Appointment Changed

FYI - My appointment for the Modified Barium Swallow on Friday, October 31 has been changed to Tuesday, November 4.

Prayer Request

Today, I was able to see a specialist to help me with my stomach and esophagus problems -this was a direct answer to prayer - I was scheduled for November 19 and several people were praying that the doctor would have a cancellation so that I could be seen before the 19th. Thank you, God, for answering our prayers.

If you could please pray for me about my upcoming appointments, I sure will need it over the next week or so - here are specifics ....

• I will be starting a new medication - higher dose than what I have been taking for 14 years - pray that I will not have the side effects that are possible


• On Friday (10/31), I will be having a Modified Barium Swallow Test -a speech-language pathologist examines the movement of my lips, tongue, palate & larynx while I eat and drink different foods containing Barium - please pray that I am able to eat and drink as requested so that they can get an accurate reading on this test.


• On Monday (11/03), I will be having an Esophagram - While swallowing barium sulfate, an x-ray will be taken to evaluate the function and appearance of my esophagus and assess the swallowing process. I will not be able to eat or drink 12 hours prior to the test.
• I have been losing weight, please pray that I will be able to re-gain the lost pounds
• I get nervous when I have to go to the doctor/hospital - pray that I will be calm and cooperative
• Please pray that the doctor is able to gather enough information to help me with this problem that seems to be getting worse.

Thank you for your prayers - I am thankful that my friends and family go to God on my behalf. I am blessed and God is GOOD all the time!!!!

A Day of Remembrance and A Day of Celebration

102 years ago today this sweet grandma was born. She is my "Great-Grandma". She was 78 years old when I was born and she has been in Heaven for 8 years. She always gave me BIG soft hugs. She was a great cook and a very hard worker when she was able - she was faithful to her family, her job, and her church - her last years were VERY hard - even though we miss her very much, we are so glad that she lives with Jesus now!!! I know that there will be a GRAND birthday celebration today - beyond our comprehension - Who knows...she's probably cookin' up a load of fried chicken and all the yummy foods she enjoyed so much! We miss you GRANDMA D - Have fun Celebrating your birthday with God and Jesus.....

This picture was taken the night before my Aunt married this wonderful man - 11 years ago today!! He is strong but in a gentle way - he is an awesome father to their two children - he has faced life & death with my aunt - he's a faithful provider for his family - he loves the outdoors and finds adventure in it - he introduced "abelskivvers" to our family for breakfast on Christmas morning, he motivates my aunt when she really needs a push to keep going - he loves his God and his family and I am thankful that my Aunt S made such a wonderful choice!!!
Congratulations Uncle J and Aunt S for being a great example of a faithful christian family. Hope you have a fun day - I love you and miss you.

(Click here if you would like to see more of Uncle J & Aunt S's life together)

Hayride....Bonfire...Singing...Chili Supper...

Well.....that was the plan.....An "Adult Social" was planned for tonight with a group of my friends from church. The plan was to go to a farm just north of town where our Sunday School teacher lives, have a bonfire, a hayride, sing around the fire and enjoy a chili supper.

At about 3:00 pm it started to rain. It continued to rain and EVERYTHING was wet. We received a phone call letting us know that the party was quickly moved inside. We have a beautiful room on our church property that is a home-like gathering place with a fireplace and warm atmosphere. This place was probably better for me because my parents were concerned about me being outside in the cold. I was able to go for a while and hang out with my friends - I watched a skit, ate good food, drank apple cider, enjoyed wonderful singing around the fireplace (instead of the bonfire) with all lights out, observed lots of silliness!!! Then the games started.....I became "over-excited" and had a bit of a meltdown when they were playing an aggressive game where they were chasing each other around with a rolled-up newspaper, a lot of laughing and LOUD noise. I couldn't really handle the stimulation so I went home to my quiet place, snuggled in my bed and called it a day - I had fun and I am glad that I was included in the "Adult Social". I have a lot of sweet friends and they always want me to be a part of their lives. God has blessed me with a wonderful church family and I am thankful.

Remodel or Replace ? ? ? ?

This was the question that we needed to answer today!

Instead of going to school, I took a little trip down state to an Orthotics Prosthetics Clinic. I wear AFO's (Ankle Foot Orthotics) to stabilize my ankles. They are required when I am in a standing position. I use a device at school that allows me to stand upright and bear weight on my feet. This benefits me in many ways but the primary goals to to keep my bones strong.

My friend, Karen was able to go on the trip with Mom and I. This was very helpful since she is the person that assists me in standing each day at school. My goal is to stand for 60 minutes each day. I have been stand for about 15 minutes each day because my AFO's were tight on one side of my shin and loose on the other. Karen was able to explain my standing position and the trouble I have experienced. Thank you Karen!!!


Since my AFO's are 4 years old, we didn't know if I would need to have new ones made or if the current ones could be adjusted. The gentleman that works with me is very kind and gentle. After examining my AFO's, he suggested that we try to adjust them - he complimented me on the condition that they are in and wanted to know how we keep them clean.

Just like new!!!

New straps and adjustments through applied heat and they are almost like new!!! We will try them out and if they don't work, we will have new ones made but for now it looks like I'm ready to work on my 60 minute goal.

By the way - it wasn't all business - Karen and Mom and I went to Olive Garden for lunch and I had spaghetti (which is one of my favorites). We also went to the "World Market" which is a fun store to visit - we do not have one in our area so we always try spend a little time in that place.

The weather was clear and sunny, traffic was light and we had a fun, safe and productive day!!!!!

A day off from school and a visit with my friend.....

I had the day off from school yesterday .... a district holiday .... I slept until 10:45 am and then I went to the Mall. That is pretty much a perfect day for me. I like to hang out there when I don't have school. The food court is a fun place to have lunch. I always run into someone I know or even make new friends.
I have become friends with people just because I visit the mall often - they are called my "mall friends". I actually visited with two of them yesterday!


This is my very special friend Ellan. She moved to this area from Texas about 18 months ago to live closer to her daughter. She has an apartment in a senior housing complex. We attend the same church. About three weeks ago, my friend fell in the middle of the night and hurt her chest very bad. She was in the hospital a few days and then had to go to a rehabilitation center to recover. She fell two more time since then so she is not able to return to her own apartment yet. I went to the nursing home today with my Grandma Phyllis and my Mom to visit Ellan. It was the first time Grandma met Ellan. The four of us had a nice visit. She was very happy to see me and I was very happy to see her. She is a sweet Texas gal with a BIG heart. We are thankful that we have become friends. I hope you are able to meet my friend Ellan some day. It was a good day.

Our Favorite Time of the Year.......Autumn

These are the signs that tell me that the Fall Season is here ...

.....the color of the leaves on the trees are changing in our yard.....

I wear more layers....a blanket on my lap most of the time....cold in the morning....sunny in the afternoon.....



Out comes our fall decorations at home....which does includes a couple paintings that Karen and I created in our watercolor class a few years ago...



My pool is closed for the winter........ :(




The Mums and Fall Flowers are in blossom......



Dad starts preparing for the Hunting Season.....no doubt, his favorite time of year.

Every fall, when we go outside for a walk at school, my friend Karen always piles leaves on my feet and the foot rests on my chair. She believes that everyone should be allowed to kick through a pile of leaves in the falls....so she lets me experience that!!!



Our family enjoyed a color tour this afternoon - to see the wonderful colors that God paints throughout the trees in Michigan. It is so pretty. The weather was awesome - sunny and in the mid-70's. Ride along, won't you........

Make a Smilebox photobook

Check our my school setting

This is my room at school .... it is not your typical school setting but it is perfect for me. It allows me to have a place to land in between my community service, art classes, job sites, etc. Hope you enjoy the tour - it does run a little fast so you might need to stop the slide show and manually go through the pictures so that you can read the text. I love this place and I love my friend that shares the space with me..... Karen - You know "School Karen". Enjoy....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Halloween Memories

" Pouty Pumpkin"

My Aunt S was decorating her BLOG with Halloween memories and challenged my Mom and cousin to get out some old pictures of Halloween. What a fun challenge, take a look here at my cousins G & K and a smilebox of a few more of my old Halloween pictures

Also see L & B here - in past Halloween fun..they are cuties!!!

I don't really dress up for Halloween any more but it sure is fun to look back and see how much fun Mom had dressing me up....

The funny part of this picture is that I do NOT like candy...

but the wrappers were great fun!!!

Teamed up with my cousin Tyler as "Ann & Andy"