Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “growth”
Every year I pick a word that seems to relate to life at the time. And apparently, I’m drawn to “F” words. It started five years ago… 2014. I chose FOCUS. This was the year I struggled a lot. I turned thirty, the milestone I dreaded. I sought answers for thyroid disease. More health issues popped up. Question after question. …
We don’t like to be out of our comfort zone. Disability means I can instantly be out of mine. There is a discomfort around disability. Being uncomfortable is a way of life for me. I can be immune to this fact. In the past year, several friends have said, “You push me out of my comfort zone, Laura.” I don’t …
The next morning you suddenly said to a circle of people at church, “Hey guys, this is my friend, Laura. She has a disability, in case you didn’t know it and you can ask her any questions. She is happy to answer them and likes being the spokesperson for all disabled people.” I was surprised, and sat there laughing, but …
A group of people can come into your life and change it. This post is for those people. You are dear to me. You’re an answer to a prayer I prayed two years before we met: “Deepen the right friendships, Lord. Lead me to the people who are or will be part of my close community. Amen.“ ******* I’m not …
Recently a friend and I talked and thought about the past year. We saw a common theme in our lives. We had watched God work through unexpected storms. There are times I call the storms “mountains” because it can feel impossible to climb the obstacle in front of us. Can we make it over the mountain? Do we have the …
After my week in Raleigh, I came home and immediately started thinking about next year’s conference. Would I be able to go again? Could I wait that long to see these new friends again? I had met people from all over the country and world…England, France, Canada, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts, etc. ******* The first Sunday post-trip, I was eager …
A trip can leave a lasting impression on you. Back in June, I had one of those trips. I attended the Summer Institute on Theology and Disability for the first time. I knew: I would lead a workshop on Wednesday afternoon. The list of speakers and topics intrigued me. I hoped to connect with people during the free time. Other …
Slowly I am catching up to the fact that we are in a new season. Fall. When temperatures go down and calendars fill up. New routines are set. No matter what, every season signals a transition. Maybe you’re…back on the school schedule. Starting a new job. Building new friendships. Looking for community. Sometimes we are slow to accept a transition. …
Dear Church, Please don’t be distracted by disability or afraid to approach. Look at me. See me as a person. I want to belong for who I am. Sadly, this doesn’t always happen. Back in the fall, I was away for a month. I had never really left the Church of my childhood. After college, I came back to the …
Dear mom and dad, You didn’t just raise me as your daughter with a disability. You saw much more from the beginning. I was your fourth child. In your eyes, I have always been “normal.” You were the first to teach me determination. Giving up was not an option. We didn’t focus on disability or discuss how my limitations affected …