Special Needs

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  Adoption/Foster Care Special Needs

  ADOPTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

  I was a single mother of two when I answered God’s clear call to adopt and foster children with Down syndrome and other life-threatening medical conditions. It has been quite a wild and demanding ride but it has brought me so much closer to the Lord, and, in looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. How I got to this point requires some explanation: I got divorced when I was pregnant with my second child. It was right around the holidays, and I was devastated. I cried out to God that this was not how I ever imagined my life when… Read More

  June 22, 2022
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  Labor Overcoming Obstacles Special Needs

  FITNESS CLASSES FOR THE DIFFERENTLY-ABLED

  We started teaching fitness classes designed for individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. Our goal is to help them increase strength, motor coordination, social skills and overall wellness. And we can surely see God’s hand in all this, especially how He brought us together and made this happen so seamlessly. We worked in the same school district as contract speech-language pathologists. We were frequently moved from school to school and didn’t really come in contact with one another, but in August of 2020, we ended up assigned to the same school. We found ourselves bonding… Read More

  April 13, 2022
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  Loss Of Loved One Overcoming Obstacles Special Needs

  JOHN-BOY’S PLACE

  I lost my husband, John, after a relatively quick two-year battle with ALS. It is a devastating disease that destroys the patient's physical abilities due to muscle and nerve degeneration. It also attacks the health and mental wellness of both patient and family as the days begin to run together. John began losing his balance, and his falls resulted in several broken bones and chipped teeth. The balance issues continued to get worse and after months of testing, we received the dreaded diagnosis: John had ALS. It would lead to a very difficult death, since there is no cure. Upon hearing this… Read More

  February 23, 2022
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  Adoption/Foster Care Children Special Needs

  ADOPTING 10 CHILDREN FROM CHINA

  How we came about adopting 10 children from China, all with special needs, shows what can happen if you are open to listening to God’s calling for your life. It has made me realize that my life is not all about me but rather living out God’s will. And it has made me, and my entire family, a much more Christ-centered person. My husband, Rob, and I had never even thought about adoption. We already had a houseful of biological kids: two boys and two girls. But when our youngest was five, the Lord started laying it on our hearts in… Read More

  February 1, 2022
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  Labor Loving Your Neighbor Special Needs

  A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS

  I never thought a simple act of kindness would have such an amazing impact. It really showed me how much God can use any situation or anybody for His glory. I’ve been a UPS driver in Vermont for 29 years, and really gotten to know a lot of the people on my route. Especially during the pandemic where we’ve been making so many more deliveries. I love my customers and try to show Jesus’ love to them any chance I get. That's what I did with Max. He’s a 14-year-old boy with autism who rarely speaks or smiles. I try to say… Read More

  December 7, 2021
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  Labor Special Needs

  BREW GOOD. DO GOOD

  Purpose over profit. That is the mission behind The Red Porch. I was working at an organization that runs programs for developmentally disabled adults when they partnered with the owners of an old office building to create a very unique coffee house. This café would be used as a training facility for developmentally disabled adults. The project heads knew I had coffee knowledge, so they pulled me onto the project as manager. In the initial planning stages, I discovered how much God’s hand was involved in the project. The staff and I set aside a day to taste pastries and coffee drinks to… Read More

  October 26, 2021
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