When Forgiveness Is Difficult
There have been many opportunities for forgiveness in our home this week, which means so many things going wrong. Our son has been struggling again, and it all came to a head this week. He recently finished another intensive - 10 days of Occupational Therapy in a row. Along with the turmoil that can cause, [...]
Welcome!
Hello! If you’re here, that means you’ve been redirected from an old blog (www.paintingwithpicasso.blogspot.com or www.buildingonjoy.blogspot.com), or you’ve joined me very recently. I’ve combined my two previous blogs - one focused on special needs and one focused on finding joy - into one blog that I’m hoping will allow me some opportunity to blog a [...]
Special Needs - Not Just Disabilities
When someone says “special needs” many people - often, myself included - immediately assume a disability or a diagnosis. And quite often, we’re probably right. However, I often come back to this phrase and I keep on thinking - I think more broadly. I’m a proponent for individualized education. I don’t mean an IEP; rather, [...]
Paper Clouds Featured Artist
Paper Clouds Apparel is selling shirts, greeting cards and 8×10 prints with our son’s designs on them! These are available from March 4-17. Paper Clouds Apparel collects artwork from individuals with special needs, and puts those designs on shirts, greeting cards & 8×10 prints, and sells them for a 2-week period. 50% of the proceeds go [...]
The Circle of Special Needs Families
So often this journey can feel incredibly lonely. Sometimes watching others move in their groups, talk with their friends, and get on with their lives can feel isolating because that’s not always the way it happens for us. But I’m grateful for the support that comes to us from so many different directions! Our guy [...]
Your One Thing
Tell me if this sounds familiar: You’re making your way through your day. It’s not the best day, but things are going well. You might change a few things if you could, but you’re up and at ‘em, and really, that’s all that matters in the moment. And then, BAM! Along comes that one thing that derails [...]
How To (Maybe) Successfully Get Your Child’s Hair Cut
Do you have a child (or know a child) with sensory issues? Then you likely know the frustration that can come when it’s time for a haircut. The fear associated with scissors, the buzzing of the clippers that seem to hurt or are too loud for the ears, the touching of the head and ears [...]
When the Fog Lifts
I’m posting 2 days in a row…that’s probably a record! ;-) This morning I had to take our son to his therapy appointment. Everything was covered by fog, but it was just starting to lift as we were headed out. I took a few opportunities to snap some pictures on our drive. (No pictures were [...]
On What I Know
My last post here was over 2 months ago - wow! Life happens…seems like the story of my life. I’m trying to ease back into the writing thing.Our middle son has some special needs and juggling his therapies, plus homeschooling all the kids has been difficult this year, trying to juggle every child’s needs and schedules. [...]
Dear Mrs. Wheeler
Dear Mrs. Wheeler,I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Like everyone else, I was heartbroken as I heard the news of the tragedy on Friday, December 14th. I can’t begin to comprehend what you and your family are going through. But I am praying for you. I am praying for all the families whose [...]