I am a mom that writes. I come from a family of storytellers, so I used to be a kid that writes, and a teenager that writes (I have several journals, stories, and even a novel from my teen years). But it was becoming a mother that pushed me to write “in public.” When my second daughter was born with Down syndrome, she challenged what I viewed as perfect, worthy, important, and valuable in life. I had received her as a broken baby, only to quickly recognize that I was the broken one. The treasures I have discovered along the way are not found in strength, performance, eloquence, character or confidence. They are found in brokenness, where beauty is found unexpectedly as a result of God’s love and compassion transforming my life. I began to use our family blog to share our new journey with our friends and family. Blogging helped me rediscover my love for writing and storytelling.
I still keep up with that blog, These Broken Vases: Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places.
Besides being a writer, my most important roles are within my family. I am a wife to Andy and I like my husband… a lot. He is a real man of integrity and I respect and admire him greatly. He is a pastor, but before you think of me as “the pastor’s wife” please know that I am a broken person with much need of grace. I don’t play the piano, and although I have volunteered to sing on Sunday mornings, Andy keeps telling me I am more needed sitting on the pews with our girls. Never mind our worship team only has 2 people in it, and only one sings. I suppose he is only taking care of his people, that’s what pastors do.
We have 3 girls. Ellie, our oldest, is a talented little artist and one of the most accepting and compassionate human beings I know. Nichole is our youngest, she has Down syndrome, and she is a rascal (she thinks she can get away with rascal activities because she has Down syndrome, like it was an excuse or a reason not to help out at home). Then there is Nina, our middle child, who joined our family through international adoption, she has cerebral palsy. I never thought I would end up being the mom of a child with special needs, let alone two of them! Nevertheless, now special needs defines our family and our church. Most days I love it!
You want to know one of the biggest passions that developed out of the children I have? To see the church embrace people with disabilities. Not out of pity or out of service, but out of a genuine understanding, acceptance, and celebration of their life.
I am a Latin girl, born and raised in Mexico City. I moved to the United States when I was 17 years old. I don’t think I have an accent, but there are some words that give me trouble, like “non” vs. “nun” and some other crazy vowel sounds and combinations you English speaking people use. On the other hand, I can roll my Rs like a champion, can you?
Please take a moment to look around and visit the blog. I am so glad you are here!
And if you are a “somebody” that writes or blogs, join me every Monday for a writing-prompt and let’s write together! Whether you need some inspiration or you just want to have fun with words, it would be great to have you join in.
I love to hear from you so leave me a comment or contact me.
Ellen,
Your blog looks great! Keep up the good work! I love these two pics of your family – and your hair looks so good (I say that with a little Christian envy ‘cuz I have problems getting mine to look good
So glad I got to know you a little before you moved…hope you can go to Michigan for the Breathe Conference in October! I’ll try to check in and do the writing prompt with you each week….
Blessings to you and your precious family,
~Robyn
Oh Robyn you are great! And I am planning on coming, it is in my calendar and Andy knows he will have to be in charge of the kids!
I love this new site (and your other blog). The pics are great too. I need a good long sit down at Starbucks to bust out a writing prompt. So good for the soul. Thanks for sharing.
Heather would like you to read..Soul Food
Thanks for stopping by Heather, I hope you do join the writing prompt! We are all learning together as we go
Thank you for inviting me to this site. Love looking at the photos and hearing about you and your family. You are a gifted writer Ellen. I am retired now but still sub occasionally in ele. resource and reading classrooms.
Cathy
Thanks for stopping by Cathy!
Hi Ellen! I lost your phone number from my phone. I’d love to catch up with you again now that the kids are back in school. Hope you are all doing well. Take care!
Hi!
I went to school with your husband and got to your blog from Facebook. I just wanted to tell you that I was deeply, deeply touched to read your post about your beautiful child with down syndrome. She is absolutely beautiful. What a gift all of your children are and please, keep spreading awareness that all children deserve a right to live and to be loved. May God bless you and your family today and every day.
Sincerely,
Beth
Thank you Beth, for taking the time to leave a comment here. And yes, I love to share the beauty of my child. She might be “differetn” in some ways, but her life is beautiful and we are so in love with her.
Ellen, It was so nice to meet you at the Breathe Conference. I read some of your bio to my wife, who also grew up in Mexico City and moved to the States when she was seventeen. Her mother is from the US and went to Mexico for a semester of foreign studies and came back 25 years later!
We are the family that has 12 children. 8 adopted. 2 sibling groups of 4. 4,4, and 4. My wife warmly refers to them as the original recipe, crispy, and extra crispy.
I could go on quite a while about our story but maybe another time.
Again, it was good to connect with you!
Blessings!
Jerry, it was so great to connect with you! I see you have a blog as well, I will have to stop by. What did your wife thinking about moving at 17? It was hard for me! And I would love to know more about your adoption stories, have you blogged about those?
I am looking forward to meeting you this weekend in the Great Wolf Lodge WI. Are we going to have many planned activities or is it going to be mostly unscheduled?
Ahhh!!! Just saw this. Obviously, you already know;) So so great to meet your family!
Hey sweet Friend! We love seeing and hearing about your family! I miss you! Hope your birthday was a blessed one. Loving you!
Thanks Sheila, hope your birthday was great too! I got to celebrate wit my entire family, so that was really nice. Hope you are all doing well, we miss your family!
I stumbled upon a picture that had your website at the bottom of the photo. The picture caught my eye because the little girl looked identical to my little girl, Ava. Same hair, body build, facial features, glasses, and braces. Even Ava and the family was convinced it was Ava. It is the picture of her putting on braces. Amazing blog, story, and encouragement you are to many people. May God continue to bless you and your family!
Thanks for leaving a comment Jessica! How old is your Ava?
Ellen,
I stumbled upon your site through Facebook as someone had shared your post “I See You”, I read it and it describes me in a lot of ways!! I have a 4 year old son who was born blind and has many medical conditions and is developmentally delayed. It most definitely takes special people to be the parents of such amazing children. I would not change my life the way it is for anything in this world. God has blessed us with these little angels for a reason. I will continue to follow you on here!!! God bless!
Korin, thank you for sharing about your son. And yes, my kids with special needs are a blessing in my life. Amazing how God has used them to change my heart.
Ellen, I found a like to your blog on Facebook and enjoyed reading your post about being a pastor’s wife who sometimes doesn’t feel like going to church. I’m sorry you’ve felt that way but, I can certainly understand! My husband of 26 years is also a pastor and we have three boys. Our youngest, Nathan, has Down Syndrome. He is 16 now (his brothers 18, and 21) I’ve gone through some difficult times in the last few years and I’m so proud to say our church has loved me well. (we’ve been in other places of ministry where I couldn’t say that) They have let me take the time I’ve need away from responsibilities at church. They have shown real concern for me as a person during this time. (Physical problems, leading to depression/anxiety) I’m so proud of them and can say how thankful I am to be in this place of ministry during my difficult days. I pray you find even one of two ladies who can love you for you, no matter how you are doing.
So glad I found your blog. I plan to look around some more. Thanks for blessing me with your writings.
Linda
Hello Linda, so glad you found me here, and thank you so much for reaching out! You certainly understand as a pastor’s wife and as a special needs mom