Circus

Our church group planned an outing to the circus!  The kids were interested so we headed to downtown Phoenix in the warm temps (115+).  We were envisioning trained lions, acrobats, and some clowns.  The circus certainly has come a long way!
The US Airways arena was full of excited fans and the show did not disappoint.

From where we sat, far away from our able-bodied church group, in the "wheelchair accessible" area I could not help but long for a different arrangement.
I feel like I should bite my tongue while I type this.. because I know we have come a long way but if I don't mention this will it ever change?
Would we accept a different arrangement where we grouped together all the people who were say over-weight or tall?  In addition it is extremely difficult to get tickets for a family in a wheelchair accessible area because it is for wheelchairs.  Guess what if you are sitting by Julianne and Vincent they are going to eat your popcorn and cotton candy.  I won't be able to do anything about it because I'll be in the wheelchair area.  Just saying it doesn't work.

It makes my head spin.. makes me want to quit bothering to swim against the tide.  Makes me want to board up the doors and stay home.. or join a circus and fly out of a cannon!

Speaking of flying, try that with a power chair!  You have to disassemble your chair and remove anything that you don't want to be pulled off or broken off and then transfer into a seat on the plane.  Claudia's power wheelchair has been damaged to the point of needing repair on 75% of the flights that she has taken!

I really don't want to complain because we can manage this.  We can currently handle driving the 30 minutes each way to get the wheelchair examined and then again to get it repaired... but I know there are others struggling more than we are and why?  Because we allow people with disabilities to be treated differently.

Not to worry we are not giving up.  The kids had a great time at the circus and thank you to the friend that sat by us.  I do hope that some day we have planes that will accommodate wheelchairs, and Claudia can attend a circus with her seven grandchildren all beside her!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Power Soccer

Claudia is such an amazing girl...  

After the initial shock of having all the kids home for summer, we settle into a routine, and I get to reconnect with my kids.  All of them surprise and amaze me.

  

Claudia however is thoughtful and pensive well beyond her years.  

She studies people.  

And she wants so badly to be a helpful and contributing member of society.  

The civil rights movement really grabbed her attention in school and 

hopefully will kindle a lifelong passion for equality.

She is brave.  She is special, and I feel so darn lucky to be her mom.

Photos from SpoFit where she tried a Power Soccer clinic!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

If this girl ever leaves on a jet plane I hope I get to go too!