Bearing One Another’s Burdens: Church and Autism

God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Ps. 68:6 I think one of the worst feelings in the world is feeling lonely when you are surrounded by people. Feeling lonely and isolated is a horrible feeling by … Continue reading Bearing One Another’s Burdens: Church and Autism →

Nothing About Us Without Us

Diversity and Inclusion. Integration. Awareness vs. Acceptance. Tolerance. These buzz words often integrate into political conversation in all Civil Rights movements. They, indeed, pepper such a movement with in the Autism Community. Neurodiversity is a collective movement in which atypical neurological conditions are recognized and respected, not as a disease in need of a cure, … Continue reading Nothing About Us Without Us →

If you have met one child with Autism, you have met one child with Autism

As lights burned blue on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, many participated in the April campaign to bring awareness and acceptance to those living with Autism. With only a cursory understanding of what Autism means and its impact, I reached out to Dr. Whitney Loring, a Clinical Psychologist with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, TRIAD Families … Continue reading If you have met one child with Autism, you have met one child with Autism →

Loss in Adoption

There is no adoption story, no matter how beautiful, which does not begin with a great loss. This is a fact. There are no exceptions. There is loss for the birth parents, the extended birth family, but most importantly, there is a tremendous loss for the child. It does not matter if you were in … Continue reading Loss in Adoption →

Our Adoption

It started on a blanket at the pond of Cherokee Park in Louisville. The two of us best friends, but newly in love. We shared our hopes and dreams for the future. He wanted to preach once he completed his degree. I was focused on working for a couple of years to save up to … Continue reading Our Adoption →

Adopted through the Spirit: Thoughts on Identity

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we … Continue reading Adopted through the Spirit: Thoughts on Identity →

Geopolitics and Adoption

It was only after soldiers and humanitarians returned home from war torn Europe and Asia, sharing stories of the war orphans overseas that Americans had any vested interest in international adoption. Post- World War II, as the American Government was implementing The Marshall Plan to provide aid in war destroyed countries in hopes of blocking … Continue reading Geopolitics and Adoption →

Dana Carrozza: An Everyday Extraordinary Woman

“This baby will not survive, and you aren’t going to live through this one either,” the doctor informed Carrie Marrs. It was 1952 and she was pregnant with her third child. In her first pregnancy, she had developed toxemia which led to the death of her first born, a daughter. After a successful, uneventful birth … Continue reading Dana Carrozza: An Everyday Extraordinary Woman →

No Matter What

Every night, when my children were very young, I would come into their rooms to tuck them in and hear their prayers. Just before leaving their bedside to turn off their lights, I would lean down and say: No Matter Where You Go No Matter What You Do Keep it in Your Pocket That Your … Continue reading No Matter What →

The Ditch

In the latter part of the 1970s, I lived with my family in a little blue house on North Tennessee Blvd in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. My parents were in their twenties, my older sister was a mere 1236 days older than me, and a Pinto wagon fancied up with wood paneling sat in the driveway. Yellow … Continue reading The Ditch →