Clay Boatright - Gods Plan, Our Circus: A Family Odyssey through Autism, Death, and Reinvention

One might expect a book that includes significant disability, cancer, and the hand of God to be comprised of the sappy platitudes and euphemisms that fill the pages of the kind of inspiration porn that litters the shelves of the parenting section of your local bookseller. This book is decidedly NOT that.

This is the story of a scrappy, devoted, and self-deprecating couple who refused to pretend everything was just fine at the same time they refused to give up on joy, love, and humor in the face of chronic challenges. Clays narration demonstrates that joy, gratitude, anger, grief, celebrationeven double entendresand Christianity are not mutually exclusive. More than that, it lays bare one mans unshakeable devotion to and gratitude for the four women who powerfully shaped his lifeCarole, Blaire, Paige, and Mia.

Sara Gelser Blouin,Oregon State Senator, Former Member, National Council on Disability

Cancer, disabilities, death... followed by months of isolated quarantine and lost in the depths of deep grief. Where do you find hope when unrelenting hardships have invaded, and youre stumbling through the splintered remains of shattered dreams?

You saturate your soul in the words of this book, Gods Plan, Our Circus. Clay is unapologetically honest, unquestionably reassuring as he weaves humor and humility throughout the pages. I pray his words provide hope as you rebuild your life, renew your trust in God. As Clay will tell you, God will redeem your pain; watch His good plan unfold!

Colleen Swindoll-Thompson, Vice President, Insight for Living Founder, Reframing Ministries

Saturated with wisdom and humor, Gods Plan, Our Circus is a well-written adventure taking us through the tangible trials of life. Clay Boatright clinched the undeniable emotions for a passionate and driven follower of Christ walking through tragedy and unexpected heartbreak. Clay conveys his wealth of wisdom and credibility as an advocate in his role as a husband, father, and servant leader. This book is profound and exudes courage and hope in the midst of doubt.

Ronald Brown, Executive Pastor, Shoreline City Church, Past President, The Arc of the United States

Early in Clay Boatrights credo, he describes an ah-hah! moment where he accepts that his sole purpose is to care for family. He didnt realize his steps would go far beyond his cherished wife and daughters.

As a disability advocate, I always wanted his strong voice in our mission. Clay didnt take no for an answer, and his passionate and committed leadership continues to benefit many thousands of people with disabilities. Readers need not be spiritual or have experience with disability to find the moral compass in Clays journey.

Dennis Borel, Executive Director, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities

It was a pleasure reading this book. I love the humor and the faith-based perspective that permeated every story. Being a parent of an adult son with autism, I can appreciate how much faith and humor are needed, otherwise it can be very overwhelming. The book is well written, easy to read, and interesting. One of my favorite things about the book is the highlighted lessons learned. They are wonderful insights to live by.

Nagla N. Moussa, Founder, National Autism Association of North Texas

If the title doesnt grab you, the life in these pages will. Gods Plan, Our Circus is a lasting memoir of a man who found ways to understand, remain relevant, and stay true to a God calling that most would swear they would never doand most will never face. If you believe and think youre mentally incapable, unable to endure, and wont be able to handle something in life, most likely you wont. Clays words treat us to facing what never, always, and most likely may be for real, but he devotes huge sections of writing to the core needs within any man or woman who wants to deepen ideas of faith, mental health, and advocacy in their life.

What was profoundly the most helpful and meaningful to me as Licensed Professional Counselor, were the unspoken ways Clay indirectly and succinctly grasped how wide, deep, and far the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18) may be for him or any human in any manner of pain or circumstances. I highly recommend reading in full the entirety of this book, no matter what your own reference point for pain may be. You may either find a friend in its pages or a new lease on life from one who is still pursuing life fully.

Andrew Siefers, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor

GODS PLAN, OUR CIRCUS

A FAMILY ODYSSEY THROUGH AUTISM, DEATH, AND REINVENTION

CLAY BOATRIGHT

Stonebrook Publishing

Saint Louis, Missouri

A STONEBROOK PUBLISHING BOOK
2023 Clay Boatright

This book was guided in development and
edited by Nancy L. Erickson, The Book Professor
TheBookProfessor.com

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Stonebrook Publishing, a division of Stonebrook Enterprises, LLC, Saint Louis, Missouri. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission from the author.

Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022919505

ISBN: 978-1-955711-22-7

eBook ISBN: 978-1-955711-23-4

www.stonebrookpublishing.net

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

For a powerhouse girl from Memphis, Carole Beall Boatright, and our three daughters, whom she loved more than life itselfBlaire, Paige, and Mia.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

PLEASE FILL OUT THESE FORMS, and the doctor will be in soon, our pediatricians nurse told us at the twenty-four-month well-baby visit.

Can walk downstairs while holding hands and Uses words like me, I, or you were two of the twenty-five statements on each form. Carole held Paige and filled it out while I did the same for Mia. We completed the forms, looked at each other, and our stomachs churned. Neither one of us had checked off anything.

There seems to be something going on here, our doctor told us. I think you should go to Easter Seals for an evaluation.

Easter Seals? I thought that was for children in wheelchairs.

They are clearly behind their two-year-old peers, the Easter Seals director said. I think that developmental gap is going to increase.

What do they have? Carole asked as tears formed in her eyes.

I hate to diagnose at this early age, the doctor replied. Labels can be detrimental to children as they grow, and it really wont affect your course of action.

Thats bull! I shouted. You said our children will not develop normally. What do you think is wrong?

She saw the anger in my eyes and knew she had to shoot straight.

If I had to make a diagnosis today, she said as the tension in the room mounted, I would say they have intellectual disabilities and probably autism as well.