Joy In The Midst of Struggles

It's a special day because it is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness day! As I was driving home (to my new apartment..eek!) I started getting emotional thinking about how much I have accomplished as a person with CP. You know when I was younger I had no idea how my life would turn out. I didn't know any adults with CP or quite frankly I didn't know anyone else (young or old) who even had a similar case of CP. CP is a disability that does not have that much awareness which is why I created this blog so people can understand it more. I mean how many times do you go to the store or go to eat and see someone with a CP. It is so very rare. Therefore, I hope this day makes you "normal" people more aware and I hope it makes those with CP know that they are not alone! However, I did want to touch on what the Lord has enabled me to do. In fact as I am writing this blog the song came on saying "Our God is able". Oh man is that true. Here I am a 25 year old adult...

Exciting news! I moved out to my very own apartment! Yes you heard that right I am living on my very own all by myself. I knew I wanted to move out this year but was planning to do it over summer when  I am on summer break (teacher perks) but you know sometimes God has a different plan. About a month ago my mom and I were on our way to a shopping mall and I have always admired these apartments that are on the way. All of a sudden my mom goes do you want to stop and go look at them. I said sure why not and we took a tour. Well my mom and I got into the car after and looked at each other and I just said it's the one. I really like it. The next day I went back and looked for the exact apartment I wanted and applied for the apartment. About 3 days later I got notified the apartment was mine! Like what?? This was extremely unexpected. Was I ready for this? I think sometimes we get scared to take a leap of faith. We hesitate, we doubt, we retract back to our comfort zone and go throu...

Since it is CP awareness month I am going to try to be more intentional on opening your eyes to my world. Recently I got a question from someone that asked me so what do you usually need help with? Like do you do your own hair? Do you cook? So here we go... The Lord has truly blessed me to the fact that I am such an independent person living with CP. When this person asked me if I do my own hair it struck a soft spot because I remember being younger and wondering if I would be able to do my hair on my own. I absolutely can. I curl it, straighten it, do messy buns all of it. I do my makeup and everything. So you may be thinking okay okay what do you struggle with.. Buttons..especially those tiny ones. Oh boy they are a challenge but you know what is awesome they have this item called a button hook that I have used since I was five years old. It literally is the best adaptive tool and allows me to button any size button. Cutting.. Oh you want me to hold a fork and a knife to eat?...

You know this month is CP awareness month so I thought it would be fitting to write about what I feel everyday..So here we go When you wake up and get out of bed and think man my leg muscles are tight. When you walk into a store and you get the looks. The looks of curiosity, looks of wow that girl sure walks different, looks that make you feel like you just don't fit in. When you go to pay and you are struggling getting that money or credit card out and you start to blush because you know that cashier or the person behind you is thinking "that poor girl". When you are asked to repeat yourself 2-3 times because that person can't understand you and you just want to say never mind. When you have to buy new shoes more often than normal because you ruined the toe part of your shoe or you have a hole on the bottom due to walking toe-heel instead of heel-toe. When you have to use adaptive tools like a button hook. When you can't open a water bottle or you spill your dr...