"We Serve"

"We Serve" is the motto of The International Association of Lions Clubs or Lions Club International.

I recently became a member of the Lions Club International. My dear husband invited me to attend one of his meetings in October of last year and I became hooked. Hearing about the work/service that they were doing drew me in.

I am so PROUD to be a Lion. I look forward to the many opportunities that I will have being a part of this great organization.

"Lions club members are men and women who strive to make a difference in their local community as well as in communities worldwide. Their volunteer efforts go beyond the support of vision care, to addressing unmet health and education needs worldwide. "

VISION STATEMENT

TO BE THE GLOBAL LEADER in community and humanitarian service.

MISSION STATEMENT

TO EMPOWER volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs.

CODE OF ETHICS

TO SHOW my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by
industrious application to the end that I may merit a
reputation for quality of service.

TO SEEK success and to demand all fair remuneration or
profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the
price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage
taken or because of questionable acts on my part.

TO REMEMBER that in building up my business it is not
necessary to tear down another’s; to be loyal to my clients or
customers and true to myself.

WHENEVER a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my
position or action towards others, to resolve such doubt
against myself.

TO HOLD friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that
true friendship exists not on account of the service performed
by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing
but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.

ALWAYS to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my
nation, my state and my community, and to give them my
unswerving loyalty in word, act and deed. To give them freely
of my time, labor, and means.

TO AID others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my
aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.

TO BE CAREFUL with my criticism and liberal with my
praise; to build up and not destroy.

"I am a loyal Lion, God help me to do my duty as such."

March for Independence

For the past several years my sweet husband has attended the National Convention for the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). At the last two conventions he has participated in the March for Independence.

What is the March for Independence you ask...

Atlanta, GA - July 2007

"The March for Independence -- A Walk for Opportunity, is a 5K walk-a-thon fundraising event and celebration demonstrating the independent spirit of the nation's organized blind, their friends, family, and supporters. The event relies on volunteers to register and participate in a 5K walk and to raise donations for walking. The donations raised, support the National Federation of the Blind's Imagination Fund. The Imagination Fund supports local and state outreach efforts benefiting blind people in your local community. Blind children, teens, youth, college students, adults, and seniors losing their vision as well as the programs and initiatives of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute."

Dallas, TX - July 2008

This year I am planning to attend the convention with Kevin. We are headed to the Motor City (Detroit, MI). I am looking forward to meeting and "networking" with many different individuals from around the world. Most especially, I am anxious to speak to those who share my challenges with schooling my children.

If you would like to read more about or would be interested in sponsoring KD for the March for Independence you can visit KD's Personal Page.

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I have always been very proud of my dear husband and his passion/desire for equality. One of the many things that I love about Kevin is is ability to write. One of the first creations that I was able to read was an article entitled My Undiscovered Future that was featured in the February 1998 issue of the Braille Monitor.

Here is a note from the Editor regarding this article:

"Before the state rehabilitation agency serving the blind of Missouri decided it would no longer send Missouri residents to the Colorado Center for the Blind for rehabilitation training in the skills of blindness, Kevin Ledford requested to be sent to Denver for job and skills training. (See the July, 1997, issue of the Braille Monitor.) By his own account he had been completely unsuccessful in keeping jobs and had little faith in himself. The following is his story of what happened when he was able to benefit from an NFB adult training center's unique blend of hope, high expectations, and hard work. Kevin Ledford is a living reminder that anything is possible when a determined blind person is offered real opportunity. It's tragic that Missouri has closed the door on those in the state who would like to follow Kevin's example.

As you will find, we are both very passionate individuals and, as any parents would, we will do all that we can to ensure our children have all that they need to succeed. This is just the beginning of a challenge we will be able to conquer together.

"Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion"

~Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Valentine's for my boys

K, Z, K, A & B enjoyed their Valentine's Eve...

Backwards Bob

Monster Trakker

And the winner...

Blue Thunder!!!

Yes, I took the pictures (I was there)

My Valentine's

My Heart Is Full

I was listening to my iPod this evening (I have it set to shuffle through the songs) when the song below came on. I have the version that was performed by Kenneth Cope. My emotions are high and my heart is full today.

If you would like to hear the song, it is listed on my playlist. There is also an amazing video on YouTube. Just follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq7IwPj2-kY

Thank you for such a beautiful song.

Come To Jesus

Weak and wounded sinner,
Lost and left to die,
O, raise your head for love is passing by,

Come to Jesus,
Come to Jesus,
Come to Jesus and live.

Now your burden's lifted,
And carried far away,
And precious blood has washed away the stain... so

Sing to Jesus,
Sing to Jesus,
Sing to Jesus and live.

And like a newborn baby,
Don't be afraid to crawl,
And remember when you walk sometimes we fall... so

Fall on Jesus,
Fall on Jesus,
Fall on Jesus and live.

Sometimes the way is lonely,
And steep and filled with pain,
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain... then

Cry to Jesus,
Cry to Jesus,
Cry to Jesus and live.

O, and when the love spills over,
And music fills the night,
And when you can't contain your joy inside... then

Dance for Jesus,
Dance for Jesus,
Dance for Jesus and live.

And with your final heartbeat,
Kiss the world goodbye,
Then go in peace, and laugh on glory's side... and

Fly to Jesus,
Fly to Jesus,
Fly to Jesus and live,

Fly to Jesus,
Fly to Jesus,
Fly to Jesus and live.

-Lyrics by Chris Rice

Where Do I Go From Here?

Patience is not one of my virtues. I've seem to have lost more of my patience since I have had children. Not necessarily because of my boys but because of those who are teaching my children.

When my oldest son entered the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind (USDB) the first year of preschool was rough. His second year of preschool and then kindergarten were pretty good. We finally found a teacher that we liked and seemed to actually take teaching visiually impaired children seriously. By first grade he was mainstreamed our of USDB and in regular school. All has gone well, so far.

My third son entered USBD last year. This is his second year of preschool. His teacher last year was pretty good. At the end of the year when we had his IEP (Individual Education Plan) my husband and I felt that we were being pushed out of USDB because our son was too smart for the school. Oh, they told us it was because it would be difficult to develope his social skills with the students in his upcoming preschool class.

We decided to have him stay at USDB. I'm not so sure that was a great decision. He has been through, I think, three teachers since beginning in September 2008. His current teacher, I can't say too much about because I haven't met her. Yes, I need to go to the school and spend some time however, she also seems to avoiding my requests for a new IEP for Aaron.

My baby will be three years old in March. He is suppose to start preschool at USDB. Needless-to-say, I am reluctant. I want my boys to be educated in Braille and white cane use and I want it to be an education they receive on a daily or every other day basis. If they are placed in a regular school, that won't happen. This is why I chose USDB for my boys for their first couple of years of school.

I write this because I am frustrated. I'm not sure where to go from here. I've become a little involved with Utah Parents of Blind Children but there are never any meetings, that I know of. I attended one meeting that was open to the public to hear and express concerns/opinions about USDB, the future of the school and the future education of our children. I expressed my concerns in the open forum as many others, am frustrated by the whole thing.

That's it!

My sweet husband has invited me to attend the National Federation of the Blind convention this year. I am going to try to get some answers. I'm going to try to find something better for my boys.

Until then, I'm not sure where to go from here.