Life As of Now

Image credit: Injection Needle Macro 2 © Michaela Kobyakov

I haven't forgotten about my blog! I've just been busy going to doctor's appointments. I know I'm going to have to have surgery on my foot that's been giving me problems, I'm just not sure what kind or when. I go back to the doctor on July 31st to set up a game plan.

My doctor did give me a cortisone shot in my toe joint to help with swelling on June 24th. It's helped some. I was able to find a pair of red shoes that actually fit my feet AND Dr. Brosky, who is excellent and I can't say enough good things about him, released me to start walking again with my walker as I can. YAY!!!! I'm taking it slow, but it's going well.

I have been relaxing but also exploring my options when it comes to printing my magazine. Right now, it seems like the best bet might be to buy a commercial printer and assemble my own. We'll see.

I also have plans to make FOCUS magazine available digitally for small fee, so stay tuned for that!

Still adjusting to life after college. It's hard to reset your brain to not think about homework, classes, etc because I've done it for so long. I still find myself thinking, "Now I would be in Sociology or Health and Wellness at this time." 

Graduation is Near!

Hey, everyone! Now that finals and the big presentation of my senior project (FOCUS Magazine) is over, I finally have a chance to blog. I graduate tomorrow!!! Wow. It's kind of surreal. I remember the first two years being very hard physically and emotionally. With God's help and a supportive family who were willing to rearrange their schedules to take me to school, I made it!

I'm graduating fourth in my class with a 3.97 GPA! Lots of blood, sweat, and tears went into this degree. The feedback I have gotten from my magazine has been absolutely AMAZING! People are already wanting to order more copies! If anyone of my blog friends would like a copy, just email me. They will be about $7-8 each, depending on how many are ordered. It's 12 pages of inspirational stories of men and women who have refused to let a disability stop them! I couldn't be more proud of the final product.

After all of that work, I'm going to take a break. I have an upcoming surgery on my foot, but not sure exactly when yet. I'm going to check into pursuing my magazine and can't wait to see where this road leads. Yes, it's bittersweet leaving the place I have known for five years. I've learned a lot. I'm not quite sure how I'll feel in a few weeks, but this new chapter in my life is exciting!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I will!

I'm Blessed

You know sometimes you come across a story that just knocks you flat and puts things in perspective.

That happened to me a few weeks ago when I came across Summer's Story. I went back on her blog last night and to read about what she is dealing with, how she's often in so much pain she can't even walk, hard to access ports, and dumbfounding the medical community while raising a beautiful daughter, all I can say is wow!

 Then again this week after my mom shared Katie Dama Jaskolski's story. Please take time to watch the video about her life. It is nothing short of AMAZING! 

I have to be honest and say for the past few weeks I have been focusing more than normal on the pain in my foot. When I should have been praising God and not focusing on what I felt like, I was doing the opposite. After reading these stories, I went to bed last night saying, "I'm blessed!" Yes, I have to deal with pain and not able to do everything I want to right now. But, through it all, I'm blessed.

I don't have so much pain that I can't walk, I don't have a rare disease, my bones and joints are healthy in spite of what some may say. I'm not in the hospital. So, I'm grateful today! I make a choice to focus on the good things. What about you? 

Philippians 4:8 says, 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Living In spite of Everything

Well, I've not been absent from life. I've just been dealing with it. L.I.F.E. Living In spite oF Everything. Yep, I just made that up!  Each day as I get up, I remind myself that I will not quit. I will not give up. God's grace has gotten me too far to turn back now.

But, every day isn't easy. This past week was hard, exhilarating, exhausting, and challenging all in one. I'm done with the necessary interviews for my disability magazine. I'm going to do at least one more story, though for good measure. This has been one of the most rewarding things I've done so far, and I can't wait to share it with you!

I had to deal with sinuses and foot issues and even had to cut one of my classes short and come home, which I hated to have to do, but it was necessary. 

What I haven't shared publicly is that I am going to have to have a surgery in June, right after my college graduation because my left big toe is going up under my foot making me really unstable when standing. An internationally known surgeon is going to perform a spinal fusion on my toe to set the bones where they should be. I've had to resort to wearing tennis shoes that are 1 1/2 sizes bigger than normal to accommodate the swelling in my foot. I'm dealing with things each day, knowing that I couldn't possibly get out of bed with God's strength. I'm SO thankful for Him!

Today has been a good day! I've managed to get my school work done and slept pretty well last night. Considering some of the nights I've had recently, that is HUGE!

If you are struggling, whatever you do, don't quit. Just dig your heels in a little deeper and keep going. Things will get better. I'm going to get better! I know this for a fact. As soon as possible, I'm going to start an aggressive stretching program with a personal trainer. I'm not where I was a few years ago, and I'm certainly not where I'm going to be!

P.S. You have 9 days to enter my giveaway! 

Custom Graphic Design Giveaway!

PrintingRay is a USA based online company that provides cheap custom stickers printing and folder printing of best quality. They were gracious enough to offer one person the chance to win a custom design of their choice!

You can choose from the following things:

•  Free Facebook Cover and Display Picture
•  Twitter Background
•  Free Picture and logo for your blog... or for anything else you can think of!

Just leave me a comment telling me something interesting about you along with your email address so I can contact the winner! This is mandatory.

This giveaway will run until March 5, 2013! After you are contacted, PrintingRay will have your design ready within 3 to 4 days and send it via email.

All other entries are optional like following PrintingRay on Facebook, tweeting about the giveway, following me on Facebook or my blog. Have fun and share this with your friends!

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Tigger: Memoirs of a Cosmopolitan Cat

I have now completed my internship with Tannenbaum Publishing Company, which was nothing short of AMAZING!

I am excited to announce that a manuscript I have been working with is now a published ebook on Amazon! 

Tigger - Memoirs of a Cosmopolitan Cat is the fictional autobiography of a cat and his human family. Based on a true story, it takes the reader from Perth in Western Australia, Tigger’s birthplace where he joins his family, to Maryland in the United States of America. We are all familiar with human responses to change; but what about the animal's perspective? What are the challenges for a cat in a new and unfamiliar environment? What matters to him, and how does he adjust? Tigger lets the reader follow him as he explores nameless flora and fauna, mysterious smells and undreamt-of hunting opportunities. He meets neighbourhood pets, escapes from sticky situations and copes with the surprises of a first snowfall. In the background of the story, the humans have their own struggle to settle in new surroundings. The occasional glimpse through Tigger's amber eyes lets the reader guess at what goes on in their world, but it really isn't that important. Tigger's experience is what really counts. 

Click here to view or purchase!

Book Review: Off Balanced by Zachary Fenell

Several months ago - and I mean several - Zachary asked me if I'd like to review his book. I enthusiastically said yes, and then life got in the way. Zachary, thank you for your patience!

Off-Balanced is a biography of Zachary Fennell's  life as a teenager with CP. That's cerebral palsy for those who don't know. It tells of his struggles with girls, friends,driving, and life with a well-meaning but overprotective mother and a hard-working father he rarely sees.

Staying home on Friday nights was the norm because he didn't have the greatest self-esteem like some who can joke about their disability. Zach lives life in somewhat of a shell...until meeting Chase and Randy. Even then, he let his disability overpower him and shrank back from conversations. This caused people not to ask him much of anything. If asked how he was doing by a classmate, "Okay" was his standard, unenthusiastic reply.

As time passes, he begins to lighten up and form friendships with Sami and Rob. I started really getting into the book when Zach entered Notre Dame college. Zach found his niche when joining the Notre Dame News! It was like the words he struggled to say found their way on the printed page and - wonder of wonders - people LIKED it! 

This was the next to the last chapter, and I really felt like the book should have been longer or at least followed by a sequel because Zach's story was really getting good. The first half of the book was hard for me to get into because I'm not person who does self-pity. I'm more of a glass half-full type of girl. I also couldn't relate to the social awkwardness that Zach felt (nor the fact that he was never bullied or teased). Yes, I was made fun of, but I've always been a talker! I enjoyed Zach's story because it allowed me to see things from a male perspective. Males and females are so different!

I could relate to learning InDesign, though and really respected his dedication to the newspaper. I cringed at some of the VERY late night deadlines! The book ended with a very powerful scene that was a turning point in Zach's life. 

If a sequel is ever done, I would love to know about Zach's life after college. How does he cope as an adult? Does he keep his new found confidence? Do Rob and Sami keep in touch? What is he doing now? 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.