Please help me welcome Stephanie, an author I met virtually through Blue Ridge Readers. Her work is non-fiction, and on a very important topic. Thank you, Stephanie, for being here!
I’m Stephanie Pavlantos, from Stow, OH (near Cleveland). I grew up in SW Ohio near Dayton. My husband, Mike and I have been married for thirty years. We have three children—twins, Matthew and Alexandria, and our youngest, Michael.
Most people notice my accent. I have Irish roots and constantly get asked where I’m from originally.
Tell us about your book?
My co-author, Starr Ayers, and I put together an anthology called Room at the Table: Encouraging Stories from Special Needs Families. We have thirty-four other special needs families or therapists who contributed their stories to this book.
Blurb:
Author Stephanie Pavlantos, the mother of Matthew with cerebral palsy and Starr Ayers, the mother of Ashley with Down syndrome, co-authored the collection of real-life experiences from families, guardians, caregivers, and individuals with special needs. These stories of hardship, courage, and blessings will encourage, enlighten, and equip readers for ministry in their communities. Room at the Table also contains a light-hearted look at life through the eyes of these extraordinary individuals.
Stephanie and Starr's vision is to increase awareness of the impact of mental and physical disabilities on families and caregivers. They aspire to promote understanding, diminish fears, and provide suggestions for ways people who know and love special needs individuals and families can minister to them.
Share an excerpt?
Oh, the prayer—that prayer. The one surrendering Ashley to God’s will. I now wanted to retract my words of courage and submission. I pleaded for miracles. Miracles that would change the diagnosis. Miracles that would somehow make everything different.
Life seldom unfolds as we expect. An unforeseen pregnancy interrupted Mary’s plans to marry Joseph. What questions and fears must have raced through her mind? And yet, her response was, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk. 1:38 ESV). Starr Ayers - Expecting the Unexpected (story title)
Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two? We love to get to know our guests!
There was always some clothing that my toddlers did not want to wear. For my daughter it was shoes and socks, for my youngest son it was his pants. He would pull down his pants anywhere, no matter who was around. What did you have a hard time keeping on your child’s body? Or what did your parents have a hard time keeping on you?
Share your social media and buy links!
Buy our book here: https://www.mtzionridgepress.com/product-page/room-at-the-table-encouraging-stories-from-special-needs-families
Follow us at www.stephaniepavlantos.com and https://www.facebook.com/starrayersauthor
Thank you, again, for joining us, and for your service to God's children!
PS. Stephanie will give away a $10 Amazon card to a random commenter. Please share with your social media sites, dear readers, so that this book might reach those who need to hear these words. Have a wonderful week, Christina. :)