Okay, so it seems. I am a little late for this post,But the new season of Little People, Big World has already prepared on TLC. It aired on May 2, 2017 and it appears a lot of changes are in store, including the birth of Zach and Tori's new baby and Matt and Amy joining the dating pool shortly after their divorce. There is still time to catch up; I certainly will. The show is at 9 PM on Tuesdays on TLC.
I’m not sure how the topic of this post will be received because of its controversial topic. While the movie “The Shack” is not biblically based, I do see some striking similarities that may leave audiences more open to the idea of a relationship with Jesus-the one true
God. For those that are unfamiliar with the story, “The Shack” tells the story of a father unable to cope with the untimely death of his youngest daughter. I will spare you the gruesome details, but he is left feeling responsible. That is, until he receives an unlikely “invitation” from God himself to come back to where it happened in the hopes of getting him “unstuck.” Thus begins an amazing journey of spiritual transformation of love and forgiveness
Now I know what you are thinking. I wish I could have a conversation with Jesus in the flesh to discuss my spiritual journey and obstacles in my life. But he does send us people in our
lives to advise and guide our steps. In this world of difficulty, it’s just hard to see him in our midst. I think Octavia Spencer says it best when as she portrays "“Papa” (one of the three parts of God) and says, “"Son,when all you see is your pain, you lose sight of me." Although the idea of God in three persons is biblically based, the way it’s portrayed is not exactly
true. Yes, Jesus is God in the flesh. He suffered on our behalf, but it is not exactly clear what God looks like.
In another conversation with Jesus, Mack is still struggling to let go of his guilt over what happened and come to grips with the gift that he’s been given-the opportunity to talk over his grievances and believe again. In this scene, he is in a boat in the middle of the lake and it begins to turn black overtaking the boat and it begins to sink.This kind of reminds me of Matthew 14: 29-32, when Jesus beckons Peter to join him on the water and when he does, he can’t help but look down in doubt. In pretty much the same way during the “Shack” scene, Mack looks down and is overcome with fear , “Jesus” urges them to not look down, saying, "Don't look at it, Mack. Look here.. Don't think about the past, don't think about the pain..Look at me. Everything is going to be okay. Trust me, none of this can hurt
you. Just look at me and breath."
When things finally come down and the black lake disappears, Jesus urges Mack to continue with them, and walk on the water, but he is still unsure. He replies, “But I can’t. I will sink.” Jesus answers him, saying, "Not on your own. You can't... You're imagining a future without me and that future doesn't exist. I promised to be with you always right? And I'm right here."
But then that leaves the inevitable question, “Doesn’t God have the Ultimate Say?” To answer that question, Mack must come face to face with his idea of judgment as a woman named "wisdom forces him to reevaluate how he views certain people. His views are challenged when he is forced to choose which of his children are to go to Heaven and which to Hell. Obviously he can't make a choice and chooses to take their place. It is only then,, when there bodies fade away. "McKenzie, you've judged your children worthy of love- even if it cost you everything. Now you know Papa's heart." She continues explaining that while God gives us free will to be part of his family and make our own choices that leaves room for evil to find its way in. " He doesn't stop a lot of things that cause him pain. What happened to Missy was the work of evil. And no one in your world is immune to it. You want the promise of a pain free life. She continues, saying, "... As long as there's will in
this universe- free not to follow God, evil can find a way in." These are just some of the highlights of my favorite parts of "The Shack" I would be more than happy to start an open discussion on what you guys thought of the movie. In some strange way, I feel closer to God after watching it. It is my hope that this movie can start an open dialogue about faith to your friends and family..
This morning I watched Until Forever on Pureflx; this movie was based on the real-life journey of 16-year-old Michael Boyum's journey coping with leukemia. Despite their youth, Michael and Michele were determined to cherish each other and live each day as if it was their last. Michael's faith was quite evident even during the last days. In that he visited other cancer patients sharing his reason for hope with others .
This movie inspired me to do the same-even though at times I feel my words don't have the effect they should.
I am happy to report that Born This Way is back for its third season on A&E. After two seasons, the series has been begun to change peoples' views on those with disabilities; this is evident by the show receiving a Emmy for Best Unstructured Reality series, ending the two-year streak of The Deadliest Catch. This season holds changes for the whole gang- including a budding romance for Stephen and Megan, a independent living opportunity for Christina. How will the parents cope? I don't know, but I can tell you from personal experience that learning to let go of your children and see them fly and come into their own can be the most difficult thing. The series airs on Tuesdays at 10 PM.
Over the past few days, I have reminisced about my experiences at Disney World- both when I was younger and now. When my dad heard about this, he was able to dig out a picture of our first visit in February 1998. What a difference right? Unfortunately, my brother wasn't able to come with us that time. But my mom says there's always the possibility of us coming back and sharing the whole experience with my nieces.. Although they have already been there once it's always different together as a family. Even as I say that, I can't believe we would be sharing it with the next generation. Wow, how time flies!
Debbie and family at Epcot- February 1988
Debbie and Family- April 2017
Our last day at Disney World was spent at Epcot (obviously); we got a late start that day because it was due to the hottest day.. The report was spot on! As we began our journey through the different countries,, I was taken back by enormous flower gardens and sculptures; the creativity it took to shape some of those plans into Disney characters (like Elisa from Frozen or Belle from Beauty and the Beast) is brilliant. In all, there are about 100 topiaries to admire around Epcot. For our first ride, we decided to go to on Spaceship Earth. For this ride, I had to transfer out of my wheelchair- but it was worth it. This ride takes you back in time from the Stone Age, showing the evolution of man. (I'm using the term "evolution"to mean the growth in man's intelligence; I do not believe in the theology of evolution.) What I liked most about the ride was the fact that it was interactive; it allowed riders in each seat to "choose" what their future looked like based on answering a few questions posed to them along the way.The pics captured at the beginning of the right are then placed in a video used to portray the future. This is something that riders can take with them if they supply their email in the database on computers near the ride.Another interesting fact is that the ride takes place "inside" the Epcot ball.
Next, we attended The Voyage of the Little Mermaid show. This 15 minute performance includes live puppetry with performances of popular songs from Sebastian the crab as well as Ariel. During the show, I felt like I was truly "under the Sea" because bubbles cascaded from the ceiling at one point.
What's a trip to Disney World without saying Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse? It's not a trip, of course! For the reason, I actually took some time to wait in line and meet the popular characters as well as get my picture taken with them. For those that say I'm too old for that, well, you are only as old as you feel. Here is two of my favorites.
After that, we continued our trek around the "world"stopping by Germany to look at the intricate Cuckoo clocks and then went to France to sample the delicious crepes (thin pancakes) that reminded us of Grandma (mom's mom). In one building, they even had a widescreen movie that gave us a tour of the country; we soared about the vineyards that created wine and went through famous churches. This gave us a in-depth view of the country without having to actually go there. One of the final things we did there was go to see The America Adventure at The World Showcase. This 30 minute performance utilizes audio- animatronics and film to go back in time and view the major events that made America the great country it is today.
I hope you all have enjoyed reading about my adventures in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. In this post I will share with you what I did during my second day on vacation at Hollywood studios. For this adventure, we had to take a bus; the buses must run back and forth every 15 to 30 minutes because we had to wait 10 minutes for ours. During that time I encountered a disabled intern working there in charge of the bus routes. I later learned that there was a special internship opportunities for college students wanting to work there during the summers..
But I digress...
A bus arrived to take us to a Hollywood Studios; this particular bus had a hydraulic system which lowered it to the ground for easier access. Then, a lift opened up and I got in with no trouble. At that point, they secured my wheelchair down with straps and we were on our way. Shortly after arriving my family and got a bite to eat. We then decided to attend the Beauty And the Beast: Live On Stage show. This 25 minute musical extravaganza highlights popular songs from the original movie. What makes this so different than the movie? First,the host selects a member from each audience to give a special rose to- it symbolizes the special bond, a father has with his daughter. Second, specific shows have real-time American Sign Language (provided by translators) for those that are deaf and hard of hearing.
After that we spent some time walking around the streets, sightseeing (and shopping) before going on The Great Movie Ride. This attraction is accessible to those in wheelchairs as well as those able to transfer in and out by themselves or with the help of other people. The ride insists of real-time clips of the greatest moments in movie history, as well as reenactments that put you right in the middle of the action. From there, we toured the Walt Disney: One Man's Dream "museum". It follows him through the monumental years of his career and gives people a in-depth glimpse on what it takes to create an animated film.
Another live show that I enjoyed was the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. This exciting show gives viewers a behind the scenes look at how stunts are filmed in the movies
After
30 years, I can finally say I’ve been to Walt Disney World twice in my lifetime.
The first time when I was seven years old or so and my parents wanted to show
their children a good time. This time, I am 37 years old and trying to
rediscover some of that magic and childlike awe we tend to lose in the process
of growing up, I can honestly say I’ve done that. In this post, I will highlight
some of my favorite activities to do in the Magic Kingdom that are handicapped
accessible for those in wheelchairs.
My mom
made reservations or three days at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, which incidentally
was the same hotel we stayed at originally. The resort still had its Hawaiian
style decor; however, it has seen its share of technological advances- like
electronic bracelets that allow you access to the hotel as well as the theme
parks. These bands are only available as part of a theme park package. Employees at the resort always seem to go above and beyond to make your stay extremely pleasant. For instance, once they heard it was my 37th birthday trip they gave me a "happy birthday" button. I wore it for next two days, getting several well wishes and even a few extra perks here and there.
After
settling in and getting a good night’s rest, we decided to go to the Magic
Kingdom first. Since we were at the resort, it is much easier to take the monorail or bus to all of the amusement. Getting on the monorail is simple, security personnel have little ramps which line up with the vehicle and allow you to drive your wheelchair inside. For a bus, the procedure is slightly different because they have lifts and tie-downs to secure the wheelchair in place. At any rate, we arrived at the Magic Kingdom just in time for us to see the Disney characters dance by the castle. "Inviting" us to enjoy the rest of our day.After that, my parents and I visited the Swiss Family Robinson attraction where they reminded me of the first time we had visited when my dad carried me to the very top of the treehouse. From there, we went on the Jungle Cruise ride.
If you are looking for a handicapped accessible
boat, you may have to ask for assistance. In which case, they may give you a
specific time slot where the boat is available. We had to wait until 1-1:30 PM;
the boat had a special ramp that lowered me down and then rotated my
wheelchair, so I was looking straight forward and could see either side of the
water Along the way, my tour guide pointed out
different animals; although these were animated, they gave a realistic
portrayal of what people would have encountered in the Amazon. There were also
waterfalls that kept people cool during the ride.At 3 o’clock, we stopped on Main Street and
waited for the Festival of Fantasy to begin. This parade highlights all of the
characters from Disney movies, including Beauty and the Beast and of course,
Mickey and Minnie Mouse
My name is Debbie. I am a 40-year-old with big dreams and hopes for the future. Fresh out of college, I hope to use my knowledge and communication skills to inspire others to pursue their dreams no matter what. I am blessed to be living in a country where opportunities are endless; but sometimes as a disabled person, society puts limitations on us. I am here to push past the stereotypes, and allow people to see me as the unique individual than I am! You can contact
me anytime if you have any questions at: rollinDebbie70@gmail.com (yes I did recently change it)
