We are blessed to have a way to share our extraordinary lives that prove why for us, Walking Is, Way Overrated. You'll see... Stories, Life lessons, Problem Solving, Aging with a disability, all intended to encourage and help out anyone who may be new to using wheels for legs, aging, have a loved one facing challenges or you may just be interested in reading something unique. You may even smile! All glory goes to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Vlog - I was up at 430am, after a short campout night in our living room. Why are we "camping out" in our living room? See what I saw as I vlog The Morning After Sleeping In My Wheelchair. I am up and free to go outside at 430 in the morning. Well by the time the sun can be seen, it's closer to 530am, I think.
For anyone new, I have been sleeping in my power tilt wheelchair a night or two a week, initially because I have been in need of hiring a new personal care attendant. With only one PCA during this life altering Covid pandemic, hiring had been put on hold and now difficult because our Government is giving away emergency money to folks. Which is beneficial to those who lost work due to the pandemic. However, the PCA work with myself, is considered Essential work. Without my one PCA, I wouldn't be able to physically survive. PCA's assist with critical tasks of life like getting into and out of bed. That's just the beginning. I have been hiring and managing my own care for over twenty years... That's the long and the short of it.
So, in spite of having one Attendant until we can hire, still I wanted her to have a night/morning off. Once I discovered the back foam/shape of my power wheelchair was comfortable enough, I decided I could do it. Of course without God's Amazing Grace and my wonderful husband, I couldn't!
Yes, stay bent too long in our wheelchair isn't good for the body. But one night a week, is worth the perks camping out in our living room. (my husband transfers to our futon to sleep.) The bonuses, I get to stay up as late as I want and as you'll see below, have even more adventures...
Watch The morning after my most recent Campout Below:
Hello World! Hope everyone is staying safe and taking protection seriously no matter how melancholy self quarantining can be. (For me, this is life as usual because I am an artist who loves working at home- but I have emphathized with the world, when we don't have a choice anymore. That's when I feel the
sadness and temptation to slip into self pity and the fear of getting the virus)
Something that is new to us also, spurred on because of this worldwide covid shift, yet,would have happened any way, to serve another purpose. When needed and even by choice, I can actually enjoy sleeping in my power tilt wheelchair.
We have vlog/videos that we will be sharing over time. Today, I wanted to share the cool opportnity to go outside at 430am to start watching the sunrise. Due to being in bed, requiring a Personal Care Attendant, and needing to schedule key parts of my life, I do't get to do these kinds of things on a whim. Something that is just part of my life. But being pressed into trying our campout idea, I have discovered great freedom. Even if just once a week, it's so awesome to have that freedom. Yes bed is more comfy, but the trade off is worth it! We even got to go for a star gazing (too much light pollution) walk at 1am! I love it!
To see part one of my early morning sunrise watching adventure there's the v. But first....
Social Distancing Isn't New To Mary and Peter.....
It has definitely been a challenging time over these past months. Unprecedented times. We can all relate to each other to a big degree. The entire world faces self isolation to help stop the spread of Covid-19. . Some countries won't let you leave your home at all. Then there is our realm, we are not to have gatherings of more than five, six feet a part. Ever watch the movie "Five Feet Apart"? Interesting all this happens world wide and this pretty good movie, about how persons living with Cystic Fibrosis can't be physically closer than five feet away from each other. Social distancing for patients with CF, is something they were very familiar with. I don't pretend to know everything but I do know, thanks to a favourite YT Channel called "Frey Life." I highly recommend meeting this amazing couple, Peter and Mary Frey. They share their very real life. As a young married couple living in America. Mary bravely lives life to the fullest with cystic fibrosis and her beloved husband Peter serves God as a Pastor, supportive husband. These guys know how to enjoy life no matter what obstacles arise. Take a look at Mary's art work, they also have a website. When you have cystic fibrosis, you are more susceptible to catching illnesses/infections from fellow cf patients. My disability is also something you are born with, as is cystic fibrosis. But, I can catch illnesses from anyone equally.
Why CF patients are unable to be physically close to each other is beyond my understanding
If you want to be encouraged and learn about real marriage and life with CF,
Take five minutes if you want a chuckle or two and if you want to know our thoughts on the MPOW S11 click to link, Bluetooth ear buds. My husband is new to ear bud world and come to think of it, I don't remember in eighteenths years of marriage, us ever really using good ear phones. Take a watch! Watch Below
We decided to share how we handle tough times like what the entire world has been going. Self isolation, unable to see family and friends. For those with fragile health, fear of getting ill tries weighing us down. We will be intermittently sharing special Bible Verses to hopefully inspire and encore fellow believers and those who are desperate to know, why are we on this planet. We can have peace in our heart no matter what things may look like. This passage is primarily directed toward fellow believers. We are to encourage each other always. So here is a short video. Be Encouraged..
We just posted a video yesterday about the challenges we experience, especially during these difficult times. But as fluid as life is lately, by the end of the day, yesterday, I started considering some ideas floating out there on YouTube channels we watch. So we still take
the virus seriously, believe it exists, but we are remembering what we learned years ago, to ask questions - especially when what we are presented with just isn't making sense. Even if we have questions and doubts, we support following orders our government gives (unless it goes against God's laws of course.) Assuming that we are being told the truth, we still like to research. No matter what we hear, we will never consider the strangest theory of all, that the earth is flat. L. A. Marzulli says, go to the edge of the earth, take a photo of it and then I will believe you.
As for this new Corona strain of virus, yes, there are plenty of persons out there in conspiracy world believing this is not as serious as the influenza virus that kills a lot of people every single year. (Worth researching those statistics)
The two big conspiracies so far, is that this is the 5G network causing illness, but they don't want to tell us. Aparently 5G hasn't even been started up yet. (There are a tonne of fears about 5G- worth investigating)
And the other theory is based around the possibility that this is a way for the new World Order to set up or "happen." Pointing to how the world looks right now. Removing most citizens from daily civilian life, off the streets- all over the world - basically all at the same time! We watch some of these channels for enjoyment and interest, but definitely are not saying believe all their theories. There are legitimate questions however.
Is all this a distraction while something else is happening? (notice we don't hear a word about anything else on the mainstream news.) The whole world has been ordered to Social Distance (just like they were told in the movie Contagion), to stay 6 feet apart from each other. Schools are shut down, non-essential workers laid off or put on hold, church gatherings, concerts, conferences, huge athletic activities the NBA and NHL, all put on hold or cancelled. The World Economy facing dark times, all Resulting in what appears to be no more protests, and even terrorism (I am about to look that one up.)
Silence basically, no more protesting or people out there stirring things up and such. We learned a long while ago, to not believe every single word spoken in the mainstream media and believe in questioning a lot of what we are told. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck! What started to wake me up, was the first time I saw the movie called JFK, with Kevin Costner. About the assassination of John F Kennedy. It was based on the true account of Judge Jim Garrison, who tried to prove that Harvey Lee Oswald was not the lone shooter. The injuries did not compute with the laws of physics. What happened to me was what they call being "Red Pilled." If you ever watched the Matrix, the main character Neo, is given the option to either take the Red Pill (if he does, he will not be able to go back to his old life and will know the cold hard truth about what's really going on.) Or he could take the blue pill, that meant of course, he would not be awaken to reality and continue living as he was, in the "dark."
Then 9/11 happened. At first I questioned nothing, believing all they said on the news. But as time went by, documentaries (a good one is called LOOSE CHANGE). And instantly,
none of it made sense. It wasn't something you can talk about too much because those I know and love, except my husband, look at us like we are not playing with a full deck. But that doesn't matter because when you begin asking questions about the obvious things that just plum, don't make sense, you can not keep believing what you were told. Same with the JFK assassination. Try it, think about the laws of physics and how they do not appear to apply in these events. Two huge, steel reinforced towers would never be ble to drop straight down in ten/eleven seconds flat. Reduced basically to a heap of dust. That's only the first part of a multi-layered onion. So many inconsistencies and illogicality.
What To Do About Covid-19 Then?
Do what the governments are telling you. And kudos to those who stopped travelling from the first day word got out. And to those self isolating two months ago, suspecting something was coming, way to go. Sadly some of our governments took longer than they should have to make big decisions about lock downs. But we refuse to live in "What if land." We believe there is a real virus, but it may not be as bad as the regular influenza outbreaks. However, we can ask and research, but until we see concrete information stating otherwise, Err on the side of caution. We definitely trust that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. Read Matthew 24, Luke 21, And Mark 13 and Revelation 6. And well, of course those whole Bible is God's inerrant Word. Because of Him, we have peace no matter what happens. Psalm 23.
Trust in Jesus. He really is the Only Way, The Truth and the Life. We know this based on trying life a part from Him and then spending thirty plus years with Him. A relation not a religion is what He offers. We wouldn't be here without Him. Thankfully, God our Father knows all things. We trust in Thee One Who knows what is conspiracy fact and fiction. Thankfully, He can handle our questions.
Be safe and remember don't touch your face but don't be afraid!
Hello world! This is the first time in our life that the entire world is in sync. All because of a new virus that is from the Corona virus strain. It is called Covid-19. Apparently it is always changing, I believe the term used these days is, "fluid." Based on our initial research and the concerns we have as person who are a part of the vulnerable population, trying to trust the media we made a video from that perspective right here.
As an artist, all the virus images did inspire an incomplete painting to the left. Abstracted microbes are unique and interesting, but not to be taken lightly.
As most of us can say, we have never experienced a world wide event like we are now. It really does feel like it's the end of the world as we know it. The question is, Do we feel fine? (check out that song if you aren't sure why I am referencing that song. It's catchy.)
As an artist, all the virus images did inspire an incomplete painting to the left. Abstracted microbes are unique and interesting, but not to be taken lightly.
The 24/7 talk about Quarantines, Cancellation Of Everything, Pandemic, Social Distancing, staying six feet apart, disinfecting everything and hoarding toilet paper and such has definitely increased my heart rate a lot lately. It feels like I am a warrior with my sword and shield fighting against anxiety, not Covid-19, but anxiety!
Thankfully my dear husband says he has zero anxiety. He says he doesn't think it's real, the virus that is, not the anxiety. It's my fault for watching too many conspiracy theory YouTube channels. But I think he means the intensity presented in Mainstream Media, when compared to world history. And I guess when I consider what his great grandma experienced in 1918, this, so far is a huge contrast to what happened then. She was an aboriginal woman, known for helping to heal victims hit by the deadly Spanish flu pandemic with Sturgeon oil, and roots.
If you haven't heard about that pandemic, here's a decent eye opening documentary we watched about it.
The final death toll for that horrific event ranges from 50 to 100 million worldwide. Thankfully, we know far more now about how not to spread diseases. And we don't believe we will see anything like Granny Cavanagh did.
Which is why I set out to write this article. Wiping surfaces you never may have thought of before... Watch How To Keep Surfaces Clean By What To Clean.
We spray 70% rubbing alcohol or higher if we don't have wipes and such.
The Vulnerable Population
We may not be living in 1918 thankfully, but it doesn't mean we are all guaranteed we won't get this illness. In fact my husband and myself, along with plenty of our friends who also have underlying health conditions are apparently those who run a higher mortality risk with Covid-19. Craig is almost 68 and has a physical disability as well. As for me, I'm middle Aged and was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 3, Severe scoliosis is also my achilles heal. Awe heck, decades ago the Doctors told me, it wouldn't be my muscle wasting disease that would do me in, but pneumonia. So it's not a surprise to keep hearing this kind of talk. But I do feel concerned fo my aging parents, mom survived non Hodgkins lymphoma over ten years ago, dad is a heart patient..and then there are all our loved ones with special needs in our lives and our virtual family on YouTube. Shane Burcaw who lives with SMA 3 and Mary Frey who lives with Cystic Fibrosis and my hero Joni Eareckson Tada vulnerable 70 year old quadriplegic.
All of you guys are on our hearts as we all hunker down trying staying virus free. We encourage all of us to stay self quarantined and I wanted to share some practical videos about how to stay virus free. Every see a movie called Five Feet Apart. It's about Cystic Fibrosis patients and how they can't be less than 5 feet apart. They are highly susceptible to catching illnesses from fellow CF patients.
So all this pandemic talk may have huge effects on our elderly folks (we do feel for those who are alone, with no visitors. But my husband who is a volunteer, says this has been an issue forever, not just now!)
We pray for our dear elderly population, and us and our fellow vulnerable peers, but we take heart refusing to believe that we won't be able to avoid it. We trust God for His protection, we are living as self quarantined as possible, disinfecting everything we can,
And besides, personally we have more immediate issues to figure out, as I am short one personal care attendant, so Have been preparing to try sleeping in my power tilt wheelchair. While my husband chooses to sleep next to me on the futon. We get to stay up as late as we want and can rise whenever we want. I will be sharing more on this adventure as it unfolds. Hopefully someone who is suitable will apply very soon. Always an adventure. And as were are about to read, God is in charge...
As Christians, we do trust that God is in control and even though I am battling anxiety temptation, I am constantly reminded to cast all my cares on HIM for HE cares for us. And another favourite Bible passage is:
[Mat 6:25-34 NLT] 25 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as
beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
It's been a while since posting anything here. Doesn't mean life hasn't been happening, it's full speed ahead. We hope everyone is doing well and for those in our climate, we hope you join with us in being thankful for the mildest weather that we can ever remember.
Snow and cold are not "friends" to our wheelchair tires! So it was great to not be restricted with minus twenty and thirty celsius temps. Our van lift hydraulics don't like to budge in frigid weather either. Who can blame it. Not that I ever leave the house, but my husband does all the super market shopping and all other adventures beyond our driveway. For some reason, staying indoor creating when I can, is what I do. Fatigue has been regular visitor these days, so when I am up for brain engagement, I tend to focus on my other blogs all about creativity and then my shop blog, hoping to sell my work to help recover my art supply addiction!
Yes, most creative types have an art supply addiction. Even if you don't touch them, you just see something really cool and then feel the sudden urge to "GET THAT!" Does that sound like you or anyone you know? Then there is the problem with being sure I don't hide the supplies away. Out of sight, out of mind. It really helps to inspire me, to be able to see what materials I have to spur my never quiet right brain.
Craig, has been faithfully working on his railroad painting. Squeezing that in, between shopping, volunteering, helping me out and everything else. But, he still isn't done. As soon as he is, you will see.
Recently I contacted one of my favourite ministries and I was blessed with a personal response from a lovely sister in Christ, who just also happens to have SMA type 3, like me! Struggling with disgouragement about trying to find and hire a new Care Attendant. As always, God provides the right person at the right time, His perfect time. But being a
human, I get tempted to worry and all that fun stuff. Happy to receive her response and to meet a person living who could relate to my life, is a rare thing. I love How God allows these encounters just when we need them. So I thought I would share her story from the JAF website for anyone else who may be interested.
Meet Kathey, Click here.
And if you are in need of support encouragement and such check out Joni And Friends. Joni, as you know if you have read this blog, is one of the most inspiring people I have ever read about, watched in her own bio movie, documentaries and conferences. It must be so exciting to get to live in sunny California, no snow battles and to be able to be
a beacon of Sure Hope in God's ministry to persons living with disabilities. Be encouraged.
A verse on her story page was just what I needed reminding of. Right at this moment! So awesome, how God does that! [Pro 16:9 NLT]9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
Lord willing, my goal is to begin writing more on this blog like I originally intended to. Be it stories about life, videos about our adventures, experiences and such, I hope to be back soon. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi everyone! Hope all is well. We have been flying through summer keeping busy. Between creating,
with Craig working on his painting about his old job on the railroad in Canada. Finally getting our wheelchair lift repaired so I could get out too! Thankfully, it was something fixable.
We were feeling sad though, that the technicians and employees we trusted over the last 25 years or so have been leaving to start new adventures. Thankful that the only one we trusted with our under van lift, is still at the shop we frequent for all of our wheelchair/ mobility devices and repairs. As well as a couple favourite sales persons.
I know we have so many adventures and possibly helpful topics that we meant to share here at WWO, but haven't. Our hope is to vlog more - keeping this site like an online journal. We plan on sharing an update on the bed in a box we purchased last year, talk about our Hell Fresh experience, Talk about loss and relationships, aging with a disability, osteoarthritis, thought on the new SMA treatment, along with anything else that may seem useful, helpful or smile worthy.
Along with the good in life always comes the not so good. Craig recently lost his older sister suddenly, not something you are ever ready for. And speaking of loss, Craig's loss of another filling in his molar - now means he is in need of a surgical extraction!
For Now here is the first in what we hope will be Craig sharing his pretty wild and crazy life stories. A lot can happen in 67 years!
Watch Worlds Collide As Craig Tells "The Switchman" Story!
This posting was just shared on our Sure Hope Gazette blog. Since these videos and this dear godly woman, my earthly hero, speaks from experience and pertains to our lives, it makes sense to share her message on this blog as well. We can only face each day because of our Saviour, our heart is that anyone who want to know about the Sure Hope we can all have, will get a lot out Joni's words.
And please don't think this message is only beneficial for persons living with physical disabilities. Not at all, this message is great for all of us. You may think, oh that's Joni, the lady who broke her neck in 1967 when she was 17. She's the lady who inspires people living with disabilities. That's great for them, but, I don't need to listen - it's not for me because I don't have a disability.
Well, we would ask you if you do think like that, please think again. Joni's message is always a powerful one to all people. Whatever you may struggle with or however you may feel, god blesses this amazing woman with a heart that shares the love of Christ. She encourages me, and millions of others. And we want to share more messages from her as we receive them to help inspire and motivate, spur on anyone who's heart longs for meaning, Sure Hope and New Life. Including seeing that quality of life is not about whether or not your body works, you are healthy or rich, successful as the world sees successful, come and hear what real Sure Hope is all about, from a woman who knows what of what she speaks.
The cool thing as often happens in my life, is how God has an amazing way of encouraging us just at the right moment, right when we need it. He knows what we need, when we need it. Today, He knew I needed to hear from my earthly hero who speaks about my Heavenly Hero, Jesus Christ. How our weaknesses really are our strengths because of Him. close to Him. He cares about all aspects of our lives. Owning Your Weakness - Joni Eareckson Tada
Forgiving Like You've Been Forgiven - Joni Eareckson Tada
The following post was place on my Heartfully Creating Blog with the accompanying video. I decided it was a good idea to share it here because he shares why he started painting later in life. Since that is a life topic, made sense to share it here too!
Chronic Pain Sufferers may find some ideas from what he says.
Here we go...Well Craig is whizzing along faster than I can keep up. Obviously time lapsing his work, would mean hours and hours of footage. So I am doing short interviews and photographing the developing stages!
Welcome to Part 3 From our new "Craig Paints," series. Craig, my husband, shows us that anyone can learn how to create a great painting without any tutorials, formal training or even following the rules LOL.
In todays episode, Craig not only share life in Peggy's Cove (Craig's version), he also share what prompted him to paint. Originally he used watercolour. When he married me, he started dabbling with my leftover acrylic paints. I taught him the tips and tricks to using this fast drying/non-re-usable once dried medium and the rest is history!
He shares a very personal reason why he paints that may encourage others who are in a similar situation as he is.
Watch Craig Paints Part 3 - Peeks To Progress, Perks To Painting With Chronic Pain
Today hear a couple great reasons why Craig paints as well as another great read story!
Hopefully, you'll be inspired to give painting with acrylics or whatever a try. And if you already create, we'd love to hear from you.
Any questions or input would be great. Craig loves feedback about his work!
Watch my earthly hero share her encouraging words on why living with dignity means living out life right until the end of our time here on earth. Th seek assisted suicide (murder) is not to die with dignity. Focus on helping and encouraging all of us aging with disabilities and others living in chronic pain, suffering from progressive illnesses and such. Let's all show them what it means to live with dignity so we can die with dignity! God is the Author of life!
Since all of my blogs are able to collide and work together, I am sharing the link to a new post that I just recently shared about where physical health and being an artist impact each other. Take a peek click the header below....
Craig using this sweet teaching tool created by one of our brightest, and best nursing students ever- my mini hoyer lift canvas/sling with little Nicole
Back when I use to paint!
So excited the day I received a gift from my favourite polymer clay artist Christi Friesen
