Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Questions



OK more answers to questions coming to my email.
Why don't I wear glasses if I'm blind as a bat? I did wear them for several years as a child but Drs. finally realized that glasses did no good with the condition I have. I've been to many Drs. some came from other countries even, and my parents spent most of their savings probably, to find out there is nothing that can be done.
What was life like at a child? Well, thanks to very wise parents, my life was pretty normal. My parents actually put me in Pensacola Christian which was the toughest school in Pensacola, and I'm sure they spent many nights praying that I would make it there. I've never been able to see the chalkboard or for you young ones, the white board. God always provided dear friends to help me. In kindergarten, He brought a lifelong friend. Her name was Angela. She would tell me what the assignments were for the day , get me to my bus and help me around the halls until I had them memorized. Angela went on to achieve her PhD and we are still dear friends today although we live on opposite sides of the U.S.

Here is a link for those that wanted the Ocular Albinism link from the NOAH organization.
http://www.albinism.org/publications/ocular.html
For those parents who have written and feel overwhelmed with your child's condition, I just want to say that there are many success stories from those of us who have OC. My parents learned early on to take each day as it comes and let your children try new things within reason. More on that later.
Pastor Traylor said in his sermon Sunday that the statement "God will never give you more than we can handle" is NOT a true statement. God sometimes DOES give us more than WE can handle, but when we rely on Him, He gives us the strength to handle it.














A friend came by to visit with us yesterday and we had a wonderful time catching up on life and such. After she left, I was closing the front door and there in the hall I saw a spider web! For those of you that know my OCD tendencies, you know I was embarrassed to find it and hoped she didn't see it but knew she probably did. It was past lunch time and I didn't want to bother with it then so I warmed up my "yummy" Lean Cuisine and started several other projects. Later I walked in the hall and saw it hadn't moved. The web was indeed still there, but STILL chose to find other things to do. I even mentioned it to my family, but still, it sat there. I then in my mind thought " Well they see it now, why can't THEY get it?".
So many times in my Christian walk, a flaw or sin comes into my life and I choose to ignore it or think it's not very big or blame other people. It's a little like looking in a mirror and seeing chocolate on the side of you mouth and doing nothing about it. Some sins can be seen and others are hidden, but we still know they are there. They tend to grow like the spider web also.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
James 1:22-24
Did I get the spider web? Did I MENTION I was OCD. Yes, of course I removed it! It did eat at me until I did though.

Monday, July 27, 2009



I keep getting emails asking why I named my site "Life is Bright". Let me answer everyone at one time. I have a condition known as Ocular Albinism. I have had it since birth. It's a defect with the iris in the eye. There is no control in how much light is allowed to enter the eye. It would be like you having a spotlight shining in your eyes anytime you were awake. Hence, "Life is Bright". One of the downfalls of this is that everyone who walks toward me is a dark shadow. The light overpowers the person. I am also legally blind so yep you guessed it Blind and Blond makes for TONS of jokes from all of my FRIENDS.
In my early years I did not cope well with my condition. I prayed each day as a child and teen that God would help Drs. find a cure for this. When the teen years came, all of my friends were peeling into the school parking lot in their Mustangs and I had to come back my Jr. year to tell them the Drs. said I would probably never drive. I grew to resent my condition even though God blessed me with tons of great and understanding friends, I still felt like a freak.
Through the years the Lord has taught me many valuable lessons about being DIFFERENT. Though they have never found a cure and though I probably will never drive, I now understand that He created me for His purpose. He had crafted me and I have peace in that. Do I get frustrated? You bet, but doesn't everyone get frustrated with one thing or the other about themselves? When those times come I count my blessings and walk on.

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