Litter Picker

As I scurried to the car to have my virtual therapy session I passed what looked like litter in the parking lot. Unlike other pieces of litter, it sat there not blowing away but gently dancing in the wind. Cars unconsciously rode over the litter carefully not disrupting its winding rhythm. Here I am in …

New Narrative

My lived experience and how I responded to circumstances creates my truth. The lessons, the triumph, setback and goals all connect to make a robust experience lived as life. It travels with me, shows up in my habits, revealed in choices and sometimes leads me to unwanted directions in my journey. For better or worse, …

Everything Aligns

Life has been moving full speed ahead. I took a leap of faith and opened a bookstore! You’d think I would share that sooner, but honestly it's been a lot of soaking in the experience and trying my best to stay afloat. I did it scared, I did it with little funds and a lot …

Open To New Endings

Recently I had to do an evaluation for Sophia’s equipment. She’s grown a lot in the past year and her wheelchair especially is getting tight. For most of her short distance walking we hold hands and when going on longer walks, like around the park, we use her walker.  Especially for transportation in the morning …

Finding Joy: Part 2

Working on the growth and understanding of myself can be an elusive path. I try to reflect and document as much as I can. This has allowed me to be reflective, see my growth, acknowledge where I have shortcomings. I have been growing my joy in big ways but working on ways to grow my …

Overload

It’s easy to distinguish people as capable and incapable based on how they handle situations. Being a person who is considered capable of overcome challenging situations has some perks, but for this virtue a grave shadow lingers.  Just because someone is considered capable, does this meant they are required to carry more? For me it …

Connect and Conquer the Day

There’s an exciting change that happens when your child becomes a teen. Teenagers are more expressive, wanting more autonomy and freedom and yearning for their voice to be heard. What does that look like for the non-verbal child who has limited mobility? I’m learning it’s very different and I am adjusting. Like most of my …

Running Again

As my feet hit the pavement, I pushed forward reminding myself I need to keep moving. Dozens of runners with me gazing ahead, the rush of adrenaline as we start this journey forward. Groups wearing identical shirts whizzed by, some with small children in tow. I ran solo today. My personal mission being just to …

12th Birthday Reflection

It’s 12 years later at 9:13 and 9:15 exact my daughters came into the world. At 24 weeks and 2 days gestation they came out crying like full term babies. Nothing could have prepared me for this journey. Yet, I surrendered to love and allowed God to guide my motherhood journey. After a rough first …

The Gift of Moving Forward

As the year 2021 unfolds so does experiences that lead me to stretch beyond what I knew I was capable of. The beauty in this moment is I am more ready than I thought I was. I guess the perk of always being ready for change in life has finally created an ease when change …

The Gift of Hearing “NO”

Watercolor Illustration by Ellen Cappard copyright 2021. I recently sat down and developed an illustrative portfolio. It was an accomplishment for me as I'm transitioning to work independently. Having this time during the COVID crisis and navigating the best way to support my child and myself can be tricky. I know for sure it’s the …

Fall Declutter

Its November and fall is in full swing. You see all the signs of this season around; the fallen leaves, bare trees, chilled air, and pumpkin everything. Seeing nature clear the leaves daily inspired me to look at my own life. I carry so much from day to day, season to season, with little regard …