I stumbled on an interesting question as I thumbed through my Facebook news feed years ago.

The question read, "If you could be totally able bodied for one hour only what would you do?

I gave some thought to how I would respond and came up with this conclusion. I wouldn't want to be fully able bodied if given the chance for only an hour. God creates us with a purpose I was created for His purpose even if we may not always understand who are we to question his wisdom?

We may never know what our future holds but we are given the opportunity to know who tenderly and carefully holds our future in his hands if only we choose to believe in Him. I put my trust in Him because he is a faithful loving God. You can never go wrong when you trust Jesus.

I have never had a moment I thought "I wish I did not have Spina Bifida. It is a part of me but it's not all I am. There is a purpose and a plan for our lives so instead I am grateful because I look at it as a gift God gave me.

I am a woman who laughs, who cries, who smiles, who feels things, who relies on faith and the support of family and friends to face challenges. A woman who enjoys the gift of life just like everyone else does. It hasn't taken anything away from me it has given me strength to be whoever I want to be despite it.

God has taught me along the way I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am so thankful for the opportunity to experience the gift of life for as long as God allows me.

Find your Tribe!

Everyone has days we need to be reminded we are loved. We have value. We matter. We are an important part of this world. We are never alone.

Life is a tough journey filled with twists and turns we can't always see coming at us. Sometimes they hit us at lightening speed without warning.

The things we face are not just meant for one person to carry by themselves. God created us as brothers and sisters in Christ to lend a helping hand to others when needed with love.

We can do nothing in this life alone without relying on our faith in God the support of a loving family or a tribe of great friends to walk the streets of life along our side.

It's a comfort to know when you have found people who can lift you up. Those who remind you that you have so much to offer, friends or family who won't let go even if pushed away. A tribe of unconditional love and support at all times.

It's easy to feel like life is so unfair sometimes when things get tough but remember people come along to show us that one day the sun will shine again. We just need to remember to ask the One who holds out life in his hands to help guide us to the right people in prayer.

I encourage you when you find your tribe to love them hard. Let them know you appreciate them. Remind them of all the good things they add to your life. I know I thank God for the tribe beside me every day.

A journey lived day by day

You see my friends I have been on a journey. A journey that started 30 years ago, a journey that is still being lived day by day, I call it my life. It's been a wonderful journey, one that I look forward to waking up to every morning. Has it been easy some might wonder? No not at all. In fact my journey has come with a lot of challenges, a lot of ups and downs and a lot of unanswered questions.

Would I walk? Would I be able to do what other adults do? Would my physical limitations prevent me from living a productive and fulfilling life? These are all questions that the doctors and everyone else wondered myself included but little did we know God was working around the clock 24/7 to make sure my life was lived according to His plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

My life is lived in a way where all those unanswered questions didn't get in the way of enjoying every day. I am able to live a long, healthy and productive life. I am not able to walk but I choose to embrace that. I get around just fine in my wheelchair and probably a lot faster than anyone who can walk does.

I have been taught many lessons in this journey of my life. One of those many lessons is appreciation. Appreciate what I have and the blessings that come in my life every day. Appreciate the challenges I face in my life because my challenges make me a stronger more determined person. Appreciate that I am healthy, alive and thriving. Appreciate all that I am able to do and not dwell on the things that are physically impossible. Appreciate my family for supporting me in this wonderful life that I have been given.

I have learned that challenges, heartache, struggles, good times and bad times are all going to come our way. We can't avoid them and we can't run from them but we can decide how we choose to handle them. We have two choices, we can fight and come out on the other side a stronger person than before or look at all the negative and give up before even trying. The choice is ours but why not give the positive side a try and see if we can get a different perspective on life?

Through my journey I now know to never take anything for granted. Our life and our time are a precious gift from God. Every day that we have should be spent wisely. Enjoy the little things around you. Spend the day with your family, go out with your friends, laugh and carry on. Enjoy who you are as a person and never be ashamed of the person God made you to be. To be ashamed of who you are is like insulting God for who He created in you. Don't be ashamed. Be your own beautiful and love the life God gave you.