This Little Light of Mine

You may recall this song from your childhood:

This Little Light Of Mine Hymn

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

This song had came to mind this morning as I was reflecting on the gospel reading of the day:

Gospel lk 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God.”

During my reflection, I was struck with how easy it is to be selfish, yet not with merely material items, but with our time.  I was blessed to have been able to stay home with my kids for 14 years, homeschooling for 9 of those years.  Circumstances changed and I had to get back into the workforce while managing four children, two of whom have special needs, one with autism.  It's understandable the need I have to want to be selfish with my time to help my children with their needs.  However, my experience with my children can't be stored up for myself or simply for my family's benefit.  I am amazed as I work with other families and with their children, simply sharing my experiences blesses them!  It is truly sharing the richness of God.  

In essence, God did not wish for me to hide "my little light under a bushel" but to let it shine!  My little light is reflecting His light, which is the light of the world. Oh, the wonders He can do through us all if we just allow Him to shine!  

Did you know that life coaching can give you that space to discover the ways you can let your own light shine?  Yes!  You have a light that was ignited within you and yearns to shine forth!  You are only limited by where your allow the light to reflect!  

Contact me and explore how you can let your own light shine!  Call 208-966-4338 or 208-449-9019 or email me at Sheilamh67@gmail.com.

Why is taking care of our selves so hard to do?

How many times do you say, "I need to take better care of myself"?  It could be eating better, exercising, getting a full night's sleep, taking time to refresh, or even getting yourself to the doctor for a check up!

As a parent of a special needs child, that seems to be magnified.  Yes, even parents of neurotypical kids struggle with balancing their time and making healthy choices, but it seems, with regards to the challenges some of our kids are facing, parents of special needs kids continually put their own needs off in order to make sure their kids' needs are taken care of first.  Some parents end up with some serious health issues, emotional or mental health problems, marital issues, social isolation, and the list goes on.  Additionally, single parenting, in whatever form it can take, (deployment of a spouse, over worked spouse, etc.) is itself a challenging situation, and when you add the complexities involved in caring for children with health issues or who are developmentally delayed, it can be quite worrisome trying to figure out what to do in those "What if" scenarios.

I am learning, along with the parents I coach, the importance of putting time aside to care for my own needs.  In fact, right now, I'm writing this blog all hooked up with wires as I'm getting a sleep study done.  The last one I did, I was pregnant with Michael, 10 years ago.  I'm in need of a new machine, so here I am, fulfilling the insurance requirements to get another, newer machine as my last one finally broke down.  I certainly can testify to the necessity to take some time for myself to get refreshed and in this case, to care for a medical need I have so I can take better care of my kids and have more energry for the various activities we want to be a part of.  Despite the teasing I was getting, falling asleep while reading to the kids or praying during devotions, I want to have more energy and clarity of mind, not only with my own kids, but with the kids I am privileged to be working with.  God has given me many opportunities and I have to do my part to make life more fulfilling, not only for myself, but to truly help others with the best of my abilities.  I can, in this case, do my best with the gifts I have been given, when I am well rested.

Here I am, living it up on a Friday night!

What area of your life are you wanting to improve upon?  Working with a coach can help get you where you want to be.

Contact me today and we can take that first step together toward making the changes you have been putting off.

Call or e-mail me and we can get started with your free inquiry call!

208-449-9019 or 208-966-4338
Sheilamh67@gmail.com

Thinking Mom's Revolution's Mom needs our help

One benefit of having an online community is the ability to spread the word when someone is in need of help and support.  Truly, because of the fact that each of us is "Made in God's Image" we all can help in unique and wonderful ways when one member of our human family is in need.  On that note, I have been asked to pass along this message:

Melanie, aka:  TMR’s BK, Booty Kicker, is battling spine and liver cancer after having already beaten breast and bone cancer.

And on top of that she cares for her son with severe autism.
I can’t even imagine being in her shoes, as every autism mom knows, there are no sick days.
Help Melanie and her family out right now by donating here through Give Forward.Whether you can give, or if you can’t give, please share the link to this fundraiser.
You may think you can’t help, but you never know who will be reached if you share. One little click!
Be an active participant even if your bank account is empty :)Send your good thoughts, positive vibes, prayers and whatever you got.

Please do what you can to support this mother warrior in her battle.

You don't realize the power of one little word

I was gifted the other night, with the opportunity to simply listen to a mom's story who has special needs children.  This mom has a child severely affected with autism as well as some other special needs children in her family and is doing a remarkable job with a husband who works primarily out of town much of a year.  Let there be no  mistake about it.  Parenting one special needs child is hard enough, but having two or more can be downright daunting for the average person who will remark, "I don't know how you do it!"  Believe me, we don't really know, either, you just do what needs to be done and it's simply the love for one's children that drives parents.

What I have discovered working with special needs children and their families, each need to not only feel valued, but be valued.  One mother said to me that her disabled child "saved my life" due to a tumor being discovered while pregnant with this child during a routine ultrasound. 

The majority of the parents who have disabled or special needs children are suffering, however.  Whether it's lack of sleep due to their children's health issues; lack of a social life for both the parents and their children; trying to get the proper treatment, in it's various forms for their children; struggling with the school system to provide a proper education for their children, which is federally mandated by law; or financially making it due to one parent often needing to stay home with their children due to the severity of the child's disability.  Parents of special needs kids have to fight and advocate for EVERYTHING that most folks take for granted.  Even simple childhood activities like teaching kids to swim or ride their bikes is a huge undertaking, not to mention being invited to a peer's birthday party or social activity put on at school.  Sadly, some parents also report being asked not to come back to church due to their child's disruptive behavior. Many have simply stopped going because it's simply a huge ordeal to attend in even the best of circumstances. Our kids tend to get over stimulated and highly reactive and for those who don't feel supported they end up simply staying at home instead.  

What we can't forget, however, is in order for parents of special needs kids to care the best for their kids, they need to be supported and refueled on a regular basis rather than what tends to happen; forgotten.  We all tend to be wrapped up in our own worlds.  Its all to easy to do.  

What was such a blessing, however, to both me and this mom, was simply having a sacred space to talk and allow for her to pour her heart out; sharing unfulfilled plans and simply starting to express to another person the "wondering" as to how things can start to turn around for not only her kids, but for her, personally.  Simply by asking questions and offering support, this mom was blessed and so much so, that she reported to me that she had later had the best sleep she had had in a long time.  Wow!  Makes me wonder what more the Lord wants to do through our talks.  

As my kids are learning in our evening devotions, there is something to be said about "Hope"

"[b]we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but [c]we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  Romans 5:2b-5 NASB

You don't realize the power of just one little word.

On the Move

On the move.  For the second time since moving to Northern Idaho, we have moved, once again.  Fortunately, it was a short move, only to the house next door.  Despite the hassle that comes with moving, it has been a blessing to our family.  As I'm sitting on my deck, which is a much better deck than the house we left, I'm struggling to focus on just one positive result of our new living situation.  This house, although slightly smaller, has air conditioning, cheaper rent and more energy efficient as well has a bigger yard and awesome landlords:  our former neighbors!

I came out to the quiet of the deck to work on this post on a beautiful summer evening and before long, have been followed by two of my four children.  I lamented at coming out where it was "quiet" and they both retorted, "You have 4 children.  There's no such thing as having a quiet place".  With this house being smaller than our other house, it will be challenging to find such a quiet place to work when the kids are awake, but we will adjust.  My children are such a blessing to me.  Despite the challenges and trials of single parenting, each of my children are such a gift and we certainly are learning the art of compromise.

As I think about explaining the benefits of coaching, I'm keenly aware of the lessons the Lord is teaching me and making me aware of.  It takes asking the right questions, being sensitive to focusing on what is truly important in life, what one's values are and taking steps for positive change once that awareness is realized. It takes action!

It's hard to get going sometimes, though,  and the tendency is complacency and adapting to the way things are, but yet not really living life to the fullest.  What comes with that, of course, is a lack of growth and feeling "stuck" leading to frustration.  Being in a sense, "compelled to move", can have various results depending on one's disposition despite the circumstances.  I really don't like the process of moving.  My mother still lives in the house I was raised in and the only time I moved was when I was about 20 and I moved north from our family home south of Seattle up to Bellingham, roughly 100 miles away, to go to college.  The moves as a single person were of my own initiation and exciting.  I moved quite a few times during college and after but it was not a big deal as a young, single woman.  Once my husband and I got married, we moved twice before we started our family and lived in the same house for 12 years, where all our children were born.

Since Joshua, our youngest, was born 8 years ago, we have moved now, six times.  It is so much harder moving with children!  The last 3 times, since moving to Northern Idaho, we have been so blessed by friends and family, helping with packing and moving.  Despite the trials that come with moving, not to mention the disappointment of being asked to move due to owners wanting to sell the rental house, there is a lot to be learned and many blessings, especially when you make yourself open to them, "creating awareness".  For example, I am learning, as I near the end of my 40's, that "Less is more", and God has a plan and I need to trust Him in what I will be learning through the experience, gratefully purging and focusing on what is most important.  I am grateful for all the wonderful people we have met along our journey these past 8 years in the various places we have lived.  I am also learning how to manage each of my children's special needs while also figuring out how to balance my own, to not only get re-charged, but to find that quiet time and space to enjoy the Presence of the Lord so as to seek His direction as a parent and with regards to how He wants to use me, flawed as I am.  I am learning to prioritize and discerning what is taking up space and robbing time from what is of utmost importance.  There is truth to the adage to "count one's blessings" for they are always there.

Our family has been through a lot of changes these last 8 years, some have been challenging but within these times of change and challenge, we have learned a lot, especially in regards to God's faithfulness.  Life is full of change.  Hopefully, we are making changes for the better and I can see of no better way to support one another on this journey than the talks we have during our re-instituted evening devotions.  We currently reading the lives of the saints from Amy Welborn's Loyola Kids Book of Heroes and Loyola Kids Book of Saints.  We need all the help we can get along this life's journey and learning of the faith of those who have gone before us and how their experiences relate to ours, today, is a blessing our entire family benefits from.

How has God been moving you and how have you responded to life's changes?

What if...?

I'm currently working part time, as a Habilitative Intervention Specialist, with kids who have autism and dual diagnoses.  My personal experience, as well as listening to the stories of families who struggle with raising their children in this day and age, clearly exemplifies that we truly need "the village" to support us on this journey.  Parents are needing assistance in many valuable ways.

 Now, of course, all families need support, however, I would like to be so bold to say that in this day and age, with the government being the first to cut social services for those with disabilities, we need to be prepared to all pitch in to help those among us with special needs.  The private sector programs and associations that raise money to help our special needs kids, need to be supported.  There are a variety of treatment options, with the evidence based ones being gratefully covered by insurance.  However, there are also many treatment options out there not covered by insurance and some controversy with what treatments are best to use and whether or not diets are of any help with our special needs kids. Not to mention, families with special needs kids don't have a wealth of resources in my experience and are limited in what kind of treatments and special diets they can afford.   Oh, it would be great if kids could get a completely covered, full head to toe exam to see what is working properly in their bodies and what is not so that proper treatment can be utilized and healing could result!  Finding a doctor who is knowledgeable in biomedical approaches is a key factor and not always easily located or affordable.

In the mean time, families need to be supported in their communities and the various Churches need to be on the front line, not only providing financial assistance, but more importantly, volunteers need to be trained to walk along side these families and kids who are in need, especially when government resources become even more scarce.  Sounds a lot like the early Church, doesn't it?

I heard it said that the Church was always in the past, the social service sector of society, and I have confident that they, once again, can do an exceptional job as the storehouses of the Lord are limitless!  When I was in my early twenties, I was a staff member of a camp, Royal Family Kids Camp, funded not by the government, but by donors.  This week long camp was staffed by volunteers who were trained to work with kids with a history of abuse and neglect.  It's been going on for about 29 years now.  There are more and more resources  and ministries popping up to do just that with regards to children with special needs, such as  Key Ministry and Young Life, which has been doing such a ministry reaching out to teens with disabilities for years, with The Capernaum Project: .  I have the privilege of knowing the directors, Blaine and Susan Clyde who head up the ministry in Seattle, Young Life Open Door, which does such great work with these young people with such devotion and love.

How does a Life Coach play into all of this?  Coaching, whether Individual or Group Coaching, provides parents the space to explore what can help not only their kids, but their family in general, while also not forgetting the fact that while mom and dad are looking for ways to help their kids live out their potential, they also need to consider their own needs.  Parents of special needs kids easily "forget" that they need to give themselves some much needed "oxygen" (such as when an airplane loses cabin pressure) so that they can better serve their families.  What would it look like if you as a parent, had the space to discuss your dreams and make goals, not to the neglect of your family, of course, but to better enhance your marriage and family life in general?  What would it look like to see each member of your family achieve their God given potential and thus, positively impact the world around you?

If you would like to explore Life Coaching to see how it can positively impact your life, please contact me and if you are a parent of a special needs child, consider signing up for Group Coaching to not only learn from other parents, but be encouraged as you (re)discover dreams you may have put aside.  If you are drawn more to Individual Coaching, that is also easily arranged.  Please mention "Special Needs" to make use of the discount rate offered.

E-mail me or call today:  Sheilamh67@gmail.com or 208-966-4338 to schedule your first free inquiry call and discover what coaching can do for you and positively impact your family!