Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A Smile for Dad
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The Disabled (ALL) Creed
Yeah, the Ghost Writer again (aka, husband/father/john). This post is from "an inspired non-believer." What I am inspired by/what I believe in (that is for me). What you take away from these writings, if anything, is for you.
The background of this post: For Catholics and
Non-Catholics, I am Catholic and look to God (the Church at times, but mainly
to God). This is my version of the
Nicene Creed (Google it):
The Disabled (ALL) Creed
I believe in
the potential of a disabled person, a maker of tears of joy/sorrow, and Creator
of that which I have become and am willing to defend.
I believe in
my Son, Riley, begotten by God's Will and at times a stranger to the world we
(the functioning) take for granted. Hit
by seizures, forces unknown, nights without peace, rises again and teaches me
to appreciate every small thing in life (a laugh, a sound, a smell, a step). Night after night, day after day, in
accordance with God's Will he is my son and his story I will share with you (as
he shares it with me).
His Story,
for those readers and for our understanding, was given to me by Heaven and
incarnate by the Will of God and cast upon to tell this (his/our) story so that
we may appreciate life, love, suffering and healing.
I acknowledge the limitations that they (the
disabled have); and I look to help them overcome their limitations and fight
for their cause, in this world, until they find peace in The Next.
I believe in the Helping Guides-- the parents,
the relatives, the friends, the supporters and the caregivers; who come to us
to overcome limitations of the disabled.
I believe
that this is one messed (*edited) up world.
I believe that life is not always fair.
I acknowledge the limitations of humanity/the disabled and the way the
world is; and I look to make it a better place for the disabled (all) and those
who care for them; pray for them or are willing to understand their world (and
if I am Blessed enough, share mine).
This is my
Story.
Linking up:
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Stacie's Theory of Relativity
Stacie's Theory of Relativity....
R.espite
E.quals
L.oving
A.ll
T.hose
I.
V.alue
I.n
T.he
Y.ears... Me, my
child, my family For a Moment in Time....
Respite is a moment in time, no matter how brief.
It is spending time
with you and going back in the past to remember who you are.
It is spending time
with a spouse and remembering why you got married or even said hello to
them.... creating future
memories.
It is holding on to a moment in time that is for you,
even briefly, that reminds you of who you are (the person you were or
thought you would be)...
It is living in a moment with those you love....
It is spending time with a child and forgetting the
disability...
Respite is not about the hours in a day you have to
take care of a child. It is about the
hours in life you are given and how you will spend those moments. Respite is about spending time with
the most important or more importantly,
share those moments with others....
This is 10 minutes of my life to post.,.... share with
others... my respite.
Written by my Sweetheart
Saturday, December 17, 2011
My Honor: NECs December Volunteer Spotlight
Naples Equestrian Challenge kindly "spotlighted" me as December's Volunteer. I am very honored and share the form I turned in for the Spotlight Bulletin Board in the hospitality shed.
VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT
Stacie Wiesenbaugh
Moved
to Naples from: Los
Angeles, CA Year moved
to Naples: 2004
Why
did you move to Naples?:
Our
first child, Riley, experience a massive brain hemorrhage in utero. His traumatic
birth caused us to make many changes to our lifestyle which included moving to
be closer to family. We decided upon
SWFL where my mother spends the majority of her time.
Present
and/or past occupation, company name, job title & responsibilities:
After
the birth of my son, nearly 10 years ago, I gave up my paid occupation to
devote time to him and ultimately educating and promoting causes of special
needs. I LOVE NEC but also devote my time (when not caring for Riley) as an
Arbonne Independent Consultant, the boys schools, and a personal blog on the
journey of special needs parents.
Between caring for Riley and that, my "time clock" is full.
College/University
& Degree(s) held including subject area:
Gettysburg
College, English Lit. B.A.
Brooks
Institute of Photography, Media, B.A.
Special
Needs Kids, I have my S.N.K. degree (graduated on 8.28.2002 (birth of son)) and
still pursuing.
Family
(name of spouse, # children/grandchildren/pets):
Spouse:
John Buck (when I claim him) John sits on the Program Committee and is the face
behind the camera at NEC events.
Children:
Riley (9) & Ronan (7 this month)
Hobbies/sports:
Scuba
Diving & Photography
I
became a Naples Equestrian Challenge volunteer (month/year):
I
think that if you have a child with Special Needs, you need to be there for
him/her. When Riley turned 3 fall of
2005, we joined NEC. I wanted to be
there for him and give my time to a cause that I truly believe in.
Volunteer
areas:
I
became a volunteer at NEC because it was the agreement parents and caregivers
made as part of the rider contract. My
other Volunteer activity is volunteering my husband for things! NEC is a "family oriented
thing." I am one of Riley's regular
side-walkers, but not necessarily his favorite.
This year I took on another volunteer area as fundraiser. Chico's, offered an opportunity for a
shopping day in The Company Store, a sample sale warehouse, and the proceeds
were returned to NEC. The event took
place in September and I hope to make it a yearly event with even greater
attendance in the future.
Some
of my most memorable NEC moments are…
Growing
with NEC. I started when the arena had
no roof (those were some hot days, but fun for the kids). Watching the Volunteers grow (we have photos
of young boys and girls who have stayed with the program so long they turned
into kids with braces into amazing adults).
I
will always remember our first visit to NEC.
At that time, Riley was challenged by motion and car rides were
particularly miserable. He had cried on
the drive and I was regretting taking him out at all. It was a hot quiet summer day and the place
appeared deserted. I pulled Riley from
his car seat and as I brought him into the sun a strong breeze struck us
carrying the scent of hay and horses.
Riley's mood immediately turned joyous.
He liked it all and we had barely taken a step. It smelled right to him. It felt right. I knew we would be staying.
As
the years have gone by, NEC has remained a constant in our life. As a special needs family, we don't go
anywhere unnecessarily. As a child and
family with multiple disabilities sets us apart. Naples Equestrian Challenge is one place
where we are always welcome and understood.
It is also unique in that this is the one therapy we do not need to
justify and can simply be something Riley can participate in and enjoy.
MY
other comment:
Being
Volunteer of the Month is not expected. Particularly
because there are SO many people "behind" this organization who are
not out in the arena with the horses/kids who are so deserving... Being a part of NEC is not about being at
NEC when the kids ride. It is about the
families sharing education/being there for each other; the staff who do this
not for the money, but the love of what they do; the people who because of
physical or other challenges cannot side walk, but give their time in countless
other ways. The amazing sponsors who
literally built a roof over my son's head when he walks and hung fans to cool
him. There are so many facets to NEC
that we can all partake in. I am Blessed
to be a part of such an organization.
Other
organizations & positions held:
Currently,
I am an Arbonne Independent Consultant for health and wellness products, a
blogger and I also volunteer with Freedom Waters Foundation, Rayma C. Page
Elementary (Riley's school) and Bonita Springs Preparatory and Fitness Academy
(Riley's School).
Some
of my previous volunteer positions:
Wildlife Waystation,
Level II volunteer
Volunteer, The Junior
League of Los Angeles, Marketing Committee
Coastal Clean-Up Day
Beach Captain for Will Rogers Beach & Steering Committee City of Santa Monica
California
Coastal Commission recognition 1993
1994, 1995, 1997
tripled
turn-out to 500 in my first year as captain, collected 1139 pounds of trash,
only 10 pounds shy of the winning site for most trash
Some
of my previous employment positions:
US Census Bureau, 2010
Census, Ennumerator
Library Foundation of
Los Angeles,
Lead for the
City of Los Angeles Campaign, Liaison for The Council, Library Associates
Membership
Freeman Hospitals Foundation -
Donor Service Management for Hospitals & PCRI (Prostate Cancer Research
Institute), Financial tracking, Grant, Events
The Nature Conservancy
Earth Share of California,
Campaign Manager
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Polar Express Chair
The holiday season has kept us pretty busy... Daddy makes sure Riley can participate in any celebration. This is not an easy task so decorating the wheelchair is usually the first step. Today Riley's class will watch The Polar Express. His chair is covered in lights as well as a musical ornament. They'll know he's there today!
Last week John let me tag along to his school presentations as The Shark Tooth Guy. First he met Kindergartner's in Mrs. Doyle's classroom then on to the 1st Graders, including Ronan.
Here Riley is before fully awake waiting for his school bus.
Last week John let me tag along to his school presentations as The Shark Tooth Guy. First he met Kindergartner's in Mrs. Doyle's classroom then on to the 1st Graders, including Ronan.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
NEC's Volunteer Spotlight
On November 2nd, I received this unexpected email:
Congratulations!
You
have been selected by the Program Committee as the October 2011 Volunteer
Spotlight.
Your
photo and tribute will be displayed throughout the month in the display case
outside the Volunteer Hospitality Shed.
On
behalf of the staff and volunteers we thank you for your dedication and
continued support of Naples Equestrian Challenge. You help out in so many
different ways and you truly deserve to be spotlighted.
I
am attaching a Volunteer Spotlight bio guide for you to fill out and return to
me to help us with your displayed tribute.
Thank you,
Missy
Volunteer Spotlight? Me?
John sits on the Program Committee which elects the Volunteer and the Rider of the Month. He had mentioned nothing. I quizzed him later. What did I learn? I learned that John abstained from the vote... and that was all.
How could I possibly deserve this honor? How could I possibly participate enough to earn this recognition? I wasn't there this morning when the horses were searching for their grain as the sun rose... I wasn't there last night when the stalls needed to be cleaned. I wasn't there yesterday when the horses were hot and sweaty, waiting patiently for their tack to be removed and cleaned after lessons. I wasn't there before the riders arrived to set up the ring... I wasn't there as phone calls were made and invitations sent out to prepare for The Bootstrap Boogie fundraiser.... I wasn't even there when the last dish and chair was safely put away after the fundraiser...
My husband was there for some of it.... Each member of the Program Committee was there for much of it... I see regular faces when we arrive for Riley's riding session who are still there each Monday evening as we pull out of our parking space...
So very much goes into making Naples Equestrian Challenge a success. My part is so very small. So how could I possibly be noticed among all those amazing volunteers? Perhaps that is the key. All those amazing staff and volunteers do notice. They notice that I try. They understand that Riley, just as the many other children in the program, is a handful. John and I made the decision back when Riley was just three years old that riding would benefit him. This program deserves to be a success so I participate as I can. I sidewalk with Riley here and there as needed. My Chico's fundraiser was successful but far from the earnings of the Bootstrap Boogie (oh, here are more amazing photo's of the event by John: http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2011/nov/24/naples-equestrian-challenge-bootstrap-boogie-2011/). In fact, sometimes I'm a little overbearing. Yeah, I know it. Perhaps a little acerbic. I lecture volunteers. I preach to other parents who are unwilling to participate. There must be more than one volunteer or parent who issues a little sigh upon my arrival.
But, after all that, here they are appreciating me. And I appreciate each one of these amazing people who keep this wonderful place working for our kids.
Thank you Naples Equestrian Challenge! You bring so much to our life!
We are all special... by Stacie Wiesenbaugh
Later this week I will share the write up I shared for the bulletin board.
Smiley Face
Smiley Face
Monday at the Barn:
Ronan makes himself at home in the hospitality shed to get his homework done.
Ms. Deb, volunteer PT, help Riley get a back stretch aboard Pick A Spot.
Reindeer for Stephanie!
To learn more about Naples Equestrian Challenge:
Melissa Saracino
Program & Volunteer Manager
Naples Equestrian Challenge
206 Ridge Drive Naples, Florida 34108
Tel: + 1 239 596 2988
Fax: + 1 239 514 2908
“The horses were the reason I started volunteering with NEC,
however, the reason I stayed were the riders.”
- NEC Volunteer, Charlotte Newell
Monday, December 12, 2011
Little Brother Turns 7!
We celebrated Ronan's 7th birthday this past weekend. We threw a joint party along with our his classmate, our friends' and neighbors. It was a wonderful event. For Riley it was a long one as he had to spend much more time than we would have liked in the wheelchair; he did however appreciate all the energy around him.
Taking the time to celebrate, reminds us of the importance of our family and feeding our souls.
It was a Happy Birthday! Stacie
Freedom Waters Foundation Harnesses the Power of the Sea by Stephen Brown
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