Have a Frustrating and Boring Summer!
“So you want me to be frustrated, and Dad wants me to be bored?!? That sounds fun.” Yes, a boring summer! These were Marilee’s words last night when I was…
Public Service Announcement: How to Talk to a Person With an Intellectual Disability
When Penny sat down to receive the shot for her Covid-19 vaccine, the nurse looked at her directly and asked, “Full name? Date of birth? Have you ever had an…
Laughter Is Carbonated Holiness
In our household, laughter doesn’t happen every day. Our kids get annoyed with each other. They are self-conscious and defensive. What used to provoke giggles now prompts rolled eyes. Most…
A 3-Day Civil Rights Tour Itinerary for Families
Send me the Civil Rights Tour Itinerary! Planning a family vacation? In 2019, our family embarked on a mini Civil Rights tour in Louisiana and Alabama. Our time changed the…
The Most Important Work Is Repair
I said something to Penny a few days ago that made her cry, which makes me think today of the important work of repair. I can’t share what I said,…
Girls Just Wanna Run
There are so many things to love about Marilee running her first 5k with her friend Lexi. One, they got to participate in a pretty normal activity where people gathered…
AJB Recommends: The Hiding Place
A single, middle-aged woman living with her sister and father in Holland does not sound like the makings of a riveting story. Add to this that she is a watchmaker.…
Surprised by Our Teenager With Down Syndrome
In the past few weeks, I’ve been surprised by Penny, our 15-year-old daughter who has Down syndrome. I was surprised when she recited the Gettysburg Address in preparation for doing…
Baby Steps Towards Growing Up
Marilee definitely regrets the fact that she got excited when I told her I was filling out forms for summer camp because some unexpected words came out of her mouth:…
Great or Grateful?
Penny expresses gratitude with abandon. Every Sunday morning throughout the pandemic, we have each written down our thanksgivings on an index card (see picture above). We do this, per our…
- Go to the previous page
- 1
- …
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- …
- 20
- Go to the next page
