Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Young Shane's "Shady" Work for the City Council


When Shane was 12, the city council came to him, asking for help. In those early days of computering, Shane's advanced (and intuitive) computer skills were well known throughout the city. In fact, I once received a call from the local community college HR department. Someone had recommended Shane to teach a computer course. Really? The person on the line wanted to talk to him directly. "I will be happy to go get him," I told him, "but are you aware that Shane is 12 years old? Do you hire professors at that age?" There was a bit of awkwardness on the line, and the speaker then said that there was no need for me to get get Shane. Kinda thought so! He did as a teen teach a workshop for teachers and later he taught for a short while (as a full-fledged adult) for the CHP Academy. But that was later.

The city council did have a task he was well equipped to do. They were trying to find out if someone had been covering up a bad history and had come up with nothing in their normal search, yet there was a rumor they were unwilling to let go. They offered to pay Shane double the minim wage--nice for a 12-year-old, but it worked out to peanuts. It took Shane only an hour to come up with what they needed. 

"I have tracked down the rumor and have found 70 pages of evidence supporting it," he told them. "Do you want me to continue?"

Honesty brought him only a few bucks, but the work itself was fun for him. One of many little fun projects in his youth that he decided did not belong on his resume when he got older. 



Book Description:

Raising God's Rainbow Makers: A Family Memoir of Grace, Grit, and Growing Up Different

What happens when a military family welcomes four children—each with wildly different needs—into a world not always built to support them?

In Raising God’s Rainbow Makers, one mother shares the remarkable journey of raising two children with complex disabilities—one with spina bifida, one with CHARGE Syndrome—and two intellectually gifted children, all born in different states during years of military life. Through medical crises, educational challenges, and societal roadblocks (both intentional and unintentional), this honest and inspiring memoir tells the story of how one family built a life of strength, compassion, and resilience.

With warmth and unflinching honesty, the author reflects on emergency surgeries, IEP battles, unexpected victories, and the fierce sibling bonds that formed in the face of it all. The children—now grown—bear witness to the power of support, faith, and never giving up.

This is not just a story of survival. It is a celebration of difference, a chronicle of hope, and a powerful testament to what love and determination can build when the world says "impossible." 


Keywords:

Parenting memoir; Special needs parenting; Raising children with disabilities; Military family life; Family resilience; Inspirational family story; Faith-based memoir; Coping with medical challenges; Sibling support stories; Gifted children; Spina bifida; CHARGE Syndrome; Hydrocephalus; Congenital disabilities; Complex medical needs; Pediatric neurosurgery; IEP and special education; Gifted education; Educational advocacy; Inclusive education; Hope and healing; Courage and strength; Love and perseverance; Raising different children; Disability acceptance; Parenting through adversity; Overcoming barriers; Finding joy in hardship; Special needs journey; Family unity and support; For parents of disabled children; For parents of gifted children; For educators and therapists; Christian parenting memoir; For families facing rare diagnoses; Real-life parenting stories; Memoirs about raising children; Stories of medical miracles

 



For more posts about Elizabeth and her books, click HERE. 

Read more stories -- and photos -- about the Mahlou family in the blog (no longer maintained), Clan of Mahlou.






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