Earlier Reports
Oct 07
Nov 07
Dec 07
Jan 08
Feb 08
Mar 08
Apr 08
May 08
June 08
July 08

Ms. Wheelchair Nebraska 2008
July Report

Happy July to Everyone!

This month has been full of stars, fireworks, and celebration. My calendar was full with my speaking engagements and the preparation for the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant. I made lists each day to keep myself focused and going in the right direction. The excitement to travel to Washington was making it hard to slow down and take one day at a time.

This month's activities included:

July 6- I spoke during mass at the United Methodist Church in Grand Island. I really enjoyed this opportunity and will gladly speak again if invited. My message was about my faith and the struggles we face when try to evaluate God's will when we cannot understand that all things are working together for a greater good.

July 9- I was the speaker for the Blessed Sacrament July celebration and dinner. The room was full and I shared my platform about accepting the pain and growing through it to become the person God created us to be. In losing ourselves, we find who we were meant to be, and our purpose, which is His will. I received some donations toward my Washington D.C. trip. I love to visit with the people after I speak to learn how my message touched them. I also enjoy meeting people and networking. I believe with all my heart that there is a reason for each person that comes into our lives.

July 16- I was the speaker for the Professional Business Women's Association. I showed my DVD; which is a display of pictures that showed my transition from walking to being a parent with a disability. I shared how the changes and challenges in my life gave me the strength and diversity to be the person and speaker I am today. I am proud to share that I will be a speaker for their "Empowerment of Women" conference in the fall.

July 20-28 I was in Washington D.C. at the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant. I was told this experience would change my life. At the time, I could have never imagined the intensity with which I would be transformed and inspired. I met women from 26 states that were the catalyst that changed me. The range of personalities and personal stories of how these women came to be representatives of their states and advocates on wheels is always in my heart. I have so many new "life long" friends from this experience that I feel I personally won by just attending the pageant. I managed to be calm and collected throughout the rigorous judging and full itinerary of educational workshops. I lived every minute with a smile and laughter shared with the women. I did not win the crown, or any of the awards for accomplishments, but I celebrated for those who did. I am a very competitive person by nature… tell me I can't, and then stand back while I find a way. I wondered how I would react in such a competitive meeting of women that were all great in their civic and personal accomplishments. I am heartfelt when I tell you that I never wanted to be better than anyone I met; rather, I became a better person from meeting each of the contestants. I am back in Nebraska now and full of enthusiasm and empowerment to work with the Ms. Wheelchair Nebraska Program and grow together in our efforts to voice our advocacy and messages of where we have come from and where we have set goals to go.

Thank you to all my sponsors that made this opportunity happen for me. I am going to continue to need your support and enthusiasm in the future as I am planning new projects to change the current trend of persons getting on disability benefits- rather than utilizing their options for working. I am also advocating for rural communities to have a support system of caregivers to help individuals to remain in their homes, and not surrender to a nursing home because they don't know about networking services for the aged and disabled. I have a list of things I will be busy with and at this time I will let you go and keep you posted on what is first on the agenda when all the plans are approved.

Take care and I will be talking with you in August.

Lorinda