lift magazine 21-1

VOLUME 21 / ISSUE 1

Magazine

Sibling Sidelines

The Aftershock of Battle

Sharing Your Craft

A New Ministry

Winter 2011

Heaviness = Phortizo

Do you feel heavy?

On the CoverGIVEBACK 2010

528 Boxes were packed for needy children across the world.

2

3

Editor’s Letter

6

Leadership

8

Mom’s Moments

10

Life on the Horizon

12

Fitness

14

Outdoor Adventures

16

Crafting Community

17

Sibling Sidelines

20

Caregiver Conversations

www.liftdisability.net

regular features

3www.liftdisability.net

Our church has been doing a study called “The Second Greatest Story Ever Told.” The first story is the story of Jesus. The second story is our story and how it relates to God’s story.

What I love about LIFT Magazine is it is filled with “second” stories. In each issue our writers share how their story is intertwined with God’s. Our hope is that many of you would find en-couragement from them and perhaps a life may be changed.

Each of us has a story to tell. Have you taken the time to tell your story to someone who may need encouragement? You never know when people might be at the end of themselves and need to hear a word of encouragement.

And remember, we are always looking for new writers. Send us a note if you would like to join our writing team. Your story is just waiting to be told!

We hope you enjoy this issue of second stories!

Rhonette HukillEditor in Chief

Editor’s Letter

Second Stories

EDITOR IN CHIEF Rhonette Hukill

SENIOR EDITOR Mike Beates

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Caregiver Conversations Rhonette Hukill

Community Lifts Jim HukillCrafting Community Leanne Goddard

Fitness Heather Pennington Lead Jim Hukill

Life on the Horizon Chris Maxwell Mom’s Moments Nicolette Samuel

Outdoor Adventures Doug GoddardSibling Sidelines Little Tony Piantine

Lift Disability Network Offices PO Box 770607

Winter Garden, FL 34777 407.228.8343

Lift Disability Network Mission To lead in connecting the disability family through a network of interactive media initiatives, innovative family support programs, and instructive learning

modules.

Copyright © 2010 Lift Disability Network. No part may be reproduced without written

permission from publisher.

EDITORIAL COMMENTS & SUBSCRIPTION QUERIESPlease e-mail [email protected]

Phone 407.228.8343. Or write to Lift Disability Net-work, PO box 770607, Winter Garden, FL 34777.

Magazine

THERE’S MORE TO SEE ONLINE.Check out our website at

LiftDisability.net

4 www.liftdisability.net


Bigger Than My LeadershipBY JIM HUKILL

Leadership is a tough challenge no matter who

you are. Decisions must be made, plans executed, strat-egies considered and people managed – just to mention a few of the many tasks pre-sented to a leader. Adding the dynamic of disability into the equation makes one consider whether being a good leader is even possible or desir-able.

Many times I think to myself, “Maybe I should pull back from trying to lead and just be an ordinary guy with a disability. Maintain the status quo.” Then, in these contemplative moments, I ask my-self, “What makes me want to give up? What makes me want to keep pressing ahead? Why does any of this mat-ter?”

I believe every great leader reaches a point when they evaluate their strengths and evaluate their adversities

and stare into the reality of “what I have is not enough to meet the need.” Whether it is skill, money, creativity, or people, there are those mo-ments when the resources we hold in our hand are not enough to meet the de-mands.

In moments like those, advice I have given to many comes flying back into my face. Don’t you hate it when that happens? First to come soaring back at me is – “the

longer you focus on an ob-stacle, the bigger it gets.” The second bit of advice that haunts me is – “give God what you hold in your hand and God will give you what He holds in His hand.”

Leaders facing disabilities will always fight with the

odds stacked against them. But great leader-ship is about the cour-age of facing difficult moments, and even the mundane moments, understanding success comes when one squares off against a giant with a persistent resolve, invok-ing the power of what’s in one’s hand and a clear focus to accomplish a vi-sion.

I press ahead because of the unfinished busi-ness of conquering the giants. God has called me

into the valley of giants to show off His strength not mine; to complete His plan not mine; to bring His heal-ing touch to a broken world; to bring life to death. This

Lead

“The lives of those we touch

are more important than

our own personal pain”


mission, a great mission, is not complete; therefore, I am compelled to press on and privileged to be called into action.

Recently, I was searching through photos of past Lift events when suddenly I was challenged by a motivating thought. The lives of those we touch are more impor-tant than our own personal pain. All of this matters be-cause people hurt and need to be connected to healing. People are dying and need the bread of Life. The dis-ability family is broken and I hold in my hand the hope for their poverty.

That’s bigger than my discomfort as a leader. It’s stronger than the armrests on my wheelchair that seek to confine me. It’s certainly greater than my excuse, “DISABILITY.”

Lead

JIM HUKILL is the Founder and Director of Lift Disability Network.

Throughout his life Jim has rolled his wheelchair past one bar-rier after another and the result is a schooled life in overcoming limits.


Unexpected VisitorBY NICOLETTE SAMUEL

Mom’s Moments

Awhile back I tried to wash a king-sized com-

forter in my washing ma-chine. I’m certain that I had done this before with no problem, and, yes, I do have an oversized washer. But this time, I pushed the limits by adding my daughter’s fleece sheets as well.

Everything was going fine until the final spin cycle. I heard the machine’s cry for help from our upstairs bed-room. However, by the time I was able to come to its res-cue, it had given up the fight. I opened the silenced washer to find it still half filled with water. After transferring the now soaked items into a large bin... no small task, I might add...I thought I would see if the washer had any

final words…silence.

After a short prayer hoping it was just some safety shut-off thing, and a quick call to my husband informing him that I probably had killed the washer, I tried it again. This time it worked. Praise the Lord, He saved me again from my stupidity, and from any added expense for re-pairs. After that, my washer worked...but never func-tioned in quite the way it did before. It was not as notice-able on the regular loads, but when it came to the final spin cycle on the “gentle” setting, it was apparent that something was off. I needed to run the spin cycle again to fully remove the water.

Eventually, after several months of “proper use,” once

John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my

Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that does not bear fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so

that it will be even more fruitful.”

RESTAURANT STYLE BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGSServes 5

1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon paprika1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper1/4 teaspoon salt10 chicken wingsoil for deep frying1/4 cup butter1/4 cup hot sauce1 dash ground black pepper1 dash garlic powderIn a small bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Place chicken wings in a large glass dish and sprinkle flour mixture over them until they are evenly coated. Cover dish and refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F. The oil should be just enough to cover wings entirely. Combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and reserve for serving. Fry coated wings in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until parts of wings begin to turn brown. Remove from heat, place wings in serving bowl, add hot sauce mixture and stir together. Serve.


NICOLETTE SAMUEL has been married 12 years to her husband Shaker. Combined they have 3 chil-dren. With her husband as Pastor, Nicolette finds herself very involved in church min-istry. Over the years she has learned many lessons, many of which come from her daughter, Hannah, who has Down syndrome.

Mom’s Moments

again it runs smoothly. Since then, I have been thinking about how much like that poor washer I am. I know that I am made in the image of Christ, and I know I am able by His strength to do great things. But if I use this vessel in a way not intended by my Maker, I will not func-tion effectively, efficiently...or sometimes not at all.

Sometimes I overload my life to the point that it results in some sort of system shut-down. This is God’s grace, and is always a time for rest, removal, and re-evaIuation. If I will allow my Lord to do some necessary pruning in my life, after some time I see evidence of His gardening, and lots of good Fruit. I don’t like crop failure!


CoveredBY CHRIS MAXWELL

I write this from inside our north Georgia home. We had a white Christmas – arriv-

ing from a family time in Florida just in time for snow almost to stop us on the road. I thought that might be the final snow fall for the season. It wasn’t.

Sunday night, January 9, the snow fell again. The H2O landed as more ice than snow. Yards became dressed in a new outfit for the season. Houses, roads, trees, and skies all matched the mood: the atmosphere was “dreaming of a white January.”

School days have been canceled – a rare occurrence for colleges. So we stayed inside except when short term mission trips took us outside to watch, to feel the freeze, to play in the snow, to slip in the ice, or to clean off the driveway.

The winter weather limited our opportuni-ties. Roads were too dangerous for travel-ing. I had hoped to fly out of town to lead a friend’s funeral service, but flights were canceled. I was excited about classes and convocation and chapel for the week, but all had been canceled.

So, what could we do? We could choose to enjoy the snow for a moment then complain about the interruption of our routine. Or, what about this option? What about choos-ing to enjoy the moment? Enjoying the snow, the ice, the stay-in-the-house-all-day-for-several-days, the wonder, the cold, the fireplace, the scenes, the conversations, the books to read, the notes to write, the breaths

Life on the Horizon

CHRIS MAXWELL is an Author, Pastor & Director of Spiritual Life

www.chrismaxwellweb.com

to breathe. When our schedules are inter-rupted or delayed or completely stopped, we can choose to enjoy every moment.

As we face our personal issues of disability, sickness, or weakness, can’t we choose to enjoy the moments? Maybe we feel locked, unable, iced in. Even then, we can select atti-tudes of noticing the often ignored, enjoying the moments of each breath, reflecting on the drops of God’s grace which have fallen on our land and chosen to remain. We can sense that we are covered by a true hope.

I look out the window as I type. I pray that I may notice the scenes of glory as I choose joy no matter the forecast of my future.


Anyone ever feel heavy? Sometimes life can weigh

us down. When we experi-ence heaviness, we might also call it being loaded down, weighed down, burdened, overloaded, carrying a load, stressed to the max, oppressed by some-thing, weighted down by a prob-lem or an unpleas-ant feeling such as doubt or unhappi-ness. This can cre-ate in us a desire to either give up or we can choose to lean on the Lord to gain strength. When we make the good choice to trust in Je-sus, we can find rest and know the power of His strength.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me all you who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” In order to allow our faith to be stronger in the midst of

Heaviness = PhortizoBY HEATHER PENNINGTON

heavy loads, we must lean on Christ.

When we take care of our bodies (our earthly temples), we must also ex-perience heaviness, but on purpose! Phortizo is the

Greek word for “heavy-laden” in this passage and it liter-ally means “to load up, to overburden.” In order to get our muscles stronger, that is exactly what we must do. We must challenge them by lifting weights or lifting our body weight enough times to overload our muscles so that they increase in strength. This is called the Overload Principle. When challenging the body to gain

strength, it is important to do strength exercises 2-3 times per week using 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions. Four basic exercises can make a few of your muscles stronger. (Before you begin

any exercise program, make sure you discuss strength training with your physician or a trained professional):

1. The bodyweight DIP or hold.

Sit on a chair or a bench and place your hands be-hind you. Tense your arm muscles and try to lift up your body. Use your legs at first to help you until your arms get strong enough to

lift up. Repeat for repetitions or hold for time if that is hard in itself.

2. Shoulder Press:

Hold a weight or even a soup can at your ear height and raise slowly overhead and return to start position and repeat.

3. Bodyweight push-up or upper body strengthening exercise:

Use a wall and stand with feet as far away as you are

Fitness

1. The bodyweight DIP or hold off of chair (Intermedi-ate to Advanced Level)


comfortable (farther away is more difficult) and lower self to wall slowly by bending arms. Press up and straighten arms. If you are unable to do this exercise, just hold a ball or another light weight device at your chest and press up to-

Fitness

HEATHER PENNINGTON , MA Ed, CSCS; Personal Train-ing and Fitness Planning/Con-sulting.

[email protected]; www.limitfreetraining.com.

ward the ceiling the best that you can from a seated or a standing position.

4. Lunge holding weight:

If able, spread feet so one is in front of the other and about shoulder width apart. Slowly lower body as far as you can up until the point your knees are at 90 degrees (shown in pic-ture). Bring yourself back up to being tall, keeping body straight. Repeat if able or just hold in a low position until that becomes easy. Hold weight if possible and do a bicep curl if desired for more difficulty.

These four simple exercises can help you overload your muscles to gain strength. An important rule in the Overload principle to make sure you are overloading the right amount is the “2 for 2 Rule.” This simply means that when you are doing your exercises, make sure the last two repetitions for two workouts in a row are tough to complete but not impos-sible. If it is too easy or too hard, you will not benefit or possibly even get injured.

So, remember the 2 for 2 rule and these simple 4 exercises and get busy in the act of Phortizo or overloading your muscles to get stronger and better. By the same token, when life overloads you, lean on Jesus for His strength!

To review:• Purpose: Overload muscles

• 2-3 times per week

• Do 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions

• 2 for 2 rule: The last two repeti-tions two workouts in a row should be tough to complete. Have fun!

2. Shoulder Press start position

2. Shoulder Press finish position

4. Lunge holding weight


I’m so glad our schedule slowed down this fall…….

NOT! Actually, I did have some time to get out to fish some and had a rather big week “catching” at home in October………three fish over 4 pounds to be exact. What a big blessing!

You know, I was just think-ing what a bad year I was having with regard to catch-ing big fish. Then it dawned on me that with all our work and traveling to start up the ACCESS-LIFE ministry, I really have not fished as much as I usually do. If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you have to get out there and fish to catch the big ones.

Blessings in life are kind of the same way. I have to get out there following God to experience the best He has for me. Now don’t get me wrong: God blesses me each and every day even though I don’t deserve it. Heck, how often do I thank Him for the air I breathe much less for my working spleen or liver? I wonder, however, what big blessing He wants to give

me but cannot because I’m too into doing my own thing or even too careless with my time, money and resources.

You know, I’m so thankful that God gives me the good that I don’t deserve (grace) and withholds His justice that I do deserve (mercy). But I am also thankful that He has a storehouse of more blessings for me as I daily seek to follow after Him.

If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s this: blessings follow obedi-ence.

GET OUT!BY DOUG GODDARD

OutdoorAdventures

DOUG GODDARD is a c5/6 quadriple-gic from a 1983 diving accident the summer before his junior year in high school. He came to know the Lord through this experience and believes that God not only has a plan, but a good plan for folks affected by disabilities. One of the many bless-ings Doug enjoys, on top of being married to his best friend Leanne, is that of God’s great outdoors. He loves to fish, hunt, explore, and just be outdoors. Despite his disability, with God’s help, he does!

SUPPORTED BY:

For more event information, to pre-register for attendance or to sign-up as a volunteer call (214) 893-9056 or go to www.access-life.org

WHAT: FREE event for individuals and families living with disabilities. Come enjoy God’s great outdoors!

WHEN: Saturday April 9, 2011 10am to 2pm

WHERE: Bethesda Park10790 Key Haven Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32218

*BOAT RIDES *FISHING*ARCHERY *CRAFTS*GAMES*FOOD*FUN*


Crafting and community! I love how God gives

me just what I need exactly when I need it! I’ve been knitting for almost a year. It happened on a weekend when my husband Doug and I had just been hit with an unexpected life change and when I needed something new to focus on. Knitting has become a new passion for me.

For some time I had been intrigued by knitting and even bought myself a “Teach Yourself to Knit” book, nee-dles and some yarn, with the hope that I could learn on my own. But I was quickly dis-couraged by all the diagrams and directions. I couldn’t seem to figure things out. So I tucked it away and thought…someday. Over the years I would encounter folks knitting and mention how I would like to learn, but those opportunities were never conducive to that per-son showing me how to get started.

Crafting Community

Sharing Your Craft

But, on this particular weekend, after one of the most life changing and dif-ficult weeks, the opportu-nity presented itself. It was cold and certainly not beach weather. But we had planned for this “beach weekend” months before and we were determined to go. So we enjoyed some much needed down time together with our friends as we reflected on the hard week behind us and the unknown road that lay ahead of us. Because of the weath-er, we were sequestered indoors with blankets, mov-ies, games, and lots of time on our hands. Finally I was able to get my first lesson on knitting from my friend, Rho-nette! And, because she took the time to show me how, I picked it up immediately!

Isn’t it amazing what a dif-ference it makes to have a friend take the time to teach you something new? I think this is an integral part of any craft…sharing it with others, whether through teaching it or giving the finished prod-uct to someone. That is why Doug and I added “Crafting Community” as a program to our Access-Life ministry. As people living with dis-abilities, it is easy to become

isolated and removed from community. We want to encourage folks to come together, create something for yourself or someone else, and learn from each other. You might not think you have anything to share but you do. We all have gifts and talents that God has knit into us! He has a special purpose for each one of us and He doesn’t want us to keep it to ourselves but to share it with those around us.

“My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit togeth-er by strong ties of love. I want them to have full con-fidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself” (Colossians 2:2 NLT).

For more information about Crafting Community you can visit our website at www.access-life.org or email [email protected]. I would love to hear from you!

BY LEANNE GODDARD

LEANNE GODDARD is Co-Founder of Access-Life. To find a Crafting Com-munity in your neighborhood go to www.access-life.org


Sibling Sidelines

The Aftershock of BattleBY LITTLE TONY PIANTINE

“The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The win-ner is the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemy’s.” -- Napoleon Bonaparte

I grew up on a battlefield, where life could change in

a minute. My brother, Dan, had a physical disability that took his life at the age of 21, just 16 years ago. He battled to breathe, to be heard. He battled for equality, and for life. My parents battled to keep Dan alive, to hold together a marriage and family despite the odds, and to make life consistent for

themselves and their family no matter the circumstance.

My younger sister and I battled as well: to be seen and heard, and to cope with chaos and change. Our fam-ily had stretches of peace and consistent life, times when Dan’s disability went unnoticed to us because it was just a part of life. Those regular stretches would get disrupted by the chaos of extreme health issues, hospital stays, battles with the school, and thoughts of death. Life as usual could at any moment suddenly come to a complete halt. When that happened, what was

important one minute be-came secondary the next as Dan battled for life.

Our family marched for-ward together no matter what the circumstance, and made it through life and death. I have carried the aftershock of the war for the 20 some years of my adult life. The post-combat trauma I experienced is real, and the pain has been important to deal with.

I am now 42 years old with a wife and children of my own. Disability is still just as important in my life as it was growing up but in a totally different way. My life has


Sibling Sidelines

continued from page 17

been impacted in every way by growing up with disabil-ity. Most of what I am and do can be traced to it. Many of the positive qualities in me were forged through the blessing of disability.

In the past I have written articles for Lift magazine about the many positive characteristics exhibited in siblings of people with dis-abilities. But only recently I have been able to deal with the negative issues that have affected me because of the fallout of living in the battle of disability. I have been through counseling and learned to recognize I have been fighting a battle with ghosts and an enemy that only exists in the scars of my mind.

Growing up living in the battlefield made life so often feel totally out of control. I grasped for control in many ways; acting out for atten-tion, eating to sooth pain, showing anger to keep people distant, manipulat-ing to get my way, and tak-ing charge of relationships whenever possible. I have thought that life on the bat-

tlefield, one filled with chaos in me and in others, had to be controlled in order to be safe. The quote by Napoleon, describes how I have per-ceived living for most of my life – but it is wrong thinking.

Only in God’s hands is the chaos under control. The battle has purpose if we live it out trusting Him, and the battlefield is not where we have to live forever. The war ended yet my survival in-stincts, fighting skills, emo-tional state, and focus have continued in battle mode. While a few of those things have helped me as a leader in my adult life as a ministry director, they have hurt me severely in relationships, self perception, physical health, and in my ability to trust God, myself and others. I have finally come to a place where I have walked off the battlefield in my mind, and for the first time I can feel the peace that God has given me.

Now in my ministry I have opportunities to help families in the midst of the same battle I grew up in. Offering parents a view from post-battle can help them see more clearly how to help


LITTLE TONY PIANTINE

is the direc-tor of Camp Daniel in Northern Wisconsin. He and his wife Karol have two children, Annissa and Anthony.

Sibling Sidelines

their kids in the midst of what they encounter. Jim and Rho-nette are directing a camp this summer that will be so im-portant in the lives of families who encounter disability. It is a long-needed furlough for many on the front lines; a time for parents to stop surviving for a few days and just live and connect. A place where kids with disabilities can grow and learn that they are created by God for a purpose. An oppor-tunity for those kids’ siblings to realize that although life feels out of control, God has it all under control.

I think back to my childhood and wonder “If our family had had such an opportunity, how might it have impacted us?” So, let’s make sure no one is left behind to continue fight-ing this war without help. Let’s commit our prayers, funds, and time to help them get this new venture off the ground.

“...a long-needed furlough for many on the front lines; a time for parents to

stop surviving for a few days and just live and connect. A place where kids with disabilities can grow and learn that they are created by God for a

purpose. An opportunity for those kids’ siblings to realize that although life feels out of control, God has it all

under control.”

Find out more about Breakaway at www.liftdisability.net/breakaway



Over the years of travel-ing, speaking in various

venues, and “doing” disability ministry, Jim and I have met a variety of people. Eventu-ally someone will ask me why I chose to marry a per-son with a disability. Some days I don’t know myself!

There is no doubt that the strain of care giving can eventually play with my mind. So when the “why?” question comes, my answer, no matter how I may feel that day, is always “because I love him and God choose us for each other.” There are different responses that I get to that statement, but the one that always annoys me is “Oh, you are an angel.” I am anything but an angel! Most days I feel like a little demon. I have tried to understand the logic of this response. Is it because they look at our life and some of the daily pressures and have a hard time visualizing themselves in my shoes? Or is it because they don’t see the value that

You’re an AngelBY RHONETTE HUKILL


Ephesians 4:29 (GOD’S WORD Translation) says, “Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.”

My struggle in responding is finding the nice balance of salt and grace. I will never be able to educate a person in one short meeting of all the benefits and challenges of living with disability. What I can do is season my words so that they may leave my

Jim, although somewhat limited, brings to our mar-riage? Or is it really that they don’t know what else to say?

Regardless of their reason, my internal response is what troubles me. I wait for the day when someone re-sponds with that statement and they are left in shock when I either slug them or give them an ear full. I don’t know why it bothers me so much. I think they truly are just trying to be nice and make conversation. A verse comes to mind when I try to think of how to respond:

RHONETTE HUKILL has been a full-time caregiver to her wonderful husband, Jim, for nearly 17 years. Together, by God’s grace, they face the everyday challeng-es of life with disability.


presence seeing a reflection of Christ in my life. An angel I am not. However, I am a child of a King who gives me the grace each day to appear as a woman of strength. And angels? Well, I guess they are pretty strong.

elevating life in the disability familywww.liftdisability.net

lift magazine 21-1

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