Just checking in

Wow, time really does fly by, even when we are in the midst of difficult times.  To say this past year has been a rough one would be an understatement.  While I am not quite ready to write about those difficulties, I am ready to start writing my first book.  It is a work in progress and sharing with all of you that I am going to do this will hopefully keep me focused to the task at hand.  I am going to start small and see where it takes me.  

As some of you know my oldest Julia has struggled in school for a while.  Well she came home today with a certificate for honor roll.  We went to go visit her teacher from last year to show her how well she did.  Her teacher looked her in the eye and said "what did I tell you?  You can do anything you put your mind to, you just have to believe in yourself. Do you believe in yourself now?" Julia replied "YES!"  Sharing in the moment with my oldest baby made me realize that we just need to believe in ourselves and we can do anything we put our mind to.  I must also mention that my brother Donnie earlier in the week gave me similar advice..."you just have to believe you can do it". 

Last week I received some results from some cognitive tests I had taken in October.  They took my by surprise as they said I have moderately severe impairments when it comes to my memory and my processing all thanks goes to MS.  The good news...I have above average language skills.  I have always loved to write.  Something about the written word...it is truly an outlet for me.  So now that I have taken a week to digest the results, I realize that I will have to come up with some strategies and coping mechanisms to keep my focus.  I am so grateful to still be able to take my time and let my thoughts flow from my mind to the keyboard.  Once again MS has reared it's ugly head.  I'll be honest, I had a rough week, no doubt about it.  After speaking with my brother and then seeing how Julia now believes in herself I am inspired.  Inspired by my brother's belief in me.  Inspired by the hard work my daughter has given and then to see the fruits of her labor is icing on the cake.  So I am going to draw my strength and focus from them and believe in myself.  Believe that I AM A WRITER.  Believe I can do anything I put my mind to.  

I am looking forward to sharing my book with all of you.  I hope it to be an inspiration to others, to believe in themselves and a reminder to me to believe in myself.