You guys know a lot of random stuff about me, but I’m interested in learning more about those of you who visit Bringing the Sunshine. We’re building a little community here, so I want to know you better, and I’d love for my readers to get to know each other, as well. So, whether you’re a regular commenter from way back when, a long time lurker, or brand new to Bringing the Sunshine, please take a moment to introduce yourself. I’ve prepared a few questions to help you get started:
- What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)?
- What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list?
- What is your favorite quote?
- What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done?
- Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about?
Those are some things I’d be interested to know, but all questions are completely optional (translation: I completely get it if you’re hesitant to answer all the questions). I look forward to “meeting” you.
We’re waiting…
Update: I just realized that a few comments got sent to spam – presumably because of having links (especially if it was more than one) in them. If you submit and your comment doesn’t show up right away, shoot me an email and I’ll clear it.
My daughter Cora, who is 14 months has Ds. Favorite quotes and bucket lists have been temporarily replaced with learning new signs to teach Cora. For the moment I just want to be the best mom I can be. I blog about my girlie at http://www.corabean.com.
This is a good idea!
What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)?
My son (third child) Jacob has Down syndrome. It was a surprise diagnosis at birth and I love being part of this community.
What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list?
Visit all the continents (except Antarctica. I’m okay with not going there). Have two to go — South American and Australia.
What is your favorite quote?
It’s from the Bible and it’s our “life verse” Micha 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what the LORD requires from you: To do justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”
What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done?
Since 2002 my husband and I (and then two of our three children) lived and worked in Afghanistan as relief and development workers (see quote above for the “why” of it). We learned the language, learned the culture and made it our home. It was undeniably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but when Jacob was born and his dx meant we couldn’t go back right away, it seemed like loosing all that for a life in the States was just as hard. Now, we are planning to move back to Afghanistan later this year, so a whole new set of challenges await.
Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about?
I do! It’s called Light and Shadow at http://carolynm516.wordpress.com/
I mostly blog about Down syndrome, but also about our life in Afghanistan, culture and faith. It will probably be more about life overseas once we move.
this was fun Andi and I hope more people will answer.
1. My daughter Bridgie, 2, was born with DS. Diagnosed after birth she is our third child.
2. Full Ironman in September.
3. Life is simple. It’s just not easy.
4. Repenting and making right with God (still working on this)
5. http://www.brylfamily5.blogspot.com
Edited by Andi because Cindy had trouble posting and emailed me instead. 🙂
I have an almost 2 year old daugther with Down syndrome. Her name is Kamdyn. I haven’t thought much about a bucket list yet. I like a lot of quotes, but I guess the one that has changed my life the most is “For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Its hard for me to say what my most difficult thing is too, because things that seemed difficult at the time, like finding out Kamdyn has Down syndrome, aren’t difficult anymore. My blog is called Life is Beautiful http://teal915.blogspot.com/
This will be fun.
What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)? I’m a friend! I met you through ROTE.
What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list? Long-term I want to be an executive at a company by 45. Short term, I want to complete the Dopey challenge at Disney.
What is your favorite quote? Tough one. I have a few favorite quotes. First is from Heinlein. “I never learned from a man who agreed with me.” Second is “Not all who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkien.
What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done? Raising my child. I was an only child and had no cousins to grow up with. I didn’t know what to do with small humans. It’s still a struggle, but getting better now that he’s almost a teenager and I can have really good, intelligent conversations with him. He’s at the stage where I am teaching him things that will actually mean something as he grows into adulthood.
Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about? I do have a fledgling blog. Not nearly as good or polished as this one. I call it Devil Takes the Hindmost. You can find it at monicalynnkennedy.blogspot.com. Right now it focuses on my race recaps and various vacation trips.
My third child, Julia, was born with Trisomy 18 and a hypoplastic left heart. She lived an amazing year– longer than anyone predicted. I found your blog when I was in the midst of caring for Julia 24/7, and I continue to love reading it. The most ambitious thing on my bucket list is to adopt a child with Down Syndrome in the next 5 years. The hardest thing I have ever faced was the loss of my precious Julia in Dec 2011. My favorite quote is from Vivian Greene- “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” I blog at jennychildress.blogspot.com about Julia, our Trisomy 18 journey, and our life after T18.
1. What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)? YOU are my connection, and I’m trying to become an advocate in my little circle of friends.
2. What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list? To be able to retire before I kick the bucket. 🙂 I’d love to travel more.
3. What is your favorite quote? I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. –Lao-Tzu
4. What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done? Getting through the immigration ordeal when my husband moved her. Such a dehumanizing process.
5. Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about? I do, but I’m horrible at keeping up with it. I think it’s been 9 months since I posted. And I’ve only done it 2-3 times. http://unlikelyyogini.blogspot.com/
I’m gonna play. And warning, I like to talk:
1. Well I met you in ROTE but I’ve felt all sorts of connections to you. I can’t WAIT to meet you but it might have to be when you finally get back to California because who knows when I’ll get to Orlando again. You may meet my husband before you meet me. 🙁
I’m also a Catholic Mom (although I’m cradle and I just learned you came to the Faith as an adult. I almost e-mailed you about that one.) I was in a sorority although not yours. 😉 I’m an endurance athlete (BWA HA HA HA) although I’m SLOW and I won’t go over 13.1 miles. My eldest has ADHD. We have that diagnosis. All of my kids are considered “Geniuses.” But beyond that, we don’t know because no one can make up their minds and at this point I’ve sort of given up. They are all getting good grades and they’re all healthy. The social and behavioral stuff will have to figure itself out. I have a very close friend who is best described as having “Severe Special Needs” because it’s a long story. 😉 (Birth related complication, she wasn’t supposed to live. She’s like a cousin to my children.) I also somehow seem to attract people to my life who have Autism. We’ve been around and around wondering if our kids have it, wondering if our relatives have it, wondering if our friends have it, wondering if we have it. 😉 I’m a former educator. So through a lot of life experiences, I have had connections to the special needs community. I consider myself above-average in my level of knowledge and familiarity with special needs. I also just feel a connection to the Down syndrome community that I can’t explain, especially when you write about prenatal testing and people aborting babies with Ds. I’m drawn to kids and adults with special needs. We get along well.
2. I don’t really have a bucket list. I get buy one day at a time. I have to think about that one. I have a lot of things I’d like to do “one day.” But I very much live by “We can do all things but we can’t do them all at the same time.”
3. My favorite quote is one I made up: “Rule Number One: Don’t play games with people who know the rules better than you do.” That probably sounds more snarky than inspirational. 😉 But if you think about it, how many people just start messing around with people and making trouble when they don’t know what they’re doing? Let it go! I also very much like “Expectations are Planned Disappointments.” I really AM a very positive and perky person. Really. I am.
Can I tell you my favorite song? Or one of them anyway? It’s more inspirational: It’s “Ordinary Day” by Great Big Sea.
4. Most difficult thing I’ve faced: Raising my eldest son. First it was a trial just to get him here – a miscarriage, a medical drama and such. He’s so much like me. As I mentioned, he’s ADHD and he’s brilliant. And no one can figure out what’s up with him. He gets straight As, he’s respectful, adults love him, but he’s impulsive and doctors and professionals can’t agree on how to “deal” with him and I’m really tired from trying to figure it out. Sometimes, I have to admit, I’m jealous of parents who have clear diagnoses for their kids because Limbo just sucks. Parenting in general, while I’ve always felt very natural at it since day one and I think we’re pretty family focused in a good way, is really hard.
5. The blog I update most regularly is: http://krockpots.wordpress.com My husband and I are also co-founders and on staff at http://www.MousePlanet.com (I named the company. My claim to fame.)
Are those of us you already tagged exempt from participating?
That’s your call! I do think others would enjoy reading, as the questions are a little bit different.
1. Your family is my connection to your special world. I love it!
2. Although I am a horrific singer, my bucket list has the entry to sing in a full-out gospel choir complete with robes, hand clapping, etc. Looks like fun and I think it would challenge me to be that demonstrative with my faith.
3. I have lots of quotes I like, but none of them are coming to me right now.
4. The birth of my oldest son was hard. He was born blue and limp and stayed hospitalized for 12 of the longest days ever. But, he’s been a-okay since and I am grateful.
5. No blog, but I do write a food/recipe column for a local paper and have written a few pieces on Andi and her family. Im not very good, but I hide it with good material to write about! 🙂
1.What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)?
I am a running friend but I feel like those words don’t adequately describe how I feel about you and your family. I feel/know we are just so much more! I am also a licensed Special Educator of Children with Moderate Special Needs PrK-6. I have been a Sped teacher for the last 19 yrs. There is no better job!
2.What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list? Well, this is a bit lame but it is to run and finish a marathon in under 6 hours. I am signing up for WDW next Jan and I am going to make a valiant attempt at it. But I am just filled with such doubt at the endeavor.
3.What is your favorite quote? I have 2 quotes both by Eleanor Roosevelt
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Which reminds me to live my life to its fullest.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”- This quote has been used frequently when raising my two teenage daughters to remind them not to always follow the crowd.
4. What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done? I was diagnosed with cancer while pregnant with my oldest daughter. If I had only been a few weeks earlier they(drs) would have suggested I have an abortion. It was the common practice 20 yrs. ago. My husband and I had only been married 18 months at the time and had just demolished the house we were living in. I am happy to say my daughter is 19 and doing very well, we will celebrate our 21st anniversary in June and we went on to conceive another baby 3 ½ yrs. later. The doctors thought I would never get pregnant again.
5.Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about?
No blog, I have one I just haven’t written on it in 2 yrs. LOL! But I love reading your blog!
My daughter, Melia, was diagnosed last August with Rett Syndrome- I don’t remember how I found your blog but I am sure it was through one of the many Facebook groups I belong to that support us moms with our special kiddos!
my most ambitious item on my bucket list is probably to be on Survivor- yet since I’m Canadian I don’t see that happening really so I would have to say run a half marathon.
My have quote is – Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.
The most difficult thing has got to be survive last year. I had a new baby, a new diagnosis and a husband who said he had enough and left us in the middle of it all. It was the hardest time of my life, and learning to accept help from others was another really hard thing for me to do.
What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done?
I do blog- not very often but I try… I actual have a few but the main one for my family is tanisdawn.blogspot.com … I guess I can list the others too-
dearmissmelia.blogspot.com
mytimetogethealthy.blogspot.com
What a fun idea! Can I copy?
* I have a daughter (Ellie, 12 months!) with Down syndrome. And I’m certified as a SPED teacher.
* I want to run a 50 miler. And I want to qualify for Boston. The first seems easier.
* I’m summarizing and screwing it up: “You don’t have a soul. You ARE a soul. You have a body.”
* Waiting seven months between learning Ellie has DS and meeting her, knowing that with her heart and GI defects, she would need to fight hard just to meet us.
* I blog about Ellie, Down syndrome, early learning, running, faith, and whatever the heck crosses my mind at http://www.mystubbornmiss.com
Hi, I’m Amy. I’ve been following this blog for over a year. I started following shortly after our daughter, Tennyson, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy around a year of age. She is now 2 1/2 years old and diagnosed with spastic quad CP (among other diagnoses). I have lot’s of goals, but they mostly revolve around my daughters progress at this point in time. My favorite quote is, “Let us run with perserverance the race set before us”. I just recently started blogging this past December about my daughter. I love hearing from other Mom’s who “get it”. Tennyson’s birth story is on the blog (posted in January, 2012 – to find it easier). Nice to finally “meet” you!
Sorry – not sure if I posted the link to the blog – http://www.tennsense.blogspot.com
I have twin boys who turn 6 on April 1st. One of them was born with Ds. That is how I am part of this community. Hardest thing? Probably watching my baby go through open heart surgery at 6 months. I’m not really a quote kind of gal. I like a lot of them but I can’t think of any right now. I have a blog that is basically just a blog about my family. thegagegauge.blogspot.com
I came across your blog a few months ago and love it.
My daughter Claire, 2, has Down syndrome. We had some markers during my pregnancy with her, the biggest being her heart defect. We were fairly certain she had Ds, but weren’t sure until she was born.
My bucket list includes travel, travel, travel. I love going places, seeing new things, meeting new people. Hubby, unfortunately, is a homebody.
The most difficult thing I’ve faced was the loss of my first husband. He will killed in a car accident just after his 28th birthday.
My blog is http://www.mooscrossing.blogspot.com I mostly blog about Claire, but she will have to share the spotlight with her new little sister, who is 2 weeks old.
1. I actually found your blog through the Sigma Kappa Triangle. I am from Alpha Gamma in Washington State, many miles away from you. I have no “official” tie to the special needs community, but was a developmental specialist for a few years in Idaho at a preschool working with children with disabilities. This led to babysitting a little girl that had cerebral palsy – her parents hadn’t been out in over three years with each other because they didn’t trust anyone to babysit Maya! I have more experiences, but I am so glad that I was able to give them the time they needed as a couple.
2. I don’t really have a bucket list. My goal right now is to start walking regularly, and then jogging, and then maybe working myself up to a five mile race. Maybe event the Warrior Dash. If I start to look really awesome in a swimsuit after all that activity, maybe I’ll add swimming with dolphins to that list.
3. My now-husband did not have a lot of money in college. For a birthday gift one year, he bought (or found in his fraternity, I’m not really sure) a plain wood picture frame. He wrote in Sharpie along the outside “There is nothing more beautiful than being in love with a beautiful woman”. Then he put a picture of us in the frame. It has been 10 years, but that picture frame is still hanging in my room with that quote on it. I love it.
4. The loss of my father-in-law after an aggressive 10 month battle from cancer. And I feel like being the wife of a police officer is a difficult thing to be sometimes. I’m so proud of my husband and what kind of man he is, but it is a tough road.
5. I blog about the family (mostly so I can look back on the blog later and reminisce). It’s not the most exciting thing, but I post at http://www.cougarsinoregon.com.
Oops-I am actually at cougarsinoregon.blogspot.com
I am a parent of a daughter age 12 with DS. I was tagged so you’ll just have to come by to see the rest. http://starrlife.wordpress.com
1. I am a mom to three kids, two of whom are twins born at 26 weeks. One (maybe two? but he’s not yet diagnosed) has CP.
2. Hmmm – writing a book?
3. We acquire the strength of that which we have overcome – Ralph Waldo Emerson
4. Surviving 152 days in the NICU with the twins while keeping a reasonably normal home life for their big sister
5. http://trousdellfive.blogspot.com
Funnily enough, on reading these answers I surprised myself with the first thing that came to mind for #2 and 4 but went with my gut response. What a great idea!
1. One of my twin boys (2 years-old) has cerebral palsy.
2. Bucket list…I know what is on my grocery list, and my “to-do” list for the week, but have not figured something out for my bucket list. I think it would be something involving the happiness of my 3 boys!
3. I have WAY too many favorite quotes. I am a quote fanatic. But my good old standby is a verse from the bible “I can do all things in him that strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
4. The most difficult thing I have done or faced is probably the first year of Parker’s diagnosis. We were stunned, stressed, researching, praying, crying, seeing doctors, working hard, questioning and lost. That was definitely the hardest year of my life.
5. I have a blog that is not that great but I am working on it. It was supposed to be about all of my 3 sweet boys, but it has really just been about Parker and life with special needs. I have found that connecting with other folks in the special needs community through this type of forum is amazing! My blog is http://www.our3littlemiracles.blogspot.com
Thank you Andi for doing this! What a fun idea. I like getting to know your readers and I have just found some more blogs that I am going to have to check out.
Okay, I’ll play. I’m sort of an internet stalker though.
1. Friend. In high school, as my senior service project, I was assigned to work at a facility for adults with developmental disabilities (I’m not sure what the current PC word is) and I admit, I was scared. I didn’t know what I was getting into. That month was a BLAST. I had more fun at that facility. And ever since, I’ve always thought that maybe I would adopt a special needs kid someday. Just a thought.
2. Marriage? I’m not good at commitment.
3. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow. ”
― Mary Anne Radmacher
4. I’ve led a pretty blessed life. I guess the most difficult thing I’ve ever faced was some complicated medical issues a few years ago. Turns out it was just stress, panic disorder, and a weird heart issue, all things that are pretty easy to deal with, but for a while, I was looking at potentially cutting decades off of my lifespan and completely changing my way of life. Made me very thankful for what I do have.
5. Blog! I’ve had a blog in some fashion since before blogging was blogging. It was originally called online journalling, and I started in 1999. Those archives have been wiped, thankfully, but now I have a plain old blog at http://www.elbowglitter.com. It’s mostly about running these days, but I’m trying to branch out.
Oh I loved reading your 11 tidbits about you last week. So random things about me – I’m a mom of a child with a significant, undiagnosed disability.
My favorite bucket list item I tackled last year in hopes to set an example for my oldest son to take risks and do hard things. I auditioned for a musical. I’m a sing in the shower kind of girl but I took the risk. I didn’t get cast and it was still one the best/scariest things I’ve done.
I’d say the hardest emotional thing I’ve done is bring my marriage back from the edge of a cliff to being full of joy. That took a lot of changing communication tactics. The hardest work thing I’ve done it to help start a summer camp for kids with chronic illnesses. If was fun and challenging and exciting and I walked away with a husband, so that was a great bonus!
and I blog at http://teamaidan.wordpress.com/
What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)?
Yours may have been the first special needs mom blog I read. I am trying to be a friend.
What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list?
I don’t have a bucket list. Maybe having a bucket list is my most ambitious item!
What is your favorite quote?
Many. One on my board right now? “In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” Oscar Wilde
What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done?
Faced? Depression in its many forms. Done? Taken it a day at a time.
Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about?
http://mamaonetothree.com
I blog about parenting twins plus one in NYC; being an imperfect and often self-conscious mom and woman. Trying to see the absurdity in the mundane, and the humor in the absurd. And drinking a lot of coffee and wine.
1. March 24, 2010 is the day I joined “the club” as my very good friend calls it. That is the day my 3rd daughter was born. She is our “Sunshine and little Ladybug.” She is my world and my inspiration everyday with all the stuff she can do, even though I told not to expect this or that. I am so glad my daughter has that “I will show you attitude. There isn’t anything I can’t do.”
2. My husband laughs but one day I want to be on the show “Survivor” and I want to win and tell him “I told you.” He laughs because I am not big on “tent” camping and that I am not usually one to keep my opinions to myself. He always says “Your mouth will get you kicked off.”
3. My favorite quote: “Every good and perfect gift comes from above.” James 1:17
4. The most difficult thing for me to have faced was not knowing if the mass they found on my oldest daughters tale bone was Cancer or just fatty issue. That had to be the longest week of my life. Then last year I had two Cancer scares myself. Makes you put all the crazy stuff behind and focus on what is most important. Just remember to tell the ones you love everyday you love them because you never know when you may never see them again. My husband lost his brother to an automobile accident 10 years ago. He was only 26. Life is precious and we should never take anything for granted. That is what we teach our girls.
5. I do not have a blog. I just use my facebook page to talk about my life and my girls and to spread the word that Down Syndrome is not the end of the world and look at all the amazing stuff my baby girl can do. I am under no illusion that she has delays but I chose to focus and celebrate her many many achievements. She is an inspiration to her sisters and they love her to pieces. Just wish the loved each other as much as they love her.
I am so glad I found your blog!
What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)? – I spent most of my teenage and college years working in special education. I was a part of “Best Buddies” in college. It was the plan for me to become a special education teacher before life got in the way. One of my very best friends has a daughter with Down Syndrome. My love and advocacy for children and adults with special needs has just always been a part of who I am.
What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list? Horseback riding. Not super ambitious I know, but I’m not much of a risk taker!
What is your favorite quote? I have many. Here is one: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Marianne Williamson
What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done? – Infertility.
Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about? – http://loveandchaosreign.wordpress.com I blog about my life with my twins and being in a two mom family, and infertility. And things that tick me off or move me.
For some reason I’m having issues posting a comment. If this is a duplicate I’m sorry.
What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)? – I spent most of my teenage and college years working in special education. I was a part of “Best Buddies” in college. It was the plan for me to become a special education teacher before life got in the way. One of my very best friends has a daughter with Down Syndrome. My love and advocacy for children and adults with special needs has just always been a part of who I am.
What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list? Horseback riding. Not super ambitious I know, but I’m not much of a risk taker!
What is your favorite quote? I have many. Here is one: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Marianne Williamson
What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done? – Infertility.
Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about? – http://loveandchaosreign.wordpress.com I blog about my life with my twins and being in a two mom family, and infertility. And things that tick me off or move me.
Hi, Ive only recently come across your blog and loving it! Im a mum to 2 children – the youngest is a 3 year son with Down Syndrome. We live in the North Island in New Zealand.
The most ambitious item on my bucket list would be to have a bucket list!!
My favorite quote is one I would like to put on my son’s wall one day “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to become a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” – Robert Frost
At the time the day my son was diagnosed was the hardest thing Ive ever faced. I had no family members with special needs nor had any experience with someone who was ‘different’ so I honestly thought my life was over, my marriage wouldnt survive and my child would never leave home etc etc. I look back now and think how silly of me but at the time it was very real.
I dont have a blog – not that creative!
Just an old therapist blogging along….
Wanted to post but haven’t had the chance so I’m doing it now 🙂
What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)? I have no actual connection to the special needs community other than my son goes to a integrated Pre-K that is half and half mixed with special needs children and some of his best friends have special needs to everyone but him.
What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list? I want to eat real gelato in Italy. Don’t know if that counts as ambitious….but my other one would be to serve on the SK National Council.
What is your favorite quote? “Out of clutter find simplicity. From dischord find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” ~Albert Einstein
What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done?
I have been very blessed that i’ve had no huge obstacles to face in my life. It’s been pretty normal other than going thru a divorce but it’s better now than it was then. Looking back, going thru that part of my life opened many other doors to much happier times, people and challenges for me to overcome. I have two beautiful children, will be getting remarried in a month, have a job I love and volunteer with my sorority which brings me such satisfaction. Anything “difficult” I look at as a challenge to overcome, not something to hold me back.
What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)? Special Education teacher for 13 years, doctoral student in special education and assistive technology, parent of a special needs child, aunt of a special needs child, advocate for everyone.
What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list? Put assistive technology in the hands of all children who would benefit from it.
What is your favorite quote? Anything Mr. Rogers or Jonathon Kozol said
What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done? Right now….
Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about?
1.What is your connection to the special needs community (i.e., family member, friend, educator, medical professional)?
I’m English.I’m a teacher of kids aged 7 to 11. The Special Needs kids I’ve had in my classes have taught me so much about cheerfulness in hard times, not giving up and cherishing every day!
I ran Mickey on 2009 and Goofy in 2010 so I know you from ROTE.
2.What is the most ambitious item on your bucket list?
I’d like to complete a marathon on a unicycle.
3.What is your favorite quote?
Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot little puppies.
Gene Hill
4.What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever faced or done?
Held my Dad’s hand while he died of cancer.
5.Do you have a blog? Feel free to shamelessly promote it! What’s your URL? What do you blog about?
No blog yet. I’d like one in the future.