2020
​
Twenty-twenty
​An interesting and confusing year,
complete with blessings, fears,
challenges, and memories of a lifetime.​

In January
a new year was upon us,
full of hopes, goals
plans and untapped possibilities.

February
brought us a magnificent super bowl,
​Mahomes led the Chiefs
to an exciting and energetic win.

March
the world went crazy,
Covid 19 began it's terror,
instilling concern and panic for many.

April
remote learning for students, sports halted,
virtual medical appts became norm,
NASCAR i-racing and stay at home order

May
Carmen's first two novels written and self-published,
toilet paper shortage,
eager for Covid to go away

June
Colby's high school drive-up graduation,
NASCAR back in action but without fans,
required face mask throughout many states.

July
another book written and published by Carmen,
remote vacation in a mountain cabin,
dad got a very playful puppy.

Aug
new school year, for many once again remote,
Colby's freshman year with covid restrictions in college,
Carmen writing and classes from home.

Sept
football partially returned with low to no fans allowed,
COVID protocols still required everywhere,
Local restaurants and businesses suffering.

Oct
Halloween canceled for some, 
World is so strange and at times scary.
Covid-19  still causing so much uncertainty and fears.

Nov
presidential election mayhem,
colleges that were in person ending their semesters,
Thanksgiving traditions altered to protect one another.

Dec
Christmas traditions altered once again,
I became sick with COVID.
Many prayers for family to have a healthy 2021

The Sacrifice, written by my daughter Carmen, was published on Amazon in May 2020. This is her 2nd fictional novel that has been published. In her latest book, the main character becomes sick and eventually diagnosed with gastroparesis. Carmen does a fantastic job describing the ordeal that someone with gastroparesis may go through prior to, during, and after being diagnosed. While Eden, the main character, learns more about what's going on with her medically and how to best deal with it, she is faced with additional (non-medical) life problems as well. Through it all she tries to rely on family and friendship, while also learning more about herself. THE SACRIFICE is a fictional, creative, and emotional read. While much of the book is realistic, including the gastroparesis descriptions, there are also some unexpected twists and an element of supernatural in this book as well. Carmen’s description and details throughout the book are so vivid that it’s easy for the reader to believe they are actually there among the characters, I know I did.

About her writing, Carmen states,
"I never thought that I would be the one to write books while I was still a kid. But here I am with my second novel. I have always enjoyed writing for the most part, but during the past few months, I am truly starting to realize that I have a passion for writing. When I was just nine years old, my life completely changed. My mom was diagnosed with gastroparesis. I didn’t know what to do, or how I could help her, when she was always feeling horrible and in the hospital. With family by my side, I learned a lot throughout that year, and continue to learn more things each day.  At times, I’ve felt like everything was pouring down on me, but didn’t really know how to handle it all. I eventually learned how to open up to my family and lean more on my faith. My goal is to use my writing and experiences, along with creativity, to spread messages of encouragement to others.

I was inspired to write THE SACRIFICE because it describes the struggles teenagers can have when living with or trying to survive chronic illness and family challenges. The disease, gastroparesis, that I included in this book is the same disease that my mom has been living with. I may not have the disease, and I may not be able to feel the pain that my mom does, but I see the pain that she goes through every day in my life, and that gives me the ability to relate to it. This book is fictional and has some unexpected twists, but also expresses to the reader that you can make it through whatever troubles you are going through and you should embrace what life gives you. I hope that everyone who reads this book learns something from it as well."

Summary of THE SACRIFICE:
“Eden is a seventeen-year-old girl that is enjoying her last summer before senior year, but an unexpected curveball gets thrown at her with a life-changing disease. Her twin brother, Bennett, and best friend, Carter, stay by her side, but once a tragedy happens, she begins to feel the pain that she never imagined having. One letter ends up being the mystery that she wishes she never opened up. Will she be able to find closure, or will she give up on everything that she's ever worked for?”

You can purchase your ebook or paperback copy of THE SACRIFICE from Amazon now!! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0892DJV6G/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_12-0EbYPCRE

​Carmen’s first book, UNBREAKABLE, is also available on Amazon.

Advocacy to me means being vulnerable enough to share my personal health experiences and journeys in an effort to have meaningful and hopefully beneficial impact. While learning and maneuvering through symptoms, appointments, frustrations, tests, medical procedures, emotional falls, successes, etc, I still have an opportunity to help someone else. Who knows, possibly even learn something to help myself.  Advocacy is a way to help hold on to some sort of hope for better tomorrow, if not for me, at least for future generations. 

​Advocating provides me an opportunity to help others by offering support to those that are searching for someone they can relate to and understands what they are going through. It allows me to share knowledge about my illness and spread awareness on social media and publicly. I can participate in advocacy projects and campaigns, volunteer with helping to plan, manage, promote, etc, which sometimes adds a sense of value and purpose to my life.

For me, the majority of my advocacy takes place on my computer from my couch. Timing is flexible. Recently, however, my mind has not been connected with advocacy. Don't get me wrong, I still share things that others create once in a while, participate in surveys, respond to a message/question sent my way, etc.. . Maybe it's because I'm so "burned out" from dealing with my personal issues or having to spend way too much energy trying to deal with my own struggles, that I have nothing left to give right now. Hopefully, the new plan between my doctor and I will help improve these current symptoms.

My concentration, mind fog, lightheaded spells along with "normal" issues have been a big distraction and problem, not only with advocacy, but life in general. I just feel so frustrated and exhausted, physically and mentally, right now. But that's ok, just means I need to spend extra time focusing on my self-care for a while.