Walk by Faith
Founders of Simply Providence - Kathy Eiff and Danielle Thompson
A Personal Update
It feels appropriate to extend an apology for a long, overdue update. In June, Brandon and I lost a dear brother in Christ, Jimmy, in a tragic accident. Priorities that had seemed pressing the day before suddenly came to a screeching halt as the greatest needs emerged for Jimmy’s family. His wife, Lori, has become a gem in my life (as she has in so many others). Lori faithfully locked arms with Danielle (pictured above) and me to open the doors to Simply Providence, a classical Christian school for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in 2023. She became one of our two lead teachers and, more specifically, became our daughter Mandy’s beloved “Teacher Lori". What a gift and joy it was to witness Lori apply her twenty-plus years of homeschooling and church ministry experience into the hearts and minds of our students. Jimmy and Lori’s eldest daughter, Laura, has also been Mandy’s Personal Care Aide for three years. This sweet family has become engrained into the daily life of our family. They often sat in the pew in front of ours at church. Jimmy’s boisterous song often bolstered my faith, and his warm smile always elicited delight from our Mandy. Jimmy lived selflessly and joyfully as his love for Jesus overflowed into every person he encountered. It has been beautiful to taste a glimpse of the lives he and Lori have touched as their impact has become partially visible by the outpouring of returned loved and support for their family in their greatest time of need. Simultaneously, it has been heartbreaking to navigate the grief that has impacted each family member differently. Yet, in the strange dichotomy that is grief and joy, the Lord has shown Himself in ways that otherwise I would have missed. Jesus wept in the face of death; and so, it is right for us to weep too. But God also restores and ultimately resurrects His children. We believe with assurance that Jimmy is home. He believed and therefore followed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior with intentionality and fervor. I imagine he has heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Our life here on Earth is so short. The days may feel long, but the years are swift in comparison to eternity. As the Lord continues to refine me through suffering, He realigns me and fuels me to press on.
July and August 2024: Pressing On
At the time of Jimmy’s passing Lori, Danielle and I had been at a Christian special education conference about an hour and half north of home. We were learning from others in preparation for the growth of Simply Providence from seven students in year one to thirteen students in year two. We had no idea that Lori’s calling in this next season of life was about to shift dramatically. The Lord has given her enormous strength as she navigates life as a widow with six children (three still in the home). I continue to learn from her. If you feel led, would you cover her and her family in prayer right now?
About three weeks after the tragedy, Danielle and I knew we had to press on in our unique calling too: to invest in the hearts, souls and minds of children who are often not afforded the opportunity to receive a Christian education and who have, quite frankly, never had access to a classical one. With our two daughters as our inspiration and the Holy Spirit as our guide, we joyfully welcomed thirteen incredible children ages 7 - 14 into our little microschool. God has been so faithful to bring more amazing teachers, interns, therapists, and volunteers into the fold. He is FOR these children.
Hi! My name is Mandy.
Simply Providence is my school. I love my friends and my teachers.
The Intangible Rewards
And now we fast forward. It’s April and we only have about a month left in the school year (I cannot believe how quickly time is moving). I am standing, once again, amazed at what is possible with Christ. The Lord has provided in so many ways for these children, and they have grown academically, spiritually and emotionally. They serve one another with love and have learned the restorative value of asking for and receiving forgiveness. I wish you could hear them recite and sign Romans 12:12 and the hymns “Peace Like a River” and “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee". You would likely be hushed in awe and possibly moved to tears.
The reward of watching our children flourish in the peace and knowledge of Jesus Christ is an immeasurable one. They know they are loved by their Creator God and that He is always near them. The joy of watching them accomplish work they and others thought was not possible, propels us forward. Mandy, for example, is sounding out words and READING. Another little boy whose expressive language is limited has showcased his uncanny ability and love for arithmetic (he is on or above grade level with his neurotypical peers in math!). Other students who have struggled with the fine motor requirements to write in print have found an appreciation for cursive, boosting their confidence further. I could go on and on. The privilege to be with these children and learn from them is one I cherish and hope I never take for granted.
Since we opened our doors, more than seventy families have reached out to learn more. They are all praying for educational options. Some of these families are being proactive (they have a child with special needs who will be school-age in the next two years). Others have walked through horrific experiences in their child’s current educational environment. All of these families are worthy of having choices. We are grateful to be one of them and hope to equip and empower other classical Christian schools across the country to create even more options.
As we prepare to welcome 16 students for the upcoming school year, the Lord has graciously provided a local church who wants to house our school for the foreseeable future so that we have room to grow and adequately support the needs of our students. We are currently raising funds to build an adaptive playground on site that will be used by our school and by the church as it seeks to welcome more families impacted by disability. As you know, here at PLUCK, we have a passion for health and wellness. We see this playground project as an important addition to help our students stay active, enjoy the outdoors, and build invaluable relationships with peers. The total cost will be around $80,000. Click here if you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation (select “Simply Providence” from the drop-down menu to designate funds to our school). Whether you join our mission through prayer or giving, or you are local and desire to partner with us through employment (we are currently hiring two assistant teachers) or volunteering, I personally thank you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to learn more!
A Family Update
Brandon is doing remarkably well. We just celebrated three years post-stroke in March. He is still the Athletic Director and upper school Science teacher at Providence Classical School. He has begun writing work outs for our now fifteen-year-old son helping him pursue his dream of playing basketball at the collegiate level (he is a disciplined and gifted athlete whose leadership and love for learning are all attributes that we believe will help him achieve this goal). He excels in school, and we have watched him grow in his gifting as a leader for God’s glory. Our middle son is full of joy and often brings laughter into our home. He is an avid reader, a deep thinker, and also an impressive athlete like his brother (he is currently playing flag football). Our daughter is creative, friendly, and determined. 2025 has brought with it many medical appointments yet she continues to thrive and overcome. As I complete this post in the early morning hours, I can now hear her voice through the monitor cheerfully counting as she flips through a book. What a sweet sound.
I want to close in gratitude. Life is not easy. Death is inevitable. Suffering is guaranteed. But God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). His love knows no boundaries and His love never fails (Psalm 136). Christ defeated death on the cross (Hebrews 2:14-15). His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Children are a blessing from the Lord. A loyal husband is a blessing from the Lord. We have learned to be content in want and in plenty, for we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:12-13). Therefore, we “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Amen.