Here's a link to an article I just wrote for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine about the difficulties of having a child with medical challenges – hope it encourages you!  TOS is a fabulous magazine with a wide variety of articles for homeschooling families!

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine-digital.com/thehomeschoolmagazine/2015x3#pg101

Joy Prom 2015

Wow - it was another beautiful Joy Prom this year at Alliance Bible Fellowship!  We had so much fun, along with about 300 volunteers, putting this together, but the best part was all of the lovely smiles of the participants and their families that day.  Can't wait for next year!

For a real treat, watch this video from our Joy Prom at Alliance Bible Fellowship!  This was a full scale prom for teens and adults with disabilities, including a red carpet entrance where each participant's name was called, professional prom photos were taken, and some great pamper stations were available to have shoes shined for the guys, and hair, make-up and nails done for the ladies.  My husband, Ronny, and I had the great blessing of being the coordinators for this very special day.  I'll never, ever forget these beautiful smiles. Can't wait for next year!

Joy Prom 2014 video

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!  May God richly bless you this coming year with His endless grace and love!

A Thousand Simple Kindnesses article

Here's another article I wrote for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - my favorite homeschool magazine!  The article is about all the small kindnesses that you can show for families with special needs.  Doesn't have to be a huge, grand gesture; sometimes the simple things mean the most.  We are so grateful for the hundreds of times that someone took a few moments to encourage us along the way!

A Thousand Simple Kindnesses

Have we done enough?

As parents we ask ourselves this question all the time, "Have we done enough?"  When our children have special needs, and when we homeschool, thus taking full responsibility for their upbringing and education, this question seems to be a constant refrain.  Have I taught them enough?  Have I taught them the right skills?  Have they learned what they need to learn to succeed in life?  Have we helped form their character?  Have we dealt with medical issues in the best manner possible?  Have we done everything we can to give our kids the best start in life?  And, most importantly, have we helped them to love God with all of their hearts, and to become useful to their King?

I never, ever feel like I've done enough.  There are so many needs, in so many different areas, that I never get to the end of the day and sigh with gratitude that all needs are met.  Today is one of those days where I feel completely overwhelmed as my limits run smack dab into the mountain of needs.  So here's my pep talk to myself, which I hope will encourage you, as well!  God does not ask us for perfection as parents.  He does not ask us to do everything by ourselves.  He does not ask us to raise perfect kids.  And He certainly knows our limitations.  He only asks that we stay faithful.  That we walk one step at a time.  That we do everything in our power, and then ask for some of His power.  If Jesus promised, "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6), surely that applies to homeschooling and raising children.  Surely Jesus is reassuring us that if we stay faithful and allow Him to work in us and through us, He will fill in the gaps left by our inadequacies.  Surely, God loves our precious children even more than we do, and has equipped us to provide what they need as long as we lean on Him for wisdom and strength.  Take that, pity party!

A Little Something Extra

Here's a new article I wrote for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - my favorite magazine!  It's the premiere homeschool magazine, full of encouragement and great advice - and totally free to read.  Hope you enjoy!

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine-digital.com/thehomeschoolmagazine/201302/#pg90