Grace Without Margins: Our Story

We have been working on this story for over 30 years together.  Bill and I are so grateful for all of the lessons we have learned along the way and for the numerous people that encouraged and helped us grow.  We are so glad we opened our hands and our hearts to God so many years ago.  We would have missed some amazing people if we hadn't.

We hope our story will encourage you to look for God's path and direction, as well as help you see others and yourself a little differently.  Bill and I had nothing special to offer and we made a lot of mistakes.  As they say, God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called.

Blessings on you and whatever ministry God has called you to...

Bill and Deana

Grace Without Margins: Our Story

Deana Boggess

• 8 hours ago
• 14 views

This video is about our journey in special needs ministry.

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Coming Soon...

We are excited and anxious to roll out Grace Without Margins 2017.  Today we want to share "Our Purpose" with you and soon you will be able to view "Our Story."

We hope you will join us as we prepare to offer

 disability ministry trainings online this spring!

Grace Without Margins: Our Purpose - YouTube

▶ 0:32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLF6WiFOkvI

2 mins ago - Uploaded by Deana Boggess

We are excited and anxious to roll out Grace Without Margins 2017. Today we want to share "Our Purpose ...

Keeping the Dream Possible

My dad has been gone for 14 years now, but not a day goes by without thinking about him.  One of his favorite songs was, "The Impossible Dream."  Whenever I want to feel near him I play this song.  This morning I listened to it 8 times.

The song reminds me of the great quest for equality, justice, and respect for human life that Dad fought so hard for.  He never gave up, even when he was exhausted.

Lately I feel burdened by the lack of compassion in our world.  People are continually judged and treated in accordance to the country they were born in, by the color of their skin, by their religion, and by their abilities, to name a few.  Sometimes the dream of kindness and compassion feels very unreachable.

This morning I was telling my youngest daughter about "The Impossible Dream" and how much it means to me.  It gives me hope and reminds me of the battles that have been fought and won.  I love the fight I see in my daughters but today I am reminded that I have to share things like this song and the foes of the past that have been fought.  They need the hope of knowing that dreams can be reached and the battle is worth fighting for.

The Impossible Dream
Luther Vandross

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
And to run where
The brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
And to love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march,
March into hell
For that heavenly cause
And I know
If I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart
Will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be
Better for this
That one man, scorned
And covered with scars,
Still strove with his last
Ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable,
The unreachable,
The unreachable star
And I'll always dream
The impossible dream
Yes, and I'll reach
The unreachable star
Songwriters: Joe Darion / Mitchell Leigh
The Impossible Dream lyrics © Helena Music Company

The Gift of Mobility

Over the years I have asked a number of friends of mine to tell me what it feels like to be in a wheelchair.  What are the helpful things people do?  What are the things people do that hurt?  How do children respond vs. adults?  I have been grateful for their honesty and the understanding I have learned from them.

I have loved reading about a variety of ministries around the world.  Joni and Friends has a great ministry collecting, refurbishing, and then distributing wheelchairs around the world.  I have heard of several organizations that provide wheelchair kits that can be sent around the world.  There are even all terrain wheelchairs being made to increase mobility in remote areas.  Below I have pasted a link to an article that shares what is happening in terms of technology and its advancements.  3D printers producing wheelchairs, what an accomplishment!

http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/24/technology/3d-printed-wheelchair-benjamin-hubert-layer/

Far too often we think about the hinderance of a wheelchair rather than the gift of mobility it provides.  Can you imagine needing the assistance of a wheelchair and all of the activities it would allow you to do if you had one?  With a wheelchair you are able to play sports, be and play outside, attend school, church and numerous other activities.

If you have a wheelchair you can donate and you live in the Austin area, I would love to hear from you.  I will make sure it will be delivered to someone who's life will be blessed. www.theboggi@aim.com.

Checklists, Goals, and Bucket Lists

One of my gifts for Christmas this year was a little brown book titled, "My Ultimate Bucket List."  I love making lists, setting goals, and adding to my bucket list every year.  In fact, it is the first thing I do every January. I always have my lists checked off, I usually have reached my goals from the year before, but most often it takes years before I scratch something off my bucket list.

Last week, however, I was able to scratch something off my bucket list that I will treasure for years to come.  I was able to visit the International Disability Center and actually meet the very people I have looked up to for years at Joni and Friends.  My visit and my time with them was incredible.  I will post a few pictures but they can't even touch the surface of how powerful the message is the minute you walk in the IDC building.  I will never be able to communicate how much respect I have for the staff at Joni and Friends.  I am just a volunteer and yet was greeted by every staff member and enthusiastically thanked for being part of the ministry.

I met so many great people that love the Lord and the people God puts in their path.  I have never spent time with a group of people that love their neighbor more than they do.  They are humble.  They are excited.  They are full of joy.

I am still on a journey to determine what God is calling me to do for the next 20 years but I couldn't have better people walking this journey with me.  Thank you, Eric Jones! You made this happen and have been a great leader to follow.

Every Little Girl Needs An Aunt Judy

Yesterday was a really hard day for me.   I think very few people can understand how hard it was for me to loose one of the most important women in my life.

I was around four years-old when Judy came into my life.  She was married to my uncle earlier but she became part of my life as they divorced.  Judy was a beautiful lady in every sense of the word.  She had the prettiest, softest skin, she was both gracious and graceful, and she was very stylish.  As a five year-old I loved to watch her put on make-up and put "Dippity Doo" in her hair.  

While we lived in Washington, D.C. at the same time, she would take me to see musicals and she cultivated my love for Julie Andrews through "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins."  We stayed in touch over the years even though we no longer lived in the same city.  I would send her letters and she would send me letters with pictures of her family.  It was impressive to watch her develop her career and then develop her family.  

When I was 18 I saved up enough money to visit her in D.C.  It was great seeing her so happy and I loved watching her as a young mom.  We talked about all of the ups and downs of life and shared many special moments.  We concluded my time with her taking me to see "A Chorus Line."

Judy and I continued to stay in touch.  I shared all of the big events of my life with her, the blessings and the challenges.  She was always a good listener and encourager.  She supported me through college, marriage, raising my children, and through developing and pursuing my dreams.

When my father died my mother graciously gave us some money to spend however we wanted to.  I wanted to give our children the experience of Washington, D.C.  My children were 13 and 16 and I wanted them to love the city as much as I did.  When I was planning the trip Judy offered for us to stay with her and her husband.  I wanted my girls to know Judy as much as Washington.  They instantly loved her.

I was able to see her one more time a number of years later.  This time Bill and I were able to enjoy a dinner out and share all of the memories of the past.   We also talked about family and our faiths. 

Judy has been a powerful influence on me as a woman and I cherish every moment I have had with her, whether it was in person or on the phone.  I can imagine the tender kiss Christ gave Judy as He welcomed her home.  

I will miss being able to pick up the phone and call Judy tremendously.  I love her so, so much.  My only hope is that I can be the same kind of role model she has been to me.  

With all my love, Judy...

Firmly Planted

January 1, 2017, who knows what it will bring.  My sweet daughter Bethany bought me my new planner for Christmas.  My planner is expensive, $50 to be exact, but I love it.  It helps me set goals, how I am going to meet those goals, and evaluates my progress.  It was a sacrifice for her but she is always so supportive of my goals and aspirations and understands my need for certain tools.

I have spent a portion of today thinking through my goals for 2017.  It is always a delicate balance between being a planner and letting God have the reins.  I always try to keep moving forward knowing that at any moment I may need to let go or change course.

The sermon today at church struck me.  We are always surprised by trials.  We don't anticipate them, we don't expect them, and we are shocked when they hit.  Why am I surprised?  Why do I sometimes react with, "Did I do something wrong?" or "Why is God not there?"  We know that in this world we will have trials.  We know there will be heartache.  Our job is to be ready when the storms come.  I have had many trials over the years.  Sadly, even though many of those have been tragic, they are common and have been a part of many people's journey.

For 2017 I am changing my focus on a few things.

• Understand that the storms will come.  Don't be surprised by them.
• Be ready for the storms and have my feet firmly planted.
• Keep holding God's hand. 
• Look for ways for any trial to bring others closer to God.
• When the storm runs out of rain, stop, listen and marvel at how God has brought me through the storm.
• Lastly, don't let the storms cloud the days that are sunny.  Yes, we will have trials, but we will also have many, many sunny days ahead.