True Friendship Isn’t Built on Pity
Years ago, one of our kids came home from preschool and said, “She cries a lot and doesn’t share her toys.” Our child were talking about a classmate who had…
Sparkle Show
Penny decided to participate in our new church’s Sparkle Show with a friend by singing along to Taylor Swift’s Fearless. It’s no small thing that she wanted to be there,…
Intergenerational and Interability Friendships
I feel like I should be too old to have camp friends, but I guess that’s one more gift of getting involved in Hope Heals. Our friend and Hope Heals…
Disrupting the Status Quo
My friend Patricia and I spent two nights in NYC this past weekend. We walked a gazillion steps, ate a gazillion calories, spoke even more words, and gave thanks for…
Penny in Her Own Words: Camp PALS 2024
Penny, can you explain Camp PALS to people who don’t know anything about it? Who is it for? Yes. Camp PALS is for young adults with Down Syndrome where they…
Penny in Her Own Words: Senior Prom
We’ve been talking about senior prom all year long, and I wasn’t sure whether the event itself would be a letdown after so much anticipation. But here’s what Penny, our…
Ministry of Tears
How do I care for someone in pain? People have asked me this question. I’ve asked this question. And I thought it would be helpful to share advice from Katherine…
Penny in Her Own Words: Senior Trip
Life for our 18-year-old with Down syndrome isn’t perfect, but it is good. Penny just spent three days with her class on their senior spring trip. I asked her to…
Our Love for Each Other Matters Most
What matters most is our love for each other. Yesterday I had a chance to meet with two different groups of people from around the nation and around the globe—California,…
The Highs are Higher
“The highs are higher and the lows are lower.” Peter and I used to say that a lot about having a child with Down syndrome. In recent years, the emotions…
