My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing

What’s Wrong With Having Down Syndrome?
What’s wrong with having Down syndrome? It was a question I asked many years ago, when our daughter Penny was first diagnosed with an extra

Finishing To Be Made Well
Today I will set a timer on my phone for 30 minutes. I will turn the phone over so I can’t see notifications of text

The Bible Is Not About Behavior Management
I often misinterpret the words in the Bible as behavior management, when they are really invitations to surrender to love. Jesus says: “Do not judge,

On 9/11, We Remember That Love Is Stronger Than Fear
[If you are looking for my Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast, please go here.] Evil is always (and only) a distortion of the good.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Week 5 | School and an Article About Robert E. Lee Statue
Honestly, my favorite thing about this week is that our kids all went back to school. I love their schools. They like their schools. I

Pre-Order To Be Made Well
I am really excited to say that To Be Made Well is available for pre-order (here). I’ve been working on this book for years. It

Texas’s Abortion Law and Down Syndrome
“Why would it be a bad thing for five times more people with Down syndrome to be in the world?” asked my 13-year-old son William,

S5 E1 | How Disability Taught Me the Goodness of Vulnerability with Heather Lanier
What is a meaningful life? Does thinking about disability change your answer? Heather Lanier, author of Raising a Rare Girl, talks with Amy Julia about

Lying About My Feelings
I have lied about my feelings for so long that I don’t even know I’m lying. Somewhere early on in life, I decided that I

Family Game Time: The Name Game
We’ve had a little more family time to play games this summer, and we’ve enjoyed hearts and charades and backgammon and kickball and a special

A Few of My Favorite Things: Week 4 | Braiding Sweetgrass
So yesterday, I spent the day cleaning out my parents’ basement after five feet of water rushed in and flooded all the Christmas decorations that

A Reminder to Love
We are living in a time of dissension and conflict about almost everything—from Critical Race Theory to LGBTQ+ rights to wearing masks to who should

Happy Book Birthday, A Good and Perfect Gift
One of the things you’re supposed to do when you write a book is master your elevator pitch. How can you convey the essence of

Introducing Season 5 of Love Is Stronger Than Fear
It’s been a rough year. Protests, political division, a global pandemic. And our bodies ache. Our friendships feel strained. We’ve had too much to drink.

I Know to Expect Penny To Be Human
I look back on these words I wrote about Penny so many years ago in A Good and Perfect Gift, and I think, Yes. That’s