A Little Extra Love

In this episode of A Little Extra Love , Kyle Vermeulen sits down with Joe Butler —husband of 29 years, father of three, dad to Micah, and co-founder of Ability Tree —for an honest, hope-filled conversation about fatherhood under pressure and the faith it takes to keep showing up when life doesn’t go according to plan. Joe takes us back to the moment disability entered their story: a seizure on a...

What if the biggest barrier to disability inclusion isn’t budget, space, or staffing… but posture? In this episode of A Little Extra Love, Rachael sits down with Rebecca Wall, Executive Director of With Ministries, for a thoughtful and deeply pastoral conversation about what it actually costs to move from welcoming to belonging. Rebecca shares how her disability journey began with a first-grade fr...

What happens when suffering becomes the doorway to calling? In this powerful in-person episode of A Little Extra Love, Rachael Vermeulen sits down with disability ministry coordinator and advocate Abby Howard, whose life changed overnight after a rare spinal cord stroke left her paralyzed from the chest down. What followed wasn’t just physical recovery — it was a radical redefinition of mission, o...

What happens when your child can’t sleep and neither can you? Kyle Vermeulen sits down with Jon and Amara Smith, parents of a son with Angelman syndrome and founders of Safe Place Bedding, to talk about the holy trenches of caregiving: chronic sleep deprivation, marriage strain, and the moment God turned an exhausted idea into a life-changing mission. This conversation isn’t just about a product—i...

What if disability isn’t a detour from God’s plan but an invitation deeper into His heart? In this episode of A Little Extra Love host, Rachael Vermeulen sits down with Sarah Lowry, CEO of Love That Surpasses, for a deeply honest conversation about grief, redemption, and the transformative theology born through disability parenting. Sarah shares her family’s journey raising two children with disab...

What happens when you can’t unsee the gap and God keeps inviting you deeper? In this episode of A Little Extra Love, Rachael Vermeulen sits down with Krystian Caywood, founder and Executive Director of Unstoppable God Ministries, for a conversation about disability discipleship, holy discomfort, and the kind of “yes” that costs something. Krystian shares the moment her advocacy ignited, why access...

In this heartfelt episode of A Little Extra Love , host Rachael Vermeulen sits down with Julie Hornok, co-founder of Labeled and Loved , wife of 28 years, and mom of three—including her daughter Lizzie, who was diagnosed with autism at age two. Julie opens up about her family’s journey through grief, surrender, and surprising joy as God met her in the places she couldn’t control. From the moment s...

Episode Summary: In this profoundly honest and tender episode, Rachael sits down with Sunita Theiss, an autistic and ADHD writer, advocate, and mother of two neurodivergent children, to explore what it means to be seen by God even when life feels misaligned, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood. Sunita shares how her children’s diagnoses led her to her own, and how, in the midst of that unraveling, she...

In this heartfelt conversation, Renee Sellers shares her journey as a mother of two autistic daughters, exploring the intersection of faith and disability. She discusses the initial struggles with the diagnosis, the shift from despair to joy, and the importance of celebrating her daughters' uniqueness. The conversation emphasizes the need for church communities to be inclusive and supportive, reco...

In the first episode of the In His Image - Disability Pride Month Mini Series from the A Little Extra Love podcast, Rachael Vermeulen discusses the intersection of disability and faith, particularly in the context of Disability Pride Month. She explores the theological implications of disability, emphasizing that every person, regardless of ability, reflects the image of God. The conversation chal...

In this episode of A Little Extra Love, Rachael Vermeulen is joined by Amber Mustain, a wife and mother navigating the complexities of raising a child with disabilities. Amber is the host of the Wait & See Podcast, and a creative florist located in Colorado. Amber shares the profound story of her son Colton, who was diagnosed with congenital CMV, and how her faith has been the anchor through t...

Summary In this heartfelt conversation, Rachael Vermeulen and Laura Powell discuss the profound journey of faith, resilience, and community support through the challenges of infertility and a dwarfism diagnosis for her daughter. Laura shares her personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of trusting God during uncertain times and finding beauty in the struggles. The discussion highlights the...

In this episode, Rachael and Kyle Vermeulen discuss their journey of stepping back from their podcast in 2024 to focus on building a community for families affected by disabilities. They emphasize the importance of belonging, connection, and support within the church and the broader community. The couple shares their experiences of creating safe spaces for families, launching new programs for 2025...

Summary  In this episode, Rachael and Kyle Vermeulen discuss the importance of maintaining a strong marriage during the challenges of disability parenting. They emphasize the role of faith in navigating crisis and the need for open communication and teamwork. The couple shares their own experiences and offers practical tips for building a strong foundation in marriage, including the use of love m...

In this episode, Rachael and Kyle Vermeulen discuss the role of faith in navigating the challenges of disability parenting. They share personal stories of finding strength in faith during difficult times and how their faith has evolved over the years. They emphasize the importance of surrendering worries to God and finding comfort in His promises. The couple also highlights the guidance and direct...

In this episode, Rachel and Kyle introduce themselves and share their personal experiences as disability parents. They discuss the importance of bringing God into the conversation and finding beauty in the broken places of life. They also highlight the need for community and support in the disability community. The inspiration behind their podcast, A Little Extra Love, is to provide spiritual nour...

Step into a world of faith-driven resilience and unwavering love in disability parenting with "A Little Extra Love," the podcast dedicated to empowering special needs families through the transformative power of community and faith. Join hosts Rachael and Kyle Vermeulen as they share their personal journey of parenthood, advocacy, and finding beauty in the broken moments of life. In each...