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Showing posts from May, 2025

A Not So Fun 4th and Tough Week for Faith

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The other day Faith and I were standing in line at the pharmacy, and someone asked her, "How was your 4th of July?" She responded quite honestly, "Terrible!"  Yes, it was definitely not a very fun 4th. In fact, this whole week has been one challenge after another. The only thing we really did for the 4th was go to Art in the Park in Mandan, which was last Friday. Faith found a new tie-dye t-shirt, and I enjoyed a yummy root beer float.  Art in the Park in Mandan on the 3rd I had actually gone with the goal of getting an Indian taco, but it was so humid, I didn't feel like eating anything hot. Because it was so warm, we only stayed for an hour before heading back to Bismarck. That night, I noticed that Faith seemed uncomfortable in her chair, almost like she was having pain. She told me she needed to get out and lie down. I thought maybe being out in the high humidity had been too much for her or that she was having muscle spasms. After she lay down for a bit...

Faith's Monumental Visit to South Dakota

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When I received my niece, Sydnee's graduation announcement in the mail, I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to visit my brother and his family for the first time at their home in Spearfish. I also thought it would be the perfect opportunity to see Mount Rushmore, which I had never seen before!  My nephew in Nebraska was graduating that same weekend, and my sister Dawn and I tried to put together a plan where we could go to both of their graduation receptions. I knew though, that Faith would feel left out and would want to go, too. I also knew it was going to be difficult to find someone to look after Faith over Memorial Day weekend.  Our finalized plan involved Dawn traveling to South Dakota with me and Faith and then her flying to Nebraska by herself. Faith and I would then drive back to Bismarck by ourselves.  3 adventurous travelers  I must admit, as the trip got closer, I started to get a little anxious about how Faith was going to do with so much drivi...

Faith's Spring Dance Performances

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 Lately, I've been feeling very fortune to live in a community that provides so many activities for those with special needs and disabilities. Last year on her 21st birthday, Faith began taking adaptive dance classes at Northern Plains Dance (NPD). They offer five sessions throughout the year. We opted out of the session offered in January and February, mainly just to avoid being out in the brutal weather winter more than we have to be.  Faith working on some dance skills with ribbons.  During the February/March sessions, her class began practicing for their "big performance," which would take place during the student showcase. All of the dancers at NPD participated in this showcase. Her class would be performing to "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake.  Faith was excited not only because of the song, but because both of her dance partners would be on stage dancing with her. During the sessions, her partners take turns with her from week to week, ...