Karen F. Jackson - Loving Samantha

PRAISE FOR KAREN JACKSONS LOVING SAMANTHA

Loving Samantha is a friendly, folksy look into the life of a family with a member with autism. Karen Jackson presents the new normalcy of life with a child with autism in a compelling and loving way. You feel the frustration of a family juxtaposed with the joys. Altogether, the stories have the purpose of sharing with families of children with autism, that you are not alone in your joys and challenges and experience. Karen also provides a road map of how others can come alongside in loving support to the person and family affected by autism. The stories are also instructive to religious communities to better support persons with disabilities and their families.

Jeff McNair, author of The Church and Disability

As a storyteller, Karen Jackson shares the joys and challenges of including her daughter Samantha in the sacraments and worship of her church. Jackson combines deeply moving moments, instructive advice, spiritual insight, probing questions, and humor to channel the reader into new ways of thinking and loving. I recommend Loving Samantha without reservation to parents of children with various disabilities, to disability professionals, and to faith leaders.

Ginny Thornburgh, Former Director, Interfaith Initiative American Association of People with Disabilities and coauthor of That All May Worship

Karen Jackson honestly brings to light the daily (often hourly) challenges of parenting a child with a disability. Within those struggles is a message of hope, faith, and humility in demonstrating that this is not a job to be done relying only on ones own strength. This inspiring book shows joy in the midst of a 24/7 responsibility. Caregivers of children with disabilities will find hope, humor, and healing in this volume, formatted for group or individual reflection.

Rosemarie Scotti Hughes, PhD, Dean Emerita, School of Psychology and Counseling, Regent University, LPC, LMFT, Faith Inclusion Network board co-chair, and author of Parenting a Child with Special Needs

Karens work reminds us of the opportunity we have to walk alongside people who live with disabilities like autism, and to do the same for the caregivers who are with them every day, all day. Her stories and thought-provoking questions will encourage both caregivers and their support networks. Most importantly, this book serves as a very practical and eye-opening introduction to disability, which impacts almost one in five people, but which so often seems overlooked by the other four.

Dan Vander Plaats, Director of Advancement, Elim Christian Services

Parenting a child with special needs is the hardest job Karen Jackson has ever held. But, as shes discovered through parenting Samantha who lives with autism, its also the most rewarding, faith-building, and surprising job shes ever held. In Loving Samantha she tells stories of raising her daughter and how being Samanthas mom led to the creation of the Faith Inclusion Network (FIN). These Samantha stories will make you laugh and cry and pray as you get to know Samantha. By the end of the book, you will want to meet Samantha and her mother in person and to join FIN or create a similar network where you live. This book is encouragement for parents who are committed to the hardest and most rewarding, faith-building, and surprising job they have ever held: parenting precious children with special needs.

Jolene Philo, national speaker, special needs blogger, and author of the Different Dream Parenting series and The Caregivers Notebook: An Organizational Tool and Support to Help You Care for Others

Karen Jackson invites readers into life with her daughter Samantha, weaving personal stories of living with autism into learning moments from scripture. Each brief chapter works well as a stand-alone devotional, encouraging readers to look for ways their own life experiences resonate with her journey with special needs. Karen is generously donating proceeds from the book to benefit the Faith Inclusion Network, equipping both special needs families and faith communities.

Dr. Lorna Bradley, Scholar in Residence at The Healing and Hope Center Institute, Houston, TX and author of Special Needs Parenting: From Coping to Thriving

Stories of Family and Friends, Faith, Love, and Community in a World that Includes Autism and Special Needs

By Karen F. Jackson

Loving Samantha

by Karen F. Jackson

Copyright 2014 Karen F. Jackson

ISBN 978-1-63393-085-8

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the author.

Published by

www.faithinclusionnetwork.org

www.facebook.com/FINhamptonroads

PO Box 6123

Norfolk, VA 23508

Produced by

In association with IngramSpark

Cover by Danielle Kehler

Acknowledgements

The publishing of this book was made possible through the financial support of some extremely generous family members, friends, and acquaintances from many different areas of my life. Many thanks to my extended family, members of Faith Inclusion Network of Hampton Roads, and members of my Living in Holland support group, friends at The Williams School, Norfolk, VA, and members of my home church, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, also in Norfolk, VA.

I am also grateful to my friend, John Koehler of Koehler Books Publishing who encouraged me to, Just keep writing, Karen, for years, and to my new friend and editor, Lynda Gorniewicz, for her belief, right from the start, in the message of hope and faith in Loving Samantha.

I would also like to thank TWS friends, Pam and Megan Robinson, both creative and gifted photographers who spent a wonderful afternoon with me and Samantha, taking photos used in the design of the cover and for publicity.

A special thank you to my family; my husband, Scott and children, Joseph, Samantha, and Jacob. I feel amazingly blessed to know you, love you, and be on lifes journey with you.

And finally, I give thanks to an amazing God who put the desire in my heart to share some of my stories in Loving Samantha. Should this book encourage or bless even one person, it would have been well worth all the effort. Praise and glory be to you, Lord God.

Preface

WHEN I first began to seriously contemplate writing a book about my experiences with my daughter, Samantha, I questioned whether or not it was a good idea. I asked myself, Does the world really need another book about being the parent of a child with special needs, autism in particular? Did I really have something to say that others have not already shared? Do I even have the time in my life for this new project? With time and prayerful consideration, I decided to proceed with caution.