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.
Taking a “MOMcation”.
Why I have to get back to the islands. It is time for a “momcation.” I need a beach, a cocktail, and a whole night’s sleep. Being of the hardy sort, hard work is fine for me. I am of the hardy sort. I was blessed with great energy and
Spring Time Strategies for Self-Care.
Hello Beautiful! Spring is sprouting here in the Rocky Mountain area. Daffodils and forsythia burst with bright yellows, fragrant pink and purple hyacinths delight us as we walk the neighborhood. After that wild March Madness, we hope that we can share our Springtime Strategies for coping and self-care in a
March Madness
March Madness Is it us, or does the “energy” seem weird this month? Wars, inflation, and the unrelenting waves of daily and often dramatic change sculpt our way of living one day without our permission. What happened to freedom of choice? Self-directed change? Violence Confronts our Community As the world
Persistence Pays!
Problem Solving There are few loves we experience in our lives like caring for a family member who experiences a special need. The transformation from disability to ability and back again is miraculous and not well understood unless experienced. A parent can turn the most challenging day into a day
Happy New Year? Will 2022 be Better? The 120 Day Challenge.
Well…..2021 was quite the year. Right? After all the food has been eaten, parties have been partied and resolutions have been made it is finally time to step back and take a breather. The holidays were stressful, there’s no doubt, but they also brought a certain cheer to all who
Holiday Cheer!
Tradition Every year is different, yet the same during the holidays. Tradition abounds at the Shining Beautiful household. So Mikelle’s annual holiday party is not to be missed. Except for last year when holiday parties took a COVID hiatus. Even this year, the darn virus threatens to disrupt as the
Are We Doomed?
Part Two Exhaustion Sets In In last month’s blog post, Mikelle and I lamented that we are still in the middle of a staffing crisis ourselves. Since then, I have met with other parents experiencing some version of this crisis in their own families. Compounding our situation are life
Staff Shortages are Scary. Part One.
It is Friday night, and I have a chance to do a bit of Salsa dancing with friends at a new brewery in town. It has been weeks since I have been with my friends, and I relish the time to relax and renew my wearied soul. The last two
Back to the Future, Part 2. Circling the Wagons.
If you read last month’s blog post, we discussed that it is best to circle the wagons in times of uncertainty. This month we are writing about one of the wagons. Person-Centered Planning, Group Action Planning, H.O.P.E. Teams are some of the wagons. Regrouping. Looking at resources, assessing challenges,
Back to the Future?
Two years ago, Mikelle and I felt pretty comfortable living in her downtown condo. We had a solid team of support for Mikelle. Her life was fascinating. She navigated her community like a celebrity. I had the freedom to support her when needed and have projects of my own and
Rituals Matter Even When They Change.
I thought this summer, Mikelle’s long-standing birthday tradition of a large gathering of friends at the local park might insist on a return to normal after last summer’s smaller, more intimidate party highlighting a solo from a local cellist. It was a good party, but the buoyant celebration with kids
Am I Eating Right?
I am intrigued. For all the health and fitness information on the internet, stacked in the aisle at book stores, there is very little written, spoke, or researched on the dietary needs of someone living with cerebral palsy. This condition varies from person to person, depending on the extend