My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
#2: Hopes and Fears
EPISODE #2: Hopes and Fears —Today we’re looking at Matthew 1:18-21, where the angel implies that Joseph is afraid to take Mary home as his
#1: Why Bodies Matter
EPISODE #1: Why Bodies Matter—Today’s podcast comes from Matthew 1:1-17, which might seem boring because it’s a genealogy, but Jesus’ story starts here, and this
Prepare Him Room: An Introduction
Today’s episode on Prepare Him Room, “An Introduction,” sets the stage for our journey together through the season of Advent. Commercialism and a Time of
‘Tis the Season for Stress: Bonus Episode
On the podcast today, I’m giving you a bonus episode, “Tis the Season for Stress,” which I hope will provide a sense of where we’re
How a Baby with Down Syndrome from Brazil Is Changing Lives in Zambia
As we move towards a season of thanks and of giving, I invited my friend Holly Nelson to tell the story of the Special Hope
Gratitude and Growth: How to Practice Gratitude
I’ve been writing about gratitude for the past two weeks in honor of the season of Thanksgiving. Today, as we look at gratitude and growth
Gratitude and Grace
Superficial gratitude can distort the reality of grace. It’s easy for people in relative comfort to compare ourselves to other needy individuals, pity them, and
Announcing Love is Stronger Than Fear Podcast
The short version of the super exciting announcement is that I started a podcast called Love is Stronger Than Fear. The first season of Love
Sabbatical Announcement and Learning to Rest
Our family is walking away from the daily routines of life and learning to rest. What’s behind our sabbatical announcement and learning to rest? Here
Gratitude and Grief
At its best, gratitude is a way to live in the midst of a world of pain and grief, not a way to cut ourselves
Gratitude and Grumpiness
As easy as it is to rattle off a gratitude list, it’s just as easy to rattle off a list of things that cause grumpiness.
Embracing Our Common Humanity
I’ve recently adopted “embracing our common humanity” as my shorthand for what I am attempting to do with my writing and speaking. If you look
Classroom Conversations: To Kill a Mockingbird and the Discussion of Privilege
When I was asked to have classroom conversations with a group of 8th grade students about To Kill a Mockingbird in conjunction with White Picket
My New Website Launch!
I could not be more excited to tell you about the launch of my brand new website. I hope you will spend a minute (or
Essential Church Podcast and Privilege
I had a great time talking with Andrew Arndt on the Essential Church podcast about White Picket Fences. He asked great questions that gave me
Gratitude Podcast with Family Life Radio
Martha Manikas-Foster of Family Life radio approached me a few weeks ago about an old blog post of mine about Thanksgiving. Back in 2014, I
Real Privilege and Love: Quote from White Picket Fences
The real privilege of my life has come in learning what it means to love others, that love involves suffering and sacrifice and sleepless nights
Rev. Dan Heischman Reflects on Privilege in Episcopal Schools
A friend mentioned years ago that memoirs go through three stages. First, we live them. Then we write them. And then, once they are out
Geraldine Brooks’ Endorsement of White Picket Fences
“I am grateful that Amy Julia Becker had the courage to create White Picket Fences. It’s such an essential discussion, so relevant and yet somehow
Celebrating 1 Year Anniversary of White Picket Fences!
Today I am celebrating the one year anniversary of the publication of White Picket Fences. It’s hard to believe it only came out a year
Dear Doctor Video from NothingDown.org
As Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2019 comes to a close, I wanted to share this touching video from NothingDown.org that highlights the experience of parents
5 Things I Wish I Had Known when Our Daughter Was Diagnosed with Down Syndrome
On December 30th, 2005, our firstborn daughter came into the world. It was an easy delivery—a little early, but not premature, no signs of distress
Sara Groves Endorses A Good and Perfect Gift
As I read this book, I realized what a gift it is to walk through this story with such an incredibly candid guide! Amy
Three Reasons Why I Don’t Use the Term Ableism
I’m a fan of the concepts behind political correctness. I think it’s important to use language with intention and care. I think language reflects reality,
In Her Own Words: Penny on Independence and Self-Advocacy
When Penny was first born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, Peter and I went through a hard season in which we felt like our expectations
A New Meaning of Perfection & Book Giveaway
I feel really honored and grateful whenever new mothers, fathers, and extended family members of kids with Down syndrome tell me that they have read
Porter’s Gate Worship Album – Neighbor Songs
I had the great privilege of participating in the Porter’s Gate songwriting project last January in Nashville, Tennessee. Wait, you didn’t know I’m a songwriter?
Amy Julia Recommends: 6 Books About Down Syndrome
As we near the end of Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2019, I want to offer 6 recommendations of memoirs and (accessible) theological books about people
Clips from the Film Normie & Grappling with “Normal”
“What is normal?” is a question that runs throughout the documentary film Normie. The film traces Annemarie, a young woman with Down syndrome, as she
Why I Don’t Get Mad Anymore When People Don’t Use Person-First Language
Early on in Penny’s life, I learned the concept of ” person-first ” language. At that point, I was calling Penny a “Down syndrome baby,”
