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.
Adding Voice to Advocacy
Advocacy is a Latin term made up of two words “Ad” and “Voca” which means “amplify” and “Voice” thus advocacy is the process of amplifying the voices of the voiceless. “Advocacy” is often defined by agencies and individuals as a “Systematic and serious process of amplifying the voices of the voiceless”. ~
March Madness
“Never let the things you cannot do prevent you from doing the things you can.” -Coach John Wooden Oh my goodness, the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel grows brighter by the day. I don’t know about you but Mikelle has visions of unlimited purse shopping at
Sunshine in Winter
In the heart of winter lies February, the month of love. For us, it has been about romantic love for the pandemic that has encircled us with its frightening ghostly arms keeping us home away from friends and even family. Covid confine points its gnarly finger to our hearts
Once Upon Tomorrow
Once upon tomorrow, will there be rainbows? What colors will we see? Where will the yellow brick road lead? And, what will life be like in the Emerald City? It is difficult to know on this cloudy January day. The news is not good. COVID AND CAPITOL BREACH streams across
The Fruits of Frustration
These days the fruit on the vine bears a copious crop of frustration. December at our home in downtown Denver proved to be nearly overwhelming as lives changed, world events erupted, and my Steady Betty gold
Could this be the End of Dental Drama?
After two years and 3 decades, Mikelle and I might be at the end of our dental drama. One by one, tooth by tooth, Mikelle’s beautiful smile still shined now with gaps in her smile. First on the bottom, then on the top. Over the years, we struggled to find
Label Jars Not People…a Caregiver’s Perspective.
Gratitude exists in many forms here at the Shining Beautiful community. Health, safety, good friends and community, and wonderful women who cross our path for just a brief period at a fundamental moment in their lives. Mikelle and I know that no one woman will stay with us forever. The
The Gathering of Women During COVID
Five beautiful women gathered at the old mansion in the middle of town. The sky was not gray with clouds, or blue in color, but shimmered in shades ombre tinted from the forest fire up north. The air hinted of a fall on a late summer’s morning. A light breeze
Rethinking, Reimagining, and Resolved to be Resilient.
We at the Shining Beautiful Series are rethinking our entire way of providing support for Mikelle to define a new and vibrant rhythm to life in a world that changes daily. Over the years, we have engineered, refined, and established a remarkable way of supporting Mikelle, effectively maximizing her self-determination
Drive-Thru Inclusion in the Time of COVID.
Our community is in transition. Inclusion looks different than it did just months ago. It is mid-July, and it has been hot and dry here in Denver. For weeks now, the sun has kissed the thermometer sending it to near 100 degrees. Protests against police brutality and Black Lives Matter
Birthdays, Community and COVID
Typically, each year we celebrate Mikelle’s birthday at Cheeseman Park. We have been doing this for so long I actually can’t think of the last time we didn’t celebrate there. We celebrated her 29th birthday when the temperature roared by 105 degrees. We celebrated in down coats and gloves with
Change and ResponsAbilty
Change – the pace of change is real! None of us could have planned for COVID, protests, economic challenges, job loss, and alteration in services for our families. I know Mikelle, and I never thought we would be social distancing. Our focus has always been being active in our community.