Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. (Okay, in Kindergarten, maybe I wanted to be Belle, but for the most part I have always felt like I was born to teach.)

In Kindergarten, I became friends with Sarah. Sarah was diagnosed with Down Syndrome when she was born, but I didn't identify Sarah by her disability. Sarah was my friend and I accepted her for who she was. Sarah made a huge impact on my life and God used her to one day lead me to my calling.

By the time I was a teenager, I was pretty involved in basketball. You might wonder why this is important, and I don't mean to go all High School on you, but it was the first big decision in choosing God's way and trusting His plans. You see, at the time I was a Varsity starter and believed basketball would afford me greater opportunities in college. I was passionate about playing, until one day I felt the Lord tugging on my heart to leave the sport behind at the end of the season and not return the next year.

I remember questioning, "Why would God ask me to leave something that I loved so much?" In the end, I made a brave decision and trusted God. After the season was finished, I told my coach that I would not be returning the next year. There was a peace that surpassed all understanding, just like it says in Philippians 4:6. The peace was from trusting in God's plan and where He was leading me. Even though at the time I didn't know what, I knew He had a different purpose for my life.

This decision was the exact turning point in my life.

Because I no longer had to play basketball during study hall, the door opened up my senior year in High School to be a peer tutor in the Special Education classroom. My friends with special needs taught me to love and appreciate the most meaningful things in life. Some of my most favorite memories in High School were the ones we got to share. They inspired me to become a Special Education teacher.

Fast forward to going into my second year teaching, In 2012, God laid it on my heart to create classroom decor for my coworker and I where our children with special needs would have a safe, inviting, and fun classroom to walk into each day. Never did I imagine it would lead to creating curriculum where children all around the world would learn and grow! At that time, I was happy and content. I loved teaching. I loved being a curriculum designer and creating resources for my own students and children all around the world to learn how to read. But there was something in the deepest parts of my heart that knew God had something different in mind for my life. 

There was a longing in my soul that I couldn't explain. So I began to pray every day that God would use the gifts and talents that He had given me to bring glory and honor to Him.

During this time, there was an opportunity at church for me to become a buddy with a preschooler who had special needs. Kate was this precious, brown-eyed little girl, with a room-brightening smile, and a giggle that will lift your heart! She has such a curious and full of life personality. 

Kate has been diagnosed with multiple disabilities. She is so brave and has proven time and time again how extraordinarily strong she is overcoming numerous surgeries and day to day activities that so many of us takes for granite. One of the most amazing miracles is seeing Kate walk again.

Kate is now 14 years old. We recently enjoyed breakfast and our first coffee together. It's amazing getting to see how God is continuing to blossom her in becoming who God created her to be in His perfect timing and how God has uniquely created her for a divine purpose.

When Kate went into the Children's Ministry I starting noticing how all the great tools for individuals with disabilities to learn at school were not available in the church for ALL kids to study God's Word.

In 2013, Kate's mom and two other mamas with kids who have special needs started bringing awareness of the importance of having a Special Needs Ministry at our church. They invited the founders of Rising Above Ministries to visit our church to equip our staff and volunteers in starting a Special Needs Ministry. They shared statistics that 90% of families with special needs do not attend church and make up the largest unreached demographic in the United States. And only 11% of evangelical churches have a ministry that serves individuals with special needs. When I heard these statistics, there was a stirring in my heart that there needed to be a change.

In December 2016, God answered my prayer and laid on my heart to create a Bible Curriculum for children with special needs to learn God's Word with visual, picture-based support. I had no idea what putting my yes on the table would involve and how much God's Truth would impact my life. A year later I got the amazing honor to partner with SymbolStix, LLC., an evidence‑based symbol communication tool to ensure EVERYONE has access to learning the Bible with lessons that match their ability levels.  

This has been a five year project, and I can hardly believe you are reading this story and that this dream is now a reality. 

From the beginning, my mind has always been set if God could use this to change one life, it would all be worth it. What I was not expecting was how much my life would be changed. Through digging in and studying God's Word, I have grown so much in my own relationship with the Lord and know Him in ways I could never imagine because of the life of your child with unique abilities. 

Your child inspires me by helping me be a more patient and loving person. They motivate me to become a better teacher, and encourage me to appreciate the most meaningful things in life. There is nothing more rewarding than the opportunity of getting to develop resources to help children of ALL abilities learn God's Word. 

Never did I imagine creating classroom decor for my coworker and I would turn into creating curriculum for Teaching is a Royal Adventure, Inc., and now creating curriculum for Royal Kidz, Inc. where ALL kids will have access to learn the Bible to match their individual needs. It's such a beautiful picture how God's plans are so much bigger than you could ever imagine for yourself with patience, discipline, determination, and hard work. And how God so lovingly uses our passions and gives them a purpose. 
I'm so thankful I get to do this for Him and for His glory, and for everyone I've met through this journey.

When considering a name for this curriculum, God brought me back to why Teaching was a "Royal" Adventure. Why was it "Royal?" You see without realizing it, it's because every friend, child, student, and adult that I have met with special needs has helped me be more like Christ. 

And in Christ, God calls your child royalty. At Royal Kidz, we truly love getting to help your child live out their royal calling.