When your children are born with a rare, life-limiting genetic disorder, you learn to treasure the moments most people take for granted. ❤️ Hazel and Russell have both outlived the average lifespan for children with their disorder, NKH. And yet, here they are. Growing, laughing, making memori

Two kids. One incredibly rare genetic disorder. Two very different abilities. Hazel and Russell both have NKH, a life-limiting genetic disorder we were told would take their lives years ago. But here we are, packing backpacks, getting ready for school, and celebrating another ordinary morning tha

We’re inviting the people who don’t always get invited. ❤️ #luke14ministries #specialneeds #luke14party

Some people call me Mom. Others call me Julia. And some just call me Ju. But I hope one day you’ll call me when you’re ready to change the way your kids see kids like mine. ❤️ Because inclusion doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with a conversation. And that’s exactly why I started Th

How are my special needs mamas doing post election?

Grief has a way of convincing us to stop living while we’re still alive. Sometimes we need to sit on the couch. We need to cry, rest, and feel the weight of what we’ve lost or the life we never imagined we’d be living. But we can’t stay there forever. I’ve learned that moving forward doesn

Today marked my 33rd Hazelnut Movement program. ❤️ 33 times I’ve stood in front of students and talked about disability, inclusion, kindness, and the power of friendship. But today was different. For the first time in 33 programs, I was brought to tears. Today was powerful. A reminder o

Some nights I ask God, “Why me?” Other days I whisper, “Thank You that it gets to be me.” Here’s the honest truth. I am a mess. In the dark places of my life, in the late hours of the night, I struggle to trust God. Why me, God? Why my kids? Why couldn’t this have happened to someone els

Who says kids with disabilities can’t enjoy all the fun of childhood? 🎃❤️ Sometimes inclusion isn’t about doing something extraordinary. It’s about making sure every child has the opportunity to experience the ordinary moments that make childhood so special. Different abilities. Same value. S

#momlife #moms #crockpotmeals

Your suffering doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Sometimes, the greatest impact comes when we use what we’ve walked through to help someone else. ❤️ Who could your story help today? #SufferingToPurpose #FaithOverFear #PurposeInPain #GodsPlan #TurnPainIntoPurpose

Our habits are shaping our lives every single day, and the crazy part? Most of the time, we don’t even realize we’re doing them. Some habits keep us stuck. Others help us grow, heal, and thrive. Over the years, I’ve learned that thriving in a life I never planned doesn’t happen by accident.

Back in our NICU days, I remember thinking, “How can I possibly feel joy when my child is dying?” 💔 We were given a devastating diagnosis and a future filled with uncertainty. I was so consumed by the fear of losing Hazel that I almost felt guilty experiencing anything other than sadness. Loo

When my kids were born, we were told their lives would be short. NKH could have taken them from us in those first 10 days, and we would have missed out on YEARS of memories, laughter, love, and moments like this. I often think about all the beautiful moments we never would have experienced if th

They told us all the things Russell might never do. But his life has shown us that disability doesn’t define someone’s worth. ❤️ That’s why I write children’s books that teach kids to see beyond disabilities and choose inclusion. 📚 Shop our books through the link in my bio! #DisabilityInc

When I was pregnant with Russell, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. I made the decision to fight for his life, even if it meant risking my own. What I didn’t know then was that Russell would be born with an incredibly rare, life-limiting genetic disorder called NKH. I fought for his li

When I was pregnant with Russell, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The doctors presented us with two choices. The safest option medically was to end my pregnancy and perform a radical hysterectomy. But for me, there was only one choice. I was going to fight for my son’s life, even if it

It took me five years to work through enough grief to finally begin seeing joy in a life I never would have chosen. Not because the hard things went away. Not because I stopped grieving what could have been. But because I started recognizing the beauty in what was right in front of me. I lear

It’s a strange kind of grief to celebrate every year of life while watching the gap between them and their peers grow wider. We love them exactly as they are, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. ❤️ If you understand this kind of grief, you’re not alone. Share your experience below.