughed.

As I thanked Bill before he left the girls all started chanting, "Kiss him!  Kiss him!"  Five year-olds are always full of surprises!

Day Five: Powerful People Who Happen To Have A Physical Disability

I love it when I have the opportunity to introduce children to amazing people.  They won't even have the opportunity to limit someone's potential if they understand the possibilities at such an early age!

Today I told the children to lie down on the floor and just listen to some beautiful music.  It was so calming and worshipful.  As the song was coming to a close I picked up my ukulele and started to gently strum it.  I told the kids it was a ukulele and the person I wanted to introduce them to plays the guitar but they are similar in how they are played.

As I was strumming, I asked the kids, "Now, how would you play an instrument like this if you don't have any hands or arms?"  They, of course, instantly knew the answer because I had shared a story of a young man that could type without any arms.  They all yelled in unison, "With your toes!".  I then put the ukulele on the floor and showed them how difficult it would be.

I asked the kids, "Do you want to meet my friend that can play with his toes?"  They were all excited to meet Tony Melendez.  I encourage you to watch him on youtube:  Tony Meléndez (Part 01) - You Are My God.  All of their five year-old jaws dropped.  It was priceless!

Next they were introduced to Nicholas James Vujicic No arms No legs No worries! wmv YouTube.  He is another one of my heroes.  It is amazing to watch their faces change as they change from uncomfortable to thinking Nick is funny to loving him in the span of just a few minutes.  We talked about all of the things Nick is able to do because he uses his disability as a platform to share his love for God.  We concluded our time with hugs all around, Nick style of course!

Day Four: Physical Disabilities and Therapies

Today we had a wonderful visit with a physical therapist.  She has visited my classroom for a number of years now.  She is a wonderful partner in teaching kids about disabilities and how to be a great friend.  Unfortunately, I was called out for a family medical problem and couldn't be there but I knew the kids would have a great day learning all about physical therapy.

When I returned the next day the kids were so excited to share about the equipment they had seen:  wheelchairs, "crunches" (crutches), and therapy balls.  They were even able to try them!  They were also excited about the videos they watched of people in wheelchairs playing fast and exciting basketball.  My kids are becoming amazed by all of the things people with disabilities can do rather than focusing on things they cannot do.

Thank you for partnering with me, Melissa.  The kids had a great time with you!

Day Three: How To Be A Friend

Today one of my little girls came into the classroom in her twirly pink Easter dress with a smile on her face and a tiara on her head.  She proudly handed me a baggie with three one dollar bills and one 100 dollar bill.  She told me she had raised the money for the wheelchair by singing one of her favorite songs to some of her friends.  I love it when kids use their talents to make a difference in our world!  It took us a while to write her name on 100 butterflies and get them hung up but we had a great time doing it!  The kids were so excited when they walked out into the hall and saw the ribbon of butterflies in the hallway.

We read a couple of books about children with physical disabilities and then we discussed how to be a friend to someone with a physical disability.  I love demonstrating the crazy things we do when we encounter someone in a wheelchair.  The kids quickly caught on as I exaggerated a variety of situations.  They were great at picking out what behaviors were polite and which ones weren't.  I only wish I could be a fly on the wall as the kids act out polite behavior for their parents at the dinner table tonight.

We closed our time with one of the educational clips from the Joni and Friends website.  Here is the link to their "Kid's Corner."  http://www.joniandfriends.org/kids-corner/be-a-better-friend/

I highly recommend their videos, "Friendship Adventures," that teach children (and adults) about disabilities.  The clip we watched today was entitled, "It's Nice To Get Close."

Tomorrow we will have a physical therapist visit our classroom.  She will simulate what it is like to have a physical disability, as well as show them some therapy treatments.  I appreciate all of the people that partner with me to teach kids about kids!

Day Two: Can You Catch A Disability?

     I feel like we are on an amazing vacation in my classroom!  The kids are so excited and they cannot wait for the next adventure.  This morning we talked about some of the crazy things we believe about people with disabilities.  I asked the class if you can catch a disability from someone.  They looked at each other and said, "I don't know.  What do you mean?'  

     I said, "Well, if your little brother has a cold and he sneezed on you, you might catch his cold.  Could you catch a disability?"

     One of the kids said, "No, they don't sneeze!"

     I responded by saying, "Well, yes they do sneeze if they have a cold or allergies, just like you do."

    To top off the discussion, one of the kids said, "Well, yesterday I sat next to 'Michael' all day (he has a broken arm) and my arm is doing just fine."  Do you see why I love five year-olds!!

     Later I read a story from the Bible about Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul and the son of Prince Jonathan.  He was injured at a young age and was unable to run or walk again.  He was heir to the throne but people didn't know how to respond to his disability and marginalized him and treated him as an outcast.

     Later when David became the King, he extended kindness and compassion to Mephibosheth and welcomed him in the palace and had him eat at the king's table.  This changed everything!  Since Mephibosheth was accepted by the king, others began to accept him too.

     I told the children they have the power to change the world by how they treat people.  If there is a little boy or girl in their class that has a disability they can change everything for them by being the one to accept them and befriend them.  Others will follow the example set for them.

     I have to say, I am already proud of my students!  One of my kids fell and severely broke his arm last week.  They have all been so kind to him, each taking turns to protect him, help him and play with him.  The butterfly effect is already happening :)

Day One: You Can Change The World

Day one was fabulous!!  My students and I started a unit on "How To Be A Friend to Someone With  a Disability" today.  I decorated the classroom with butterflies and explained the butterfly effect by lining up all of the kids and having them put their hands on the shoulders of the student in front of them.  I nudged the last student in line and watched student after student in front of her move forward.  Then I explained the theory behind the butterfly effect.  As a butterfly flaps its wings it moves molecules of air that in turn move more molecules of air until the effect of the butterfly's wings can be felt across the world.  Similarly, as the children earn a dollar it will cause another child to earn a dollar and then people watching will also contribute a dollar until the effect causes hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to be raised to purchase and refurbish wheelchairs that can be distributed around the world.  As Andy Andrews shares in his book, The Boy Who Changed the World, each of us can change the world!

This morning we all shared about skills we are good at.  I loved their answers.  Some of them included Math, art, learning about sharks, soccer, dribbling a basketball, taking care of babies, loving our parents, and coloring in the lines.  They were so excited to talk about the things that come easily to them.

Then we talked about skills that are challenging or difficult.  Their answers included sharing with their brother or sister, gymnastics, football, ice skating, climbing trees, being patient and one of my favorites, flushing the toilet (he said he can never remember to flush!).  We talked about how some of our challenges can get easier with practice and some of them will always be difficult.  We talked about the skills that would be difficult if we were paralyzed.  Then I shared with them that God can show his power through our weaknesses.  I told them they will meet some amazing people over the next couple of weeks that God has shown His power through.

I then introduced them to one of my personal heroes, Joni Eareckson Tada.  Their jaws dropped when they learned that she is paralyzed but she can sing beautifully, has written 67 books and is an incredibly talented artist.  In fact, they tried painting with a paintbrush in their mouths the way Joni does!  When I showed them some of her paintings they were amazed!

I was able to share a photograph of one of my students and the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott.  He is in a wheelchair but he has a very important job!

As our day came to a close we had the added bonus on one of my dear friends and a staff member at our school, come and share about her late husband's struggle with ALS.  She shared that one of the most hurtful things that happened was people stopped talking to her husband when she pushed them in a wheelchair and they only talked to her.  She reminded them to always talk to the person in the wheelchair.  She also shared about some amazing technology that allowed her husband to communicate by blinking his eyes.  Blinking his eyes would act as a computer mouse allowing him to type e-mails.

I can hardly wait for the adventures and lessons ahead for us.  I hope you will join us as we learn about a variety of disabilities and the powerful people impacted by them!

It's Butterfly Time!

I can't believe it is almost time for my favorite time of year!  My students will be learning about "How To Be A Friend To Someone With A Disability" soon.  Last week I had my parent meeting to share with the parents what the kids will be learning over the next month.  I am so grateful for the supportive parents I have.

The kids are already dreaming big about what they will do to raise money for Joni and Friends, "Wheels For the World" project.  The kids are excited about making a difference in other children's lives by raising money to purchase wheelchairs.  Five year-olds have such giving hearts!

I hope you will join us again on our journey.  As always it will be incredible because kids understand how to love and sacrifice.  Stay tuned...great things will be happening!

Deana

Kindred Spirits

Today has been a day of interesting conversations.  Don't get me wrong I love talking to my incredibly supportive husband but men just don't know how to pour their hearts out like women do.  We can tell our life story, laugh, cry and joke around all in the span of an hour!

Today I had lengthy conversations with women in their 40's, 50's and 70's.  All of them are experiencing their own kind of pain and all of them are trying to figure out their place in this life, what God's plans for them are, what their next step is and sometimes, how to even take a step.  In the midst of these conversations there are two things I realized.  First of all, we will continue to have crossroads in our lives.  We won't just be trying to find ourselves in our 20's.  It will happen at different stages of our lives, throughout our lives.  Secondly, we need kindred spirits.

In the crossroads, for me at least, I like to think I am in control of when they will happen and the choices I will have.  All you have to do is talk to a few people that have lost a spouse and you will know that is not true.  We may have our life very planned out and suddenly our road comes to an abrupt stop and we have to make a choice on which way we will go.  

No matter what our struggle is, we all need kindred spirits.  Someone that can step into our journey and offer support and even more importantly, understanding.  Many times God has reminded me of a friend that has been in a similar situation and I have reached out to them for advice but often times he sends me a complete stranger.  Sometimes that person can be much younger and sometimes much older than ourselves, but the beautiful part is that God placed them there for us.  

Do you need a kindred spirit today?  Do you need someone that can identify with your struggles and be understanding?  Look closely today.  You never know who God has prepared for you.