Positive images on disability

So,

I was looking through my e-mails and thanks to my Google alerts came across these positive images of disability. The ads are part of a campaign to sell cars, although some people may see this as a marketing strategy and may be offended, I don't. I see this as a way of breaking down stereotypes that people may have about the disabled community.

Now, I can understand how some people can be offended relating our ability to persevere to that of a car. But it all depends on how you see the picture.

How do you see this campaign? Check out another person's viewpoint at:http://similinton.com/blog/?p=109

Profoundly Normal

So,

What constitutes being normal in American society?

Although the disabled community is blessed with a number of opportunities, it wasn't always like this. I was reminded of that simple fact during the lifetime premiere drama/documentary called Profoundly Normal. Starring Kirstie Alley, this movie tells the story of Donna and Ricardo,a developmentally delayed couple who met during their stay in a institution. Their love defies all odds; and even though the institution is forced to close, (causing them to separate either going to group homes or separate apartments. Since Ricardo and Donna were basically considered" higher functioning" than the others, they were able to live independently and eventually found a way back to one another. They fell in love and got married, despite the opposition of others around them.


Eventually, they even had a child.


For more information, you can always go to:


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/05/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main539554.shtml

or

Simply research "Profoundly Normal" on your search engine

Distracted

Okay,

So I am a little distracted today. My family and I are going to a difficult time, I don't want to go into details. But it just reminds me that every day on this earth is a gift and we should cherish it.

To go along with this idea, a devotional fits pretty well. So I am going to post it here. I hope the author doesn't mind:

. LIFE
by Nancy Evenden
Today, we all woke up breathing, meaning that we are alive.
In the beginning "God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."
(Genesis 2:7)
God is the source of life.
He is the only one who can give life.
Therefore, life is a gift.
God not only gives us physical life, but also Spiritual life.
He has promised us the GIFT of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
This means we can now be free from our sins and able to have an
eternal relationship with our God.
This gift of eternal life is NOT based on who we are or what we have done.
It is purely a gift, just like the gift of physical life. (We didn't
do anything to be physically brought to life.)
Therefore, each DAY is a gift from God.
So if "This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be
glad in it."(Psalm 118:24), then how should we live this day?
Should we be totally wrapped up in ourselves or should we walk in a
manner pleasing to God, bearing fruit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God? (Colossians. 1:10)
This week may we daily have a thankful heart towards God for the gift
of LIFE, both physical and Spiritual.
Love, Nancy Nancy@Evenden.org
Life
Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
being.
Deuteronomy 32:39 'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god
besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and
it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
Nehemiah 9:6 "You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The
heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on
it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And
the heavenly host bows down before You.
Psalms 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, But the years of
the wicked will be shortened.
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he
who is wise wins souls.
Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one
may avoid the snares of death.
Ezekiel 37:14 "I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to
life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that
I, the LORD, have spoken and done it," declares the LORD.' "
Malachi 2:5 "My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I
gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood
in awe of My name.
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
John 3:15-16 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who
does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides
on him."
John 5:21"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.
John 5:24-26 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and
believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into
judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say
to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the
voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the
Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have
life in Himself;"
John 6:27 "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food
which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you,
for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."
John 6:33-35"For the bread of God is that which comes down out of
heaven, and gives life to the world."
Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread." Jesus said
to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger,
and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
John 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if
anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also
which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."
John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing;
the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of
the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will
have the Light of life."
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he
who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the
life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set
you free from the law of sin and of death.
Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on
the Spirit is life and peace,
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Colossians 3:3-4 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ
in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will
be revealed with Him in glory.
2 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of
God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to
us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true
knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
1 John 1:1-2 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we
have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our
hands, concerning the Word of Life--and the life was manifested, and
we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which
was with the Father and was manifested to us--
1 John 5:11-13 And the testimony is this, that God has given us
eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the
life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son
of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us
understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him
who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal
life.

Encouragement: Happiness

Everyone,

Before I reveal how the topic of happiness relates to life, I would like to congratulate to new couples and that have decided to declare their love and get married. Congratulations. You know who you are. I was ecstatic when I got the announcements in the mail. Thanks for thinking of me in that way. You are both wonderful friends.

Back to business, when I say happiness what does it make you think of? A job? A relationship? Monetary wealth? To different people, happiness can mean two different things. I was struck with this idea while reading another person's blog. In many ways, I was shocked by her views of happiness because they were so similar to mine. It reminds me that I am not alone in my struggles. Eventually, she learned like I did that the silence, although annoying sometimes, can bring a time of reflection

I thought you might find interesting also.

Here it is:

http://disabilityrants.blogspot.com/

New season

Okay,

So I'm running a little behind again. I guess it's going to be a while to get back into a routine with my computer and losing everything.

Anyway, yesterday was the third or fourth season premiere of Little People, Big World. After all, Matt got arrested and is allegedly accused of driving under the influence. I believe he wasn't driving drunk, he was just having trouble adjusting to his wife's car and the adaptions made to it. I am looking forward to next week;Matt's testimony continues. It should be interesting.

For more information about the show, you can visit TLC.com

The new episodes air on Mondays at eight and 830

"Oprah's Big Give" airs Sunday at 9 p.m.

Okay,

Normally I don't do this; by this, I mean advertising on my blog about upcoming TV shows or charities. But in this case, I think it is important. Many of you may think of Oprah as just a simple afternoon talk show host, but I guarantee you she is much more than this. She is a person trying to change the world, one person at a time. Although, I may not agree with some of her values, I think the fact that she is trying to change people's views is admirable.

The premise of the show giving back to people without expecting something in return. The show follows a group of people from all different walks of life and their efforts to shower unsuspecting but deserving citizens. The goal: seeing a need and fulfilling it-giving bigger every week.

For more information about the show, feel free to go to ABC.com or oprah.com

Uncertainties of life

Okay,

So this is kind of funny. As you know, I have been running behind on my posts from this week. As a result, I am trying to catch up by writing them all at once. As previously stated, I am unsure about what the future holds for me and my family.

Whether to go or to stay.. that is the question.

Anyway, as luck would have it, I came upon this carnival blog highlighting this struggles of people with disabilities.

I thought my readers might find it interesting.

Here's the link:

http://disstud.blogspot.com/2008/02/disability-blog-carnival-32-is-up-now.html