Why Is Friendship Such a Challenge for Moms of Kids with Disabilities?

May 24, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

After our son’s autism diagnosis, everything changed. Our priorities changed. How we spent our money changed. Our schedule changed. And although we weren’t prepared for it, our friendships changed. We were going through a season of grief and confusion, and we felt more isolated than ever. When we got through those early years after his diagnosis, we were able to look back and evaluate what changed about those relationships and think about how to develop future friendships after our move... Read more

Changing “But” to “And” Changed My Outlook on My Son’s Disability

May 22, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

Maybe you’ve seen some of the recent news stories I’ve read. The headlines look something like this: Brent has autism, but he’s great at building furniture. Shelly has Down syndrome, but she made the cheerleading squad. This actor has cerebral palsy, but stars in TV show. I love what these young people are accomplishing. What I don’t love are the buts in each sentence. When my son James was first diagnosed with autism, I was stuck in a world of... Read more

5 Things Parents of Children With Additional Needs Want You to Know

May 17, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with the parent of a child with special needs and ask them what it is like? More than likely you would be greeted with a glazed stare, both from exhaustion and from determining if you are safe person to share with. They say that the best way to get to know a person is to walk a mile in their shoes. This really hits home with families impacted... Read more

Hospitality Tips for Special-Needs Families

May 15, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

In our first year after moving to Texas we had people over to our house 47 out of 52 weeks. I haven’t kept track since then, but I’m pretty sure it’s been close to that often in the second year. Our small group comes over each week. We’ve had neighbors and friends we’ve met through the community theater group our older son David participates in come over. We’ve even hosted James’s life skills class from school. It isn’t always easy.... Read more

Words Are Too Small for My Mother’s Love

May 10, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

“I love you,” I tell my mother at the end of every visit, before bending to kiss her forehead. “That goes without saying,” she might reply in return, or “Reciprocated,” as she picks up her book as I leave. But rarely, “I love you” in return. Such words make her uncomfortable, and hugs have always made her uneasy. I have no memories of being tucked into bed with her whispering, “I love you,” no memories of hugs and kisses when... Read more

The Special Relationship Special-Needs Siblings Can Have

May 8, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

I was probably four years old when I asked my mom why my sister Syble was different. I noticed she looked different, with her almond-shaped eyes and low muscle tone. I noticed she talked differently, calling me “S-s-s-sandra” or just “Andra.” I noticed there were things I could do that she couldn’t do, even though she was older. So Mom and I talked about it. We talked about Down syndrome and what that meant, not only for my sister but... Read more

Encouragement to Get You through the End of the School Year

May 3, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

We are not ending the school year strong. We are limping toward the last day. This time of year isn’t easy for most of us. We’re tired of packing lunches, signing homework notepads, and smiling cheerfully for the bus driver so early in the morning. The back pack has unidentified sticky stuff at the bottom, the uniform shirts are stained from art projects and pizza sauce, and the library books are missing pages. But we won’t let the month of May... Read more

How God Really Answers Prayers

May 1, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

A couple years ago we were visiting my husband’s parents for the weekend. Lee (my husband) and David (our older, typical son) were asleep in one bedroom and in the other room, I was crying out to God, begging for Him to answer my prayer. All I wanted was for James (our son with autism) to sleep. It was 3:00 am and James was happily playing, after falling asleep in the car from 8-10 pm and then deciding he didn’t... Read more

When God Heals Our Children in Unexpected and Surprising Ways

April 26, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

I knew, even before we left for church, that it was going to be difficult to stay for the whole service. A miraculous healing is taking place in our son Joel’s brain, connecting synapses, enabling connections for speech like we’ve never seen before. This young man (33) with autism, who has rarely spoken in more than two or three word sentences, is suddenly able to let us in on some of his thoughts. We are ecstatic, praising God for a... Read more

A Prayer for My Healthy Child: The One Who Is Left Behind

April 24, 2018 By Key Ministry Team

Sometimes, I leave him in the middle of night to transport his sister to the hospital for an emergency. He knows when this happens I could be gone for a few days or a week or two. Other times, I am gone an entire day for scheduled specialty appointments for his sister. There are all sorts of reasons why my son is cared for by other family members a few times a year. Every time it happens, my heart is... Read more