Austin Special Needs Ministry Directors and Volunteers

It has been a privilege and a blessing to meet with Austin special needs ministry directors for the last four months.  We are a small group of committed, humble, compassionate people growing in our understanding and support of those challenged by special needs.  As a group we represent a variety of faith expressions, suburban and urban locations, young and old congregations, as well as a variety of financial and ethnicity backgrounds.  I absolutely love it!!

We discuss a variety of topics related to special needs and share as many ideas as we can so we don't have to "reinvent the wheel" over and over again.  I am grateful for the millennials in the group that have set up a google drive to share ideas on!

If you live in the Austin area and serve the special needs community, we would love to have you join us.  We meet every first Monday from 11 am - 1 pm in the For The City Center 500 East St. Johns Ave Austin, Texas 78752.

On January 2 we will have a special speaker, Jeannette Holahan, Education Co-Chair for DSACT.  She will share spiritual and education tips for working with students with Down Syndrome.  She has a great wealth of knowledge as a professional and as an incredible mom.

If you would like to join us, contact Deana Boggess at theboggi@aim.com.

A Shot of Hope

A week ago I was in need of a shot of hope.  Thankfully I have numerous friends on standby.  Last week a dear friend and mentor sent me just what I needed.

I have known Sally for more than forty years.  God has woven our hearts tighter over the last year.  Both of our lives have been transposed and blessed by friends impacted by disabilities.  I have been involved in disability ministry in the United States and Sally has in Rwanda and the United States.

Recently I have been on a lengthy reading binge.  I mostly love to read real stories about real people and how they navigate the struggles and joys in life.  I had decided my next book, however, would be a more intellectual book and had just cracked the binding when frederick: A Story of Boundless Hope by Frederick Ndabaramiye and Amy Parker arrived from Sally.  I immediately started reading and only put it down once or twice before I finished it.  A tough story with a beautiful ending.

Frederick was a survivor of the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in the 1990's.  A genocide so horrific and of such unimaginable magnitude, yet so recent we can reach back and touch it.  The extent of evil that our world is capable of is heartbreaking, yet the endless possibilities of hope presented by people like Frederick is compelling, compelling enough to help us realize the healing power of hope.

Over the years I have read numerous books about the challenges of disabilities and each of them have taught me something new.  Frederick has touched my soul.  It is the story of a boy who suffered huge heartache but as a man turned the experience into an unstoppable power of hope, a hope that has changed hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.

If you are in need of a shot of hope, I highly recommend this book.  If you serve in disability ministry, this book needs to be on your shelf and in your heart!  This book has added another dimension to my understanding of hope in the midst of adversity.

Here is the link to purchase:   http://www.thomasnelson.com/frederick.  

Here are additional links to Frederick's story:

https://iamableucc.wordpress.com/meet-frederick/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPPSCFyVLY0

One Messy Room With No Compartments

Today I am returning e-mails, blogging, preparing a presentation, and proofing a manuscript. Of course just outside my office the dishes, the laundry, the toilets, and the errands are calling my name, desperately wanting my attention.

Most mornings I start my day with a cup of tea, look over my planner to see what I have going on for the day, and then I make my "To Do" list.  One particular task has been bumped to the next day for weeks now...cleaning my office.

I haven't decided whether I will post a picture of my office or not.  I have a lot of pride when it comes to people seeing the messy part of me.  Sometimes I fantasize about having an office that looks like one you would see in a model home but I love everything in here and well, that makes it messy.

On my bookshelves you can see the history of my life.  There are books from every stage:  children's books, Bibles I used from youth until now, Bible studies with all of my thoughts and responses, books God has asked me to write, and photo albums containing all of my memories.  I also have an entire shelf full of journals I have filled over the years.

On the walls of my office I of course have words that make me happy, certificates that make me feel like I am getting somewhere, copies of checks that help me remember, letters from friends that challenge me, pictures from kids that inspire me, and a collage of calendars and maps that keep me organized.  Leaning against the wall are projects I am currently working on.  In front of me is a long line of pictures of my grandkids because they are the joy in my life.  And lastly, in the corner of my desk is a jar with a butterfly in it.  It is a continual reminder to me that with God as our guide, we can all help change the world and the "Butterfly Effect" will be amazing.

Well, it is time to face those things that are calling my name.  For a moment I thought I would clean this room up today and clear some things out.  I think it may just have to stay the way it is, however.  It is similar to my mind...one big room full of ideas, inspirations and "want to's"...with no compartments.

When Does Ministry Start?

I communicate with special needs ministries around the country.  We have a variety of conversations on numerous topics.  We talk about why we should serve the special needs community, models of ministry, concerns in ministry, how to get the leadership and congregation on board, and the first steps to getting started.

The conversations over the last two weeks prompt me to answer the question, "When Does Ministry Start?"  I want to think it is a fairly simple question with a simple answer but I don't think it is to everyone.

I have had people share they have 10 to 20 people in their congregation with a special need but they don't have a special needs ministry.  They wonder if they should start one.  Actually, they already have a special needs ministry in the best form possible.  In some ways, this is the goal a number of large structured ministries are trying to reach.    

If there are people in your congregation, awesome!  You have a ministry!  If there are people in your congregation that have challenges, awesome!  You have people...people that you are ministering to.  If we get to the place where everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, is welcomed, valued, and serving in ministry, fabulous!  You have an amazing church!

Ministry starts the moment we are welcoming people into the church.  Facilities, structure, volunteers, and even money help in ministry for sure.  But when I picture Jesus on the hillside with children gathered around Him, that is ministry in its truest form.  No buddies, no walls, no rules...just sitting at the feet of Jesus, serving and loving one another.

Now, I am also a realist.  Sometimes structure helps us to minister to more people more effectively.  We need to remember that is not when ministry starts, however.  Open the doors to the church,  open the doors to your heart, and that is when it starts.

Parenting: Looking Back

As I knelt down by my grandson's bed tonight I prayed over him, just as I pray for my other grandchildren.  I pray for them just as I did for their mommas as they were growing up.  

As the age of 60 is seeming younger and younger, I realize how much I am aging.  I can get depressed by the changes ahead but sometimes I just sit in gratitude for the lessons each one of my grey hairs represent.  Over the years I have learned a few lessons the hard way and I have certainly shed a tear or two but I remain grateful.  I am grateful for the summits I have reached, for the view at the top of the mountain, and the many people that have walked the journey with me.

I think of the miracle of the butterfly and its metamorphic change from a caterpillar.  It will have to struggle as it breaks out of the cocoon and it will have to do it on its own to be strong enough to fly.  So it is with our children and grandchildren. 

Many times over the years I have prayed and found peace in, Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Tonight I am thinking about all those years of prayers and how worth it they were.  Not only do I see the faith of many generations growing to maturity in my children but I also see the expression of love God placed on my family generations ago.

My family began participating in marches on Washington in the early 60's to fight for the rights of others.  My parents were both pastors and blessed our home with a variety of people.  My father later worked for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and my mother started a program for women that had been incarcerated so they could have a new start in life.  Social justice was part of the DNA of our family.

My oldest brother and his wife have served the homeless over the years.  My middle brother and his wife serve the homeless, the mentally ill, and the incarcerated.  My youngest brother and his wife encouraged the chronically ill. My husband and I support and encourage those affected by a special need or disability. 

Now I am seeing these genes come to fruition in my children and I couldn't be prouder.  My oldest daughter received an award tonight from the American Public Health Association for her work in passing ordinances for safe working conditions.  My younger daughter is working for Engender Health.  She is sharing her story to make a difference in the lives of young people and to empower them for their future. 

I share all of this to encourage parents.  Parenting is tough and as you kneel by your child's bed you wonder how it will all turn out.  You have a million and one decisions to make and you know you don't have all of the answers.  

A wise military man once told me, "You have to be consistent, persistent, and pray!"  I have held onto those words for 15 years now and have shared them many times.  Whether you have child that is four months old or 20 years old, keep these words in mind.  

Remember your DNA is in your children.  The lessons you have taught them are in their minds.  The faith you have shared will give them comfort and strength.  Your training will stay with them.

In addition, don't be afraid of letting your children teach you.  As culture and technology have changed, I have relied heavily on my children and they have taught me many great things.  Embrace those sweet babies, those teenagers and young adults, we have so much to learn from one another.

Challenging, Inspiring, Life-Changing

Everyone experiences events in life that change the course of their life.  Of course giving my life to Christ, getting married, having children and grandchildren are at the top of that list.  We also have those events that shape our perspectives as well as the calling God will place on our lives.  Participating in civil rights marches, working for Lyman Coleman of Serendipity, spending the summer at a convent, and being involved in special needs ministry are a few of the experiences that have helped shape my perspective and journey in life.

Last January I felt God's prompting to take a course that would refine some of my perspectives.  I was a little nervous to take a college level class after so many years but I am so glad I did.  I took the course, Beyond Suffering:  A Christian View on Disability Ministry.  I was so impressed by it that I took their leadership training course as well so that I would be qualified to teach the course at some point.  

I have been thinking and praying through what 2017 should look like and I am anxious and excited to share this course with you.  I have absorbed the material but I want it to infiltrate my view of disability ministry and most importantly, the friends working through the challenges of disabilities.  There is no better way to do that than to teach the material to others.

"Beyond Suffering is a dynamic course in which a serious student can discover what God is doing in the midst of suffering around the world, as well as his ultimate redemption plan for us and for our world.  The four modules will give the student a well-rounded introduction to the various aspects of disability ministry.  Each module highlights a different facet of God's global purpose for welcoming people with disabilities into the church." -from Beyond Suffering by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steve Bundy

The modules included in the course are:

• An Overview of Disability Ministry
• The Theology of Suffering and Disability
• The Church and Disability Ministry
• An Introduction to Bioethics

Prayerfully consider joining me on Saturday, November 19 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am to hear  details about the course and the impact it will make on your view of disability ministry and most of all, people.  If you have questions or plan to attend, please contact me at theboggi@aim.com or by calling me at 512-673-0187.  I hope you will consider taking this journey with me if you are in the Austin area.  If you are out of the Austin area, please consider taking the course online.  You can go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/beyond-suffering/id609174961?mt=11or www.joniandfriends.org for more information about the course.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Deana Boggess

The Shelter of Hope

Yesterday was tough with one of those life experiences you never want to have.  This morning I went to check on a friend that was deeply hurt by that experience and it was evident that her anchor of hope was buried.

Over the years I have helped friends and loved ones walk through serious illnesses, many forms of cancer, the loss of a parent, the loss of a child, fatal car accidents, and end stage dementia.  Each of these ailments have their own brand of suffering.  An illness we don't often recognize, however, is the malady of hopelessness.

As I sat by my friend's side, she looked up at me and said, "I just don't know if it is worth it anymore."  There wasn't a pill, shot, or exercise I could hand her that could treat the ailment.  Fortunately, for all of us, there is a cure, however.

No matter what the ailment, loss or heartache is, Christ is our hope.  It is a hope that stays with us.  It  is an everlasting hope.  When we ask Christ to be our Savior, He joins the journey with us and gives us hope on a daily basis.

A wise friend once shared with me, "Every storm runs out of rain."  Sometimes you simply need to ride out the storm under the shelter of God's loving arms.  Eventually the rain will stop and God will place a rainbow as a reminder of His promises.

Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

2 Corinthians 1:7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Go Right Through The Middle

Like most of us, I wish there were more hours in a day.  I am sure that at times I come across rather "spacey" but usually I am thinking about a book I want to write.  One of the books in my head is, Go Right Through The Middle.  I have the outline written but the rest of it lies in my head.

Go Right Through The Middle is about our journey with aging parents.  Much like parenting, you aren't given any training or tools for the journey.  You just walk through it doing the best you can and you are continually shocked by the things you didn't know.  Along the way, you have flashbacks of how your parents handled it when they were going through it.

One of the most difficult balances to find is how much to do for another person.  As your parent ages there will be more things they cannot do, but if you take the responsibilities too soon it will age them even faster.  They may have a challenge, but you may be the one that disables them by always doing everything for them.

Over the years I have realized that everything I learn about a disability can be applied to all of us.  We all need to serve people and extend kindness to them but I often have to ask the question, "If I do this, am I helping them or hurting them?"  This question can also influence our own aging process.  If I hand off a task for someone else to do for me, I will most likely never return to doing the task on my own.  How will my independence be impacted by it?

Bill and I have been involved in the care of aging parents for the last fifteen years.  At times it has been heart-breaking.  At times it has been challenging.  Mostly, however, it has helped us prepare for my own aging.  Bill and I will soon be 55 and 57.  Hopefully, we have a lot of years left but we are doing everything we can to have our affairs in order, for our sakes as well as our children's.  It is like getting our homework done before we go out and play.  

For those of you over 50, here is the beginning of our "To Do List:"

Homework:

• Have a will prepared
• Have a living will prepared
• Make a retirement plan.  Minimize financial responsibilities as much as possible.
• Purge the house so there is not so much to take care of
• Write out your funeral plans
• Prepare a location for your will and other important documents and then tell your children/or loved one where it is
• Research and have a plan on how to keep your mind, body, and soul active and in good shape
• Write letters to your children and grandchildren, sharing your faith and encouraging them in theirs
• Make a list of things you want certain people to have
• Make sure you have a thriving relationship with God

Play:

• Prepare a bucket list
• Live out the bucket list
• Tell/show people how much you love them every day
• Share the hope you have in Christ with as many people as possible
• Have so much fun that people aren't afraid of aging.  They want to be enjoying life as much as you are!

If You Were A Mirror, What Would You Reflect?

For some time now I have found it amusing to listen to how people describe one another.  If you were to describe someone, how would you do it?  Would you talk about their hair color? Eye color? Height?  Weight?  Skin color?  Financial status?  Societal Status? Personality? Abilities or disabilities?

I think the way we describe someone is a reflection of our heart.  It reveals what is important to us.  It can reveal our perspective on people.  Once I had a child describe me as "having wild grey hair and cool clothes."  One of my personal favorites is, "She likes to play with God" which was written on a little balloon.  If you heard either of these descriptions you would instantly have a specific impression of me.  On the negative side you might heat someone describe me as "older and overweight."  A description like this one would give you another impression.

At times I like to mess with people a little bit when I am describing someone.  I like to leave out a defining detail that would make it easy for someone to locate an individual.  It makes you have to think, be a little more observant, and even get to know people.  If I describe a person only by their personality, for example, it makes it a little tougher.

In disability ministry trainings I have attended, I have often been told "to look at the person, not the wheelchair."  There are a number of things to ponder in that statement.  I guess over the years I have worked on training myself to look into the eyes first.  I do think so much about one's soul are revealed through the eyes.  I would much rather start with the eyes than the waistline, or clothes, or piercings.  For those with visual impairment, their souls are displayed just as powerfully in other ways.

For awhile I tried to not notice the disability at all but focus on other aspects of the person.  I think this is good but abilities and disabilities are a part of who we are.  Once we have a filter that allows us to see people as God sees them, we will be able to take in the whole person, created in God's image, with a powerful purpose, ordained by God.

If you were a mirror for someone else, what would you reflect?  Would you only choose the parts of them that you understood or mattered to you?  Or would you reflect the whole person knowing God has a plan and a purpose for every aspect of them?

As David Siek, a good friend, once told me, "Look Into Their Eyes."  Look into the eyes of a person first to find your description and then feel comfortable embracing all of them, abilities and disabilities, because God can use every part of us to show His glory and purpose.

Serving Together

On Tuesday I had the blessing of meeting with five amazing women that serve and lead in disability ministry.  Some of them direct ministries in mega churches and some of them in small churches but without a doubt, all of them are making a difference in the lives of families.

What I love about these women is the variety of personalities, strengths and weaknesses and expressions of faith.  Their ministries are different because they are different, as well as the circumstances they serve in.  What bonds them together is their faith in the Lord and their love for people of ALL abilities.

We are all ordinary women with a passion and a knowledge of the grace that God has bestowed on each of us.  Amazing things can happen when we come together to encourage and strengthen one another.

Mental Health First Aid

As a teacher I have had CPR/First Aid training every 3 years.  I am grateful for the training as I have had to use the skills I learned a few times.  One of the abilities I have acquired and found most helpful is the ability to stay calm, assess the situation and be able to help the other person stay calm.  

As a follow-up to the "Pathways to Hope" conference I recently attended, my brother suggested I take a course, "Mental Health First Aid."  My brother is a social worker and has worked in the area of mental health for many years and so has his wife.  They have been my "go to" people when I have had questions on mental health.

The "Mental Health First Aid" class was extremely helpful.  I would encourage everyone to take it just as I would encourage CPR/First Aid.  I have gained more knowledge about mental health issues.  I also have a greater empathy and compassion for people affected by it.  During the course you have the opportunity to experience some of the issues that can lead up to a mental health crisis.

Below is the link to the first aid course I attended:

http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/take-a-course/find-a-course/

Another great resource is:

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness | NAMI: The National ...

With these organizations you can either find a course for you to attend or you can arrange for a class to be taught at your church.

The best way to support a friend or family member struggling with a mental health challenge is to educate yourself and walk alongside them with support.  

Stop Whispering! The Stigma of Mental Illness

As I have shared before, I love words!  I love the sound of words.  I love the look of words on my walls.  I love the power of words.

Sometimes, however, words paralyze me because there are just so many I could share about an event in my life and I have no idea how to narrow them down.  Sometimes words just feel inadequate.

Words are inadequate for the last two days at the "Pathways to Hope" conference I attended.  The conference challenged my perspective and made me realize, once again, how limited my love can be.

I love the journey God has put me on in disability ministry but it is also overwhelming at times.  All I can see are my own shortcomings and lack of understanding.  Currently, I am attempting to devote 20% of my time to educate myself regarding the variety of challenges people have to face.  This month I chose to educate myself on mental illness.  I attended the "Pathways to Hope" conference this weekend and will be taking the course, "Mental Health First Aid" on Thursday.

There are many enlightenment's to share but one of the first realizations that struck me is how differently we respond to mental health issues compared to physical health issues.  When a friend is struck with a physical illness we respond with all kinds of help.  We deliver meals, help with the children, and help with chores around the house.  When someone is struggling with a mental health issue, we tend to back away.  I believe this response is due to a lack of knowledge and understanding, as well as fear.  A mental health crisis is not that different than a physical health crisis.  In the midst of it we need support, understanding, help, and an extra shot of hope.

Statistically, on any given day, 1 out of 5 people will struggle with a mental health issue.  Practically, that means that almost 200 of my Facebook friends are struggling today.  Most likely I will never know about their struggle because there is such a great stigma placed on mental illness.  They will feel alone which will only complicate their challenge.

To those that are struggling I hope you will begin to understand that you are not alone.  There are many people walking this journey.  Tell someone you trust and let them support you and help you get  help.  We all have our struggles and you never know which friend of yours may have walked this road before you did.  Let them use their journey to help you.

To those that are uncomfortable supporting someone with a mental illness, I encourage you to educate yourself.  Become familiar with mental illness and what you can do to support those suffering from it.  Don't shy away but offer to walk the road with them...pray for them, support them, encourage them, get them help, and offer them hope.

As I learned this weekend, cancer used to be whispered about and is now out in the open.  May mental illness no longer be something we whisper about.

Wounded or Refined

Sometimes life feels like a great battlefield and all you can see are the wounded, the destruction, the hopelessness, but today I am reminded that in the midst of that great battlefield there are areas that are left undamaged and are flourishing beautifully.

In every moment of every day we have a choice.  We can either see the destruction or the growth.  We can either see people as wounded or refined.  And the other choice we have is to see both.

At times in my life all I could see was the destruction and devastation.  I didn't look for the beauty that would rise up out of it.  At times in my life I have seen only the wounds and scars on a person's life and missed their refinement to become like Jesus.

Isaiah 61:1-3 has become one of my favorite passages over the last year because it shows both perspectives.  It is important to see the ashes, but always look for the crown of beauty to follow.

Isaiah 61:1-3New International Version (NIV)

The Year of the Lord’s Favor
61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

"She Is In Critical, Critical Condition"

I woke up early Monday morning to meet my daughter for coffee and pick up my granddaughter for the day.  I didn't bother to take a shower or anything because I was just going to come back home.   While I was waiting, the senior living facility where my mom lives called me.  You know it probably isn't good news when they call you at 7:30 in the morning.

The conversation started with, "Deana, we found your mom unconscious in the shower this morning. Her body was covering the drain and she was face down in the water."  Then I heard, "Hello, this is EMS.  We are with your mother and we have a good team of people working on her.  Do we have your permission to put in a ventilator?  She is in critical, critical condition."  

I told them, "Of course they could."  By this time I was starting to shake because I couldn't believe mom was drowning in a shower.  EMS asked me what hospital she preferred.  I told them and they said, "Oh no mam, she has to go to a trauma center."

I called Bill because I couldn't think straight at this point.  I needed to wait for my granddaughter but I wondered if I only had a few minutes to see my mom alive.  I told myself to take a few minutes to calm down.  I kept thinking, "Mom will be so upset with me if I have an accident on the way over."

When I arrived at the ER I was greeted with, "We don't know how long she was without oxygen."  All kinds of scenarios were playing in my head.  I was thinking through her directives in my mind.  Do I really remember all of her wishes depending on different scenarios?  I could need to give a  decision at any moment.  I thought I knew her wishes but I contacted my friends to see if they could go in my house and e-mail me a copy of her directives.  There were so many decisions to be made.  The nurses had all kinds of questions for me to answer.  I kept trying to push away the memories of other traumas we had experienced at this hospital in the past.

I was so thankful to have Bill by my side taking phone calls, answering texts, and listening to reports.  Soon my oldest brother and my sister-in-law arrived.  I was so thankful to have them and their input.  One of their dear friends, a nurse, was there as well.  She was invaluable in helping me understand what was going on.

Four days ago I was looking at my mom who was unresponsive, on a ventilator, with signs of a possible hear attack, water in her lungs, an infection, and blood pouring out her ear.  Now she is out of ICU and only has a few bruises and a ruptured eardrum!  Unbelievable!

Today I questioned if I made it worse than it really was. I was recently told by one of the first responders, however, they thought Mom had died.  The police were on the scene and so was the coroner.  

So, why do I share this on a special needs blog?  I think it is relatable for a number of reasons.  I have learned invaluable lessons from the last four days.

• Never take your loved ones for granted!  They can be gone in a five minute phone call.
• Many of us keep the suffering some families affected by disabilities endure at arm's length.  If it is too close to us, we have to walk through the suffering with them and we have to acknowledge that at any moment, it could be a challenge in our lives.  Embrace them.  Love them.
• We can't be afraid of discussing and putting our affairs (and those of our parent's) in order.  It is hard to talk about, but once we have them in order, we can all take a sigh of relief.  
• Never take any day for granted.  We don't know how many we have.
• When things get tough, hold on to Jesus even tighter!

I am so grateful for the staff at Highland Estates.  They saved my mother's life.  I am thankful for the drops of water leaking from my mom's floor through the ceiling below.  She would have died if no one had reported them.  I am thankful for EMS and the great lengths and sacrifices they make to save someone's life.  I am thankful for Momma and that I can still see her... listen to her...be with her.  Most of all, I am thankful for God who remains by my side no matter how hard the trial is ahead of me.

We are excited about going to Denver ("home") to share our love and passion, disability ministry.  We would love to have you join us! Please visit our website, www.gracewithoutmargins.com to learn more about the training and register.  We would love to have you join us!

                                 

In The Margins

Life in the margins.  I don't even begin to think that I can truly understand the pain of being in the margins as someone with a disability, as someone that has a past that continues to follow them, or as someone that is labeled as different than the current perception of perfection.  I do, however, know the loneliness of the margins of my own particular story.

The fabric was corduroy and it was lined with another fabric.  It was big.  It was bulky.  It was heavy but that was what I chose to wear at school everyday because it was big enough to hide behind.  I had a wonderful childhood.  My mother encouraged me to believe in myself and know I had the ability to accomplish whatever I wanted.  My father gave me the fairy tale relationship that every little girl dreams of...he treated me like a princess and told me I was beautiful on a daily basis.  Those were beautiful relationships but there was a time in my life that I let the voices outside my home be louder and I found safety behind a big bulky coat.

In the dark trials of my life, the margins I lived in seemed wider and farther away from the center of life.  I lived in those margins because I wanted to be in control of other people's perceptions of me.  I didn't want to burden anyone and I guess I knew that eventually those trials would come to a close.  The margins would narrow until I was in the mainstream again.

I am grateful for the "margin healers" that would wander onto my path.  To the third grade teacher that got me out of that silly coat, I am forever grateful.  In fact I looked her up 35 years later and drove to Dallas to thank her.

I am also thankful for the few people I have let into my struggles.  They walked the margins with me because they were going through their own pain, or in some way, were familiar with the walk of the margins.

I have been working on a training in which I will share my story and I am asking dear friends of mine to share theirs as well.  At times I feel like I am being unfair to myself and to them, yet it is in the margins of our own story that we can truly rely on and grow in our faith.

The other day I asked my sweet little grandson if he has asked Jesus to live in his heart and he said, "Oh yes!"  He then asked how you get someone else to want Jesus to live in theirs.  I told him to pray every day for them and to keep walking the road he is on.  People will see your faith.  People will see your joy.  You just have to keep walking and always be ready to stop and listen.

At different times in our lives we may find ourselves in the margins, sometimes because we have chosen to be there, sometimes to be a "margin healer" and sometimes to be reminded of where we  came from.  The loneliness of the margins can also be healing...like sitting on the rocks and watching the ocean waves come in.  It is there that you can see the wonder and the power of God.

Walk The Road With Them

Oh I try not to take anything for granted but today I am especially aware of all of my blessings.  This morning I was able to hold my new grandson and just marvel at the beautiful miracle he is.  I was able to spend the afternoon and evening "walking the road" with my older grandchildren who are so precious to me.

When I was a little girl I remember going to my grandmother's house in the summer.  We would go to bed early and I would fall asleep listening to her tell me stories in bed.  We would get up early in the morning, before the sun was even up, to get ready to go to work.  My grandmother worked in a flower shop and it was an honor to get up early and go with her.

She would share so many things about life with me as we would wrap stems, arrange flowers, and help customers.  I found out many years later that she would get up even earlier than I knew about to pray for all of her children, grandchildren, and eventually, great-grandchildren.  Grandma "walked the road" with me.

I remember in high school, leaving my house just before 6:00 in the evening to meet my dad at the bus stop so I could walk the rest of the way home with him.  He would share stories with me about people with disabilities that wanted and needed jobs but employers just looked at their limitations rather than their gifts and talents.  He taught me how to come up with "reasonable accommodations" so they could be employed and share those gifts.  Dad "walked the road" with me.

I certainly tried to walk the road with my children and I enjoy it even more now having adult children.  We have so many interests and aspirations that are similar.  When I walk the road with my grandchildren it is like lying in the grass looking at the moon and the stars and dreaming of all kinds of amazing things.  I love sharing about life and people with them and seeing the legacy of their ancestors playing out in their hearts.

We have the wonderful opportunity to teach our children about love and not hate, grace and not judgment, inclusion and not separation.  All we have to do is "walk the road" with them.


Deuteronomy 6:4-9New International Version (NIV)

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Retirement

It has been a little over a month since I packed up my classroom and home for the last 11 years.  It was especially hard when I dropped by the school and saw that "The Castle Classroom" no longer exists.

Whenever I run into an old friend the first question is usually, "So, how is retirement?"  For the most part, it is wonderful!  Oh I can cry a river if I stop to think about all of the amazing kids I will miss and that I will no longer be my granddaughter's teacher.  The vacuum left in my social life is rather troubling I must say.  I have however, loved traveling to Denver, playing with my grandchildren, welcoming a new grandchild, and being able to keep my house a little cleaner.

I have also loved spending more time with God and asking more questions about what His plans are for me.  When I think about all the adventures God has sent me on in the past and the ones I can imagine for the future, it gives me shivers.  I love imagining with God.  I love trusting Him with the future because there have been times that I haven't.  I love learning new things and I love sharing my passion for such an important group of people.

Retirement...well, the very definition requires that I cease working and that is definitely not part of my plans.  God started laying out exciting opportunities within 24 hours of closing my classroom door.

I would love to walk this journey with you.  I am humbled by the possibilities but also excited about them.  I would love for you to visit our website that I have been spending my creative juices on and have you share what you feel needs to be happening in special needs education and ministry training.  We have a number of events coming up and I would love to be blessed by your ideas!  Visit us at www.gracewithoutmargins.com.  We would love to hear from you!  I will be posting training opportunities in the next couple of weeks so drop by often.

Deana

In honor of Kimberly

When you serve in ministry there are situations you know will eventually happen.  You keep them in the back of your mind but you try not to focus on them.  

Today marks a sobering reality of disability ministry, the loss of a friend affected by a disability.  We all know that 100% of us will pass from this life but it doesn't soften the blow.  This morning the realities of this life are hitting me hard as I prepare to go to a memorial service of one of the first children I came to know in special needs ministry.  It is with a heavy heart that we say good-bye today...

Even though I am sad, I am joyful about so many things.  Kimberly now knows all the mysteries of heaven. She is looking into the eyes of her Savior.  She can verbally communicate all of the scriptural truths that friends shared with her along the way.  She no longer has the fears of another seizure or the heartache of not being understood.  I know she is overflowing with joy today!

As I think about Kimberly today, I am so thankful for the multitudes of people that supported her.  Her mom and dad have been inspirational in giving Kimberly a voice.  They continually educated themselves on the best way to help her communicate and share her talents so much so that Kimberly's poems and artwork were published and her story was told.  Her story will be read and her story will be remembered.

Kimberly also had such supportive brothers and sister-in-laws.  I love reading the letters and tributes to their sister.  The depth of their love is a testimony to all of us.  Kim had numerous friends at church, at BIG, and all of the other ministries she frequented.  She had a caregiver, and more importantly friend, walk the road with her for many years.  Kimberly was loved, valued, and known.  

Kimberly Dixon's heart and talents are beautifully displayed in her book, Under the Silience is Me-How It Feels to be Nonverbal.  May the impact of her life be felt around the world today.

Disability Ministry Training in Denver

Every year after school is out I buy a plane ticket and head "home" to Colorado.  I love to sit on top of a mountain and process the year.  This year I have the added blessing of sharing my passion for disability ministry with several churches while I am there.  I will be sharing with Faith Chapel next week and the church I group up in, St. James Presbyterian.  I will also be meeting with a few other churches to share about, Grace Without Margins.

If you live in the Denver area and are interested in learning more about Grace Without Margins and our training sessions on disability ministry, I would love to hear from you!  We are currently offering the following workshops:

Grace Without Margins
How To Start A Disability Ministry
B.U.D.D.Y. Training I
B.U.D.D.Y. Training II
Dementia and Aging

You can learn more about our trainings on our website, gracewithoutmargins.com.


  

I have wanted to share a blog post for the last several weeks but I just don't even have the words for the blessings God has shared with me.  First of all, the fund-raiser for "Wheels For the World" was mind-blowing.  I was so sad to have this year be my last one, at least in this venue, but God blew it out of the water.  Then I was sad because I wanted to figure out a way for wheelchairs to be continually collected and God provided for that as well.  Our friend Carlos will be keeping them in great supply.

My husband's job was up in the air for several months and I had given notice on my teaching position.  It just seemed natural to question my decision but I felt like God was saying, "Do you trust me?"  Soon after Bill was given a position and bonus that covered me.  

And to top it all off, some great parents and friends threw a retirement party for me and invited so many of my students over the years.  Many of them are six feet tall now but they took the time to come share an evening with me.  I am so touched and so grateful!

Today a door is closing.  Today I was given a photo book with the title, "Mrs. Boggess' Last Bridge Class."  The word "last" hit me hard.  It feels so final.  I am leaving a job I have loved for eleven years to take on a totally different journey.  I had planned to take a couple of weeks off but God went ahead and planned the opportunity to share my passion for disability ministry in Denver to several churches.  So much for retirement.  I think we are going to be very busy!

I am so grateful for the encouragement over the last several months!  I am grateful God lets me come along for the ride and I am also grateful for my friends that are always such an encouragement.  Thank you for sharing the journey with me!

God offers me the opportunity to watch a beautiful sunrise or sunset every single day and then one day He says, "Come with me and let me show you something else that is beautiful."  I have learned over the years to not miss it, to trust Him, and I am trying to learn not to underestimate Him.  

Nine years ago I felt God tugging at my heart to share my passion for people affected by a disability with my students.  My understanding of what God wanted was so small then.  For four years we raised enough money to refurbish one wheelchair.

Then I was introduced to one of my now favorite writers, Andy Andrews and I read his books, The Boy Who Changed the World and The Butterfly Effect.  In the middle of the night, God revealed to me that I needed to help parents understand how to be a friend to someone with a disability and to understand the benefits of letting their children sacrifice and work hard for our fund-raiser.  I needed to hang up a butterfly for every single dollar the kids raised so they could understand the impact.

At the same time God gave one of my parents and best friends, Marti Smith, a vision.  She came up with having a "Market Day" to raise money for the wheelchairs and to have the kids make and sell crafts and snacks.  That year the class raised over $3,000 and every class since then has raised around $3,000.

Another four years have passed and the kids have raised over $15,000!  To think that 135 five year-old children can do that is unbelievable but with God there are no limits.  That was amazing enough but God also let over 180 actual wheelchairs be collected this year.  I feel like God grabbed my hand and took me to the top of a mountain and said, "I want you to see things from my point of you.  This is what I can do!"

My point in sharing all of this is to give God all of the glory for the things He has done.  All we have to do is say, "YES," and then watch God.  The hard thing is I know I will doubt Him again, but I am really trying not to.  It is so hard to imagine the things God can do!  Ephesians 3:20 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."

I want to close with a beautiful story that God allowed me to watch.  I hope it inspires you to take the journey God has placed on your heart.  Here is the link:

http://keyetv.com/news/local/cool-at-school-first-foundations-preschool-students-raise-money-to-repair-wheelchairs

Day 19: The Celebration!

The day started with prayer.  It was going to be a big day celebrating the efforts and sacrifices of fifteen incredibly cute and amazing five year-olds.  With so many components to the day, it had to be placed in God's hands.

Joni and Friends Area Director, Eric Jones, and Wheels For the World Director, Mary Grace Rushing, had been all over Texas collecting wheelchairs that had been donated.  They loaded wheelchairs and drove until 12:30 at night and then came to my house early the next morning to load another 50 chairs.  Despite the collapsed supports and pouring down rain, they had smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts because they knew what the wheelchairs would mean to their recipients.  

As for myself, I helped Eric and Mary Grace get set up for loading and I left to pick up balloons and head to the school.  A camera crew would be at the school in 45 minutes to interview the kids.  I had a number of minor "hiccups" to overcome.  The balloons weren't ready and my phone and computer would not accept e-mails or texts as I was trying to coordinate people.  I arrived at the school a couple of minutes before the camera crew and they arrived a couple of minutes before the Wheels For the World truck.

As we brought the kids out to see the truck loaded with wheelchairs, their jaws dropped and their faces lit up.  They couldn't believe there were so many.  The camera crew took shots of the kids in the truck with the wheelchairs and then went into a quiet room to interview some of the kids about the fundraiser.  As I watched the kids go in and out of the room I thought about all of the moments I wish the camera crew could have caught.  There would be no way to capture just how amazing the kids are.

It was finally time for the celebration!  The room was swarmed with butterflies, each representing a dollar that a child had raised.  About 100 children filled the room, along with parents, friends, teachers, and friends from Joni and Friends.  A slide show was playing, the treats were ready, the awards were ready, and now it was time to talk about one of my favorite subjects, kids!

Steffani Wilkins, Director of First Foundations Preschool opened the celebration by thanking the children and thanking God for the success of the fundraiser.  The children sang and signed the song, "It's A Beautiful Day."  I reminded the children of the book we started the unit with, The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews.  As molecules are moved by the flapping of butterfly wings, more molecules are moved until the movement of the butterfly wings can be felt around the world.  I told the children those movements had been felt across the United States and in Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Poland, China and the Ukraine as people have read their story.

We talked about the book, The Boy Who Changed the World,  also written by Andy Andrews.  The children had changed the world by saying "yes" to God.  I went through the long line of people before them that had to say "yes" to God or none of it could have happened.  Ultimately, it was God who originated and planned it all!

Throughout the fundraiser the children were asking family and friends to donate so wheelchairs could be collected, refurbished, and delivered to those in need around the world.  They came up with great ideas of products to sell.  They gave up their piggy banks and tooth fairy money to add to the total.  Their parents gave sacrificially so all of their great ideas could come to fruition.

One of the kids had another idea.  His father is Sr. VP of Business Development for MediLogix and his son asked him if he could get some wheelchairs together. His father shared the idea and in a few short weeks he had almost 170 wheelchairs promised to Wheels For the World.  Carlos shared his son's vision and a great number of people responded with support, including Nexion Health Management, Inc. and Creative Solutions in Healthcare.  At the celebration he also presented a brand new wheelchair that MediLogix had donated.  The children had no idea how many wheelchairs had been donated until we shouted and counted to 150.  This number doesn't include the wheelchairs that have not been picked up yet!

We then had a series of drum rolls as the kids anticipated how much money had been raised.  $1,000...$1,500....$2,000....$2,500 until we landed on the number of $3,150!!  The children, along with the support of some amazing parents, had raised over $3,000!

The Celebration was bittersweet for me since I will not be teaching in this way next year.  I have loved this journey and God has continually surprised me.  He sure let this last year end with a bang!!
The children in the Bridge Class have been able to raise over $15,000 for Joni and Friends over the years, and more importantly, 135 children have developed a love and compassion for all kinds of friends, regardless of their abilities and disabilities.  I feel humbled and blessed to have been able to be part of such a beautiful experience!

Day 18: A Calming Presence

We have had so many great guests over the last month in our Bridge Class.  They have touched us in a variety of ways.  Today we had a visit from a therapist, Callie the therapy dog.

Callie is trained to snuggle up to children as they struggle to learn to read or become better readers.  She provides a calm, safe, and encouraging place for them to grow in their skills.  My students, of course, enjoyed having an animal in our classroom.  They loved watching her and petting her soft fur.

What touched me, however, was how simple and profound her presence was with the children.  Callie doesn't need to say just the right words, she doesn't need to teach anything, she has no judgment or criticism, she just unconditionally loves and supports. The same was true of her owner.  I told Jan, Callie's owner, I felt as though I had spent time on a counselor's sofa, relaxed in a steam room, and had a massage in the last thirty minutes!  Both Callie and Jan, are so calming.

Sometimes all we need to be is a calming and accepting presence with a friend, no matter what their challenge is.  I feel more and more convicted that we need to let go of our fears and insecurities about supporting people with different struggles than our own and just be present to listen, to love, and to support.

Day 17: Moving Into Friendship

One of my precious moms shared her heart with the kids and helped them reach one of the most important phases of "How To Be A Friend To Someone With a Disability."  Three weeks ago they had questions and even some fear towards people with disabilities.  Then they had to work through some feelings of pity and now they are moving into a phase of friendship.

When my mom shared about her youngest son she was honest about his challenges but also shared how to work through them.  Her older son, one of my students, modeled how to be a supportive and loving brother by sharing his understanding of his brother's disabilities.

A day later and things are different.  The kids treated her son like a little rock star when he came into the room.  They gathered around him to play with him.  Their fears were gone, their questions had been answered and they weren't so afraid of hurting him...they just loved him.

Days 15 and 16: Market Days!

On Monday we had our first "Market Day."  The kids were so excited to set up their little booths at school.  They were proud of the creations they were selling but what I loved was hearing them share WHY they were selling them.  They had so much enthusiasm and excitement!  They were also so supportive of each other.  The money circled the room as they purchased from each other!

On Tuesday, we had our second "Market Day."  The kids had even more support from the parents of other students, as well as the staff.  In our society today, we don't really carry cash on us so people were a little more prepared on the second day.  I loved watching the other teachers come up to the kids and congratulate them on their hard work.  

In class, we learned about Autism.  The children learned a few things about the brain and why people may react differently to situations.  The also learned how to be a good friend to someone affected by Autism.  I don't even have to tell them much anymore because they come up with the answers themselves!

We also had a highly respected occupational therapist visit our classroom.  She shared about children with sensory processing disorders and then let them experience some of the things they do.  The OT touched on a variety of senses and how they may be impaired.  Children are amazing because you can see the shift in perspectives on their faces as you are talking. 

I know God has a plan for me but I have to say, I am really going to miss teaching kids!

Day 14: All It Takes Is A Little Innovation!

On  Day 14 we talked about one of my heroes that is both deaf and blind, Helen Keller.  I love the "water" scene in the older movie about Helen Keller with Patty Duke as Helen.  It is a little eye-opening for five year-olds, but we quickly moved to the excitement of watching Helen learn a way to communicate and open up her world.  The kids tried signing in each other's hands.  It wasn't quite as easy as they thought it would be!

Later in the morning one of my sweet friends came to share her wonderful business with us, "Katie's Snack Cart."  I met Katie when she was two and now she is a beautiful woman in her early 20's.  Katie was born with a developmental delay and an intellectual  impairment.  Katie loves life and uses her talents to serve quality and healthy snacks to a variety of businesses.  Her mother, Wendy, is an innovative and supportive president of Katie's Cart.  They both work together as a beautiful mother/daugther team!

Days 13: Tips For Easter Dinner!

On Day 13 we talked about how to be a good friend to those with a hearing impairment. I asked the children how many of them had grandparents that have a difficult time hearing and almost half of them raised their hand. I passed out cards that my husband and I have made to help grandchildren and grandparents communicate better. It was fun listening to their stories about family gatherings and the little differences they can make to ensure everyone feels included. I hope they practice some of the strategies over Easter dinner this year!

Communicating With Your

Hard-of-Hearing Grandparents

• If you notice your grandparents off to themselves and not involved in the family conversation, go talk to them.
• Always be in the same room with your grandparents when you are speaking to them.
• Get the attention of your grandparents first before communicating.  Call their name or gently tap their shoulder.  
• Look at your grandparents face-to-face while speaking to them.
• Do not cover your mouth, chew gum, or turn away while you are speaking.
• Speak clearly and slowly.
• If your grandparents cannot understand you, choose different words with the same meaning.
• Eliminate as many distractions as you can.
• Use language they are familiar with using.  Do not use slang.
• Always be patient, loving, and willing to repeat what you said so your grandparents can be part of your conversation.

And now for the grandparents...

Communicating With Your

Grandchildren

• Make sure you are in close proximity to your grandchildren.
• If you cannot sit on the floor with your grandchildren, move to a table and chairs so you can sit close to each other.
• Eliminate as much background noise as possible.
• Remind your grandchildren to look at you while they are speaking.
• Do not pretend you understand what they just said.  If needed, have your grandchildren rephrase what they said.
• Praise your grandchildren when they have communicated well with you and tell them how much you enjoyed your time with them.
• Answer their questions about hearing loss.  Explain how the ear works and what has hindered your ears from working properly.
• Learn some sign language together and you can send your own secret messages at the dinner table!
• Just for fun, watch one of your favorite shows with closed captioning.
• Affirm your grandchildren for taking the time to include you.

Day 12: Sign Language Lessons

Today we continued our discussion on hearing impairment.  Two wonderful guest speakers came today to share with my students.  The first guest was my husband Bill.  Bill is an audiologist and explained the anatomy and function of the outer and inner ear and passed around a model of the ear as he spoke.  He started off by using the following you tube video:

"How Your Ears Work"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMXoHKwWmU8

Bill then talked about different types of hearing loss and used this video:

Hearing Loss Simulation - Hear the World Song

This video gives you a good feel for different types and levels of hearing loss.
Bill concluded by asking the children if they had any questions about hearing impairment.
Several of the children wanted to know how hearing aids work and proceeded to share stories
of what their younger siblings had stuck in their ears.  It is funny where their little minds can go :)
After Bill spoke a good friend, who is a sign language interpreter, came to share with the
children.  She signed everything she talked about and taught the children a number of signs.
She shared a video of the school for the deaf that she works for in Haiti.  Mrs. Dard has a
huge heart for the hearing impaired and deaf communities.  She was such a wonderful ex-
ample for the children.  She finished the morning with signing, "Let It Go."  The girls, in
particular, loved it!

Day 11: Lessons on Hearing Impairment

While I was home with my hubby helping him recover from surgery, my sweet students were working hard.  I know they had some good times playing over Spring Break, but they also were working and sacrificing for other kids.  My butterfly box was full of Ziploc bags this morning.  Each little baggie contained dollars and coins, as well as wonderful stories.  

The kids are always so proud to come in and show me the money they have raised.  They also enjoy telling the other children about what they did to earn the money.  One little boy really touched me when he stood up and shared how he had raised almost $200.  That is the first time in the seven months I have known him that he stood up in front of the class with his head held high, his voice loud enough for us to hear him, and an enormous smile on his face.  It was powerful to see what his sacrifice meant to him!

We spent the first part of our day writing names on butterflies for every dollar that had been raised, swarming our little fundraisers with butterflies and then hanging them on the wall.  Fifteen five and six year-olds have raised over $1,000 in just three weeks!!  This is enough for six wheelchairs!

We continued our unit on disabilities by learning about hearing impairment.  As we started our lesson I put a pair of ear protection domes on one of my students.  They would each take a turn experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss.  They were all anxious to try them but were also grateful to take them off!

We talked about a variety of accommodation strategies for the hearing impaired including:

• hearing aids
• cochlear implants
• speech therapy
• lip reading
• flashing lights
• vibration
• closed captioning

We passed four hearing aids around with each hearing aid getting smaller.  We talked about how you can barely see them now and can even buy disposable hearing aids, similar to using contacts for the eyes.  In addition, the children were able to see a representation of the cochlea or inner ear.

We concluded our lessons by watching, "Signing Time."  The kids have already been exposed to about 50 signs in just two class days.

Day 10: Fund-raising Is Fun!

Day 10 was a day of review.  I had a little quiz for the kids on how to be polite to those with a physical disability and a visual impairment.  I was amazed by how much the kids remembered!  We followed the quiz by reading, You've Got A Friend, by Joni Eareckson Tada.

I spent the morning interviewing and videoing the kids as I asked them questions about disabilities.  I look forward to sharing the videos with the parents of my students!  They are so insightful and incredibly cute!

The students have gradually brought in money and love to stand up and share with the class how they raised it.  They also shared what they will be doing over Spring Break to raise money.  They have come up with some very clever ideas!  I am looking forward to Monday and all of the excitement and enthusiasm they will have as they bring in their little bags of money!

Day 9: Congratulations, kids!

Yesterday we had a larger view of what it would be like to be completely blind and today we brought it down to a fine motor skill view of what it would be like.  My aide and co-teacher filled a box with about 45 items and the kids had to keep their eyes closed as they pulled an item out of an enclosed box.  They were given three tries to guess what the item was.  The hardest item was a glue stick apparently.  The activity broke the ice for the rest of the morning on visual impairment.

I handed each of the children a piece of construction paper with two windows in it.  In the top window was a piece of wax paper and in the bottom window was a piece of wax paper with a hole in the middle of it.  The children looked through the windows to see what it is like to have vision that is severely blurred vs. tunnel vision.  Afterwards the children looked through cards that showed what your vision is like when you have glaucoma, diabetes retinopathy, or cataracts.  They all came out of the exercise with a greater appreciation for their ability to see.

The next segment of our morning was learning about some very talented people that happen to be blind.  We listened to the amazing talents of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder!

I am so proud of the kids as they continually bring in money for the wheelchairs.  They have already raised enough money for two wheelchairs and I know their little heads are spinning with ideas!!  They never cease to amaze me!

Day 8: From the Mouths of Babes!

Today we learned about how to be polite to someone with a visual impairment.  I loved the look of shock and then laughter as I pretended to talk to someone that is blind in a very loud voice.  I told them how funny it is but adults do it all the time!  The kids already knew that you don't need to speak loudly to someone that is blind because they can hear, they just can't see.  We did a number of exaggerated role play exercises and the kids left the day with a new understanding.  

We read the story from John 9:1-12 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Three of the children in the class have moms that are expecting babies.  They knew the babies cannot sin in the womb.  God would use this to show His power!

We had great discussions during our class time but one of my favorite things happened first thing in the morning.  One of the moms shared a precious story with me.  Her daughter had been playing with her four little mermaids and suddenly ran off to retrieve a mermaid she had bought from a dollar store.  This mermaid was missing an arm.  She brought the mermaid with the missing arm to the other mermaids to play.  She said, "She just has a disability, there is nothing wrong with her."

This story was so powerful to me.  This little girl is only five and she is already beginning to understand what may take a lifetime for the rest of us...everyone is valuable!!  She now sees the mermaid first, not the disability.

Day 7: Visual Impairment

A lady with a gentle and tender soul came in to share with my kids today.  She has been a kindergarten teacher for the last twenty years and now stays home with her sweet baby boy.  She is beautiful, talented, smart, and very compassionate.

She was also born without one of her eyes and had to have some other surgeries as a result of her disabilities.  She shared with the children about the limitations of the eye she does have and shared about the artificial eye that was made for her.  She went to a school for the blind as a child because doctors believed she would no longer have any sight by the time she became a teenager.  She learned to read Braille in preparation for blindness.

I loved how she explained everything to the kids but even in the midst of the difficulties she had hope.  She also had the courage to do whatever God asked her to no matter how challenging it was or even frightening.  The kids were spellbound as she shared about taking her students on a field trip to Interspace Caverns when she is uncomfortable with being in the dark and has depth perception problems.  Making her way through the cave was difficult. She also lead a hike through some higher elevations but she had God by her side to give her strength.

The children were told about tools someone with a visual impairment can use to help them such as a magnifying glass, a cane, and a seeing-eye dog.  By the time she left she was a new friend and we all had a better understanding of what it would be like to live with a visual impairment.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5,6

Day 6: Amazing People

It is difficult to document all of the lessons learned in the classroom and the great conversations that follow.  The kids truly are like little sponges as they have learned about a variety of people.  We started off the day watching a video about Joni Eareckson Tada and the summer she dived into shallow water and broke her neck.  She has been affected by quadriplegia ever sense.  The kids already know how the Lord has used her talents, drive, and platform to reach so many people that had lost their hope.

We read the story of Mephiboseth from the book of Luke.  Mephiboseth was in line to be the next king but people didn't feel he was fit to be a king because he had lost the use of his legs as a young boy.  He was also banished from the palace because of his disability.

King David reached out to Mephiboseth, however, and not only welcomed him to the palace but gave him a seat at this table.  He made sure that all of Mephiboseth's needs were met.  As a result of King David's actions and kindness, other people started to treat Mephiboseth well and his life was changed forever.  I have seen this happen in churches as well.  Once the pastor has a friendship with those with a disability, people in the congregation will begin to as well.

The kids were also introduced to one of my other heroes, Nick Vujicic.  What an inspiration he is.  Nick travels all over the world sharing his faith and encouraging teens.  Nick has no arms and no legs but can swim and skateboard and a multitude of other things.  The kids laughed at his stories and his great sense of humor and loved him before the video was over.  When Nick showed them how he gives a hug, they all wanted to try it and closed the day giving each other "Nick hugs."

As the day came to a close we recited our Bible verse for the week, 

"A new command I give you; love one another.  As I have loved you so must you love one another." 

John 13:34

From No Limbs To No Limits - Nick Vujicic - YouTube

▶ 1:10:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLyHdjEdtus