Author Archives: ryan85

About ryan85

A son, a brother, a husband, a father of eight, and a friend. A follower of Jesus Christ. A fan of the Seminoles and all teams Atlanta. I write, I read, and teach when I can. I prefer red pens. I'm easily distracted. I've lived in Augusta, GA, northern Minnesota, the beautiful western NC mountains, and Tallahassee, FL - Go 'Noles. I played football for FSU, was on the national championship team in 1999, and took a few snaps with the Pittsburgh Steelers. My favorite colors are fluorescent yellow, and Garnet & Gold. I drive a minivan and think it's cool.

This kid’s not Normal.

Posted on April 22, 2013

I’m telling you what, we know so little about Autism, but the human mind is absolutely stunning. This kid’s not Normal, which is just awesome!

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Soggy Cereal

Posted on April 3, 2013

I really wish I was better. I wish I had more patience, more sympathy, more understanding. But unfortunately, I’m not. Here’s what happened… Caedmon, Jackson, Andrew and I were enjoying a nice breakfast with Captain Crunch. I succumbed to my greatest grocery store weakness – the cereal … Continue reading →

Posted in For Parents | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

To This Day

Posted on February 21, 2013

I came across this today and like a master’s painting of scenes from the holocaust, it’s haunting and beautiful at one time. Many of us and many of our kids know well the experiences and emotions of which Koyczan speaks. … Continue reading →

Video | Posted on February 21, 2013 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How we remodeled our bathroom to make it accessible.

Posted on January 26, 2013

We moved into our current home in the spring of 2012 and knew we would like to make some improvements for accessibility. The first thing we did, and anytime I say “we” I mean hired pros to do it for … Continue reading →

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Extraordinary Books: The Bryson City Series

Posted on January 23, 2013

This collection of books are some of my all-time favorites. Partly because they are written well, partly because they’re full of rich characters and pleasant stories, but mostly because of how much these books resonated with me and how I came upon … Continue reading →

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How can I reach out to a family with Special Needs?

Posted on January 19, 2013

I was given the opportunity to write an article for The Old Schoolhouse magazine on the topic of special needs and hospitality. Inspired by the moving story of Mephibosheth from the Old Testament, “Hospitality That Proclaims the Gospel” provides one … Continue reading →

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Why it’s okay to think of yourself first.

Posted on January 11, 2013

Caregivers are often unaware of their own stress and depression, but many of them are depressed 50 percent of the time. Not only is the day-to-day caregiving difficult and challenging, but the financial impact on caring for the disabled can … Continue reading →

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Extraordinary Books: All He Needs for Heaven

Posted on December 13, 2012

At a recent conference I had the privilege of meeting Chet McDoniel. I met him in front of his booth, where he was promoting his speaking ministry and selling his books. I purchased two volumes, one written by Chet and the other … Continue reading →

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Albert Camus, Speaking of Normal

Posted on August 8, 2012

“Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.”

Posted in Speaking of Normal | Tagged | 2 Comments

Nobody’s Normal, in Print

Posted on August 4, 2012

In case you’re interested, the August issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine features an article I wrote called “Nobody’s Normal.” If you frequent this blog the ideas in the article will be familiar, but I was able to illustrate it … Continue reading →

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