After 13 years in the same place, guest blogger Maggi Gale and her husband are in the midst of an unexpected move. They are sorting through items stored in their loft (called an attic in the States) for 13 years. In the process, Maggi discovered some special needs hidden treasures to pass along to you.<\/em><\/p>\n July has found us up the loft, in shock over all the belongings we\u2019d left there 13 years ago and subsequently forgotten! Now, through situations beyond our control, it\u2019s time to sort through, condense, and discard, our not necessarily unwanted, but definitely unneeded possessions. Everything from homemade ceramic pots to childhood photos have all come up for scrutiny and added to the trash or treasure piles.<\/p>\n At first I was completely overwhelmed by the task. How could we possibly get rid of that book? I\u2019ve had it since primary school! And these baby clothes! She was so cute in that! Practically speaking however, how could we keep it when we live overseas and the loft is no longer available to us? And hang on, if we haven\u2019t used it for 13 years, looks like we don\u2019t actually NEED it now.<\/p>\n But as I\u2019ve realized that some things are treasures\u2013just someone else\u2019s treasure rather than mine\u2013and then taken them to the charity shop, a feeling of liberty has begun to replace the overwhelmed one.<\/p>\n The truth is, we are not defined by our possessions. Yes, our possessions can say a lot about us and reflect our values, tastes and even experiences. But there\u2019s a better and more eternal reference point for identity than the loft.<\/p>\n The special needs parent has a multitude of good works to perform every day, which according to this verse, God has prepared beforehand. Most of those good works are just as hidden to the world as our belongings were for those 13 years in the loft. And as Christians, these good works we\u2019re doing can be part of the process of His workmanship in us.<\/p>\n So as we sort through our things, I\u2019m keeping in mind that I am who I am because that is what God says. He knows who He made me to be. And special needs parenting has been a modelling tool in the hands of the ultimate Potter!<\/p>\n Have you discovered some special needs hidden treasures on your parenting journey? You’re invited to share them in the comment box if you like.<\/p>\n Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.4.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″ background_color=”#b4dbc0″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiJCeSAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl9hcmNoaXZlIn19@” image=”http:\/\/differentdream.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/DSC-3339.jpg” icon_placement=”left” image_max_width=”100px” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.10.5″ _dynamic_attributes=”title” header_font=”Rubik|500|||||||” header_text_color=”#44465f” header_font_size=”14px” header_line_height=”32px” body_font=”Rubik||||||||” body_text_color=”rgba(0,6,69,0.6)” body_link_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_css_main_element=”font-weight: 400;” border_radii_image=”on|100px|100px|100px|100px” border_color_all_image=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical_image=”20px” box_shadow_blur_image=”40px” box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(68,70,95,0.27)” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Maggi is a wife and mother of two daughters. She is a primary school teacher, having worked in Africa for 14 years before moving to the Middle East. Her passions are her animals and art. Her youngest daughter was born with<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF)<\/a>. This birth condition was to be the start of an arduous journey, impacting the whole family for several years. Through writing, she hopes to turn her experiences into encouragement for others on similar paths.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.4.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”4.4.2″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#42313A” button_bg_color=”#EBDCB2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_comments][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”4.4.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.2″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”#42313A” background_color_gradient_end=”#EBDCB2″ background_color_gradient_direction=”159deg” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#1c1259″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.2″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|0px|5px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”horizontal_optin_column_1″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.2″ header_text_align=”right” header_text_color=”#45107a” header_3_font=”Dancing Script|700|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#B4DBC0″ header_3_font_size=”45px” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.3.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_signup mailchimp_list=”JolenePhilo|89f719a52b” layout=”bottom_top” first_name_fullwidth=”off” last_name_field=”off” email_fullwidth=”off” module_class=”custom_emailoptin” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ form_field_focus_background_color=”#42313A” background_enable_color=”off” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#42313A” button_bg_color=”#B4DBC0″ button_border_width=”2px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” button_custom_margin=”5px||||false|false” button_custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_width_all_fields=”2px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.2″ header_font=”EB Garamond|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#B6452C” header_font_size=”50px” header_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”current” show_more=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ header_text_color=”#42313A” meta_font=”||on||||||” read_more_font=”|||on|||||” read_more_text_color=”#B6452C” read_more_font_size=”12px” pagination_text_color=”#B6452C” pagination_font_size=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Parents of kids with special needs can have a hard time finding hidden treasures on their journey. Guest blogger Maggie Gale shares a treasure she found.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[caption id=\"attachment_10457\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]Special Needs Hidden Treasures<\/h3>\n
Hidden Treasures in the Loft<\/h4>\n
Hidden Treasures in our Faith<\/h4>\n
Hidden Treasures in God’s Hands<\/h4>\n
What Are Your Special Needs Hidden Treasures?<\/h3>\n
Subscribe for Updates from Jolene<\/h3>\n
Related Posts<\/h1>\n
![\"Parents](\"http:\/\/differentdream.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/hidden-treasures.jpg\")
<\/a> Photo Credit: Stuart Miles at www.freedigitalphotos.net<\/a>[\/caption]\n\nAfter 13 years in the same place, guest blogger Maggie Gale<\/a> and her husband are in the midst of an unexpected move. They are sorting through items stored in their loft (called an attic in the States) for 13 years. In the process, Maggie discovered some special needs hidden treasures to pass along to you.<\/em>\nSpecial Needs Hidden Treasures<\/h3>\nJuly has found us up the loft, in shock over all the belongings we\u2019d left there 13 years ago and subsequently forgotten! Now, through situations beyond our control, it\u2019s time to sort through, condense, and discard, our not necessarily unwanted, but definitely unneeded possessions. Everything from homemade ceramic pots to childhood photos have all come up for scrutiny and added to the trash or treasure piles.\n
Hidden Treasures in the Loft<\/h4>\nAt first I was completely overwhelmed by the task. How could we possibly get rid of that book? I\u2019ve had it since primary school! And these baby clothes! She was so cute in that! Practically speaking however, how could we keep it when we live overseas and the loft is no longer available to us? And hang on, if we haven\u2019t used it for 13 years, looks like we don\u2019t actually NEED it now.\n\nBut as I\u2019ve realized that some things are treasures\u2013just someone else\u2019s treasure rather than mine\u2013and then taken them to the charity shop, a feeling of liberty has begun to replace the overwhelmed one.\n
Hidden Treasures in our Faith<\/h4>\nThe truth is, we are not defined by our possessions. Yes, our possessions can say a lot about us and reflect our values, tastes and even experiences. But there\u2019s a better and more eternal reference point for identity than the loft.\n