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Parenting to Impress

Encouragement to Impress | Deuteronomy 6:7

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Disabilities

When we dreamed about a family, my husband and I never imagined the challenges that we would face.  It wasn't in our plans to have children with diagnoses and disabilities.   But, none of this was a surprise to God.  He knew that our children would need us; and we would need them.

This blog was started to encourage and help families, especially those with challenging children.   While reading these posts, I pray that you will find ideas to implement in your home.  Secondly, I pray that you will find hope and encouragement knowing that you are not alone.  Finally, we pray that God will use Our Story to encourage you.

Calming Sensory Strategies for Children on the Go

05/25/2026 by Heidi 4 Comments

A young boy covering his ears.

There are moments when everything seems fine one second, and the next, the child is completely overwhelmed. I saw it often in my own home—usually when noise, emotions, and too much stimulation built up faster than one of my kiddos could process. In those moments, movement became one of the most effective tools in my parenting toolbox. I remember ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder

The Hard Reality and Hidden Purpose of ADHD Parenting

05/04/2026 by Heidi Leave a Comment

Mom and child on a road.

When Bubs was just a baby, I read a parenting book written by a mom raising a boy with ADHD. At the time, I didn’t know much about ADHD. I remember thinking how incredibly hard that must be—parenting a child who never slows down, who struggles to focus, who acts before thinking. I had no idea I was reading a glimpse of my own future. Bubs—our ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: ADHD, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder

How to Know If a Child Has a Disability

01/19/2026 by Heidi

A young boy covering his ears.

There are moments in motherhood when a quiet question keeps returning: Is this just a phase, or is something more going on? I remember asking that question again and again, unsure if I was being overly concerned or not concerned enough. This post was originally written in April 2015, a season when I felt confused, overwhelmed, and desperate for ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: Sensory Processing Disorder

How to Teach Volume Control: Free PDF

08/18/2025 by Heidi

Volume Control Chart, used when teaching quiet voices to children

“Why are you using your yelling voice?” “Please turn down your volume.” “I need you to talk quieter, please.” Do those phrases sound familiar in your home? If so, friend, you’re not alone. Those were regular lines in our home when my son was younger. For the longest time, I felt like a broken record, constantly reminding him to lower his ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: Day to Day, Mommyhood, Parenting, Sensory Processing Disorder

When Occupational Therapy isn’t an Option

07/14/2025 by Heidi

child jumping on mini trampoline

If you’re raising a child with Sensory Processing Disorder and don’t have access to occupational therapy (OT), I see you. It’s overwhelming, and the daily challenges can leave you feeling helpless and alone. But mama, you are not without tools or hope. While OT is a wonderful resource, I want to share practical, home-based strategies that made a ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: Day to Day, Mommyhood, Obstacle Course, Occupational Therapy, Parenting, Sensory Input, Sensory Processing Disorder, Structure, Trampoline

When “Normal” Doesn’t Fit Your Child

06/23/2025 by Heidi

A boy sitting on a couch, covered by pillows.

When I imagined becoming a mom, I pictured sleepy baby snuggles, first words, and sweet milestones. I didn’t picture the first month of my child’s life being spent at a children’s hospital after open-heart surgery. I didn’t expect therapy appointments to fill our calendar, or for terms like “neurophysiologist,” “psychiatrist,” and “conduct ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: Sensory Processing Disorder

What to Do When Sensory Emotions Explode

06/16/2025 by Heidi

A child in a meltdown

Sharing a past post in the prayers that it will be helpful to many. It was the perfect scenario—or so I thought. We had just left church, and Grams was sitting in the backseat cuddling with Bubs (age seven). We picked up pizza and chatted about the fun day we had thus far with family. Once home, everyone gathered at the dinner table—except ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder

Do Your Understand Dyslexia: Dyslexia Bible Review

12/03/2024 by Heidi

Grace Bible for Kids Dyslexia Bible

Most likely you have heard about a learning disability called dyslexia. Many people associate it with reversing letters. But 2 years ago, I learned that about dyslexia on a personal level when after 10 years of searching for the cause, my daughter was given the dyslexia diagnosis finally providing a path to help. You may remember in my post ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities, Giveaway Tagged With: Bible, Giveaway

How Chores Can Help Reduce Child Anxiety

07/22/2024 by Heidi

The rise of anxiety.

Growing up on a farm, work was a significant part of my life. Whether it was loading livestock into the trailer, preserving vegetables from the garden, or cutting thistles when the grass was waist-high, there was always something to be done. It took everyone working together to stay on top of it. However, I believe that working together has many ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities, Mommyhood Tagged With: Autism, Books, Day to Day, Mommyhood, Review

Unlocking Your Child’s Development: New Checklists for Ages 1-5

02/26/2024 by Heidi

1-3 Year Developmental Checklists by ABCJesusLovesMe.com

Are you ready to better understand and nurture your child's development? As a fellow mom on this journey, I'm excited to introduce the latest tool from ABCJesusLovesMe to support you: brand-new developmental checklists tailored specifically for ages 1 through 5. Understanding your child's developmental milestones is crucial for providing the ...

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Filed Under: Disabilities Tagged With: ABCJesusLovesMe, Day to Day

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Heidi Sm
Welcome to my little place on the web! Here you will find encouragement to deepen your spiritual life, simplify daily tasks, and impress upon our children to live for Christ in this "out-of-sync" world. Thank you for stopping by. ~~Heidi

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