Mikelle and I feel compelled to write about life with a disability, not just the challenges but the opportunities, the friendships, the innovations, and the brilliance of our communities in action as we share our everyday life living with a disability. With a little more information, motivation, we hope to share how our life is shining beautiful and maybe help you to shine beautiful, too.

Cool Ideas for Getting TechFit.

The dog days of summer have arrived.  Hot, humid days cling to the ground where fireworks fizzled just a few short weeks ago. The barbeque has cooled, and there just isn’t is ever enough ice tea—sweet or unsweet.  The family dog is either under the air conditioner or panting from

Can You Speak Mikelle?

Get TechFit and TechStrong. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Areas in life, once strong become weak. It was a gradual weakening, one we didn’t notice until it was obvious. Mikelle’s voice was growing quieter. The digital voice we had become so accustomed to was increasing silent as

Momma Mikelle….the Circle of Support Goes Both Ways

“When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom ‘Let it be’ And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom ‘Let it be’.” -The Beatles When you are at your weakest, be

How Do Parents Teach Self-Determination?

As a young mom, I recall Mikelle’s sweet stretched out yawns, her gentle infant coos and the terrible fear of the dreaded baby swing that threw her into a startle so severe she thought she would fall to the ground. I remember the many attempts to help her learn to

Ninja Warrior Parenting…Can we go overboard?

As families with special needs, we develop almost ninja-like warrior skills in fighting for our kids. We are strong, even when we feel weak. We speak out, even when we are shy. We believe in our kids, even when others don’t. We are courageous, even when our hearts ache. Our

Sometimes Love is Letting Go

DisAbility sends a family racing towards a destiny no one is ever prepared to have.  Our lives cross over the line of “normal” into the land of special.  The terrain is beautiful, mountainous and rarely peaceful. As a result, we grow protective and try to shield our family member from

Love is Like a Box of Chocolates, Right?

“Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”- Forrest Gump     Valentine’s Day and chocolates go hand and hand, like peas and carrots. Do you remember Valentine’s Day was a big deal when you were a child? Boxes of chocolate

New Year Brings Big Changes and Sweet Memories

Brilliant oranges and golds break the gray morning sky, I settle down onto the well worn beige couch. I am waiting, like most mornings, for Mikelle to call out for me. For her to signal she is awake and ready to start the day. Many days she lays awake waiting

What will this New Year Bring?

Mikelle, Taylor and I boxed up the last of the holiday decorations and sighed. Another year has passed, a somewhat challenging year at that. What will this year bring? A stutter or a stop? Shall we resolve or maybe we are just simply full of irresolution. What about you? Has

The Christmas Gift is You!

Soe Are you the gift under the tree? Imagine a small dollhouse on a post next to a big pine tree in a suburban front yard. The walls are painted with a warm, inviting color, perhaps trimmed in white. There is a small shingled roof and double doors which open

Saying ‘Bye to One of Our Own

By Taylor Mason and Katherine Carol As the weather begins to turn wintry and the days grow shorter and darker, we prepare for the changing of the seasons. We are also preparing for a changing of our team. It is always hard to say goodbye to our girls when it

Thanksgiving…a tribute to Veterans and Heros

November, the month before Christmas, is affectionately known as Movember where a guy can sport a mustachioed look and feel confident about it. November is the month where the days are short and bright and the nights are long and chilly. November is the month we honor Veterans tasked with