Friends Archives - Shining Beautiful

Mikelle is in her wheelchair smiling with three of her favorite girlfriends surrounding her with love.

A Tale of Two Celebrations: Mikelle’s Memorable Birthday Bash

A Home of My Own, Daily Life, Family, Friends, Self-Determination, Special Needs Parenting / KCarol

Celebrating Mikelle’s Birthday in the Shadows of Her Grandma’s Home This summer, Mikelle celebrated her birthday at the home of her brother Kasey and his wife Allison, once her beloved Grandma’s house for sixty-two years. Although it marked the second birthday without her Grandma, gathering friends in the revitalized backyard breathed new life into the celebration. […]

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Simple, Basic, Fun Ways to Win Back our Happiness.

Community, Daily Life, Family, Friends, Self-Determination, The Pursuit of the American Dream / KCarol

Simple Sometimes it is so simple—a win for a beleaguered and treasured football team and a Halloween party. In these moments, we step back into traditions to reclaim our future by being present in the moment. For Mikelle, her brother, and his family, Sunday’s Bronco football team win in London renewed their hopes for a

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Soul Mates. A Story of Love and Friendship

Daily Life, Friends, Self-Determination, The Pursuit of the American Dream / Jollity

Fifteen years ago, a thoughtful high school teacher introduced Mikelle Learned and Jerome Stewart, she had a hunch these two might become the best of friends. She was right. Jerome played football, ran track and was a well-liked senior at East High School. He, like Mikelle, was a recent transfer student from another high school.

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Holiday Harmony

A Home of My Own, Community, Daily Life, Decisions, Friends, Healthy Living, Self-Determination, Storytelling, The Pursuit of the American Dream / Jollity

Many of you, who came of age in the 1970s like me, remember being inspired by a television commercial. It was a Coca Cola commercial, where a lighted candle appears on the screen, and we see a young, beautiful woman singing, “I’d Like the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony,” the camera pans out. We

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The Spirit of Christmas Shines Beautiful at Our Home

1 Comment / A Home of My Own, Community, Daily Life, Friends, The Pursuit of the American Dream, Uncategorized / Jollity

The ornaments are up on the tree, the garland glitters, and the string of lights twinkle like stars in the night. A mound of wrapping paper is stacked next to gifts not yet wrapped. The sacred holiday nears. Packages arrive on doorsteps with the wish that not a single porch pirate dare steal the joy

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The Christmas Gift is You!

21st Century Rehabiliation Solutions, Community, Daily Life, Friends, Self-Determination, Uncategorized / Jollity

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 wide. Now, imagine the little

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Saying ‘Bye to One of Our Own

Community, Friends, Special Needs Parenting, Storytelling / Jollity

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 is time for them to

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Getting Down with the Gilmore Girls

Community, Friends, Goal Setting / Jollity

It was nine o’clock on a late Winter’s morning at Mikelle’s condo on Clarkson Street in the heart of Denver. Sunlight filtered through slatted mini-blinds as the sun struggled to rise above clouds hugging the horizon. The smell of fresh coffee filled the living room. Taylor sat on the couch, still in her pajamas, legs

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Love The Locks You Rock!

Community, Friends, Self-Determination, The Pursuit of the American Dream / Jollity

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Mikelle, like any other woman, often feels the need for change. For her this could be a new purse, a pair of new sneakers, or the urge to dye her hair. When that urge begins to rear its head she is insistent. She will ask anyone and everyone daily

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It’s What Friends Do

Community, Daily Life, Friends / Jollity

From time to time, we at the Shining Beautiful Blog series like to post an update about Ms Mikelle and her good buddy, Jerome. They’ve been friends for a long time, since 2003, thirteen years. Over the years their friendship has grown and changed just as they have grown and changed. We all know that

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