links I'm loving in disability ministry: fake Christians, imperfect vessels, real inclusion, angry kids

/
The Realities of Inclusion & Kids With Special Needs
 Inclusion in theory is beautiful and collaborative and harmonious. Inclusion in practice can be messy. Ellen writes about Max's camp experience, "in the end I just wasn't sure how much he'd interacted with other kids—or how inclusive his time there was, other than the fact that he was physically among so-called typical kids."

My thought: We want people with disabilities not just present in the church but also part of the body.
How can we as the church be more than just physically inclusive?

"I now look at kids that are throwing tantrums and know some of them are acting up due to parenting or lack of parenting, but I want you to know some kids are just wired in a way that is not acceptable to society. I know you don’t want your kids to be friends with my son and that hurts but I understand. Maybe just try every now and then to be friends with that mom and kid."

My thought: Kids with angry behaviors may be hard to include in traditional way, for the safety of other kids.
Are we willing to love these families and work to figure out unconventional inclusion for them?

imperfect vessels
This blog series, with 99 Balloons running point, is knocking my socks off. (And, if I'm honest, making me a little nervous about how my post - running on September 11 - will measure up to the rest of the amazing folks included in this project.)

and on a similar note..

"But when people think Christians are fake, I think this is part of the reason why. We tell each other we’re not prone to wander. We act like our days of falling down are forever behind us. And we create environments where no one can be honest. You can’t share your whole life with somebody when the expectation is that you don’t fail."

My thought: When we wear the name "Christian," that should acknowledge that we're not the great ones.
How can we let Christ's light shine through our broken places, be that disability or sin?



tomorrow has to be better

/
because today involved...

three shots for my big girl.

a finger prick for her and her brother.

the inhumanity of being taken to the exam room with no dinosaur border on the wall. (the boy was not pleased.)

the need for my big girl to pee into a cup.

my big girl's inability to pee into a cup the first time she tried.

my boy's ability to pee on me when I didn't realize he was trying to pee into the cup, which isn't necessary until he's a couple years older.

my big girl's ability to pee in the cup after I forced her to chug the juice in my bag. (why, yes, I did have college flashbacks. Chug!Chug!Chug!)

my failure as a mom when I accidentally poured part of my daughter's urine specimen on her.

my conversation with our new pediatrician in which we realized we were friends from college. (and during which she might have decided her choice for med school was better than my choices, given that both I and my firstborn were wearing urine.)

all this occurring while holding my littlest one. who has a cold.

(yes, you can feel free to laugh. I would probably chuckle at you if this had been your day.)

oh, how I love them! even after days like today.

my boy's ability that I envy the most

/
Sleep.

I'm not a great sleeper, but this guy is.


I was going through old pictures from the past year, many of which had never been posted.


And I realized a common theme in many of my boy's pictures,


Robs loves sleep.


Even if it's in the front seat of a car while we're at a friend's ranch in Texas.


Or, during the same road trip, on the couch of another friend's house.


Or today, while sitting upright next to my bed. (Note the drool on the blanket from one time when he fell over and slept there a moment.)


My dear mother-in-law tells stories of Lee getting tired at the playground, climbing into other people's strollers, and taking a nap. Or falling asleep into his spaghetti.


Yep, I'd say Robbie takes after his daddy.

How about you? Are you like him - able to sleep anywhere - or like me? 
Anything else your kiddo(s) - or a kiddo you love - can do that you wish you could?