RECENT POSTS
When an Autistic Man Calls for Help and Is Killed: Why We Need a Better Response
On March 1, a young man named Alex LaMorie was fatally shot by police. He was autistic. According to the Washington Post, he was in the
Why Intelligence Is Not the Measure of Human Worth (from a Parent of a Child with Down Syndrome)
When I was in college, I spent a summer studying for the GRE—the Graduate Record Examinations—in anticipation of applying for PhD programs. I had visions
Why “Special Needs Ministry” Isn’t Enough with Rebecca Wall
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E17—Is your family welcome at church? If Sunday mornings leave you more exhausted than encouraged, you’re not alone. Rebecca Wall,
The Dignity of Risk: What My Daughter’s First Ballet Bun Taught Me About Disability, Growth, and Possibility
Last week, I was packing up for the fourth of four speaking trips in a month when my mom called to say she wouldn’t be able to
Parent + Caregiver: How to Do Both Without Burning Out with Juli Henderson
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E16 — Parent and medical caregiver. Many parents of children with disabilities know the complexity of these two full-time roles. Juli
The Way of Empire vs. the Way of God’s Kingdom
When I was at Laity Lodge, I got to teach alongside my friend David Bailey, founder and Chief Vision Officer of Arrabon. David talked about the
What a Retreat Taught Me About Slowing Down and Starting the Day with God
The design of both the exterior and interior spaces at Laity Lodge invite peace, contemplation, and connection. Simply being present in that place made me
You Are Needed: Disability, Interdependence, and the Body of Christ
You are needed. You are needy. We need each other. I got to share those words on Sunday morning for our final gathering at a Laity
Disability: Tragedy, Inspiration… or Something Else? with Matthew Mooney
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E15 — Tired of feeling like you have to “fix” your child—or turn their life into an inspiration story? Parents of
February 2026 • Links Worth Your Time
Books, essays, podcast episodes, and more that I think are worth your time, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to in the month
Reimagining the Good Life: Faith, Disability, and the Way of Love
There’s a moment in the recent Billy Joel documentary, And So It Goes, where he describes writing the song “Big Shot.” He says it came out
How Disability Parents Can Get Organized Without Burning Out with Angela O’Brien
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST Ep 14 — If paperwork and clutter are exhausting you, you’re not alone. Professional organizer Angela O’Brien, mom to a young
How to Strengthen Your Marriage While Parenting a Child with Disabilities
Early in our marriage, Peter and I learned—the hard way—that we do not process stress and grief the same way. We’re not alone. Parenting a
The Dispatch | Finding the Good Life in an Age of Designer Babies and High Achievers
When our daughter Penny was born, I was a student at Princeton Seminary. I stumbled through the basic Greek of the New Testament and enjoyed
From Valentine’s Day Hater to Grateful Parent: Finding Love in Everyday Moments
I used to be a Valentine’s Day hater. Other than our first year of dating (which is to say, many decades ago), Peter and I
Thriving in Marriage as Disability Parents with Todd and Kristin Evans
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST Ep 13 — There’s a myth out there that raising a child with disabilities will doom a marriage. But the data
How to Help Your Child Thrive During School Transitions: Lessons on Inclusion and Belonging from Special Education Success
When Penny was transitioning from elementary school to middle school, the school invited her to come in before the year started so she could walk
Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, and the Power of Entertainment as Art: Finding Joy and Meaning in Shared Experiences
The halftime show was both art and entertainment, and that’s the best kind of both. I am not a fan of Bad Bunny. (I’m also
