Tag Archives: Friendship

Our defining moments of the year, despite MS

Perhaps you’ve read essays from us about how we are huge proponents of making New Year’s resolutions.

These are the goals and ideas we set for ourselves to make positive changes and improvements in our lives.

But before we look ahead and write down what we hope to accomplish in 2019, we’ve found it’s worth looking back at the moments that helped to shape us in 2018.

For real. These were experiences we never thought were possible until we tried them this past year. Each one instilled confidence in ourselves and opened our minds to a future full of possibilities, despite the Multiple Sclerosis we share.

In no particular order, here are six life-changing moments that helped us to define our life in 2018.

#ProgressiveMSDay
Being included and having our story featured in a three-minute video for the first-ever Progressive MS Day was an epic experience, to say the least.

Boat breaks down barriers for wheelchairs on the water
It only made sense that Jennifer was the first of our group to catch a fish.

My Sonny day
With the wheelchair left behind in the driveway, Jennifer took a ride with Dan’s wheels.

Virginia is for … conquering MS fears
Making a connection in Atlanta means non-stop flights no longer are a requirement.

MS and camping at Coldwater in incredibly cold weather
Because camping and semi-roughing it is possible for two people living with MS.

Moving to the MuSic
Tom Petty said it best for Jennifer, “I won’t back down.”

The truth is neither one of us identified any of these accomplishments in our New Year’s resolutions for 2018.

The lesson we learned? Develop a plan for the things you hope to do in the new year, but keep your eyes open for the previously unseen opportunities of a lifetime.

Bring on 2019! Wishing you all a happy, healthy and epic new year!!

Take time to give thanks for Caregivers

Our kitchen counter is filled with foundations for two Thanksgiving side dish staples: green bean casserole and scalloped corn. Don’t get us wrong, turkey is the main attraction, but in our minds the sides always have the starring role in this annual tradition. Come Thanksgiving morning, we’ll wake up early and prepare three pans of…Continue Reading

Why telling others your MS story is good for you

Sharing your Multiple Sclerosis stories is a key component to self-care. I often say that I’m going to keep talking about Multiple Sclerosis so much that people will cure the disease just to shut me up. But they haven’t cured it yet, so I’m still talking. Dan and I recently had the opportunity to speak…Continue Reading

MS and camping at Coldwater in incredibly cold weather

The same thought crossed both of our minds shortly after midnight as we huddled together shivering under five blankets. “We won’t die from hypothermia if it only gets down to 34 degrees, will we?” Jennifer reassured herself that we had keys to the van, and we could just go home where it was warm, while…Continue Reading

Judas Priest! How we won at the casino.

And to think we didn’t really want to go to the concert in the first place. Even though our friend Steve Jessmore texted us to see if we were interested in going, and Jennifer’s brother, Steve, also called to invite us, we weren’t sold initially. Not that we were anti-Judas Priest or Deep Purple. We…Continue Reading

Odds and Ends

Merriam‑Webster defines “odds and ends” as, “miscellaneous articles or remnants.” This is a perfect title to capture all of the assorted bits I want to share on this chilly fall morning. First and foremost, Dan and I thank each and every one of you who shared kind thoughts and words consoling us after Cooper’s sudden…Continue Reading

Maintaining a social life and ADA accommodations

We felt bad and apologized when we asked other people to take care of things we have do each time we attend a public event. Welcome, friends. Our life can be such an inconvenience. Not that the people patiently handling our requests weren’t fully willing to help us. We just regretted having to ask them…Continue Reading