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.orgFB and Instagram - Luke 14 ExchangeMarriage Ability by Joan BortonCommon 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

About Deb Deb Petermann is a sibling to a man (now deceased at age 50) with severe developmental disabilities. She always says about her brother Rodney, “He never spoke a word in his life but his life still speaks volumes.” Deb has been married 38 years and is the mother of two, one is whom is deceased, and is a sibling advocate (60+ years). She began disability ministry as a volunteer at Vineyard Columbus Church 28 years ago. Additionally, she volunteered for 5 years with Joni and Friends Ohio, an International Disability Ministry, after which she was employed for 15 years as the Ohio Church Relations Manager with Joni and Friends. Through this ministry, she mentored and trained many churches to be more inclusive in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Indiana. Deb participated in disability missions to Honduras and El Salvador and is currently a Disability Transition Coordinator/Community Connector with the Center for Disability Empowerment, a non-residential independent living center. Related Links Last week for the By the Brook Early Bird Rate! Sign up for By the Brook 2024 Sib Show www.vineyardcolumbus.org www.joniandfriends.org Ohio Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador (www.lifecoursetools.com) The Power of the Powerless: A Brother's Legacy of Love by sibling Christopher de Vinck

About Dawn Dawn is a graduate of Cookeville High School and received her undergraduate degree from Tennessee Tech University. She graduated from the Nashville School of Law in 1999 and has been practicing law in the Upper Cumberland since 2000, specializing in Adoption Law, Special Education Law and Conservatorships. She currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Putnam County Board of Education,Chairman of Rising Above Ministries and Chairman of Exceptional Bean Board. She has been appointed by the Governor to the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Governor’s Advisory Council for Students with Disabilities. Dawn was an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Tennessee Tech University for more than ten years. Dawn has been married to Shawn Fry for more than 30 years and has twins, Sydney and Austin. Related Links Sign up for By the Brook 2024!

A Note from Missy Hi, my name is Missy. I am the Special Needs Director at Cumberland Fellowship in Crossville, TN. This was not a job I ever imagined having, but God had other plans. My husband, Jason, and I have been married for 26 years and we have 3 children. Jacob (17) has autism, is non-verbal and deaf, and has a list of medical issues, but has also given us more than joy than we ever thought possible. Braden (15) is your typical sports kid and an awesome big 'younger' brother as he has always called it. Our youngest is Addi (11). She is our sweet, sensitive, artsy child. All three children keep us on our toes and love being a part of this ministry. Jacob attends all our events and classes, while Braden and Addi love volunteering. This is definitely a family affair. We started the ministry in Oct 2021 with just the children's ministry side and now we have an adult Monday night service plus an adult Tuesday day program. Our goal is to minister to each individual at their level of understanding. The motto that my volunteers love the most is "see the able not the label." We try to live this everyday with each person we come in contact within this ministry. Related Links Common Man, Extraordinary Call Cumberland Fellowship Special-Needs Ministry Cumberland Fellowship Facebook Page

About Amanda Amanda is wife to Jason, mom to Kinsley, and friend and neighbor to Becky. She is also Jon Alex's beloved chiropractor. Favorite Quote "Rising above your circumstances is a very hard thing to do...You don't find joy. You choose joy. Choose well, and choose joy." Related Links Join us for By the Brook!

Today, we're beginning a a new podcast series we plan to do several times throughout the year (on the 5th Tuesday of the month, when that applies)! We will have several special-needs moms joining us for "Conversations with Special-Needs Moms" about their journeys and God's faithfulness.

About Samantha Samantha is pursuing her BS in Christian Leadership and Management with a Minor in Special Education from Liberty University to attain an MA in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary. She holds certifications in Christian Counseling from Light College and Temperament Coaching from Cornerstone Ministries. Samantha and her husband, David, have been madly in love since 2005 and have a blended family with three children, Courtney, Vanessa, and Drake, and two grandchildren, Carson and Oliver. In her spare time, she enjoys home improvement projects and exploring the world with her husband David. Grateful for every experience in her life, Samantha is excited to do good in every opportunity God brings her way and to see His handiwork in every situation. Related Links www.benevolenceunited.orgBy the Brook 2024

Today we're celebrating our 200th episode of the podcast! THANKS to all who listen and share the podcast. About Johnna Johnna (pronounced John-NUH, named after her grandfather, John) is an author, {sporadic} blogger, speaker and all-time coordinator of chaos. She’s a wife, a mother of six, a homeschooler and a fourth generation Texan. She is passionate about sharing the eternal hope she found in Jesus when her life took an unexpected twist in 2007, following the birth of her firstborn son with a neural tube defect. It’s now her passion to encourage women to stop living timid lives of distraction and to bravely say yes to what God calls them to. Through her use of sarcasm and sentences, Johnna paints a picture of hope for eternity as well as offers an honest perspective of life’s challenges through her blog (JohnnaHensley.com) and in her latest book, Reckless Yes. Related Links JohnnaHensley.com RecklessYesBook.com Instagram.com/johnna.hensley facebook.com/JohnnaHensleyAuthor Join us for By the Brook 2024!

About Jeanetta Jeanetta Bryant is a dynamic and compassionate leader in the special needs community. With over 10 years of experience in the industry and 4 years with Abilities Workshop, Inc. Her journey into this field began when her daughter was diagnosed with a medical condition. Over the last decade, Jeanetta has witnessed her child defy the odds and overcome their diagnoses, inspiring her to become an advocate, author, and speaker. She has written books, developed learning apps, and founded a non-profit organization to provide resources and support to families in need. She is known for her honesty, thoughtfulness, compassion, quick decision-making abilities, and her willingness to constantly learn and adapt to different audiences. At Abilities Workshop, Inc, Jeanetta works with parents, pastors, and teachers to help children with special needs reach their full potential. She is committed to working together with others to provide support, resources, and hope to those who need it most. Related Links Rising Above's Sib Show Abilities Workshop Website Abilities Workshop Facebook Abilities Workshop Instagram

Join the Rising Above staff as they reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024!

About Amy Amy and her husband, Brad, have been married for 24 years and have 4 children. Their youngest child, Grant, who is now 16, has tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic condition that affects the major organs of the body. They have “tubers” growing on or in them, which often causes significant issues for the person. These “tubers” are benign tumors. Grant was diagnosed at 13 months old after he went through tests and scans due to seizures beginning at 12 months old. He has significant developmental delays due to the type of seizures he had as a baby. However, he is not physically delayed, and loves to play adaptive sports and enjoys music and singing. Her husband, Brad, is a full-time pastor, and they love ministering to others in our church and community. They have been at their current church for 19 years. She is a nurse and began that career later in life. Grant is a joy to their family, and they are grateful to be chosen to be his parents. They are thankful for all the ways the Lord has used this journey to teach them so many truths about Himself, and their verse for Grant has been Ephesians 3:20-21. God has done and continues to do, so much more than they could ask or imagine through throughout this special-needs journey. Related Links Instagram: @a.w.parker6 Email: bradandamyparker@bellsouth.net Nominate A Guest for the podcast Starting Lineup Marriage Series (free on our website!)

About Sonya Sonya is the founder and Executive Director of Possibility Place, a Christ-centered educational day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is also the mother of two grown sons, one of which has autism and was the drive behind Possibility Place. Her passion is to see children and adults with special needs have every opportunity to reach goals beyond what was predicted for them with any diagnosis or label. Her dream is to see them fully integrated into a society that sees their value, a society that shifts the focus to what they CAN do instead of what they cannot. Related Links Learn more about Possibility Place! Rising Above App

About Joni Joni Eareckson Tada is founder and CEO of Joni and Friends, an organization that provides Christian outreach in the disability community. Joni is the author of numerous bestselling books, including Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story and When God Weeps. Joni and her husband, Ken, reside in Calabasas, CA. Favorite Quotes "Give thanks for those things you can give thanks for." -Joni "Once you live a life of gratitude, it permeates everything you do." -Joni Related Links Joni and Friends Website Facebook: @joniandfriends.idc Instagram: @joniandfriends Twitter: @JoniandFriends Starting Lineup for Married Couples Practicing the Presence of Jesus - Joni's new book

About the Episode The moms from the "Take Heart Special Moms" podcast (Carrie, Amy, and Sara) join Becky to discuss 'Avoiding the Comparison Trap.' This one can be tricky for moms anywhere, and we hope this episode will be helpful for you as a part of our Flip Side series. Related Links Take Heart Special Moms website Take Heart Special Moms podcast Sara Clime's podcast episode Carrie Holt's podcast episode Amy J. Brown's podcast episode Rising Above app

Sandra & Melanie join Becky to discuss gratitude and how the practice of thankfulness can benefit our special-needs journey. Related Links ThanksforGiving campaign Sponsor an episode of the Rising Above podcast!