Madison Sanders Writes

My mom and I took a trip to Sweet Monkey, a delicious frozen yogurt place in Gainesville.  It was nice because my mom doesn't have too many days off. This was their cute logo on the back wall. They had a few couches and chairs that beckoned us to relax and stay awhile.  This was the self-serve stations that housed flavors like tiramisu, eggnog, peanut butter, red velvet cake, and espresso.  Fruit toppings abounded! I can't wait to go back in a few months to try the mango or peach yogurt with some fruit! They had lots of candy options to top off the yogurt, but I preferred the salty nuts like pecans and cashews.  The best part is Sweet Mokney is coming to Athens and Augusta soon! At least I'll have something to make my routine doctor appointments a little more enjoyable!

My Christmas was wonderful.  While the presents were nice, I loved spending time with my family the most.  I've spent my days lounging around reading books on my new Kindle Fire.  If any of you have any good book suggestions, please let me know.  I love a good book!  I also helped put together my first Christmas drama for my church with some very talented friends of mine.  It was quite an undertaking, but so worth it. Our family tree this year Me and Mason hanging out on Christmas Eve My break is coming to a close, but I have so enjoyed not having any homework or assignments!  I have several blog posts planned, I just haven't felt well. I love to write, though, so I am making myself do a blog post. :) 

Even though I'm not graduating from college just yet, people are asking, "What are you planning on doing?"  "You need to go get a master's now so you won't loose the rhythm you're in now..."  The short answer is get a job.  Just because I have a few limitations doesn't mean I can't be a productive member of society.  It just takes me a little longer to do some things. Success for me is not measured in dollars and cents or degrees.  To me, success is waking up every morning with a sense of purpose.  I'm here on this earth for so much more than to just do a job.  I'm supposed to spread God's love wherever I go, which is why I can be content not pursuing a master's degree right now.  If I'm so busy filling my schedule with lots of "stuff", I may miss an opportunity to spread God's love to someone in the workplace.  In short, my life isn't about doing something just because someone else thinks it's a

My mom gave me the most awesome gift for my 22nd birthday a few weeks ago: A 30 minute massage!  I had never had a massage, but I know how much it helped my mom when her back was hurting.  As it got closer to my appointment with Kayla from Absolute Muscular Care in my hometown, I became more and more excited because I'd I had almost forgotten what it was like to live without neck pain! My neck had been hurting for months with no relief. I couldn't even sleep good at night because of it. After visiting Kayla, I have noticed a TREMENDOUS difference !  I have slept better ever since my visit!  I didn't have the typical massage, though. I had something called the CranioSacral massage that is designed to help migranes, fibromyalgia, and even childhood disorders like cerebral palsy!  Click this link to learn more about it. I couldn't believe there was a massage designed just for me!  Anyway, I just had to share this with everyone.  Kayla didn't not ask me to w

Sunrise on the Battery is a story by Beth Webb Hart.  The main characters are Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville, a couple who started with nothing and trying to work their way up through the elite Charleston society.  In the midst of all of this, she found herself wishing she could go to church with her three daughters and husband.  She struggles to find a balance to it all, though.  This story is a captivating tale of the Scoville family as they all try to live a perfect life.  For Mary Lynn, that means trading in her small-town roots for high-class tea parties.  For Jackson, it means making sure his daughters had ever have every opportunity that he never had growing up .  I really liked this story because it was relatable.  Families get so caught up in doing lots of stuff that they often miss what's truly important in life. I thought Hart did a great job developing Jackson's character.  His disgust about anything relating to God  reminds me people in my life.  The

Finals are over and I'm off for a month!  I've learned a lot this semester.  In my creative writing class, my final project was the beginning of a novel.  I turned in 33 pages, and I'm quite proud of myself because this is the longest work on one subject that I've ever done!  I plan to continue working on it.  One thing people may not realize is it takes a lot of time and patience to to tell a story in right way.In other words, not rushing from point to point, but really taking your time to develop the characters and setting. I've been sick. Instead of focusing on the negative, I want to write a list of things that I can do now that I couldn't do a year ago.  I helped my mom decorate the Christmas tree this year  I was able to attend college classes from 8 to 2 on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays  I started helping on my church's publication team, which meets weekly  As of Saturday, I am now able to transfer myself for my wheelchair to the recliner

Thanksgiving was wonderful.  We got the awesome opportunity to serve people in our community.  Below is just some of the desserts that people made! Later on that week. I went to visit my Memaw. I cuddled my little nephew, who is now six months old.  He is learning so much! I've also been designing some things for my adobe illustrator class Here are two of the projects I've been working on.  A logo for the outreach ministry of our church and something fun that I may use as a desktop background. I'm also working on a poster, but it's not done. I'll be done with this semester next Tuesday. I can't wait! 

So, I've been sick the past few days.  I hardly ever get sick and can count on one hand how many times I've had to go to the doctor this year for sickness.  I was having chills all day yesterday and some other not so fun stuff, so I made a trip to the doctor.  He automatically wanted to test me for strep, since it's apparently been going around.  After gagging me with that cotton swab, the test came back negative.   Thankfully, I was able to finish my take home test on time.  I've started on some meds, so I should be better by next week.   Now is not the time to be sick! It's a good thing, too because I have a lot to do.  Between working on things for my church, I am finishing up my last few assignments before finals.  I will also be helping my church serve a free Thanksgiving lunch on Thanksgiving day to the community.  Local firefighters, elderly people, and even friends of mine will be coming.  This is a huge undertaking, but everything is going along smoot

The weather is turning chilly, but that's no excuse for not being fashionable!  My aunt is selling the scarves she has made.  How great would this look over your favorite sweater or new winter coat? She doesn't have an Etsy page, but email her at gwenshiflet@hartcom.net if interested!  (Hint: to all you locals who live near me!)  Make sure to put Scarves as the subject line so she will know. She will be making more, so I will be adding pictures.  These would make excellent Christmas gifts and don't forget birthdays! 

My blond headed little cousin, Keller, came walking into my room on Friday like he always does.  Pointing to my laptop, I knew he wanted to watch Giggle Bellies.  Giggle Bellies is a fun, educational DVD of many songs for kids.  It's also on YouTube.  I play some for him, and he LOVES them!  His favorites are "Wheels on the Bus" and Old MacDonald Had a Farm .  They have the cutest characters and music! There he was, by my bed.  The only problem was there was no one there to lift him up.  I haven't lifted a child at all since my back surgery almost four years ago.  I couldn't let him just stand there, so I lifted him.  I couldn't quite get him up high enough.  Setting him back on the ground, I tried again.  Still not quite good enough.  I knew I could do if I tried hard enough.  So, I took a deep breath while leaning just a little bit over my bed.   I'm thankful for my long arms during times like these. :)  Next, something unexpected happened.  Ke

Lots of things have been happening this week!  I am ahead on all of my classwork, which is wonderful!  The big news is that I applied for an internship and looking ahead at other opportunities.  It's unreal how quickly time passes!  I remember when I was very concerned because I still had lots of classes in red, which means I still had to take them.  In time, everything has worked out, though.  I'm just trying to enjoy the time I have left at college. One thing I have learned is that you are always entering and leaving phases in life.  I left high school and entered college.  Just when things become familiar, they change.  I guess that's good thing, though because that means I'm constantly growing as a person.  In my opinion, there is nothing worse than someone who has become stagnant.  In other words, they have become satisfied with where they're at.  This is completely different than content, mind you.  Yes, I know most dictionaries will say they technically m

Well, another week has come and gone.  If you're a fan of my facebook page, you will know that I have been extremely busy with school.  I'm so glad it's the weekend because I haven't felt the best.  Even this morning, I could have easily stayed home from school because I was feeling nauseous.  I went on anyway because I know that each hour I'm there means I'm one step closer to graduating. I also know I can't learn anything at home.  I'm still recuperating from the costume party because I was up pretty much ALL day, including school for several hours. But, I'm moving along.  I can't stay down long.  I guess I'm just writing to get this out.  I have been kind of down.  After spending time in  prayer and worship tonight in my room, I feel a lot better.  I didn't even have any music. It was just me telling Jesus how much I love Him and how thankful I am He has never deserted me even when I am snappy and tired.  There's nothing like t

I went to a costume party with my mom last night at our church.  It was a great time of food, fun, and fellowship with some awesome people.  I laughed so much that my stomach hurt!  I needed that. I went dressed as a Japanese geisha using a dress that my mom's boss got in Japan or some other country.  I can't remember now.  I layered it over black pants and dyed my hair black (with hair dye that washes out).  Even some of my closest friends and family didn't recognize me!  I laughed and laughed.  I was in the presence of an awesome egg and smiley face.  They are doing their best Thriller Remix. My mom was laughing at them. :D My aunt and uncle were bacon and egg  .Miss Ruby was a diva!  She had no problem posing for the camera.  There were many other costumes, but I can't post them all.  It was fun being someone totally different for a night, especially with the black hair, but I'm ready to get my brown hair back.  I just

Most children look to their daddies to be their helpers: to fix everything for them when they're too little to do it themselves. "My toy is broken, daddy. Can you fix it for me?" a child says with pleading eyes. My story is a little different. I had a broken heart that couldn't be easily fixed with tape or new batteries. I would have given anything for a dad who wanted to spend time with me when I was little. I used to be so sad when a movie would show a little girl climbing up in her daddy's lap because that was something I never experienced. I never felt safe around my daddy growing up. He was tall and had a booming voice that made me jump when he entered the room. I couldn't just go up to him and say, "Daddy, I need a hug," because he was often too busy doing his own thing. After a while, I just quit waiting for him to play with me because the sting of rejection was too much for my little heart to take. When I came to Gateway Believers Fell

Some say you can't make your mark when your older You've waited too late to do anything worthwhile  Why even try? The world is moving at a rapid pace, people will give you the cold shoulder Don't listen to them Turn away from their shouts of doubt You can make a difference One word is all it takes Give it a try An act of kindness A word of encouragement to let someone know you care Is enough to pull them from the pit of despair It's never too late to make a change Even if you're old and gray Just make a choice to get beyond your comfort zone Great things can happen when you venture into the unknown!

I've been busy working on my novel for my creative writing class.  I have thirteen pages as of right now. I've committed to having at least thirty pages done by December. One thing I have learned is that it sure is tough writing from the perspective of mother, especially since I'm not one. Tears threatened to spill over onto the keyboard this morning as I finished up the fourth chapter.  So, I'm taking a break for a few days and look at it again with fresh eyes. I have so much that I want to say that I'm afraid it's going to end up being well over thirty pages, but I guess that's why they call it an ongoing project .I plan on continuing even after this course is done because the characters and situation mean something to me. I don't want to just tell a story. I want to tell it well. What's your favorite kind of novel? Is it suspense? A thriller? A romance?  Tell me in the comments!  P.S. If you are not a fan of my Facebook page, click the L

I had a tiny visitor on Tuesday.  A seven pound visitor named Skylie to be exact.  She's my neighbor who was born at 25 weeks weighing a mere 1 lb, 2 oz at birth. After a few months in the NICU, she's doing well at home on oxygen thanks to the prayers of many people who continue to pray for her and her family who have been through other very trying struggles. She was right at home in my arm, gradually dozing off to dream land.  With each flutter of her eyelashes and movement of her tiny hands, I was reminded again at what a miracle life is.   I guess good things really do come in small packages!

As I was going into class on Friday, I noticed someone leaning against the wall. Getting closer to the door, he briefly glanced up in the midst of his frustration.  I wanted to speak to him, but I had to get to class.  I couldn't help but wonder what made him get off by himself in a corner. I looked back and noticed he had resumed the same position as before, leaning into the wall with his head in his hands.  I wondered how many other people had passed him by without a second thought?  His face still lingers in my mind today, void of all hope.  That's not a good place to be, my friends. How many of us have been in that same situation?  Feeling miserable about life and the world in general.  How many have rushed by someone in need, not bothering to care?  I know the power of words.  They have the power to heal.  Even a smile can make a world of difference for someone. I don't know if that guy has a relationship with God.  I don't even know if he has anyone in

Hey, everyone.  I wanted to offer an explanation as to why I haven't blogged.  I have been SWAMPED with school work and other things that require my time and energy. One of those things is the beginning of a novel for my creative writing class.  It's coming along page by page. I've also been in a significant amount of pain these past few weeks, but I'm trudging along. I'm having some issues with my wheelchair cushion, so be in agreement with me that the problem will be resolved quickly. Hope everyone is having a good week!  Tomorrow is Friday! :)

I'm sitting in the computer lab thinking about my granddaddy.  It's been two months since he died, and I still miss him. Today I'm thinking about him as I prepare to take a quiz in history.  He always loved watching shows about how things were made.  "What are you learning about now, Madison?" he'd ask enthusiastically as he leaned up in his chair to hear me better.  We'd talk a lot about what I was learning.  I loved those times because he'd get the biggest grin on his face. I  think about him at night, missing his random phone calls to ask me about my day. I think about him when Mason comes over, knowing he would be laughing at how big he's gotten. I can still hear him saying, "How's my sweet granddaughter doing today?" in a gruffly voice. Every night as I wash my face before bed, I remember all the times he used to hold the wash cloth under the sink for a few extra seconds, making sure it was good and warm for me.  I alwa

Today I woke up and got ready for school.  I sat in Bible class talking about things that we would have gotten to experience with Jesus if we were alive during his lifetime.  I didn't really think much of today until I wrote the date on my paper.  September 23, 2011. That date probably doesn't mean anything to you, but it was the day of my second surgery, which was exactly  seven years ago.  I still remember that day vividly.  I was fourteen years old.  My new doctor informed me that if we didn't take the hardware in my hips out, one fall could cause me to need a hip replacement.  I had no idea that every fall that I had taken since the hardware had been in my body could have been a disaster. My family woke up when it was still pitch dark outside.  Today was the day my hip was going to get straightened (again), and I wouldn't have to worry about airport scanners going off.  Now, you have to understand that I had never been to an airport, but I always try to fin

These past weeks have been rough emotionally.  I usually don't write about this kind of stuff here, but I thought it may help someone. Let me just say this before I go any farther. People have this idea that admitting they have hard days is a sign of weakness. That is a sign you are human!    I have just been in a slump where my personal writing is concerned. Satan comes to all of us telling us lies, and he has been talking to me a lot lately. For instance, he has been telling me that I don't have anything of value to say. This blog doesn't matter. You know how it is. He bombards your mind with lies so you will be quiet. Needless to say, it has affected me. I'm guilty of  letting Satan slip in and silence me. I've found myself feeling down about things, but that is changing now.  When I realized what had happened, I immediately opened up a post and started to write. Instead of being quiet, I'm going to continue writing.  I'm going to continue sharing what

This is a poem I wrote during my church's seeking time.  It's a time we set aside to pray and seek God with other believers.    In the quiet time, I sit alone; The familiar whirring of the computer is all I hear. I am alone with my thoughts, or so it seems. I feel a tugging in my heart; He is calling me. In the quiet time, God speaks. I am able to listen, soaking in His awesome presence I am only one person, yet the Alpha and Omega talks with me.   In the quiet time, I am reassured. He gives me a clearer vision of the path I’m on. As I see more, I’m overcome with peace. Jehovah Jireh is all I need. In the quiet time, I realize even more it’s not about me. There are people wandering in darkness, unable to see. God nudges me to pray for them. I say, “Lord, let Your light shine through the shadows that hide their destiny.” I stand in awe of The Great I Am because He continually uses me.

It's been a few days since I've posted.  I've been super busy with papers and projects for school!  I have a test in History tomorrow, but I couldn't resist sharing a cute photo my mom took of my nephew today.  He is 4 months old today!  He is the happiest baby and I'm so glad I get the chance to love on him! This photo is just begging for a caption, don't you think?  So c'mon! Give it your best shot!  I will pick a winner and they will get a book from me. :) 

Awhile back, someone came to my blog searching for poems about making their mark. I thought that was a fantastic idea, so here is my first one. I may make this a series.  Who knows? :) When I was a girl, I struggled to know what my place was in this big world I got more questions than answers; my head felt as if it would twirl What could I do, what could I say  That would leave a mark on the world to stay? As I got older, I found my way It was full of twists and turns and even a few stumbles The good thing was I had found my voice I didn't even mumble! I didn't shout nor did I scream I just did what came naturally I looked for ways to help those in need My oh my, how their faces beamed! So whether you are young or old Don't tuck this poem away in an old dusty drawer Let it touch you to the very core Get our your pen or use your voice.  It doesn't matter just be bold!

Since I have had some new visitors in the past few weeks, I wanted to take this time to welcome them.  I'm so glad you decided to stop by my little corner on the Internet!  Feel free to look through some of my old posts.  In case you don't know, you can subscribe to my post by typing in your email address into the subscribe box on my right sidebar.  This ensures you never miss a post! :) I also have a FacebOok page this blog.  Click here to visit my page.  I will share things about my day, upcoming blog posts, and ask questions.  Basically, it's a community for all who love Making my Mark.  I would love to see you over there as well! Hope everyone had a fabulous Labor Day weekend!  I caught up on some much needed sleep and went to Olive Garden with my mama.

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I’m going to celebrate! Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger. I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice. Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I’ll make someone smile. I’ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don’t even know. Today, I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I’ll tell a child how special he is, and I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for

Note: I actually wrote this months ago, but debated about posting it.  I hope it helps someone else. Tears streamed down her face as she thought of what just happened. In trying to be a good friend, she got burned. Her heart was breaking because there was nothing left to do. Her help wasn't wanted, so she was no longer going to be there. Matthew 5:38-40 says, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." In other words, you are supposed to turn the other cheek and forgive them. I don't know about you, but that is hard for me because I have to be willing to be hurt again. It hurts to be misunderstood. It is a pain of knowing that the person that needs help is within arm's reach yet you can't get to them. They a

I haven't officially announced that I'm writing for my church's weekly publication called The Celebration, so I wanted to take time to do that. We have a team that puts together The Celebration for our church and whomever else may want one.  What you may be interested in is The Celebration blog . The Celebration blog features things that the team members have written, including myself.  It's a good place to stop by for encouragement, challenge your thinking, and a laugh or two.

Pre-mature birth. Cerebral Palsy. Surgeries. Therapy. Wheelchair. If I can help just one person by sharing with them how I’ve overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in my life, it will be worth it all. If I can offer just one word of encouragement to a parent of a special needs child, the pain I’ve endured is still worth it all. My earthly father has never accepted me as I am, but showing others how much my Heavenly Father genuinely loves me makes it worth it all. You know, a lot of Christians wait until they’ve gotten things all figured out before they start trying to reach out to others. I may be young, but I have learned that we all face hard times on this journey called life, and it’s how we react to them that makes all the difference. I decided that I wasn’t going to wait until my healing totally manifested or things seem to be easier for me before I try to help bridge the gap for others. True, I have felt like an outsider more times than I’d care to admit. However, through mu

I haven't updated everyone on my nephew, so I plan to fix that today.  Mason is 3 months old and getting bigger everyday! He is such a joy to be around.  I thought I would share a few of my favorite pictures that my mom has taken over the past few months. I don't know what he was thinking about after his bath, but he sure looked cute!

The more I look at life, the more I stand in awe of God. People always say to me, "You have such a gift with writing!" I'm humbled each and every time I hear it because I know I'm nothing without God. He is the reason I'm alive. Don't believe me? Read this post . Without him, I wouldn't have the breath of life. I'm so grateful for the mercy He gives me each day.  I have done absolutely nothing to deserve Him and His awesome presence and guidance. I am made worthy through His blood. The fact that Jesus died for me...and all of humanity still leaves me speechless sometimes. I don't know about you, but I don't know many people who would die for complete strangers. Let's face it, even if they would, they wouldn't choose to be crucified and beaten beyond comprehension. His life inspires me each day. Jesus only lived for 30 years here on Earth, yet He performed notable miracles and touched more people during one sermon than any o

I've just finished my first class of the new semester.  7:00 sure did come early this morning after a three month break!  The sun was shining as my mom and I left for school this morning. It's a new day filled with possibilities. I'm excited to start learning new things.  I'm still a junior, although I previously said I would be a senior.  It's just because I can't sit long enough at school to have 17 or 18 hours worth of credit each semester, but I am getting it done. *I know sunshiny isn't an actual word, but it reminded me of that song "I Can See Clearly Now" and the lyrics that say, "It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day!" Just wanted to check in with everyone. Hope you're having an awesome Monday!

After doing my poll a few weeks ago, I realized that a lot of you probably don't understand a lot about cerebral palsy. While some people are paralyzed and unable to communicate that is not the case with me. I'm not paralyzed. I can walk some with the help of my walker. I've had several people come up to me in the doctor's office and ask if I had an accident. I did not have a car accident. I started having back pains at he end of my sophomore year in high school. What started out as a back ache quickly turned into something more. After several months of trying to find a doctor that would accept my new insurance, x-rays revealed that I had a stress fracture in my lower back. The formal diagnosis was  spondylolysis . The doctors tried to treat it with two different types of braces with no improvement.  The diagnosis was then changed to spondylolisthesis. After an MRI showed that the stress fracture had gotten worse,  the doctor said surgery was my only option

An old man once said, "There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who will make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." ~Not sure of the author In light of my grandfather's passing, I've been reflecting on a lot of things. I will try to sum up my thoughts.  We shouldn't wait until someone dies to start treating others with respect.  Don't wait until tomorrow to do something kind for someone. Don't wait until tomorrow to become a better you.  Don't wait until tomorrow to focus on someone other than yourself.  Don't wait until it's too late to try fix everything you wish you would have done differently.  I guess that is something that has been playing over and over in my mi

My Granddaddy passed away yesterday.  He is not in pain anymore, thank goodness.  I got to talk to him about a week before he quit responding, so that was some precious time that I'm so thankful for.  Death isn't the worst thing.  The worst thing is not knowing where someone will spend eternity.  I know he's in heaven, and that makes all the difference in the world.  I won't be on much this week as we prepare for the funeral and support my grandmother.

My Granddaddy is dying of cancer.  Instead of focusing on the negative, I want to remember the good things. Here are a few things that come to mind when I think of my Granddaddy: History channel lover. Joke teller. Loves the outside. Loves Reba MacIntyre. :) He's spoiled by Memaw's home cooking. Loves his grandkids and great grandkids.  Seriously, he is always telling people about us, and always wants to know what's going on in our lives. Some people aren't fortunate enough to have people that care about them, so I'm very thankful for that. Has had the opportunity to travel the world with my Memaw.  They always brought each grandkid something back, and those things are very special to me. This is just something I needed to do.  Writing is very therapeutic for me, so it helps to be able to release my emotions. I also want Mason to know Granddaddy and the only thing he will have is stories and pictures. Even though I'm not doing Memories Rewind

I found a handwriting analysis quiz awhile back, so I had to take it. :) Here are the directions: On a piece of unlined paper, write the following paragraph using at least two lines: 'Well!' thought Alice to herself, 'after such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs! How brave they'll all think me at home! Why, I wouldn't say anything about it, even if I fell off the top of the house!' (Which was very likely true.) Alice's adventures in wonderland Lewis Carroll Here's a picture of my handwriting: Now for the fun part! 1. Your letters slope, Straight up and down - indicates that you are a person with a strong need for contact. 2. The letters in your words are, Partially connected - indicates that you are a shy, idealistic person who does not find it easy to have relationships. 3. The spaces between your words are, Narrow - indicates that you are a talkative person, maybe even a busybody! 4. How close together are your lines of wr