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WORK TITLE: A Pair of Miracles
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://karlaakins.com/
CITY: North Manchester
STATE: IN
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married Eddie; children: five.
EDUCATION:Western Governors University, bachelor’s degree; Kingsway Theological Seminary, doctorate.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and minister. Christian Fellowship Church, North Manchester, IN, co-minister, with husband; speaker at conferences and retreats. Has worked as a teacher in homeschool, public schools, and private schools.
AVOCATIONS:Riding her motorcycle.
WRITINGS
Also, author of history books for homeschoolers, including O Canada Her Story, Sacagawea, and Jacques Cartier. Contributor to Old Schoolhouse and Happy Sis magazines.
SIDELIGHTS
Karla Akins is a writer and minister based in North Manchester, Indiana. She is the co-minister, with her husband, Eddie, of Christian Fellowship Church. Akins spent years homeschooling her own five children and has also worked as a teacher in public and private schools. She is the author of O Canada Her Story, Sacagawea, and Jacques Cartier, books for homeschoolers. Akins has also written articles that have appeared in Old Schoolhouse and Happy Sis magazines.
The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots
In 2013, Akins released her first novel, The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots. The narrative draws from Akins’s own love of motorcycles and her experience as a pastor’s wife. The book’s protagonist is Kirstie Donovan, who is married to the pastor of First Independent Christian Community Church, located in the small town of Eels Falls.
The congregation of the church is very conservative, and the church building is around one hundred years old. When Kirstie buys a hot pink motorcycle, the other women at the church begin gossiping about her. Their negative words do not stop Kirstie from riding her motorcycle and interacting with some characters that the ladies in her church would consider unsavory. Kirstie befriends a tough crowd of bikers and invites them to her church. Catty members of the congregation begin worrying that Kirstie’s activities will reveal secrets they have been trying to keep hidden. They determine to do whatever they must to stop Kirstie and three of her friends, who have also become close with the bikers. All are surprised and touched by the bikers’ devotion to their newfound faith.
A Pair of Miracles
In her 2017 memoir, A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting, Akins discusses raising her adopted twins sons, who are both on the autism spectrum. In the book, she notes that she also has two other sons with mental health issues, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, and dyslexia. Her husband has ADD and dyslexia, and her mother-in-law, who lives with Akins and her husband, has Alzheimer’s disease. Akins shares statistics connected with autism spectrum disorder. She also recalls her experience as a foster parent. She and her husband loved opening their home to children who needed one, but she felt deep sadness when she was forced to let those foster children go. Akins and her husband determined to adopt. They were given an opportunity to adopt Isaac and Isiah, the twins referred to in the book’s title. Akins recalls their extreme behavior, the process of their diagnosis, and the tools she developed to teach them and help them to thrive.
Nathan Albright, contributor to the Edge Induced Cohesion website, praised A Pair of Miracles for “providing a large amount of material for home teaching strategies and occupational therapy.” Albright added: “Those who have children with autism and are looking for encouragement as well as practical advice on how to best rear and educate their children will find much to offer here, and as such this book is warmly recommended, although for a somewhat niche audience.” Writing on the As We Walk along the Road website, Leah Courtney remarked: “Parents of children who are disabled in any way will also be encouraged by reading A Pair of Miracles. Although not all of the practical advice will help—although some will—the encouragement that Karla offers can help parents.” “Christian readers will discover hope, help, and a sense of community on every page of Akins’s excellent explanation of her experiences,” asserted a reviewer in Publishers Weekly. Richard R. Blake, critic in MBR Bookwatch, noted that the book was “filled with encouragement, valuable information on neurological or cognitive disabilities, functional skills, teaching strategies, important resources, and communication tips.” Blake also called A Pair of Miracles “an extraordinarily touching account.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
MBR Bookwatch, September, 2017, Richard R. Blake, review of A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting.
Publishers Weekly, May 8, 2017, review of A Pair of Miracles, p. 55.
ONLINE
As We Walk along the Road, https://www.aswewalkalongtheroad.com/ (September 1, 2017), Leah Courtney, review of A Pair of Miracles.
Christian Women Speakers Website, https://www.womenspeakers.com/ (February 14, 2018), author profile.
Edge Induced Cohesion, https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/ (September 4, 2017), Nathan Albright, review of A Pair of Miracles.
Karla Akins Website, http://karlaakins.com/ (February 14, 2018).
Karla Akins is a pastor's wife, mother of five, and grandma to eight beautiful little girls. She lives in Northeast Indiana with her husband, adult twin sons with autism, mother-in-law with Alzheimer's and three rambunctious dogs. When she's not writing she's dreaming of riding her motorcycle through the mountains and searching for treasure.
Karla Akins is co-minister at Christian Fellowship Church in North Manchester, Indiana, with her husband, Eddie. She has over thirty years in ministry, and nearly four decades of teaching experience in homeschooling, private school, and public education. Her previous work includes The Pastors Wife Wears Biker Boots. Visit her at KarlaAkins.com.
Karla Akins is the author of A Pair of Miracles, the story of raising her twin sons with autism.
Akins is also the author of several history books for homeschoolers including O Canada Her Story, Sacagawea, and Jacques Cartier. Her work has also been published in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and she currently writes for Happy Sis Magazine. Her first novel, The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots was published in 2013.
With more than 35 years of experience as a pastor’s wife and teacher, 26 of those as a homeschool mother, twelve as a private school administrator, and five working in the public schools, Karla brings inspirational expertise to your church, business, education, or homeschool event. She is the mother of twin sons with Autism, ADHD and cognitive and speech disabilities. She’s also Mom to two other adult sons with ADHD, one with dyslexia and schizoaffective disorder: bipolar type, and is married to a husband with ADD and dyslexia. Her mother-in-law with Alzheimer’s lives with them along with three furry dogs and two persnickety cats. When Karla’s not writing, teaching or speaking, she rides her motorcycle and looks for treasure.
Karla Akins
Christian Speaker
North Manchester Indiana 46962
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Overview
Speaking Topics (22)
Resources (2)
Inform. Encourage. Inspire.
Inform. Encourage. Inspire.
Contact Information
Position Christian Woman Speaker
Location North Manchester, IN 46962
United States
Speaking Ministry Details
Salvation Date 1970 Home Church Christian Fellowship Church Relationship to Church Pastors Wife at Available for Business Speaker, Conferences, Keynotes, Musician with CDs, Published Author, Retreats, Specialty Author, Trainer, Workshops Speaking Experience Experienced (over 10 events) Fee Range Works with Your Budget
More About Karla Akins
Karla Akins is the mother of five, including twin sons with autism. She has a bachelor’s in special education from Western Governors University and a doctorate in Christian education from Kingsway Theological Seminary. She has nearly four decades of teaching experience in homeschooling, private school and public education.
Akins has also served in ministry for more than 30 years and is co-minister at Christian Fellowship Church in North Manchester, Indiana, with her husband, Eddie. She is also a popular speaker at conferences and retreats.
In addition to A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting, Akins is the author of four other books. Her first novel, The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots, featured a homeschool mom and a child with autism.
Akins enjoys riding her motorcycle, sipping chai lattes and snuggling with her three dogs and two cats.
QUOTED: "filled with encouragement, valuable information on neurological or cognitive disabilities, functional skills, teaching strategies, important resources, and communication tips."
"an extraordinarily touching account."
A Pair of Miracles--A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting
Richard R. Blake
(Sept. 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
A Pair of Miracles--A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting
Karla Akins
Kregel Publishing
2450 Oak Industrial Drive N. E., Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825444845, $14.99 PB, $10.32 Kindle, 224 pages, www.amazon.com
An Extraordinarily Touching Account of Facing the Challenge of Autism
"A Pair of Miracles" is an extraordinarily touching account of a family faced with the challenges of Autism. Karla Akins tackles questions of faith, of wrestling with God, misconceptions about people with autism, community awareness, advice for parenting, and tools for ministry volunteers working with students experiencing the challenges of developmental disability.
Karla Akins, an advocate for parents impacted by the anxiety, frustration and despair of raising children with autism. Statistics indicate that an estimated one in 68 children are afflicted with an autism spectrum disorder. Akins writes to encourage the increasing number of parents feeling without help and alone. Her writing is filled with the compassion and understanding of one who has traveled the journey.
Karla is mother of five, including twin boys Isaac and Isiah, (now twenty-one years old), diagnosed with autism. She is a pastor's wife, sharing in the ministry of the church and has nearly 40 years of teaching experience, including a degree in special education and a doctorate in Christian Education.
Each chapter of "A Pair of Miracles--A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting" is filled with encouragement, valuable information on neurological or cognitive disabilities, functional skills, teaching strategies, important resources, and communication tips. An extraordinarily touching account of facing the challenges of Autism; highly recommended.
A copy of this book was provided for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.
Richard R. Blake
Senior Reviewer
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Blake, Richard R. "A Pair of Miracles--A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting." MBR Bookwatch, Sept. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A511292690/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2fbc42f6. Accessed 10 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A511292690
QUOTED: "Christian readers will discover hope, help, and a sense of community on every page of Akins's excellent explanation of her experiences."
A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting
264.19 (May 8, 2017): p55.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting
Karla Akins. Kregel, $14.99 trade paper
(224p) ISBN 978-0-8254-4484-5
Akins (The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots) tells the riveting story of her experience as an adoptive mother to two autistic boys. Akins was a foster mother before adopting, and she recalls the heartrending pain she and her husband felt when they had to give up their foster son to another family. But she knew she wanted to bring her love to a new child and adopted again, this time welcoming her twin boys. She remembers being asked by people whether she and her pastor husband had gone against God's will by adopting the boys. Incredulous and irate that anyone could believe she would ever give up her sons, Akins forged forward to understand exactly what the autism diagnosis would mean to her family. Akins candidly shares the boys' incessant screaming, biting, and feces-smearing that accompanied her strained attempts to communicate with the twins in their early years. This testimonial also works as a primer for parents in similar circumstances. The book outlines the Akinses' day-to-day life as parents and includes practical educational recommendations for developing the best school and tutoring environments for autistic children. Akins, a special education teacher, includes a hefty amount of resources, reading lists, and lifestyle ideas for creating a flexible, happy home. Christian readers will discover hope, help, and a sense of community on every page of Akins's excellent explanation of her experiences parenting autistic children. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting." Publishers Weekly, 8 May 2017, p. 55. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491949135/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d79a7174. Accessed 10 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491949135
QUOTED: "Parents of children who are disabled in any way will also be encouraged by reading A Pair of Miracles. Although not all of the practical advice will help—although some will—the encouragement that Karla offers can help parents."
Review of A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting by Karla Akins
By Leah Courtney
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Parenting isn't easy at the best of times. When you're parenting a pair of identical twins that you've adopted and you discover that they are autistic, it's especially challenging. This is the story that Karla Akins tells in A Pair of Miracles, a memoir about life with her two sons.
Review of A Pair of Miracles, a memoir of life with two autistic children
Review of A Pair of Miracles, a memoir of life with two autistic children
A Pair of Miracles
In A Pair of Miracles, Karla combines stories of her experiences with encouragement and practical advice for other parents of autistic children. She deals with topics such as...
Understanding God's love and God's plan
Dealing with school choices for autistic children
Finding doctors when your child has a disability
The screaming and other behaviors that emerge when autistic kids are over-stimulated
Finding help when you have a child with disabilities
Vaccinations: to vaccinate or not
Medications and other treatments for autism
How the church family can encourage and include children with disabilities
Providing opportunities for autistic children to serve
The book is a good balance of advice that can help parents to understand their autistic children and deal with different situations and encouragement to help parents as they deal with the different situations that come up as they parent an autistic child.
Who should read this book?
Obviously parents with autistic children will benefit from reading the book. If you're facing a lifetime with a child who has just been diagnosed or if you're struggling through day to day life with an autistic child, Karla has words of advice and encouragement from someone who's been there.
Parents of children who are disabled in any way will also be encouraged by reading A Pair of Miracles. Although not all of the practical advice will help- although some will- the encouragement that Karla offers can help parents with children who are facing any kind of disability.
Christians who are involved in local churches should read A Pair of Miracles. It's hard to know, sometimes, how the church should respond when parents who have children with autism or other disabilities come. How can the church encourage and support these parents? Karla's experiences will give you some ideas.
You can find A Pair of Miracles on Amazon here and on Kregel here.
QUOTED: "providing a large amount of material for home teaching strategies and occupational therapy."
"Those who have children with autism and are looking for encouragement as well as practical advice on how to best rear and educate their children will find much to offer here, and as such this book is warmly recommended, although for a somewhat niche audience."
Book Review: A Pair Of Miracles
Posted on September 4, 2017 by nathanalbright
A Pair Of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting, by Karla Akins
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Kregel Book Tours. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
Although this book is marketed as a memoir of the mother of adopted autistic twins, this is a far more complicated book than first meets the eye. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it should be recognized. The author assumes through the course of the book that the reading audience is made up of people like her, parents of children with autism. In my case, although I write about autism and related disorders from time to time [1], I have no autistic children, or any other children for that matter. Even so, I found much to appreciate in this book, particularly the author’s balance in dealing with the question of how to raise children to be as independent as possible, and to demand that those around her helping her children be filled with the same sense of optimism that she herself is. The book is therefore of interest to a wider audience than the author aims at, and that is something for which the author can be very pleased.
In terms of the contents and structure of this book, this is a memoir with a twist, or perhaps a few twists. The overall flow of the book is chronological in nature, presenting the author’s background, her fertility problems that led her to adopt, and her wrestling with the demands of special needs children as well as being a pastor’s wife with her own budding ministry. Throughout the book we read a lot about the problems verbalizing the author’s children has, as well as their complex suite of problems resulting in part from fetal alcohol syndrome. A substantial amount of the book is taken up with the author’s interest in helping to aid the education of autistic children whether they end up in public schools, private schools, or are home-schooled. And although the author attempts to keep a charitable mood towards educational and health professionals, there is a great deal in this book that shows the author’s frequent frustration with schools and doctor’s offices and the fact that parents are not viewed with respect as being experts on the well-being of their children. Despite the author’s conscious efforts to be kind, this irritation shows up over and over again.
Ultimately, this book is going to be of most interest to those who either have high-functioning autism themselves or have people with autism in their family or immediate circle. This book does not shy away from controversy, whether it is showing an open-mind to thoughts that the rapid increase of vaccinations for children could be having serious effects on mental health, or whether it is providing a large amount of material for home teaching strategies and occupational therapy as well as rewards and reinforcement, fidget toys, a functional skills checklist, and further resources for readers. Throughout the book the author shows herself to be grateful to those who provided her with help in some fashion, and she recognizes that even more than is usually the case, successfully raising children like her twin boys requires a great deal of help from a larger circle of helpers. Those who have children with autism and are looking for encouragement as well as practical advice on how to best rear and educate their children will find much to offer here, and as such this book is warmly recommended, although for a somewhat niche audience.