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.
Romancing the IEP
Romancing the IEP The Full Life Ahead Foundation recently ask me to write for their new blog on the topic, “The Individual Educational Plan” (otherwise
Is Craigslist God’s Way of Saving the World?
Is Craigslist God’s Way of Saving the World? Tiredness sets in. I hear my bed’s urgent call, “Get in here!” I fail to heed the
Perhaps She Does Love Cats
It was Mikelle’s brother, Kasey, who loved cats. His seven year old hands helped rescue “Vampire,” a gray hodgepodge of a kitten from beneath the
Life with Mikelle
Life with Mikelle: Balancing our Special Needs I thought living with my daughter would either be intense, even feverish. or cool and somewhat detached.
Life with Mikelle: Balancing our Special Needs
As I enter our home, it is warm and bathed in soft light. I take off my coat and hang it on the hook near
In Love With Love
In Love With Love By Taylor Mason “Learning how to love is the goal and the purpose of spiritual life — not learning how to
Ground Hog’s Day. The More things Change, the More they Stay the Same?
The More things Change, the More they Stay the Same? The daily adventures of being a “special needs” mother often feels like the movie, Ground
Everyone Needs a Break–The Importance of Respite
Reluctant eagerness. Yes, those two words capture my dilemma each time I take a break from being a “special needs mom” and caregiver—if there is
A Fork in the Road
By Ashley Ryder, Our new roommate. Some people say that ‘variety is the spice of life’…and I tend to agree. Like most people, I’ve got
January is Happiness Month.
This month we are sharing our ideas on what makes us happy. Listen to Kasey, Mikelle’s brother, thoughts on happiness.
How Happy is Your New Year?
Happy New Year. Either I am getting older, or the world is getting more complicated—or both. This year at The Shining Beautiful Series, we
Our Shining Beautiful Community Glimmers this Holiday Season
While we love our words on Shining Beautiful, it is difficult to string them together in such a way as to capture the camera sees