Encouragement: God is not Finished With Me– or the Elevator Yet...

Welcome Back Readers~

I’m sorry I let another two months go by without posting anything. But things have been quite hectic around here. Let me give you a quick overview before getting into the main topic of today’s blog.

1. My 41st birthday-It was pretty quiet around here for my birthday. Except for a few surprises of birthday balloons and a bouquet of wildflowers chosen by my dad, there were no surprises. Since my mother took care of my nieces for a week, we all decided to go to Olive Garden; it was pretty nice. Elizabeth even went out of her way to ask the waiter to “Decorate” my dessert with a Happy Birthday label with candy confetti. It was kind of cute.

   
   
   

2. Getting The Vaccine- In several posts, I have debated on getting the vaccine. Well, I finally got on the list and waited for an email. In April, they emailed with my opportunity to get the vaccine. I took it. At that time, though, they only gave it in specific locations; this time, it was a college. I received Moderma. The first shot wasn’t too bad with just an achy arm; the second dose (three weeks later) was what did me in. I didn’t sleep well that night, and eventually, I forced myself to get up. Fighting congestion and body aches, I tried to get something done; But it was useless. It wasn’t until my assistant suggested getting Pedialyte and Gatorade and we got it that I started feeling better. I know it sounds like a weird concoction, but it works!

3. Elevator Construction- If you’ve been following me long enough, you’ve probably heard me rant about my family’s troubles trying to get an elevator installed in our house. For those of you that are new, I will spare you the details except to say they are finally making progress. But it’s been a tough road full of confusion as well as disappointment. Here are a few pictures highlighting the making of the shaft for the elevator.

This brings me to the main purpose of this post. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, God sees you. Just like the elevator, you may not see changes immediately. But he is a master at working behind the scenes. Tauren Wells' song "God's Not Done with You" speaks to this issue of feeling incomplete and useless when it comes to being a part of God's ministry team. Thankfully, Jesus can see past all of our insecurities and see who we were meant to be. To play the YouTube of "God's Not Done With You," it can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6-Pky8KFoQ

A Question of Faithfulness

 

 

Welcome Back Readers~

 

Chris Tomlin's "Your Grace is Enough" has been on my mind a lot lately; I can't exactly figure out why. Maybe it's just because this month's Faith box theme is about faithfulness- not necessarily ours, but God's.

 

As a result, we often find it easier to trust God in times of peace then in times of difficulty. But why is that? The answer is simple; we don't like change. It makes us uncomfortable and insecure.

That's where remembering God's faithfulness comes into play. It gives us an opportunity to look back and reflect on times when we have seen the Lord work in our lives on a daily basis. In this time of reflection, it is also important to note that God isn't only faithful with the with the big things, but the little things as well.

Christmas Blessings to All

  Dear Readers~

 As I sat down to write this update, I struggled with what I should entitle it. I like to stay positive and upbeat my posts whenever I can to instill hope whenever possible. But sometimes it gets tiring. Like many of my readers, I have been saddened by the events surrounding the capital and its aftermath. I refuse to go into politics on this page, but I will say this. We certainly need God now more than ever.

During my education, I have read about riots and disagreements among parties; but never in my wildest dreams did I think something like that would happen in my lifetime. Now that it has, I am reminded once again of God's infinite truth and peace- giving message of John 16:33. In this passage Jesus once again tries to remind his disciples of His impending death on the cross for all of humanity and those who choose to believe in Him. In the verse, Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”'

Throughout this chapter, Jesus is open and honest about the struggles the disciples (as well as all Christians) will face after his death; however, because of the resurrection there is still hope. In this verse, Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for two questions they will face: whose they are and where the foundation of their faith comes from.

What's the answer to both of those questions? 

I am a child of God (in Jesus Christ); I am trusting in the fact He Overcame!

He has overcome and I need not worry about anything else. Yes, I know there will be more obstacles to get through in the future, but I am constantly reminding myself that this is not my home…

Though earth is quite beautiful, I am just a person passing through on my way to be with the Lord.

I belong with Him

One day, He will come back and take me home to be with Him. Everything else won’t matter; only the things I’ve done for Him will last…

– – – –

*Verses used in this blog were:

1.) John 16:33

2.) 1 Corinthians 3: 13-15

Happy Thanksgiving 2020

Dear Readers,

Hello and welcome back.. Aww, who am I kidding? I'm the one who hasn't written on here in two months. But a big thanks to those friends and family and followers of this blog to this day; you're just one of the many reasons  I haven't dropped the ball completely. I know that people care about me and want to hear what I have to say.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I'm pretty sure the holiday didn't look as normal as it would have this time last year with the virus and everything going around. But still.. It gives us more to be grateful for when precautions are lifted and everything goes back to normal.

Still, I'm beginning to think that idea of normal is overrated these days. Think about it, just last year it was  just the three of us celebrating Thanksgiving at our family's favorite Virginia Beach restaurant Catch- 31. Granted, the food there is fabulous and mom doesn't have to  lift a finger in food prep and cleanup; I know moms appreciate the break sometimes. On the other hand, this Thanksgiving we found ourselves taking care of two dogs

Wait.. I thought you only had one dog, Debbie?

You're right. But that doesn't account for Lolli, Holly's "dog" cousin. I'm not sure whether I wrote about Lolli's adoption into my brother's family. To make a long story short, Lolli came into our extended family just before our annual trip to Virginia Beach ; I had previously arranged for them to take care of her when we were away. That being said, you can imagine my anxiety leaving my baby with them. Thankfully, they became fast friends and cousins- except when it comes to sharing some toys

Now it was our turn to return the favor; not only that but we have a bearded Dragon, and Rebekah's pet as well it has certainly been one very interesting week. Here's some of my favorite pics for the week

It is unbelievable to think that just last year we didn't have our sweet Holly. She had brought a new sense of laughter and joy to our family that I didn't believe was possible. Albeit, she can be a handful sometimes-playing sweet one minute and racing away the next. We love her anyway.

A Writer's Perspective 2020

 

Dear readers,

Here is a picture of a plaque I have standing in my windowsill right in front of my writing desk. For those of you who can't see exactly what it says, it has the following on it:

"KEEP TRYING

KEEP MOVING

KEEP INSPIRING

KEEP BELIEVING

KEEP DREAMING

KEEP LOVING

YOU GOT THIS"

Cute saying, right? But even harder to live by these days...

Anyway, I keep this plaque as a reminder to continue writing every day on my book.

But yesterday, it reminded me of something different. It reminded me that no matter what I do every day or I come in contact with, I am a representative of Christ. Even with the small stuff-this blog for example

Strangely enough, I find it easier to write on here than I do on my fiction book; for the life of me, I don't know why.

Maybe it's because there's no fear of judgment here.. When in reality I am putting my thoughts out there for everyone to see.

Still, I do it anyway.

Like I said in my previous post, I haven't given up on finishing my book; just have changed directions for a while. I have given my proposal to another professional writer who may be able to tell me what I need to change or add to make it better. Hopefully, she will be able to give me some insight and continue editing my book when it's finished in the future

Basement apartment + puppy update

 Welcome Back Readers~

Wow, folks... I can't believe it's been over five months since I last posted on this blog.

But then again, I guess I can.

You'll be happy to know I'm finally living in the downstairs apartment; it is basically finished except for patching a few holes and creating a space for the elevator lift. I've already started putting up old pictures to make it more homey. Maybe one of these days I will decide to give you a YouTube tour once I figure click out out how I'm going to do. For now, this picture is going to have to do...

Let's see... What else? Oh yes, my adorable puppy Holly; although I don't know whether I can call her that anymore, she's getting so big. But she's still a handful. Don't get me wrong, having a pet is great especially with the pandemic going around. But Holly seems to think that since we don't go out much it should be all about her-all day every day. Still, she has quickly become an integral part of the family; my dad has quickly become Holly's favorite person.. Strangely, the feeling seems to be mutual..

With Covid, we had to postpone lot of our dog,'s regular activities such as training and grooming; as a result, she's developed some annoying and exhausting habits - everything ranging from playful nipping to jumping up on strangers. You can imagine our relief when Petco called to offer us one-on-one training since we hadn't attended the group sessions I already paid for. Anyway, we just finished Holly's second week. She's doing well but got a long way to go if we want her to to be an assistance dog- which  we do. Right now, we are focused on the basics of walking to the left of my wheelchair and distraction as well the basic commands like "come", "sit", and "stay".

A few weeks ago, Holly had her first grooming. Here is a "before" photo:

And the amazing transformation:

I know what you're thinking... It's not a different dog

On a more personal note, I kind of have switched gears when it comes to my writing. During my last post, I may have been preparing my first proposal to send off to a potential agent. Unfortunately, they passed. That being said, I was obviously disappointed; I haven't given up on finding an agent just concentrating on finishing my book. Although it would really be nice to have the person on my team besides my parents supporting and encouraging my passion for writing

Personal Update: Flu Adventures

Dear Readers~

Let me begin this post by saying I'm sorry for the long radio silence on my end, but that could not be helped. The flu virus took down our entire household and we were down for the count. This doesn't mean it was a "fun adventure" as my title entry says, but that just happened to be the first words that came to mind while writing this blog.

The first one down was me. It all started with a nagging cough and a runny nose. At first, we thought it was a simple cold and proceeded as such. I will spare you the nasty details that urged my family and me to take me to urgent care the next day- only to learn I indeed had the flu and a 101° temperature to prove it!

My mom and dad stayed vigil during the worst of it. That being said, it was inevitable that one of them would get sick next. Of course, isn't that the type of sacrifice any parent would give for their child?

Dad was down for the count next.  This made things even more difficult since my mom was headed to babysit my nieces while my brother and sister-in-law went off to celebrate their anniversary. Despite his illness, dad did his best to take care of me Since I was still coughing constantly (unable to use my voice recognition), I spent most of my time playing games on my phone, reading audiobooks and binge-watching shows on Netflix.

I will say the one bright spot in all of this was that I found Irene Hannon's Hope Harbor books. If I hadn't been coughing, I would've spent most of my time working on my computer and my blog (not that that's a bad thing) but I had to find other ways to entertain myself not using my voice. These books help me relax since they were set on the beach and had very inspirational themes. Going along with the beach theme, I also watched a Netflix series called Bondi Rescue. This show featured ocean rescues that took place on Australia's most popular beach spot.

Meanwhile, mom was getting sick as well. She was doing her best to take care of the girls and nurse herself back to health. At one point, we had to come down and help her. She actually ended up with pneumonia!

That's the long short of it-. How the flu ravaged our family. I still have a little cough nagging me, but that's about it. I hope all my readers are doing okay. If not, I know what you're going through this flu season has been rough.

Debbie

Born This Way: Season Finale September 5 | A&E

Dear readers,

On the season finale of Born This Way, the gang celebrated the long-awaited wedding Angel and Christina. Over the last few seasons, I have seen so much growth in her as an individual as well as a couple. They each have taken classes in order to learn the necessary skills of housekeeping and cooking. Their story gives me more hope for my future in terms of my love life -although it is squarely in God's timing and hands. If it can happen for her, it can happen to me too!

But Christina is not the only one becoming more independent, they all are in different ways. For example, Rachel and Megan moved in together briefly, Jon is persistent about learning to drive a car and so much more.

One reason I think everyone enjoys this show is that it is relatable not only to the general audience but to those with disabilities as well. I can relate to this show because I understand how hard it is to keep your independence; yet, it shows the internal struggle between mother and daughter of letting your child go and leaving the nest. I've seen the struggles between Meg and her mother and understood them so well.

In looking at YouTube, I realize I am not the only one who was disappointed with how the season played out over four weeks. I mean eight episodes- two episodes per week .. You have got to be kidding me... Being disabled, I for one know there has got to be a lot of new material they didn't use for the show. But that's my rant. Hopefully, that leaves more material for next season! Fingers crossed. Anyway, at least they have a new one-hour special coming up highlighting what it's like to be deaf. It's entitled deaf out loud and airs next Wednesday at 8 PM. If you missed this season finale, it still can be found on A&E on-demand or on fire TV

Good luck Angel and Christina! I am rooting for you and can't wait to see what happens in future episodes

Encouragement:38 years in Bethesda

Thirty-Eight Years at Bethesda

Guest Thoughts by Debbie’s Dad

One of several interesting accounts about disabled people meeting Jesus occurs in John’s Gospel during Jesus’ second visit to Jerusalem. The account describes His encounter with a disabled man at the pool called Bethesda. It was common in those days to have pools for healing and purification. At this pool there was apparently a tradition that when the waters in the pool moved, there was a race to get in the pool – the first was healed. (This healing competition is certainly not consistent with a Hebrew or Christian view of compassion for the disabled - a race, a race of the disabled for healing? Pretty ironic, right? The ancient world had many deities and must have also had many such traditions!) Of course, the pool area was filled with “a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed” waiting for this event (John 5:3).  John describes the encounter like this:

⁵ Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" ⁷ The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." (John 5: 5-7 NKJV)

As the father of a disabled daughter, this brief account raises several questions in my mind:

What kind of infirmity did he have?  John notes that at the Bethesda pools there were “a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed”.  The original words used to represent lame and paralyzed refer to those who are physically weakened, limping, and whose body is withered. The man that Jesus met is described by a different word that more generally refers to his weakness or infirmity that he had for 38 years – likely run the business and would like to talk his whole life.  Because of this, it is reasonable to think that this man might have had cerebral palsy and, like Debbie, suffered brain damage at birth that impaired his muscle tone and motor activity. And like Debbie, he may have been quadriplegic, because he was “lying there” and unable to get into the pool.  In any event, someone caring person brought him to the pool of Bethesda that day, where he was reclining. 

Who cared for him? At the time of Christ, it is believed that a normal lifespan was about half of today’s 80 years. If this is so, the man’s parents would have likely died over a decade or two before this point.  Relatives – siblings, nephews, cousins, or neighbors were probably caring for him and in those days this was not easy. We also know that Jesus encountered another man who was cared for by some men who lowered him through a roof to be able to meet Jesus. (Luke 5:17-20) In that case, Luke specifically used a word that is often translated as or “sick with palsy” a condition of weakness with inability to control aspects of your body; that man could also have his friend is a missing had cerebral palsy.  In that time, caregivers had a difficult time - and Jesus specifically commended those who cared for the weak (the same word used for the man at Bethesda) as if they care for Him! (Matt. 25:36)

Why Did Jesus ask him if he wanted to get well? Jesus “knew that he had been there a long time” and yet asked the man if he wanted to be whole. A good friend of Debbie’s once told me she asked Debbie the same question – and Debbie hesitated. She has been quadriplegic her whole life and this is how she perceives herself; she could not imagine being whole. I believe it was an act of kindness that Jesus asked what might seem like an obvious question. Did the man want this radical change after 38 years? I believe you know the rest of the account; Jesus instructed the man to get up, pick up his mat and walk. And he did, in an illustration of Jesus’ power over nature, clear evidence of his claim to be the anticipated king of the Jews, and an example of grace to a man who had given no indication of any faith in Jesus (See John 5:11-13).

Why 38 Years of waiting?  The man indicated that he never made it into the pool because he had no one to put him in the pool. He had effectively been waiting a long time to be made whole! It is a long time. I know. The reason this passage has particular meaning to me because this year is because Debbie has now been a quadriplegic for 38 years, too. And she is trusting in the very same Lord Jesus that met the man at Bethesda. Near the end of His ministry and prior to his crucifixion, Jesus simply said, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me …”(John 14:1)  I am proud of my daughter who heart is not troubled – because she believes in Him.

Debbie’s Take: First off, let me say I never really realized this miracle happened to someone my age or disability. In reading my dad’s description, I have gotten a new understanding of the miracle of the 38-year-old man. To be honest, I don’t remember when my good friend asked me if I ever wanted healing or what my first reaction was. I can only surmise that I was taking a back because I’ve never really thought of it. That isn’t to say that I don’t believe God can do it these days. I KNOW HE CAN. Miracles happen every day. We just need to be open enough to see them.

Growing up, strangers have tried their best to “heal” me of my CP. I don’t doubt their sincerity in trying to pray for me and help me. However, coming away from those experiences I couldn’t but be disappointed and upset. After all, some people tend to equate faith with one’s ability to be healed. Did I not measure up?? Was there something wrong with me??  Coming away from those experiences, I was often disappointed or upset. After 38 years, I have come to a different conclusion- that I'm disabled like this for a reason. I would like to believe dad’s reason for Jesus asking the man with the disability whether he’d like to be healed is correct. Jesus not only wants to make sure the man believes, but Jesus realizes he’s spent 38 years and has become comfortable with his situation.

As dad mentioned earlier, a friend told him I once hesitated on the topic of being healed. As I have explained above, this question has often brought feelings of doubt and not measuring up to the surface. But even more than that, I don’t know who I’d be if I weren’t in this wheelchair. One characteristic can change your whole perspective or outlook on life and I don’t really know myself any other way.

We Are The Reason | Avalon

  Welcome Back Readers~

I'm not sure how many of you have been following my ongoing series on Candace Cameron Bure's Kind Is the New Classy on YouTube, but it's definitely been a world wind for me-learning how to record and trim clips appropriately. That being said, it takes me about three days to create and trim a six-minute reflections video. That leaves me with the question for you readers, would you like to see more writing on this blog or video clips on my YouTube. It has come to my attention that it's difficult to to
do both at the same time. It's all about balance for me-balance between working on my computer all the time and living in the moment with my family and friends. So, I would like to ask everyone reading this for a little feedback. What do you think?

Anyway, feel free to view my YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVS_NHAx_sZl5_DkAH9xVCA?view_as=subscriber

On a side note, since it's a Friday, I thought I would include one of my favorite encouraging songs in the post. Originally, this song was sung by Joni Eareckson Tada in the early 80s. I remember singing along to this song on cassette tape when I was in front of my family and friends. I have no idea where the tape is now but I heard this new rendition of the song in a LifeWay store while I was shopping. Hope you enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMhajmOBr0c

I'll Push You - The Story of One Friendship Able to Conquer The Mountains of El Camino

Welcome back readers~

This week I had the pleasure of finishing I'll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends, and One Wheelchair. While this book centers around Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck's friendship and journey on the El Camino Trail, it is so much more than that. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. At an early age, Justin began noticing a weakness in his feet and legs; after a string of misdiagnoses, he is finally given a name for his condition- a neuromuscular disorder- called MAMA. Like ALS, this disorder causes one to progressively lose the use of his body. Despite the devastating news, the two are determined not to put limitations on what is possible- what they do, where they go or how they travel. Case in point- their most recent quest of walking 500 miles of the El Camino together. Not only did that require a lot of physical training on Patrick's part, but they had to find and invest in the appropriate equipment for Justin (a three-wheeled lightweight chair that would be able to handle all surfaces); this investment cost over $8000. Thanks to the sponsorship of a business, they are able to buy the equipment... Under one condition though, that they record their journey



On this 500 mile journey, the two friends encounter there share of challenges- including a broke wheel and what seems like the impassable. These difficulties challenge them to think outside the box and accept help from strangers along the El Camino; in doing so, this causes them to redefine their meaning of community. In the same way, I felt challenged in reading this book. It caused me to look at how I defined community and church in a sense. A church is more than just a building; it's a group of believers that you can trust and be yourself around. It's letting go and letting God provide for you by the people and things God gives you. It's letting go of control, staying in the moment and being thankful for everything you have.

For more information, please go to:
https://www.facebook.com/illpushyou/
https://www.illpushyou.com/

My Very Own YouTube Channel

Dear Readers,

For a couple months now, I have toyed with the idea of creating a YouTube channel where audiences could actually put a name to my words as I write my blog. This would allow me not only to get to know my readers on a more intimate platform, but put something out more often. I'll admit it's not as easy for me to speak on recording as it is for me to write. But hopefully you will appreciate my effort and come to me with more questions or comments this way. I don't pretend to know it all when it comes to having a disability, but hope to be a help to those on their personal walk of self-discovery. Either way, I'm here if you want to talk. I have no specific plan for these videos except to say they will inspire and challenge you on your road - whether you have a disability or not.

I will be continuously updating this as people become more involved. I look forward to seeing what God does with this..

God bless,

Debbie (a.k.a. Rollin Debbie)

For more information on this channel, please go to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVS_NHAx_sZl5_DkAH9xVCA?view_as=public

Breaking Stereotypes; Young Man Spreading Alopecia Awareness

Welcome Back Readers

I was watching Home And Family as I usually do and came across this inspiring interview with Jesse London As a child, Jessie was diagnosed with alopecia. For those of you that are unfamiliar, this is a auto immune disease that makes your hair fall out. Now there are three types of alopecia, but the type we are talking about here is alopecia Areata, which involves all of the hair on the body. It is important to note this condition is not contagious and can happen to anyone; it is not a discriminate of age, race or ethnicity.

You can just imagine the Jesse’s reaction, right? Not. Immediately, he wants to have in the assembly raising awareness about condition; he even has been asked to speak at other schools. Jesse has even gone as far as writing a comic book on the condition in the hopes of making it seem less scary and more acceptable.

“Everyone who is different in any kind of way, they shouldn't hide their difference, and they should embrace their difference, and they shouldn't feel ashamed of it."

This young boy reminds me of verse in I Timothy that says," “ Don’t let anyone look down on you) because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith  and in purity.”

For more information on this cause, please go to:
https://www.projectjesse.com/
https://childrensalopeciaproject.org/

My Experience Racing at the Semper Fi 5K With The Help of Ainsley's Angels

Dear Readers,

If you are familiar with my blog, you may remember how I first mentioned my encounter with Ainsley's Angels at the 2016 Ability Expo in Virginia. As well as offering information, they allowed me to "test ride," one of their actual chairs. While my runner and I took a short jog around the building, I felt free. If you've been in a wheelchair for a considerable amount of time, you may understand what I mean- always having something up against your back to support you. Though I was supported in the race chair, I was able to feel the air against my face and back. For just a moment, I felt like a runner with the wind of against my face; albeit, my partner. I was borrowing my partner's legs. But I wasn't just a person with a disability anymore; I wanted more of this feeling..

So I signed up on a email list to be notified about upcoming races

It wasn't until this April that the races happened to be in our area. It was then that I contacted the event organizer for our area (Katy). Unfortunately, she was unable to get a runner for this race, but she would definitely have a chair for the next race. In the meantime, she wanted to learn more about me and my disability to properly  match me with a team. My dad emailed her the specifics of my disability as well as other info.

Now we waited.

Finally, Katy emailed us back and said there was a chair available for me in the next race. She said it would be slightly more tilted than the other chair I had been in so I would be able to see more of the race. I was ecstatic. But how was I going to record the race for my friends who were unable to attend. It was then that I looked into getting a GoPro; for those of you unfamiliar with GoPro, this is a very small camera able to record or take pictures of action events, such as surfing, etc.. It can be attached to one's body and left running to record the actual event itself. What's unique about the GoPro is that it can be remotely controlled by a cell phone using Bluetooth interface. In other words, those that are disabled and unable to press buttons on a camera can control a camera just as easily through a app.

But that's another story for another time.

So it was a go. I was set to race in the Semper Fi 5K. This race was in an effort to raise money for a fund in the same name, which supports those who are wounded during the war and need help adjusting when they return home as a civilian. So, on Saturday, my parents and I got up at 5 AM in order to drive and meet the group at East Potomac Park by 715 a.m. In all there were 12 teams, one for each disabled person, and 22 runners that pushed the racing chairs. My chair had a flag that said "Team Debbie" and my team runners were Amy and Jackie. Amy is a schoolteacher and Jackie is a Intel analyst and retired from the Army. Before the race started, every chair was tested and taken for a test run. They secured me with a chest strap and I was ready to go. As it turned out, this was Jackie's first race with the Angels as well as mine; we both had to get used to how Phoenix (our chair) moved as well as felt. When everyone arrived, we decided to take a picture around the Reflection Pool by the Lincoln Memorial. (See below)

As our team arrived at the starting line, I was filled with anticipation. Would I get that feeling again? Would I temporarily forget about my spasms and remember who I was doing this for? Not only to feel that freedom without my wheelchair, but to support those wounded in war. After all, they sometimes find themselves in similar circumstances- in wheelchairs, wearing prosthetics and coping with their new circumstances. As I listened to the Star-Spangled banner, I thought about this and became deeply moved. Thanks to their sacrifice, I live in a country where I have my freedom. I'm not just talking about physical freedom here, but religious freedom as well.

But I digress.

I don't remember if there was a gun to signal the beginning of the race, but next thing I know we were off. Amy decided to run first pushing my wheelchair along as Jackie ran beside me. A gentle breeze kept me cool as the pavement pounded beneath my chair; even though I was sitting down, I felt like I was running. I tried my best to take in the scenery, but we were going pretty. During the race, I heard an occasional spectator yell "Go Team Debbie" as we sped past. Occasionally, I had the opportunity to speak to Jackie about my future plans as she ran beside me. (see below)

At around Mile #1, a motorcycle policeman passed us; they were there with Park officials to make sure all the runners were safe.I believe it was then that Jackie took over for Amy and Amy walked beside me. I was quiet for a bit as I tried to take in the scenery around me. As we reached the turn around point, I was surprised as a man with racing prostatics sped past. "That's who I'm doing this for people like him- injured in war." I thought. Whoever this man was, he was not letting anything stop them.

Reaching the final lap, Amy and Jackie decided to swap over bridge. (My apologies if you guys swapped more and I didn't notice. I was just trying to enjoy the scenery and take it all in). Another thing I really liked about racing with the Angels is that fellow racers didn't look at me as someone with a disability, they looked at me as a fellow runner and cheered me on! There was a camaraderie there. We crossed the finish line in record time about 25 minutes as the song "The Eye of the Tiger" played. (See below)

As we waited for the others to finish, I took a lot of pictures to memorialize my first race. I got my team's phone numbers and email addresses so that I would be able to keep contact with them in the future. Not only did I have the opportunity to participate in my first 5K race, but I have developed so many friends in the process. The first being that of Katy (the event coordinator); without her, none of this would have been possible. Thank you Katy for your tireless work on our behalf making sure that we have every opportunity to participate and gain a new sense of freedom in these events. (See below)

Another big round of applause goes to the many volunteers that offer to race in these events. Without them, people like me would not be able to participate in these events. To my team (Amy and Jackie), thanks for letting me borrow your legs for the day; you will never know what it meant to me being able to feel that air in my face as you raced your hearts out. For once, I didn't have to worry about being seen as a person in a wheelchair, I was just a person. Even though we just met, you took time to get to know me and treated me like a friend. Your friendship means the world to me.I know I can only speak on my experience, but I'm sure other participants may have similar experiences that they can't always express. Just know we appreciate your time and effort trying to make it the best experience for all of us.

Thank you everyone! 

38th Birthday Reflections

Dear Readers,

You may have noticed that I only acknowledge my 38th birthday adventures briefly in the last post; that is for several reasons. 

1). I was (and am still) recovering from it 

2) I was still entertaining visitors from my birthday extravaganza

3) I hadn't really had that much time to reflect on it by myself

4) I thought my birthday experience deserved a separate post.

But let me back up; I'm getting ahead of myself.

Most of my regular readers may remember that I usually celebrate by having a simple dinner with my family. Occasionally, my best friend travels from Michigan to spend it with me- but that's about it. Not this time. Unbeknownst to me, my friend (Rondalyn) had contacted my mom in February about the possibility of coming to visit me for my birthday; mom said she would see what our plans were and get back to her. In the meantime, I had been playing around with the idea of going someplace warm for my birthday. It was (and is) still cold and I was in need of a little sun.

As time grew closer, I became more adamant about that idea. So mom and Rondalyn came to the conclusion that she would just have to come with us.. All this time I had no idea; I was under the guise that Rondalyn was going to Las Vegas with her family! (You see, we usually talk daily and are very close).

So you can imagine my surprise when I get a FaceTime call from her saying she is not touching down in Las Vegas, but in Virginia! She had come to join us at Virginia Beach and celebrate my birthday.

From then on, it was a whirlwind. We spent the evening at home and then woke up early and packed up for our three-hour trip. When we arrived, mom arranged for us to have a suite; for those that are unfamiliar with the concept, a suite is a small kitchenette/living room area attached to a bedroom with a bathroom in between. Although Rondalyn can walk with a walker, she brought her wheelchair along for touring the Boardwalk. With two wheelchairs, you can imagine how cramped it became. Not to mention, we could barely fit through the narrow corner at the entrance to our hotel room. Still, we made the best of it.

The first night we ate at a small restaurant attached to the hotel. I think it was called The Blue Whale. Rondalyn and I each had a crab cake. After that, we walked the Boardwalk for a little bit; it was quite chilly. 

When we awoke the next morning, it was still quite chilly but the sun was out. We were determined not to let the weather deter our task for that day- shopping. First, we had lunch at a little restaurant on the boardwalk. Dad and I shared a huge bacon burger and fries with a bowl of some type of zesty cheese soup; it was definitely unique. From there, we traveled across the street to a "Sunsation" shop containing Virginia Beach merchandise. It was there that we spent the next few hours milling over what to purchase. I purchased nine different items, one outfit the same as Rondalyn's; so that we would match. (See below)

After we had exhausted ourselves as well as emptied our pocketbooks, we were hungry. Mom, thinking ahead, suggested we pick up something for breakfast the next morning. "How about Duncan donuts?" Before we can reply, she pointed out another option, there across the street stood a Duck Donuts shop. For those that are unfamiliar, Duck Donuts are slightly different than regular donuts; not only are they made from different ingredients that make a heavier dough, but they are made fresh to order right in front of you. This Duck Donuts had a variety of items that were Boardwalk themed such as "The Beach Ball" and "The Flip- Flop" . (We actually ended up getting a dozen different types because we couldn't decide on just six!) Personally, my favorite was the S'mores- a chocolate and marshmallow with graham cracker doughnut. They smelled so good, we couldn't help but share one on the way back to the hotel. Before we headed in, however, dad was able to make reservations for a popular restaurant on the boardwalk - Catch 22 for the very next evening. Once we returned to the room, we spent the remainder of the evening just talking and watching TV; my parents allowed us to have the bedroom to ourselves a majority of the time, so we could catch up in  privacy.

On my birthday, dad went out to get us Starbucks for breakfast. Little did we know that he didn't go to the one closest to us; instead he walked several blocks just to get a coffee. But at least I got my peppermint mocha. Instead of heading out for lunch, we all decided  to snack - knowing fully well that we were going out for a fancy dinner. In the meantime, my parents allowed me to open some of my gifts beforehand. One was a protective cover for my Alexa, while the others had to do with my anticipation of the coming a dog owner in the future. First, my parents got me a Goldendoodle book and a pair of pajamas featuring cute dog cartoons with sayings about what dog owners usually do involving their pets. One of my favorite examples says something like "....makes sure to keep to his or her side of the bed." Rondalyn gave me a bracelet from Alex and Emma that has the names of the "Angels Of Protection" on it, such as Michael.

Around lunchtime, we decided to walk the Boardwalk again. By this time, the sun was high in the sky; but there was still a chill in air. On the way we passed by a street artist making paintings using paint from spray cans. I fell in love with a purple and pink setting with black palm trees. After telling it was my birthday, he just gave it to me for free! (See below). However, dad did give him a very big tip...

All of us went to dinner shortly after. The place was packed with prom reservations. I was surprised to hear people praying at the table next to us; but after passing a Christian booth on the boardwalk, we believed they were with them or something. Just a glimpse of their beautiful dresses reminded me of my college homecoming; it seems like just yesterday I was sitting with my friends at IHOP drinking hot chocolate after a long night of dancing and talking with friends.

Wow, how time flies..

Still, my friends stick by me through thick and thin; we stay in contact through Skype and give each

other Godly advice when it's needed. Rondalyn and others have taught me the true meaning of friendship.They have seen me as just a person, not a person with a disability

But I digress..

That night I had a crab cake dinner (with some fancy name) and a strawberry daiquiri  while Rondalyn had the same. While the dinner was great, the daiquiri was not- probably because I asked them to put whipped cream on top or because they used a different type of alcohol. Mind you, I don't drink - only on special occasions. For dessert. I had a S'mores cake type thing which the manager graciously deducted from the bill for my special day

When I returned to the room, they gave me the remainder of my gifts. First, there was a dog mug in purple with black pawprints all over it that said  "DOG MOM" and then there was my ultimate favorite a necklace with a pink paw print on it that says the same. Now to most of you it might seem strange that I have all of these things with the word "DOG" on it when I don't even have a dog; but to me, these are promises of things to come in the future. I have always wanted a dog that would be able to do things for me and make me as independent as possible.. But even more than that, I want the dog for a companion. Sure, I will always have my family around.. But there's something about a dog that loves you in his own special way that appeals to me.

As you can see for a 4-day trip to Virginia Beach, there was a lot to write about. Even now, looking back, I'm exhausted.

(Funny little side note here: I apologize if I got any of the gift giving and presents out of order. I was trying to do this by memory)

God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness Official Trailer

Dear Readers,

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of going to see God's Not Dead 3: A Light In Darkness. I believe this movie accurately reflects our current struggle to share The Gospel in the midst of a fallen world. In this third installment, controversy arises as Pastor Dave copes with protests about having a church on University property; it all comes to a head when the church is burned down in a fire. As he struggles to pick up and rebuild his father's legacy, the protests continue with fighting from both sides. Enlisting the help of his brother (John Corbett), the two begin to fight it out in court against the University; however, the brothers are also dealing with their own childhood issues. Things haven't been the same since his brother walked away from the faith; since then, Dave have been praying for him and he finds that annoying.

In the end, Pastor Dave surrenders, realizing that that church is just a building and he needs to share God's message everywhere. He then decides to rebuild somewhere else.

I will admit it - some churches are struggling today. They have forgotten their purpose and goal... To proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Christians tend to forget that we are the Living Church.  I love this; the church is not just a building. One of my favorite quotes from the movie says,  "Without grace, we are just fighting," We need to remember to share God's truth in love. After all, we are representatives of Jesus and His Light. Matthew 5:14 says, "You are the light of the world. A city set on  a hill cannot be hidden;"

https://www.facebook.com/GodsNotDeadTheMovie/

https://www.crosswalk.com/culture/features/3-cool-quotes-from-god-s-not-dead-3-that-show-what-our-culture-needs-from-the-church-right-now.html

John Legend - Jesus Christ Superstar Review

Welcome Back Readers~

On the heels of such hits like “The Passion: New Orleans” and “The Sound Of Music Live” featuring Carrie Underwood, NBC tried to re-create the magic with their version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar.” With lyrics by Tim Rice, this 1970's rock opera follows Jesus' journey through Jerusalem on the
last seven days leading up to his crucifixion.

On the surface, this musical may seem like a nice introduction of Jesus to those who haven't heard the gospel; however, there are several biblical inconsistencies. 

1. Romantic relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene- Despite the sub plot of the musical, there is no evidence that Mary Magdalene had anything other than platonic feelings for Jesus. In fact, little is known about Mary herself except that Jesus drove seven demons out of her (Luke 8:2). After her healing, she becomes faithful follower of Jesus. After the crucifixion, she is the first to find the tomb is empty. What is so special about that? Women weren't typically believed when it  came to messages of importance in those days. Any romantic relationship was fabricated and even an inappropriate deviation from the Gospel. 
2. The Portrayal of a Confused Jesus- Throughout the concert, Jesus is portrayed as a confused man- which he is not. Despite being fully man, he is also fully God. Jesus is fully aware of God's plan to save us from our sin and his part in redemption. In a moment of weakness , he even asks God the Father if there is in the other way to accomplish this goal, saying "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39).
3. An Incomplete Crucifixion-Resurrection Scene - Although they had John Legend (playing Jesus) on the cross ascending into a blue background with light pouring down from above, this did not accurately portray the complete story. Jesus died on the cross and was physically resurrected to meet with his disciples - demonstrating to all of us the hope of our bodily resurrection. Only after that did Jesus ascend to heaven -physically and bodily. Without the resurrection and reuniting with his believing followers, the musical provides and incomplete Gospel.

I am pleased that the musical brought attention to Jesus at Easter time and that so many artists put their heart into the effort. I only wish that the story had more accurately portrayed the complete Gospel of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and His offer of forgiveness for our sin. 

Let There Be Light Trailer #1 | Movieclips Indie

Welcome Back Readers~

Best known for his role in God's Not Dead, Kevin Sorbo is branching out from his acting career by writing and directing his very first movie Let There Be Light. This film centers around the drastic transformation of Dr. Sol Harkins. Previously an atheist, Sol experiences a change of heart when he has a car accident (while driving drunk) and is clinically dead for four minutes. During that time, he is enveloped in light and encounters his dead son Davey (who had cancer); his son then encourages him to go back and "Let There Be Light."

Awakening in the hospital, he is unable to make sense of the message so he opens up with his ex-wife about his experience. Since their son's death, the couple have struggled to remain on speaking terms for the rest of the family and his outspoken opposition to their faith. Still, Katy sees this as a opportunity to change his fate. She mentions the idea of going to see her pastor. Not your regular pastor, Pastor Vinny has seen his own share of difficulties. As an ex-convict, it wasn't an epiphany or some climactic event that led him to Christ; it was the simple act of the disciples standing by their faith after the discovery of the empty tomb. As there conversation continues, he suggests that God chose to reveal himself to Sol so that he can be an example of God's Light and love in the midst of a struggling world. And just so there was no doubt that God loved Sol, he sent Davey to give him the message; Just like God sent his son on the cross!

Armed with eye-opening epiphany, Sol begins to think a closer look at himself and his opinions on Christianity. Several weeks later, he is baptized and opens up to the public about newfound faith. As one can imagine, his publicist doesn't approve and refuses to represent him anymore. Looking for a new project, Sol and Katy rack there brains looking for a way to share God's Light and love with those who were not otherwise hear The Good News. Finally, she gets the idea for an app which allows Christians to proclaim their faith by shining their light (both figuratively and literally) up towards the sky on the darkest night of the year (which just happens to be Christmas). It also allows those that have questions about their faith an opportunity to get answers.

"You mean proselytizing?"

"Yes. Without apology.."

 Sol and Katy find themselves growing closer in the process. He is determined to do what it takes to become a part of the family again- including stepping up as a father and and becoming a honorable husband. On a date night, he asks her to remarry him and she accepts. But the happiness is short-lived when the two return home and Katy collapses. It's an inoperable brain tumor. Despite the devastating news, she is focused on making sure her family is okay and seeing the project come to a completion.

I will not disclose the ending for those readers who are interested in renting the movie for themselves. I will say however I was delighted to find out this movie was a family affair as three of Sorbo's own family star in the movie.

For more information on Let There Be light, please go to:

http://lettherebelightmovie.com/

Midnight Sun Trailer #1 (2018) | Movieclips Trailers

Hey Guys~

As promised, here's my review of Midnight Sun. This movie centers around the life of 16-year-old Katie Price (Bella Thorne) who just happens to suffer from XP. Without going into all the medical lingo, XP is a disease which causes a severe sensitivity to sunlight; as a result, Katie is resigned to life inside her house and only allowed out at night. Now one can imagine what this does to her social life; luckily she has one best friend to confide in. But that all changes on her graduation day when she bumps into Charlie (Patrick Schwarzenegger) while playing her guitar at the train station. Unbeknownst to Charlie, she has a crush on him and has been watching him from her window all her life -  this leads to the most awkward first meeting ever.

Think of Cinderella only 10 times worse.

 Yeah, that bad. Still, her best friend is determined to make a "second chance" meeting happen. After Katie accidentally loses her songbook, she texts her friend to bring it to her; however, she "can't", telling Katie she left it with Fred (the ticket master). When she arrives later at night, she finds it in the hands of Charlie. After a awkward start,  they began to realize they have a lot in common. Unwilling to ruin the connection they have, Katie decides to forego telling him about her XP; she just wants to be a "normal girl" a little longer. As he drives back home, she explains that she is busy during the day but free at night. Over the next few dates, the two begin to fall deeper and deeper love; Katie learns about how Charlie hurt his shoulder ruining his chances at a college scholarship in swimming.

Meanwhile Katie's father is becoming increasingly worried about the budding relationship, considering she hasn't been honest with Charlie about her disease. After Charlie insists on taking her on a real date, she worries her dad will reveal the truth when he meets him. She is right to be concerned when she interrupts the two just in time. "Just a little longer," she pleads with her dad. Realizing she is old enough to make her own decisions, he relents. Freedom finally. She puts her phone on do not disturb for the night.

Charlie whisks her off on a whirlwind date- including her first train ride to the nearest city, an underground concert, debuting a song as a street performer and skinny dipping (her idea). Then they fall asleep in each other's arms under the moonlight. Little do they know sunrise is soon approaching.

Katie awakens with a start. I fell asleep. Oh my goodness. What time is it ? Hurriedly, she scrambles for her cell phone. It's about 5 AM with the sun rising and she's received numerous messages from her dad and best friend telling her to get home. Frantically, she wakes up Charlie and tells him she needs to get home as the sun peaks over the horizon. In a panic, they race home; Katie constantly watching behind her. Are they going to make it ? Charlie, still clueless, wonders what are the fuss is about. As Katie exits the car and rushes through the door, she exhales. She is safe. A minute passes and she hears a car in the driveway. Her dad and friend have been out looking for her. Crushed, Katie crumbles as her best friend tells Charlie the truth. "She didn't tell you.. She is sick.. She has XP."

As a precaution, they go to the hospital for a checkup where the doctor announces "minimal" damage. But they should keep eye out for any neurological signs such as trembling etc. Stuck inside, Katie is determined to focus on the future.. If she couldn't have one, she was dead set on her father finding someone to spend his life with; she even went as far as to create a dating profile for him. Seeing his daughter's distress, he invites Charlie to come over with Chinese.

"This isn't something you can just not tell me."

At first, Katie insists they won't work out. "We're not the couple that doesn't try," With that encouragement, they decide to try again. Most of their activities involve playing games indoors during the day. When Charlie has swimming tryouts, Katie arrives in a heavy jumpsuit to cheer him on; when he has finished, she retreats to her heavily tented car.

I won't spoil the ending for those wishing to see the movie. But I will say I can highly relate to this movie.

I have a simple life.

I admit it.

I don't go to parties or have friends over at all times of the night.

I go to church on Sunday and try to stay out of trouble.

Still, I'm ignoring the elephant in the room.

Yes, I have a disability and that limits my activities a lot. I have to rely on others to get me up and dressed as well as fed and so forth. That being said, I wish people would take the time to get to know me - the person beyond the wheelchair. Thankfully, I have a few friends that have taken the time to get to know me that way. They have gone above and beyond to include me in college activities and events; one good friend has even gone as far as offering to take care me so that we could go on a cruise by ourselves. It was wonderful!

All that is great, however I'm still that girl looking for her happily ever after.

I know what you're thinking, "Such a thing doesn't exist honey." No one said I was looking for perfection; I'm just looking for a man who sees me for me and it doesn't matter to  him that I have a disability. He is willing to take on the responsibility (and I know it will be a lot) because he sees something special in me. I want someone to spend my life with besides my immediate family and friends; Someone who pushes me outside my comfort zone and someone I can push as well.

Until then it's just me and Jesus. I'm learning that's enough.

For more information about XP or Midnight Sun, please go to:
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/xeroderma-pigmentosum
http://midnightsunmov.com/

The Struggle of Faith: My Review: Paul, Apostle of Christ: Official Trailer

Dear Readers,

This weekend I had the opportunity to go see two movies Paul, Apostle of Christ and Midnight Sun. I intend to review both of them in separate posts. 

Paul, Apostle of Christ chronicles the journey of Luke to visit Paul who is now locked up in prison for his faith. Through his visits, Luke hopes to capture his brother's miraculous transformation to follow Christ ( (considering his complete opposition to the followers of Jesus from the beginning); hearing his testimony Luke believes others will keep God's Word and wait on Jesus. Meanwhile, there is dissension among the group of Christians in Rome. Some wonder if they should stay, or leave, try to overthrow the government. Luke reminds them however that their struggle is like no other,saying "We live in this world but do not wage war as the world does. Love is the only way." This quote in the movie is in reference to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 which says, " "For though we live in this world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 

Paul's example proves that God can reach anyone - even an unbeliever; the Lord is not against using whatever means possible to get your attention. Even temporary blindness.. Although, this does not mean once you believe everything will be a piece of cake. During those days Christians were persecuted for their faith and jailed or even worse for preaching in public.  Hence, Paul's current circumstances in prison. In spite of all of this, Paul is pretty upbeat; he is determined to share his testimony and experience with anyone that crosses his path. These experiences not only give others the opportunity to hear the Gospel, but build character for those that are faithful.

Paul just wants to make sure that he finishes the race in the right way. He not only wants to leave a legacy; but give his Godly family the advice they need to pass on their faith. This theme is obviously highlighted when Paul prayerfully ask Jesus to "help us finish the race." The biblical basis of this quote can be found in Acts as well as 1 Corinthians 9. In these instances, faith is a active and ongoing process working towards a goal of becoming more like Christ and having a deeper relationship with Him. Acts 20:24 says, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." As if a deeper relationship with God isn't reward enough, we also have heaven to look forward to:  I Corinthians 9:24- 25 elaborates, saying, " Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

In general, the movie stayed true to the story as it is written in Acts; it also gives you a realistic look at what the city most likely would have looked like back then. The movie opens audiences eyes as to what lengths Christians took to get the word out about their faith. 

For more information about the film, please go to:

http://www.paulmovie.com/site/

https://www.facebook.com/PaulMovie/