Category: advocacy

Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Is it appropriate to call someone with a disability an inspiration?

Simply calling someone an inspiration may seem like a compliment, but it is important for people to understand that if you see someone who is simply using equipment to maneuver in their daily lives, you should not call them an inspiration simply because they exist.

If you want to genuinely call someone an inspiration, be willing to start a conversation and ask them what they do and if it truly inspires you then your next step in the relationship would be becoming an ally by supporting their work. People who live in the disability community are not people who need to be pitied or told sorry for what happened to you we are people just like anyone else who need people to support our work by sharing what we do and really seen us as people.

Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Check out my friend Emily on her youtube channel

My best friend and boundless babe accountability partner, Emily, has an excellent Youtube Channel. She shares parts of her life with her audience daily. She and I have the same diagnosis, spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

The beauty of following content creators with things in common is that you get to hear a different perspective.

Encouragement Notes

Emily’s Life on wheels

advocacy, Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Happy International Cerebral Palsy Day

Happy #GreenGirlDay, everyone. This theatre nerd is determined to make that phrase a thing because I love the musical Wicked, and cerebral palsy is represented by green 💚I asked all of you in my audience to send me your questions regarding CP or just life in general, and I got six amazing questions! You can keep sending me your questions, because I love doing Q and A episodes. Here are the six questions I was asked.

1. What is the biggest misconception about Cerebral Palsy?

This question can be answered in two ways. One, people may often think that CP looks the same in everyone who is diagnosed with it, when in fact, there are four main types of CP and how it affects a person depends on what part of the brain is injured.

In regards to social misconceptions. A person should never assume that a person with CP or any other disability is incapable of speaking up for themselves. If you are in a conversation with a person who uses a piece of equipment and a person who does not use any equipment, be sure to talk to both people. We can speak for ourselves, and we do not always need someone to speak for us.

2. Were you born prematurely?

Yes, I was born eleven weeks early. I was born in Glendale, California, but immediately rushed to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, where I spent my first three months of life and had my first major operation.

3. How are you doing?

I am doing great! My life group semester started a few weeks ago, and I am attending two groups this semester—one on Tuesday night and one on Wednesday night. I love having the freedom that access service provides. It allows me to be independent.

4. Do you have a plan for the future?

Yes and no, it’s like seeing steps without seeing the staircase. I am working on building my independence by using my walker basket, and I am grateful that I know how to get myself dressed. I would suggest to anyone looking to increase or start to develop physical independence to look into going to physical therapy for the purpose of it being life skills therapy. Therapy is one of the most frustrating, physically and mentally draining experiences I have ever been through, but I am grateful that I spent a year learning to dress myself.

5. What do you wish people understood most about you?

I want people to understand that I will not be able to do everything 100% correctly every day. I have good days, and I have “off” days.

6. What is my biggest struggle?

Getting dressed can be a big one. The time that it takes me to get dressed can depend on how I am feeling and what I choose to wear.

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Unfinished: Stevens’s sermon

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 6:8‭-‬15 NIV

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:54‭-‬60 NIV

What we learn from Steven’s Story

1. Don’t be surprised if doing the right thing seems to produce the wrong result

Memory verse

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways

Isaiah 55:8 – 9

2. God is working even when we can’t see it.

3. If we are going to do the work of God, we need to have the heart of God. We need to love people especially those who can be considered our enemies

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advocacy, Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Getting Ready for an upcoming podcast episode

October 6th is international cerebral palsy day. I would like to do a podcast episode that is a Q&A episode with questions from you all about life with CP. Your questions can be about anything since I live with CP, they do not necessarily need to be medical questions they can be anything about my daily life. Please go ahead and leave your questions in the comment box below or if you are seeing this on my Facebook page you can leave your questions in the comments on Facebook. Thank you so much for being part of this community I love and appreciate you

Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Unfinished: Keeping First things First

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. Acts of the Apostles 6:1‭-‬7 NLT

What’s the problem here?

1. The potential for division

2. The temptation to distraction

Key principle

Those the devil cannot destroy or deceive; he will seek to distract.

For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Luke 22:27 NIV

Three Aids for choosing the Best

1. The witness of the word

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
Exodus 18:13‭-‬18‭, ‬20‭-‬23 NIV

Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” ’ ” But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again. However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my Lord, stop them!” But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.
Numbers 11:10‭-‬30 NIV

2. The assignment I’ve been given

Key Principle

Everyone is called, but we are not all given the same assignment.

3. The leading of the sprit

Big idea

The kingdom of God advances not as we believe in Jesus, but as we embrace the assignment to serve like Jesus.

Memory verse

For by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not the results of your own works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Exodus 2:8 -10

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Dance, Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy, inspiration

Join BBS

My Life changed for the better when I joined Boundless Babe Society, AKA BBS. I attended my first Rollette’s Experience in July of 2021. It was the first time I had attended an event where there were women who looked me.

.It was not until 2020 that I began my journey of self-acceptance and that I started looking at myself and seeing the beauty that God made. The weekend I attended Rollette’s Experience, I discovered that I wasn’t alone. I had been living like I was the only one to experience the things that I do on a daily basis. The weekend helped me to connect with other women who share the same or similar experiences to me. I would encourage any woman who has a disability and uses a wheelchair to join boundless babe Society, because when you have a community you no longer feel alone.

When you are a member of BBS you are given tons of support. The first thing I will tell you about this program is that you get what you put into the program. There are many more things that I will tell you in this blog post. We are a group of women who Focus on supporting and lifting each other up. As part of this program, we have group meetings via Zoom once a month. In addition to these meetings, you also have the opportunity to have a one-on-one 20 minute Zoom call with your mentor. When you have your phone call with your mentor, she asks you what your goals are for the month and how she can be encouraging and supporting you in achieving your goals. In addition to having a mentor you are also offered the opportunity to have an accountability partner. I cannot recommend strongly enough how valuable having an accountability partner is. You are able to build a friendship and talk to your accountability partner as much as you want! I personally have built a schedule with my accountability partner to check in with her once a week for our big check-in but I have to be honest we talk every day. 😊 she’s like my sister. As parts of our check-ins we ask each other what our goals are, how our meetings went with our mentors then we just shoot the breeze and talk about what’s going on in life. Having an accountability partner is one of the most important things you can do as part of this program because it helps you to know that you are not alone on a daily basis.

Last but not least, when you are part of this program you get put into a group me chat and this allows you to stay connected with everyone in the program. I would highly recommend ladies that you contact the Rollette’s and see if being part of BBS is the right thing for you. My personal opinion is that you should join if you are a woman in the disability community who feels like she needs community. Sisterhood is everything!

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For more information please contact:

bbs@rollettesdance.com

0r send a direct message on Instagram

Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Unfinished: Who are you going to listen to?

“Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭5:27-42‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When faced with decisions of who to listen to remember this:

1. God is in control of who is in control

“During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2:20-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:1, 3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

2.We are citizens of two kingdoms

always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Colossians 1:12‭-‬14 NLT

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
Philippians 3:20 NLT

3. We are here to be ambassadors for Christ

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:17 NLT

We obey Jesus when we..

1. Pray for authority

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.
1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬4‭, ‬14 NLT

2. Obey those in authority

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
Romans 13:1‭-‬2 NLT

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:11‭-‬18 NLT

3. Respect those in authority

“Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’ “Belteshazzar replied, ‘I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my Lord, and not to you!
Daniel 4:19 NLT

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
2 Timothy 2:24‭-‬26 NLT

Memory Verse

Everyone must submit to governing Authority. For all authorities come from God. Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God

Romans 13:1

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Unfinished: The first Hypocrites

“But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭5:1-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Helpful Lessons from a Terrible Mistake

1. When the Enemy attacks he goes for the heart

“It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?”
‭‭James‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

2. God is Holy

“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6:2-3, 5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

3. God Calls us to be a Holy community

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Memory Verse

But just as he who called you is Holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written be holy because I am Holy

1 Peter 1:15-16

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Excited about tomorrow

Tomorrow I take the first step in the process of getting a new wheelchair.  Step one is going to my doctor and getting a Prescription that says I need a wheelchair.

The last time I was fitted for a chair was in 2003, when I struggled to push myself around my college campus.  Selfies weren’t a big deal back then, so I don’t have many pictures because it was mostly for school and my internship that I needed it for.

The picture that I am posting is of me with some of the people from #soyouthinkyoucandance
The picture was taken on  #NationalDanceDay.
Shortly after this picture is when I got my ” I want to be normal” attitude and started denying that I needed a chair. Now that I am in a new stage of life and have met so many awesome women in this awesome Sisterhood community, I know now that I am too old for this to be just a phase then I’m going through. I know that my new attitude about life must be something that sticks, and I thank God every day for changing my mind about who he created me to be