Are you ever overwhelmed with trying to do it all as a special-needs mom? Do you have a community, but don't know how to receive help? First, we have to be willing to let people in! Enjoy this conversation with Becky and her friends about a recent time that Jon Alex was sick and Becky needed help.

This is a great episode to send to friends to let them know how to be your community, especially when you're going through a trial!

Susan and Becky sit down to discuss their past trauma related to behavioral and medical issues with their children. How do we deal with these issues and move forward in hope?

Related Links

Episode 177 - Asking for Help After Trauma (Part 1) 

Episode 178 - Getting Help After Trauma (Part 2)

Respite For Your Mind - Get the app!

Today is another episode of "Conversations with Special-Needs Moms" to wrap up our most recent series, "The Unexpected."   If you missed any episodes from this series, they've all been so helpful in navigating some commonly-felt emotions and experiences to the disability journey. We suggest going back and listening to the ones you missed!   Related Links Sib Show

About Brittnie

Brittnie Blackburn is a special-needs mom (and one of our community group leaders) who has learned how to navigate the reactions of others on her journey. This episode is helpful if you are raising a child with special needs OR if you want to learn how to be a good friend to those who are special-needs parents.

Related Links

Sib Show

By the Brook '24

Base Camp

About Julie   Julie Styer is the experienced mom of Bradley, born with Cerebral Palsy. She shares about all that she has learned on her parenting journey, what she would have done differently, and the unexpected blessings along the way!    

Related Links

Sib Show

Eric and Christen have joined us on the podcast previously, but today, they discuss the differences in how they handled a diagnosis and how they learned to support one another through the process.

Related Links

Freund's previous episode

Hope on the Hard Road

You may remember Mikayla from a previous podcast episode a couple years ago. Today, she joins us again to share her struggles and victories over the last couple years, and how she trains herself to let go of 'mom guilt' and embrace letting others help her on her journey as a special-needs mom. Mikayla shares from her heart, and you will be so blessed by her!

Moms- we want you to join us for By the Brook, virtually or in person in Cookeville, Tennessee.

Tracey Martin, mom of quadruplets (some of whom have special needs) joins us on the podcast today to discuss the unexpected emotions that come with a diagnosis and in the years that follow. 

 

Related Links:

By the Brook 2024

We're excited to launch this new podcast series called "The Unexpected." We pray each the topics discussed would encourage you in this common emotions and obstacles that a diagnosis brings to a family. 

Today, Susan Lomax joins us to discuss grief for the special-needs parent. 

About the Bortons

JERRY - Jerry Borton has traveled around the country leading seminars on disability awareness, theology of suffering, leadership, and fundraising—all from his power wheelchair. Born with Cerebral Palsy, his mother said he came from the womb with a suitcase in his hand, ready to take on the world. Jerry now devotes his time to help people with disabilities discover their gifts and talents and equip them to use them in their local community. He is passionate to help Christian community leaders embrace hiring people with disabilities to make a positive impact on their world. Jerry has an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and is an ordained minister. Jerry admits to a mild obsession with baseball. He likes watching every form of the game—from two kids slapping at a ball with a stick to his beloved Detroit Tigers winning an American League pennant. Jerry and his wife, Joan, have been married for over 28 years and enjoy games, traveling and spoiling their nieces and nephews. Jerry and Joan make their home in central Florida.

JOAN - “Easy” is rarely a word that is used in relation to disability ministry. But long-time disability advocate, Joan Borton, loves to show people how easy it is to start a friendship with someone with a disability. Disability ministry has taken Joan to Ghana, West Africa, and all around the U.S, where she has taught on topics ranging from disability awareness to soul care to managing change to marriage and disability. Joan has been joyfully married to Jerry since 1995. She is passionate about strengthening marriages affected by disability and frequently blogs and writes on this topic. Joan recently published her first book, MarriageAbility: Embracing the Richness of a Marriage Affected by Disability. There is little Joan enjoys more than encouraging a caregiver and listening to them share their life. Joan and Jerry are committed to hospitality—whether that means entertaining guests at their Florida home, providing respite care for kids and teens, or being a home away from home for family and friends. When faced with a little down time you will likely find her reading or working on a jigsaw puzzle.

TOGETHER - Jerry and Joan Borton have spent most of their lives befriending, working with and supporting people affected by disability. For Jerry it began at birth when he was born with Cerebral Palsy. Joan grew up with friends who had disabilities and found it a natural fit for her. It was little surprise to anyone, except themselves, when God brought them together in marriage and ministry in 1995. Together they have a broad history of engagement with people with physical, developmental and mental health disabilities. They have ministered in residential, camping, recreational, church and educational programs. Jerry and Joan understand from personal experience that disability affects the entire family. In 2019 Jerry and Joan co-founded Luke 14 Exchange, Inc . Today you will find them mentoring people with disabilities, writing and speaking on topics of family support, discovering your giftedness as a person with a disability, and the influence of the disability movement and the Church.

Related Links

Luke14Exchange.org FB and Instagram - Luke 14 Exchange Marriage Ability by Joan Borton Common Man, Extraordinary Call by Jeff & Becky Davidson

About Christa

Christa Smith is a follower of Jesus Christ. Her husband, Ron, is the Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church of Palatka, Florida. They have been married for 32 years and have two sons, Ryan and Landon. Landon’s bride, Abbie, joined their family three years ago. They have a sweet fur puppy named Phoebe.

Prior to joining The Tim Tebow Foundation, she served as Community Connections Coordinator at First Baptist Church of Palatka. Christa is fluent in American Sign Language and continues to serve as one of the ASL Interpreters for Lifeway Women's Events all over the United States. Christa's journey in learning ASL began as a necessity when her oldest son, Ryan, was diagnosed as profoundly Deaf at 18 months old (CHARGE Syndrome). What began as a desire to communicate with her son grew into a love for the Deaf and a desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their heart language.

In 2005, after meeting with parents and school administrators, God led Christa and her husband to develop an after-school program for Deaf and hard of hearing children at our church. This amazing program connected these children and their families to the local church and became a safe haven of learning about Jesus and His deep love for them. Because of her experience, she has witnessed first hand the profound impact the church can have on those living with disabilities and their families. That’s why she is passionate about the mission of TTF Shine On and continuing to elevate the hard work and resources of disability organizations to equip local churches in ministering to those often overlooked.

 

Related Links

Instagram: @christamooresmith

TTF Shine On: shineon.org