Mikelle Learned Archives - Shining Beautiful

Mikelle is in her wheelchair bundled up with a gray blanket at night with the snow falling around her.

Jingle All the Way: Celebrating the Magic of Christmas in Our Special Community

A Home of My Own, Community, Daily Life, Self-Determination, Uncategorized / KCarol

FLike jingle bells, laughter echoes through this holiday season as we celebrate the magic of Christmas. The Magic of Christmas This year, we decided to mix up the holiday season slightly. For instance, last month, we had a festive “wheelchair party” celebrating Mikelle’s new red wheelchair. The evening was packed with celebration, wine, and festivities, […]

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Graphic square of leaves surround words Give Thanks this Thanksgiving

It’s Not Perfect. But, we are grateful for it.

Uncategorized / KCarol

Thanksgiving is approaching. We think of families gathering around the dinner table, sharing stories and side dishes. We think of those no longer with us but who shaped our lives in good and unfortunate ways. Grateful for the fight. The last several months have been trying for Mikelle and me as we negotiate some unanticipated

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The Big Wheelchair Debate

Daily Life, Self-Determination / KCarol

Community Connects at Eye Level We all desire a certain amount of control over our lives in what we eat, where we go, and who we see, and Mikelle is no different. Most enjoy sitting across the table and sharing coffee with friends and family at the local cafe. We sit at eye level, read

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Our Everything, Everywhere All At Once!

21st Century Rehabiliation Solutions, A Home of My Own, Daily Life, Self-Determination, Special Needs Parenting / KCarol

Routine Life Most families have a routine. We have a daily set of rituals and activities that help us wake up, move around the house and help us run around our communities, and chat with each other over coffee. Yet, we all know that when the dishwasher does work, or the car won’t start, it

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Holiday Cheer!

Community, Daily Life, Family, Self-Determination / KCarol

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 Omicron mutation grows. But, thrice

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Are We Doomed?

Uncategorized / KCarol

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 challenges like parental surgeries and

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Am I Eating Right?

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

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 of neurological damage. A parent

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Adding Voice to Advocacy

21st Century Rehabiliation Solutions, Community, Self-Determination / KCarol

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”. ~ The World Blind Union Cavepeople

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Sunshine in Winter

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

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 calling it to find sunshine

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Once Upon Tomorrow

21st Century Rehabiliation Solutions, Daily Life, Family, Self-Determination, Special Needs Parenting / KCarol

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 bottom of new programs

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