My world is so different today, almost two years into a pandemic.

Do you know the first thing I want to share with you is about my weight gain?  Why the heck is that?  I feel compelled to explain it to you and let you know how ashamed I feel that I don’t control my body.

I have accomplished so many beautiful things personally and professionally this past year and nurtured so many people.  Yet, as I sift through photos to share with you and try to gather my thoughts on expressing what my life has been like since my last post, my body image rises to the top in my mind.  The second topic is my gray hair, but somehow I’m lovingly embracing the gray hair.  I think that has recently become a positive trend due to the pandemic.

Recently I have reminded myself of something I heard on a podcast or one of my audiobooks.  It was the concept of referring to yourself and your body as “she/her” (or your choice of pronoun).   For example, instead of saying, “I’m going to work out today.”  I would rephrase it as “I’m going to take her to work out today.”  Somehow it felt more like I was caring for a friend instead of myself.  It feels gentler and compassionate.

Yes, there is work to be done on my self-image and shame.  My secret best friend is Brene Brown (it’s so cryptic even Brene doesn’t know we are friends).   I’m reading her newest book Atlas of the Heart, over the holidays.  But, I think I’m going to have to dive back into her book The Gifts of Imperfection and do some heavy lifting out of the shame pit.

In the meantime, if referring to actions or activities that impact my body will benefit by referring to her in the third person, she will rock the pronoun.

But my dear readers, you are all my friends here and, friends want good things for each other! 

Let’s move past body issues and talk about the good things that happened this year.  I traveled, made new friends, was a featured guest on two podcasts, made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, took care of my family, and fell more deeply in love with my husband.

I inherited my father’s wanderlust and love of the outdoors.  This year I traveled at least a few days each month.  It might have been hauling the trailer and camping with other Girl Campers, visiting friends after months of lock-down, or heading to the beach house.

It also included a long-awaited trip to New York to binge-watch musical productions on Broadway.  My ability to do all of this is thanks to my husband, Robert.  He has focused his time helping with our teenage son Luke this year.  Robert has gone above and beyond to support me in all I’ve accomplished this year.

This year also included the first anniversary of the nonprofit I started during the pandemic.  The Forgotten Wishes Foundation is doing good work and impacting the lives of people with disabilities all over the country.  Our work brings awareness to the isolation, loneliness, and other issues the disability community faces.  But most importantly, we bring joy and a sense of belonging to the people we serve. 

I was recently a guest on the Brave Together Podcast hosted by Jessica Patay and the Coffee with Caregivers Podcast hosted by Jesse Ronne.  If you care for someone with a disability, I recommend these podcasts and following these ladies on social media.  You can listen to my episodes on any of your favorite podcast platforms.

Here are the links for Spotify:

We Are Brave Podcast episode Forget Me Not: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ndRuVmbgneUydcXK6qFxT?si=Qn0kGYewTXO28mc680Wwsw

Coffee with Caregivers episode Lisa Dempsey:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Rvi7CuNPTn3XOQhBkVkNF?si=atVy7Si9T7q6_c9IRn8NFw

Next year is around the corner, and more of my time will be dedicated to developing the Forgotten Wishes Foundation and expanding our reach.  I am putting it out into the universe here and now,  I’d love to be a guest on Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us Podcast to talk about the issues surrounding loneliness, isolation, and belonging for people with disabilities.  

My love for my family drives my world.  While I escape on trips to recharge, they are my heart.  The work I do for Forgotten Wishes Foundation came to be as a result of years of advocating for my two special needs children. 

It seems so long ago now, but it was just this past March that my son finished two years of Focused Intervention and ABA Therapy at Including Kids.  He is doing so well in his new school.  He still has his corn snake named Mars and a leopard gecko named Stranahans.

In April, I helped my Mom through a serious illness and emergency surgery.  Thankfully, she is thriving now, and it is a pleasure to see her enjoying life again.  I am so fortunate to have her live caddy-corner to our house.

Lindsey, my daughter with I/DD, was finally granted services after sixteen years of waiting for home and community services funding.  We have been praying for years for a group home to open in our neighborhood so we could have Lindsey close to us.  In November, our prayer was answered, and we moved Lindsey into a house five minutes away from our own. 

I’m so proud of our two oldest children Brianna and Eric.  My daughter Brianna and her husband Matt gave us another beautiful granddaughter, Charlotte, and I was able to stay with Brianna in the hospital after she was born.  Matt was able to go back and forth to be with their daughter Emma at home.  I’m one lucky Momsie (my grandmother name) to have them living close to us.

We all continue to be proud of Eric who is serving our country and is on active duty in the military.  I don’t think people understand how challenging this work is and the impact that the additional isolation COVID has caused for our servicemen and women in the military on active duty.  Please lift them up in prayer throughout the year, not just on patriotic holidays.

I think She has brought you all up to speed on what is what in Her life.  She is blessed.  She is thankful.  She is happy to be here with you all.  May each of you find peace, comfort, and joy in your life each day.