Wow! It has been  almost a year since I have updated this blog! So much has happened since my last update.

My book has taken a different direction then previously shared. I didn't make the 12 Christmas stories. Instead, I wrote 5 stories that will be published into a book of short stories. Each story features some type of disability.

We are currently in the editing stage of the stories. We are getting closer to completing the project but still have a ways to go.

My yorkie Lexi turned 9 years old last month. She goes to Doggie Day Care every week at Bubbles and Bows. They tell me she does well, and seems to love it. She is a very social dog, and loves everyone and loves to play with other dogs so this is good for her.

Hope ya'll are staying well during this pandemic. I, like everyone else, will be glad when it is over. But until then...stay healthy. With God's help, we will all get thru these times together.

Until next time,
​Rena

Everyone is created differently. That was God's plan. Some people are short, while others are tall. Some people wear glasses because their eyes aren't perfect. Others might wear a hearing aid because they don't hear well. And still others might use sign language to communicate because they are unable to speak. Are these people treated differently because of these things?  Not usually. But there is a large population of people who are treated differently because of their differences. These are people who are physically or mentally challenged. These are people who are physically handicapped. These are people who are developmentally disabled. Yes, these people have a disability. But they are people first. 

Years ago, I was taking an online writing course. One of my assignments was to write an article. It could be about anything I wanted, I had no idea what to write about. At this time, I had been working at the Orion Corporation of MN for about 11 years or so. After much agonizing over what to write, I finally decided to write about my job working with people with disabilities.

So I wrote the article. Was it good enough? I wasn't sure. But it was done. Could it have been done better? Probably. I always second guess myself.  But I let one of my co-workers read it. Then our Program Director read it, and asked permission to read it at an upcoming staff meeting. I agreed.  The response from those at the meeting was awesome, and it became an article that I was proud of.

Well, the article was put away and eventually got lost. That is, until recently when I found it while going thru  some folders and notebooks. I gave it to my supervisor at NHS, who said it was wonderful and well said. I had often considered sending it for publication but had no idea how to go about it, so the other day it occured to me to post it here on my blog. So that's what I decided to do. Thought I would first write this history of the article before posting it. So will post the article shortly.

Welcome friends and family to my first blog!
 This is where I will keep updates on my writing and other things!
I am excited to begin this new endeavor!