We celebrated Jack’s 18th birthday in France, but it’s our middle autistic son Logan who keeps the smiles big and the tensions low in the family.
Support Logan’s school in Paris
Logan’s School: A Lifeline
Without the Autism Friendly Académie (Paris 15th), we would have already left France.
Logan is speaking French, learning how to work at an internship, and eagerly trying so many new things.
With a modest goal of $1000 – we have increased the goal to $2000 to help with a final push – help us keep costs of this private school accessible for our family and many others.
Make your donation here before June 16th.
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– Linda
2 things keep us in France. You see a big reason at the top of the blog post: our middle autistic son Logan is the glue of our family. We celebrated Jack’s 18th birthday in France, but it’s Logan who keeps the smiles big and the tensions low.
Jesus is the other glue.
There is no denying France has made longstanding weaknesses more glaring in our family. But France has also brought hidden strengths to the fore.
It’s easy to focus on the negative things. As John Hugh said, his struggle with seeking approval had crept back into our marriage, causing conflict with me and distance with the kids. As I shared, setting firm boundaries has always been difficult, but bitterness and anger were starting to find a home in my heart.
In January, I decided to take a sabbatical from church – with the intention of a few weeks to give time to my marriage and eventually snowballing into 3 months to help my kids, in particular our oldest and youngest neurotypical sons.
Isn’t it strange how God can turn things upside down? If you had asked me 10 years ago, with 3 teenage boys in the house, what would be the gripping fear? Clearly Logan, our middle son navigating adolescence. But really it’s been the reverse. My other two kids, who seemed so resilient, need deeper support than just a pep talk.
The revelation started around May 2023. I was homeschooling Logan and mentally and emotionally losing margin. With no good English speaking special needs programs coupled with the French system’s astounding paperwork and long wait lines, missing 1 document could stall the whole process. As God would have it, that French office with our missing document was 10,000 applications behind. You read that right! Even if I stood in line @ 5am or tried to negotiate around riots outside the office, I couldn’t get in. Defeat overtook me into mild depression.
I wondered if this was a sign from God. Logan was feeling more isolated, even a little depressed – and I felt like a failure as a mother. In my eyes, we would have to leave France because of Logan.
Fast forward to August 2023, and a friend casually mentions a school in Paris. I send an email, and in a totality of 6 weeks, my backed up paperwork is approved, the French school checks every single box, Logan has a trial session, a spot opens up, and he even qualifies for a personal driver to take him to school!
After forcing myself out of bed daily due to sheer will, God made it happen. Absolutely a miracle if you know how France normally works.
From November 2023 to June 2025, not only has Logan been learning French – with a great ear for phonétique – he is thriving outside of school: an art class, an social skills English class, French tutoring with special assistants, and new singing lessons with a lovely American lady. At this point, he is eager to try anything I present to him.
I think back to our church plant in Mississippi, when Logan was still non verbal and full of frustration. People would ask for the pastor’s wife, and they would directed to the bathroom door with a screaming child inside.
We took a huge risk coming to France when Logan was 12. We juggle extra with curveballs every single day in France. Maybe easier if I came knowing French or didn’t juggle a busy season of life with language learning, but I think not.
For me, there is no straight line with God. As Logan has thrived, I can finally see what my other two sons hide behind competence. In the heart of every teenager is a desire to be seen and known. Performance in sports/grades or collecting friend groups can never replace promised love. Unfortunately, teenagers aren’t eager to share and screen time is the ultimate battle.
Watching Logan flourish has given me margin, relief, and renewed perspective. I have accepted this gift from God and dug deeper into my other two sons’ lives. As I joked with Logan’s brothers, I own their time until I see some true fruit from the Lord.
It means the 2 brothers are accountable. It means God has to show up. It means those weak, hard areas they can hide by being neurotypical gives them a disadvantage compared to Logan. Logan can’t hide his disability – his need is great for God. Logan has an instinctive understanding of grace and dependence that my other 2 moralist leaning children need daily reminders of.
Good parenting is hard work and time consuming. I have had my “Parisian” moments – an art show, a beautiful meal, a walk in a garden, a cafe on the terrace, but it’s usually once or twice a month. What keeps me in France are not my Parisian moments. What keeps me in France is the miracle of what is happening in Logan and the promise of Jesus – not only in our church plant – but in the heart of my marriage and my kids.
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Paris Partner Goal
We have intentions to stay in France for another 6 years. God has been gracious to open so many doors.
Our goal is for 40 new Paris Partners at $25/month by Dec 2025. We have more ideas and dreams for Paris. Join us in the adventure by donating here!
Follow our church plant @eicrivegauche on Instagram or Facebook or visit www.eicparis.org.
Lynda,
I was so glad to see your blog this morning and in your usual fashion your raw admissions have brought me to tears. As always, you are so open and honest with your thoughts and emotions and as a mother of 2 grown sons I feel it deeply. It is so moving to hear of your journey in France and I can’t imagine the strength it takes to navigate what you are dealing with and still have the faith and conviction to continue. You are truly one of the most special women I have ever encountered and I send you my love and prayers to continue to the journey.
Beautiful!!! So many answered prayers!! Love y’all! I am thrilled about Logan thriving and being the glue. Praise Jesus!