RECENT POSTS

Norman Rockwell Museum: Illustrating Race
What do advertisements and illustrations and magazine covers tell us about who we are as a society? When does an image become sentimental because it

Penny: Facts About Me That I Believe Are True
In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I asked Penny to share some thoughts about who she is, what matters to her, and what she

Upcoming Events
Belovedness and belonging. Honesty, humility, and hope as movements towards healing. Bringing our brokenness under God’s blessing. In the next two weeks, I have four

Assume Your Body Always Has Something to Say
“Your embodiment is always telling a story.” –Hillary McBride, The Wisdom of Your Body What would happen if we assumed that our body is always

Two Picture Books (for Everyone) With Characters With Down Syndrome
On my quest for chapter books that include characters with Down syndrome, I received dozens of recommendations for picture books. We’ve featured some of those

IFS | The Sometimes-Painful and Always-Beautiful Gift of Raising a Teen with Down Syndrome
Is it different raising a teenager who has Down syndrome than a typical teen? Well, yes and no. I had a chance to write about

Down Syndrome and a Lack of Ego
When Heather Avis and I talked about being at Hope Heals Camp last summer, she mentioned that what made it so distinctive was the lack

S6 E4 | The Beauty of Life Together with Willie James Jennings
“The challenge is to trust again the beauty of life together.” Professor and author Willie James Jennings talks with Amy Julia Becker about

Peeking Behind the Cosmic Curtain
Prayer is like going behind the scenes with God, like peeking behind the cosmic curtain. We once had a chance as a family to go

Ordinary Life With Down Syndrome
When it comes to Down syndrome, there are two extremes that get represented in our collective imagination most of the time. There’s the exceptional overcomer,

Healing Is Exhausting
Healing is exhausting. At least that is what I’ve been thinking as I’m recovering from oral surgery. I’ve needed my ice packs and my smoothies

Order Your Advent Devotional Today!
Is anyone else out there in a season of waiting? Waiting for healing? Waiting for change? Waiting for your child to get news about college?

Healing: Spiraling Upward?
What if healing is a process of spiraling upward? I know it’s not really a thing we see in nature. We see spiraling downward. The

Penny Sharing in Church for DSA Month
As a part of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Penny had a chance to share some thoughts in front of our congregation on Sunday. She talked

A New Name for Bible Study?
I am wondering whether we need a new name for Bible Study. Maybe this isn’t the problem I think it is. But I wonder whether

October Fun Facts
Every so often, I introduce myself around here for people who are new to this space. I also try to share some things about myself

God’s Love Is the Answer to Depression
God’s love is the answer to depression. I know that’s the type of declarative statement I’m not supposed to make. I know that religion has

TIME | Where Are All the Children’s Books Featuring Kids With Down Syndrome?
We started a conversation over here a few weeks ago about whether or not there are chapter books with main characters who have intellectual disabilities,

Down Syndrome Awareness Month Book Giveaway
{GIVEAWAY CLOSED} Down Syndrome Awareness Month BOOK GIVEAWAY! Enter to win all 9 books, including all 4 of Heather Avis’ books, my memoir, and favorite

S6 E3 | Down Syndrome and Belonging with Heather Avis
“You belong here, as you are, who you are. Come be in this place with us.” Down syndrome advocate and author Heather Avis joins Amy

White Picket Fences Turns 4!
White. Economically stable. Cares about other people. Doesn’t like social divisions. Doesn’t know what to do about those divisions. Afraid that trying to do anything