Tag Archives: Family

Day 2290: Family Time 2016

“Presence is more than just being there. When you take time out, be all there, with your family, friends & quiet time. It’s more than presence.” – Catherine Constantinides

It’s 3: 58 PM on day 2290 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, go shopping with family – finally bought Christmas presents for everyone (we do family gifts so each family within our family gets 1 gift from each of the other families), have lunch with family and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – yesterday Joshua, Jonathan and Jeremiah donated $25 and Stan Faryna donated $25 (thanks SO MUCH to to all of them) which brings the total raised to $9 311.04 only $3 138.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) (Note: My fundraising page has been revamped and because it takes time to move the info from the old platform to the new the total raised looks less than it actually is.

Today was a day spent with family shopping with family, eating with family, playing with family…. It was nice and I seldom thought about all the stuff I needed to get done it was nice from now onwards I’m just going to be wherever I am life’s more enjoyable that way.

Day 2282: Differently-abled by association?

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When one member of a family is differently-abled the whole family is differently-abled by association– that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 11: 02 AM on day 2282 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $9 261.04 only $3 238.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

A while ago I realized that when one member of a family is differently-abled the whole family is differently-abled by association because I’m in a wheelchair when my family is with me they’re limited in the places they can go and the things they can do my head knows it’s not my fault because I didn’t ask to have Cerebral Palsy but my heart often feels guilty about it because I know that they didn’t ask to have a family member with Cerebral Palsy either.

Day 2253: Memories

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Memories are weird that come flooding back unannounced – that’s what I keep realizing.

it’s 11: 12 AM on day 2253 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Psalm 23:6 and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $9 011.04 only $3 488.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

Today I was listening to this song titled “Angel” and suddenly all these memories of my paternal grandmother came rushing back I know she lived a full life I’m just sad she isn’t here (physically) to see all that I have done and have become and all that I will do and will become.

Day 2208: Family and the End of the School Term

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“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox

It’s 10 : 18 AM on day 2208 of my journey towards independence and I managed to have breakfast, pray, read 1 John 4:18-19, and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $7 675 only $4 825 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

Today is the end of the third school term here in South Africa and since my parents are both teachers and my brother’s still in high school end of term means that the house is going to be full and noisy but I wouldn’t have it any other way I love my family.

Day 2155: Happy 16th Birthday Baby Bro

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“There’s no buddy like a brother.” – Unknown

It’s 2 : 23 PM on day 2155 of my journey towards independence and I managed to have breakfast, go to the doctor and and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – Paul and Juliet Merrell of Big Planet Radio donated $50 (thanks SO MUCH Paul and Juliet) which brings the total raised to $7 175 only $5 325 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far 🙂 ) .

Today is my brother’s 16^th birthday and in honour of that I wrote down sixteen life lessons for him and everybody else (not that I know much about life). Take a look:

16 Life Lessons

1. Be kind
2. Be Honest
3. Be Yourself
4. Hold on to your character
6. Dream HUGE
7. NEVER GIVE UP
8. Love with all your heart
9. Make a difference wherever you can in every way that you can
10. Stay loyal
11. Be courageous
12. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
13. Listen more than you speak
14. When you make a mistake admit it, correct it and move on
15. RESPECT yourself and everyone else
16. Try new things and always look to learn

Happy 16th birthday to the best baby brother in the whole wide world – every day I strive to make the world better for you.

Day 2140: Remembering Ammachi (Grandmother)

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Love never dies – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 12 : 36 PM on day 2140 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Proverbs 3: 5-6, learn one new thing –After the Greek philosophers Pythagoras, in the 6th century BC, and Parmenides, in the 5th, recognized that the Earth is spherical, the spherical view spread rapidly in the Greek world. Around 330 BC, Aristotle maintained on the basis of physical theory and observational evidence that the Earth was spherical.- have breakfast, and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – yesterday David Boutin donated $25 (thanks David 🙂 ) which brings the total raised to $7 075 only $5 425 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far 🙂 ) .

Today marks the two year anniversary of my paternal grandmother’s death I miss her potato fry, our physiotherapy sessions and her funny life stories but most of all I miss sitting across from her and holding her hand. I miss you every day Ammachi but I know you’re alive every time I remember you and I do so often with fondness and a smile (especially when I eat fried-blackened sardines I think you were the only person who loved it as much as I did).

Day 1966: Happy Birthday Mommy

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“There is no one who takes care of us as lovingly as our mother does. She is our living God.” ― Mohtasham Usmani

It’s 12 : 58 PM on day 1966 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Colossians 3, learn one new thing –Dry thunderstorm refers to thunder and lightning that occur without bringing rain to the ground. In fact, the thunder-bearing clouds do produce rain but the rain droplets have evaporated in the air before reaching the ground. – have breakfast and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – yesterday Athira chechi and chachen donated $50 and today Liesel donated $16 ( thank you SO MUCH to chechi and chachen and Liesel your support means A LOT ) which brings my total raised to $1 682 only $4 568 more to raise by 10 Jan 2017 (SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) .

Today is my mother’s birthday she and I have our moments like any other mother and child but for the most part I feel like my siblings and I won the mom lottery she has more faith and strength in her one pinkie than most people will ever have. Happy birthday mommy. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for us. Your legacy is the three of us and the countless lives you have impacted in your career as a teacher. I strive every day to be a good reflection of you and dad and to live out the values that you have tried to instil in us.

Day 1937: Love, Family and a Wedding

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When all is said and done love is all that remains – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 9: 06 AM on day 1937 of my journey towards independence prayed, read 2 Corinthians 3 listened to music and learned one new thing -Left-handedness is less common than right-handedness. Left-handed people are more skillful with their left hands when performing tasks. Studies suggest that approximately 10% of the world population is left-handed. Mixed-handedness is the change of hand preference between tasks.

Yesterday my cousin got married the ceremony and reception were beautiful everybody we knew showed up I guess it’s a testament to well my cousin and her husband have lived the whole day was filled with so much love. Welcome to the family chachen you’re officially one of us we have your back now and forevermore.

Day 1936: A Wedding

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“Weddings are important because they celebrate life and possibility.” – Anne Hathaway

It’s 10: 30 AM on day 1936 of my journey towards independence and we’re at the wedding.

Today is a very special day in my family my dearest cousin and her fiancé are getting married we are all so happy for the two of them. Congratulations chechi and chachen wishing the two of you a lifetime of happiness.

Day 1929: Time flies

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Time flies – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 3: 33 PM on day 1833 of my journey towards independence and day 25 of our India trip 2015 prayed thing read 1 Corinthians 14, had breakfast, went shopping at Big Bazaar and hung out with the godparents

Two days from now we’ll be heading back to South Africa time flies when you’re with the ones you love.