I want to share this article with you. http://www.charismamag.com/life/women/20102-the-group-forgotten-by-the-church#comments
We have been truly blessed with our churches. Each one we've attended has embraced Anna and care for her while we attended services. It's still hard for us because I feel like we're a burden to the church. We require special care. If we don't have someone to watch Anna, we can't go to service, Sunday school, special events and Bible study. At least, not together. We usually take turns.
I often wonder whose responsibility is it to watch my children? Then I remember people with "normal" children don't even think about it. They simply put their children in the nursery. Why do I have to make special arrangements? I make them because Anna needs special care. Not just anyone can, or should, sit with her. And it's not the autism. It's the seizures. I can't find fault with anyone who hesitates to sit with her. I totally understand and it's really okay.
But in today's world, there are more and more children with autism and other disabilities. The church MUST make provision for them or less families will be able to attend church. Daryl and I sometimes say it's a shame we don't have a bigger house. We'd start a home church for families with children like Anna. But that kind of defeats the purpose of gathering together, right? We shouldn't shut ourselves off from the world.
I would love to hear about your experiences at church.
What If She Outlives Me?
pam
10/30/2024
Good from Covid?
pam
5/18/2023
Encouragement from a fellow special mama
pam
7/31/2020
A Sister's Love
pam
5/16/2019
Medical Moms
pam
1/26/2019
The Power of Doritos
pam
5/7/2018
Yay For Friends!
pam
1/9/2018
Show You!
pam
9/11/2017
Happy? 26th Birthday, Anna
pam
5/15/2017
Re-grouping
pam
3/14/2017
We can relate!
pam
9/1/2016
A Little Fall Fun
pam
10/18/2015
Going Commando
pam
10/5/2015
So Behind
pam
9/22/2015
Stares and Storytime
pam
4/12/2015
Big Big Changes
pam
3/27/2015
Blog Post on Autism
pam
9/22/2014
The Power of Pets
pam
9/12/2014
Depression's Demands
pam
8/15/2014
Do We or Don't We?
pam
8/4/2014
Falling Down
pam
6/22/2014
Research Study
pam
5/23/2014
Who goes? Who stays?
pam
5/19/2014
Being Thankful
pam
4/25/2014
Excellent Article
pam
4/7/2014
Jury Duty and Holland
pam
3/27/2014
I Confess
pam
3/17/2014
The Dreaded Medication Change
pam
3/4/2014
Keeping It Together - part seven
pam
2/24/2014
Keeping it Together - part six
pam
2/10/2014
A Milestone Day
pam
2/3/2014
Keeping it together - part five
pam
1/21/2014
Keeping It Together - part four
pam
1/3/2014
Keeping it Together - part three
pam
12/16/2013
Keeping it Together - part two
pam
12/9/2013
Keeping it Together - part one
pam
12/5/2013
Catching Up
pam
11/13/2013
The Perfect House
pam
10/25/2013
Another Mom in the Mix
pam
10/7/2013
Grieving the Loss
pam
9/24/2013
Great article
pam
9/11/2013
This and That
pam
9/9/2013
Fun in the ER
pam
8/30/2013
Bless me, Anna!
pam
8/14/2013
Talk to me, Anna!
pam
8/8/2013
God's Will
pam
7/30/2013
Update on Anna's bloodwork
pam
7/24/2013
Stirring the Cesspool
pam
7/11/2013
Vacation and Other Fun Stuff
pam
7/3/2013
A Day at the Beach
pam
6/17/2013
Anna's Surgery Experience
pam
6/5/2013
No Place For Anna
pam
5/26/2013
Painful Gifts
pam
5/21/2013
Happy 22nd Birthday, Anna!
pam
5/15/2013
A Rough Day
pam
5/6/2013
Things I've Learned - part five
pam
4/30/2013
Things I've Learned - part four
pam
4/22/2013
Things I've Learned - part three
pam
4/15/2013
Things I've Learned - part two
pam
4/9/2013
Interview with Terri Groh
pam
4/5/2013
Things I've Learned - part one
pam
4/3/2013
The Things People Say - part eight
pam
3/27/2013
Comparisons
pam
3/18/2013
Why Is It A Blessing?
pam
3/11/2013
Tim's Place
pam
3/8/2013
New Medication Worries
pam
3/5/2013
A Night Out for Anna
pam
2/25/2013
Play it again, Sam
pam
2/20/2013
Happy Birthday
pam
2/15/2013
The Anna Bowl
pam
2/4/2013
The Queen of Babble-on
pam
1/30/2013
Really, people?
pam
1/25/2013
Cold Feet
pam
1/23/2013
Hearing God
pam
1/15/2013
Running Away
pam
1/10/2013
Post-Christmas-Reentry-Syndrome
pam
1/4/2013
Emmanuel, God With Us
pam
12/17/2012
Take Heart
pam
12/7/2012
Jumping in the Leaves
pam
11/27/2012
Being Thankful
pam
11/19/2012
Patience and Love and Wretchedness
pam
11/13/2012
A Typical Halter Vacation
pam
11/8/2012
Is This Really My Life?
pam
11/1/2012
Frankenstorm
pam
10/27/2012
A Small Victory at Anna's Program
pam
10/24/2012
Update on the problem at Anna's program
pam
10/22/2012
The Fight Goes On
pam
10/19/2012
Fighting the Good Fight
pam
10/18/2012
Sit down, Anna
pam
10/16/2012
The Things People Say - conclusion
pam
10/15/2012
The Cloaking Device
pam
10/12/2012
The Things People Say - part seven
pam
10/11/2012
The Things People Say - part six
pam
10/10/2012
The Things People Say - part five
pam
10/9/2012
The Things People Say - part four
pam
10/4/2012
The Things People Say - part three
pam
10/3/2012
The Things People Say - part two
pam
10/2/2012
The Things People Say - part one
pam
10/1/2012
Godzilla Lives at my House
pam
9/27/2012
The Early Bird Gets Eaten
pam
9/26/2012
Over and Over Again
pam
9/25/2012
What Good Are Seizures?
pam
9/21/2012
Why Me?
pam
9/20/2012
The Rest of my Life?
pam
9/19/2012
Feelings
Pam
9/18/2012