She cornered me in the hallway outside the sanctuary to extend an invitation. “Listen, we need someone to teach the Cubbies on Wednesdays this Fall, and I thought of you.” Sweetly, she smiled and promised she’d handle all the crafts. I would just need to teach a short 15-minute lesson. It seemed simple enough. After all, I had a college degree in education hanging in my office.
Pandemic restrictions are slowly easing where I live, and we can now invite guests into our home. Although the number of guests is limited, this change brings hope that life will someday return to normal. Normal, for me, is opening my door to friends, family, and strangers. The more, the merrier—thanks to my mom’s example.
“Pour out.” I was at the beach and had just bent down to pick up a shell when I heard the Lord speak those words. “Really, God? I don’t have any special gifts or talents.”
I am a quadruple amputee, probably one of the most optimistic people you’ll ever meet, and I’m living one exceptional life. I’m a proponent for the underdog. I’m a very passionate believer that everything is overcomeable. My goal is to help other women move past the challenges in their lives by growing their faith, gratitude, kindness, and positivity.
In 1997 my first husband and I adopted John,* a beautiful five-year-old with non-verbal autism. While John was still new to our home, one evening while eating dinner he burst into tears. I felt helpless knowing he couldn’t tell me what troubled him, so I quietly cried out, “God please tell me why he’s crying!” Instantly words entered my mind, “He’s upset because your food looks different than his.” I’d fixed a simple meal of wet bean burritos with a side of raw carrots and separated everything on his plate. I knew his sensory issues might not tolerate mixing ingredients.