Giddy Explosion Alert!!

Warning: this post may be a giddy explosion of excitement so expect little
organization and lots of exclamation points!

I just have to tell everyone that I am so unbelievably excited for college! I
spent the last few days at an Admitted Student Preview at SPU and had an
absolute blast!!! It was an overnight event so my bestest friend, Retha and I
spent the night in a dorm with the coolest people ever!! Every single person had
such passion for their school and area of study. They truly cared for our
success at college wherever that may be (which for me has already been
chosen:D).

I had the opportunity to meet with the most amazing admissions
counselor who I’m sure will be a fantastic resource for me as things progress. I
also got to eat in the cafeteria which I must say had the most delicious food
ever! This is very important for me because food is something that brings me
great happiness!!! We also had the chance to visit a few classes and I was blown
away by what I experienced.

The professors balanced so well between lecturing and engaging the class.
They are true experts on what they teach and their passion really shows.
It’s very comforting going into college knowing the
teachers have extensive experience in their subject and really care about their
students success and well being. Some students said that the profs made time to
meet them for coffee to help them understand and work through difficult
material. How cool would it be to have coffee with a true professional that
knows so much about their field??? Some students even said that their professors
invited them over for Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas when they couldn’t go
home. Just the thought of them opening their hearts and lives to these students
honestly blows me away. Of course I would NEVER miss Grandma’s Thanksgiving dinner
but its the thought that really counts. AND I learned that each professor signs
a declaration of Christian faith which to me is so incredibly encouraging. So,
not only are these professors extensively educated in their field but they are
genuine kind-hearted people who are a prominent influence of Christian faith and
ideals.

The other thing I love about SPU is that it is a private Christian
university but is open to all creeds and ethnicities. There is a diverse
population of believers and non believers with the same intention to “Engage the
Culture to Change the World.” I love that the strong faith base is so evident
but there is so much room to be modern and accepting of all people. To me,
that’s the true meaning of being a follower of Christ; genuine acceptance and
love.

After my experience the past few days, I am even more certain that SPU is
exactly where Retha and I belong. The love and support from students, staff,
faculty, Disability Services and of course my family and friends helps me find
overwhelming peace in my decision to enroll. God has definitely had his hand
over this one and I am so glad that I followed Him. I have submitted my advanced
tuition and am starting to choose classes and housing. Now I really must get on
the scholarship train to cover everything. The money is worth it in every way
and I am positive that God has a plan for this too. Stay tuned as final details
come together! God bless you all! Hugs and nose bonks from me and Retha!!!

Sent from my iPhone

College Decisions and Pole Vaulting

Goodness it has been too long since my last post! They say time flies when
you’re having fun and that has definitely been true lately. The past few months
have been really awesome for me. I’ve been slammed with school, riding and
family stuff. Looking back on the struggles of my junior year, this year has
been amazing and just continues to be better and better. I feel like I have the
tools I need to be successful and school, for the first time in a long time,
does not overwhelm me. Having such an efficient system makes me really excited
for college because I know I have what I need to succeed.

Speaking of college, I have decided that I am going to Seattle Pacific
University. When I started the application process last fall, I had many people
advising me to submit several applications to a few other schools just to be
safe. But when I stepped onto the SPU campus, I knew that is where I belong. I
am absolutely positive that is where God wants me to be. So call it foolish, but
I submitted only one application and that was to SPU. I received a response in
January and was accepted with a very generous scholarship. God came through for
me and I’m so happy I followed His guidance and relied on my faith. There is
still much work to be done to cover the rest of my tuition but I know that God
already has a plan for that too. I am so incredibly excited to be going to SPU.
I can’t wait for that new chapter in my life!

Now for a current update. I have decided to join my high school track team. It
has been something I’ve wanted to do since sixth grade so now is my last chance.
It has been an adventure trying to figure out how to make it work but we’ve come
up with a system. I wear a belt around my waist with one of Retha’s tiedowns
connected to it. At the other end of the tiedown is a stretchy bracelet that my
friend wears. So as she turns, I turn with her. It can be a bit tricky at points
but seems to work pretty well. As for the event I will be competing in, I’ve
decided to be a pole vaulter. This is one of the most dangerous sports for a
sighted runner so will prove challenging for me as well. I want to compete in
something that really puts me outside my comfort zone. My coaches are
understandably skeptical about the idea but I am determined to make it work. I
am not the first blind pole vaulter so it can be done. It will take lots of
practice and experimenting but I’m really excited to see how it all comes
together.

Retha has been designated our team mascot and will be at every meet. We are
looking into getting her some puppy pom poms.

Stay tuned for our next adventures!!

Resolutions, Goals and College!

I greatly apologize for such a long time since my last post! Retha and I have been very busy the past months. School has been my main focus these past few weeks as the end of the semester was last Friday.

For the first time in so long, I finished all my work and finals with minimal stress. And the most amazing part is that I finished on time!! I am honestly pretty proud of myself for being creative and working hard to stay on top of things this semester. It hasn’t gone without difficulty but the dedication has paid off.

Also, part of my New Years resolution was to get back into some riding lessons. Since the first of the year I have had four lessons and it feels wonderful to be moving forward again! I am so excited for the show season and whatever it will bring. On top of my normal school and riding, I am now working on gathering funds for college and for my
upcoming mustang project that I hope to participate in. The college scholarship search is daunting but I am sticking to my goal of graduating from college with no loans to pay off.

I am very happy to say that I have been accepted to Seattle Pacific University and received a generous scholarship from them. Having something to work off of definitely helps in looking for specific scholarships. I am positive that I will attend SPU so now its just a matter of making it financially possible. SPU is where I know in my spirit that God is leading me so SPU is where I will go!! God has a plan for all of these upcoming goals and possibilities and I trust that he will guide me wherever I need to be.

I will try to blog again sooner than this time! Again, I really appreciate all of the support and encouragement. God Bless you all!!

Birthday

The last week has been the most humbling and incredible week of my life. Last Saturday, my birthday, I planned to head to Seattle with some friends for dinner after delivering holiday food baskets to families in need with my grandpa. Three of my friends claimed that they needed to be picked up at our school because of a basketball game. All lies.

It was pitch black dark as we pulled into the parking lot. The only thing I remember is hearing hundreds of voices chanting my name. A few months ago, an influencial teacher at our school asked a thought provoking question at a club meeting. “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” Jokingly, I answered that I would drive a car if I could guarantee that I would not injure myself or others. Days later during our Homecoming coronation assembly, I noticed the little tea lights lining the walk way for the homecoming court. I told my friend sitting next to me, who had also been in the club meeting when that important question had been asked, that the lights looked so pretty with the lights out.

After collecting myself enough to get out of the car and face all of those people, That one amazing friend told me that they had created a opportunity for me to drive. With the help of hundreds of students, faculty, parents and other community members, they ran Christmas lights around a set course. In places that didn’t have lights, students stood holding those little tea lights that I thoughtlessly noticed two months earlier. They secured the use of a Driver’s Ed car with a second break and gas pedal on the passenger side to ensure I didn’t get myself into a sticky situation. After removing my high heeled leather boots, I took the wheel with the Driver’s Ed instructor by myside. I took three laps around the track with students constantly cheering me on. I wanted to cry tears of gratitude the whole time but had to focus on the road!

I was beyond humbled. That’s the only way to describe that day. Brooklyn and her friend Adrian had an idea and they simply made it happen. Their kindness and love spread around the school and community to make this experience come together. The overwhelming sense of love and support from all of those people is something I will never forget. Adrian and Brooklyn will forever hold a very special place in my heart. God had His hand over this whole thing and he truly deserves the glory for this. The most important part of this is that this event may have been created for me but is certainly not about me. This is about community and focusing on the ways things CAN happen and not why they won’t work.

On top of the overwhelming emotions of just this experience, the media has latched on to this story. Already, there have been two TC stories, a front page newspaper article, radio interview and much more coverage by news stations around the country and one in Europe. Again, I feel nothing but humility and love. I hope that this incredible event can inspire others to follow through with ideas to bless people regardless of how absurd the idea may seem.

God Bless every one of you and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Let’s spread this love and kindness as we approach the birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Everett Herald Newspaper link:

http://heraldnet.com/article/20121216/NEWS01/712169896/0/SEARCH

KING 5 News link:

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Glacier-Peak-students-driven-to-make-classmates-dream-come-true-184355201.html

Wrapping Skills

Life is much too short to take too seriously! With my family, we learn to laugh about my “blind moments.” Whether it be running into walls in my own house that we have been in for way too long to forget the layout of, or this week’s adventures of wrapping presents and going to restaurants with my lovely Retha. There is definitely NEVER a dull moment in my journey.

I have come to the realization that I have not wrapped presents since I lost a good portion of my sight. I had no idea how much I used to use the little sight I had to line up the paper with the present or cut in a straight line. Laughing through the whole process, my gifts turned out looking like things made by a monkey or something. They have excessive amounts of paper around them but my theory is that it adds extra padding in case of being dropped. But in some places, the paper was too short so I had to creatively tape an extra piece on. On the bright side, these particular presents are going to a two-year old boy so I am hoping he will not remember the wrapping job for his second Christmas. Hopefully with more practice, I can make them look halfway presentable in further wrapping endeavors.

The other thought that is leaving me giggling is Retha’s consistent desire to lead me into the kitchen when we eat at a restaurant. I’m not joking when I say she has gone out of her way to sneak in there. It has happened at least three times in the past month. Luckily, we have not made it all the wa in due to her momma’s keen hearing of dishes and kitchen sounds. I guess Retha thinks I do not feed her enough and has resorted to extreme measures. Regardless of her reasoning. it brings a smile to my face every time. I love that she is not perfect. She tries so hard to do a good job. Even on her off days, she always tries.

Stay tuned for updates on my wrapping skills and guide dog kitchen escapades! Thank you all for reading!

Just Plain Happy

I have been pondering for weeks how to write this post. There have been some very incredible events in my life lately. It is very difficult for me to receive blessings and attention. I would much rather give to others. It is a process to learn to receive for me and I find myself struggling at times. Sometimes I feel that I don’t show enough emotion when others are so generous and so willing to help. Honestly, I am overwhelmingly humbled by people’s kindness and it is difficult to comprehend sometimes. Lately there have been amazing individuals in my life that have organized various fundraisers to help with my technology needs. They have done this simply out of the kindness of their hearts. The support and outpouring of generosity is truly inspiring and leaves me speechless. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude toward such loving and kind people. They are truly Jesus with skin on. I pray that they are blessed beyond belief and understand the influence they have made. God has shown his hand amply in my life and I am in awe of his grace and love. Many of you have asked me to attach the link to the news segment that aired a few weeks back on our local TV station so I have added the link here if you want to see it. Thank you again for all your support. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Blind-girl-wins-state-4-H-horse-riding-competition-180713931.html

Trail Riding & TV

It has a whirlwind of a week!! Last weekend I rode in an ACTHA competitive trail ride with my good friends and had so much fun!! We laughed every step of the way and it even snowed which made it even more of an adventure. I rode Sunday as well as a drag rider for the event. Our responsibility was to be the last riders out to make sure no one got lost and all of the judges along the way at each obstacle had seen all of the riders. On top of just having a blast, I got to ride an awesome ex-racehorse turned dressage horse. She was such a pleasure to ride and really took care of me. But I couldn’t resist letting her run full out in all of her Thoroughbredness. I have never in my life gone that fast on a horse. It was just plain awesome.

My week of school was really great too. I am finally settling into a routine that works for me and I feel like I have a handle on everything. Homework is tons easier due to the very generous donation from some incredible people who have helped me get the computer and software that I need. I am so grateful to everyone who is helping me be successful.

Also, this weekend I was interviewed by a local news station who wants to do a story about me and my riding. It is super humbling to tell my story and makes me feel very grateful to be so fortunate. The story should be aired within the next few days so I hope it turns out well. Watchman definitely showed off in front of the cameras. If anything comes from all of this media coverage I hope it can help inspire another young person living with some kind of disability to follow their dreams and push themselves to accomplish their goals.

Here is the link to the news story and video below.

Blind Girl wins award in state 4-H competition