Burning Questions

June 24, 2008

As you might already know, I’ve put together a page called “Julie’s Q&A” where I’ve answered some of the most common questions that people ask me. Well, in the past few months, I’ve received some more questions from various people, and I decided to devote a post to answering some of them. Here we go…

Have you seen the show “Little People, Big World”?
Yes, I have. It’s a very interesting show! I think it has really helped our society because it shows that little people are really no different than people of average height. The challenges we have to overcome are a bit different than most, but the point is that we all deal with some sort of challenge, and at the end of the day, we are all the same.

How do you keep from stepping on your cat?
(This question was asked by an elementary school student, and I thought it was a good one!)
Max is a dark colored cat and our carpet is light. So, there is enough of a contrast between him and the floor that I can usually see him with the small amount of vision I have. But most of the time, I know where he is because he has a name tag on his collar that jingles when he walks.

Is traveling hard for you?
Sometimes. I like my house because I know where all the furniture is, and I can reach everything that I need. I have step stools, light switches down low, etc. So, when I go out of town and stay somewhere new, I sometimes have a hard time. It takes me a little while to learn where everything is because I can’t see furniture too well. I also have trouble reaching the sink at hotels and other people’s houses, so sometimes I’ll stand on a chair to brush my teeth. If that doesn’t work, I’ll pretend the bathtub is a sink and lean over it to brush my teeth. Even though it’s hard sometimes, I still like to travel and visit new places.

How do you know where you are in your house? Do you count steps?
No, I don’t count steps, but I do sort of have a subconscious way of knowing right where I am. I am always walking around the house barefoot because that’s one way that I can tell. For example, there is tile on our kitchen floor, and a rug by the front door. I use those clues to help me stay on track. I do count sometimes when I’m going up or down the stairs. We have 16 steps in our staircase.

Do you dream in color?
I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure that when I dream, I see things the same way I do when I’m awake. My dreams are often fuzzy, with no colors or details. I experience my dreams primarily through sounds and voices.

How do you organize your money?
I have a system of folding bills so that I can tell what they are. Ones are not folded at all, fives are folded in half, tens are folded twice, and twenties are folded horizontally. I also have a wallet that has different compartments in it, and I use those to separate my bills. Change is easy to identify because all the coins are different sizes, and they have different edges.

Do you know what you or any of your friends look like?
I have a vague idea of what I look like. I kind of remember seeing myself when I was younger, but I’m sure I’ve changed a lot since then! As far as my friends and family go, most of the time I know the facts about their appearance, like whether their hair is light or dark. But, I’m never totally sure of what they look like. The good thing about me is that I will never judge you by your appearance.

Did they have to make special accommodations for you in high school?
Yes, my school district was really helpful when it came to making things accessible for me. I had a special desk on wheels that was rolled from class to class, a custom built chair (along with a step stool to climb up into the chair) in every classroom, a laptop computer with screen reading software so I could take notes and do my homework and tests on it, a printer, Braille books, books on tape, and an aide who sometimes sat in class with me if I needed extra help. It was all very helpful, but sometimes all that equipment isolated me from the other kids in my class.

Who do you look up to?
My mom is the most incredible person I know. She is full of so much wisdom, and I am constantly learning from her, even when she doesn’t realize she is teaching me anything.

How do you get ready in the morning? Do you need help?
Generally speaking, I’m pretty independent. I do need help making sure my clothes match, so my mom usually helps me with that. Besides my wardrobe, I can do everything else on my own. I can put on my make-up by feel. It’s nice because I never need to use a mirror.

How does being blind effect your social life?
My vision effects my social life in many different ways. Some of them are things that most people don’t even think about. For example, when I meet someone for the first time, I try to be the first one to put my hand out for them to shake. Otherwise, it can be really awkward because I can’t see if the other person has their hand out to me, or where it is. If it ever seems like I’m being rude or ignoring you, please know that I’m not trying to! I just can’t see you. Also, I am fairly good at recognizing people that I know by their voices, but it’s a lot harder than it is when you can see someone’s face. Faces are much more distinct than voices, so sometimes I have trouble figuring out who I’m talking to. This is especially true if I don’t see the person a lot, or if they’re in a different place than where I normally see them. (For example, if I see someone that I know from church when I’m at the mall, I might not recognize their voice right away.) A common question that people ask me is: “Do you remember me?” That is a really hard one for me, because I don’t always know who I’m talking to! If you’d like to help me out, it would be great if you would say, “Hey Julie, it’s ___ (Insert your name here).” Introduce yourself the same way you would if we were on the phone, and that way I’ll definitely know who you are. Thank you! There are other ways that my social life is impacted, but those are the biggest ones. Maybe I’ll talk about more of them in the future.

Is it hard to eat? How do you know where the food is on your plate?
Eating without seeing your food can be quite a challenge! (I dare you to get out a blind fold and try it sometime. Let me know how it goes.) Sometimes my friends or family will help me by saying “Okay, your chicken is at 3 o’clock, your rice is at 6 o’clock” etc. I think the hardest food to eat is salad, because lettuce comes in so many different shapes and sizes, and you never know exactly what’s on your fork. For me, the toughest part of eating is cutting my food. There are two main reasons why I have trouble: 1. My arms are shorter than average, and it’s hard to reach my plate and maneuver a knife and fork. and 2. I can’t see what I’m trying to cut. I am very grateful to my family and friends who are always willing and able to help me cut and manage my food. Thank you!

This concludes tonight’s interview. If you have any more questions, I’d be happy to answer them for you. Just leave a comment, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks, and have a fabulous day!


Good Advice

May 21, 2008

“Never criticize a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. That way, when he finds out about it, you’ll be a mile away and you’ll have his shoes.”


Baby Ashlynne Rules The World

April 26, 2008

My niece Ashlynne is about to turn one. How is that possible? She is going to start walking any minute now. Seriously? She has started saying “Mama” and “Da Da”. I’m hoping that her next word will be “Ju Ju”! I’ll be sure to tell you when she masters that one!

I was there the night she was born. I stood on a wobbly chair and peeked through the window, trying to catch a glimpse of her as Jeremy brought her into the hospital nursery. Of course my vision impairment prevented me from actually seeing her, so I had to rely on the descriptions of the other five family members that were crowded around the window.

“I’ve never seen so much dark hair!” and “Look at how tiny she is!”

I couldn’t see her, but I could definitely hear her! There is nothing like the sound of a newborn baby crying. But this wasn’t just any baby…This was MY baby! I fell in love with her the moment we found out she was growing inside Kristin’s tummy, and the love grew stronger when her cry reached my ears. We went to visit Mommy and Baby the next morning, and I watched as my mom held her in her arms. Every little noise she made melted my heart into a puddle. Every coo, hiccup and sneeze seemed like the cutest sound in the world. No baby could possibly be as sweet as Ashlynne Denise. Later that night, I held her for the first time. I gently traced my finger around her tiny ear, her little hands and feet, and her itty bitty nose. I stroked her little head and felt the massive amounts of black hair that everyone was raving about. She was perfect. Over the next few weeks, she and I got better acquainted, and I treasured every minute that she spent in my arms. She gradually grew bigger until the sad day came when I couldn’t hold her anymore. I watched in awe as she gained new skills and passed big milestones. When she was three months old, she surprised us all by revealing that she had a very big giggle tucked away inside that little body. To this day, her giggles can make an entire room full of people go into hysterics! She is so hilarious!

I will never forget the night we celebrated her first Christmas. She had just mastered the art of crawling and was cruising around our living room. I was sitting on the floor nearby, watching her play with her new toys. All of a sudden, she crawled right over to me, pulled herself up and wrapped her little arms around my neck. Our first hug!! I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present!

As time continues on, she continues to amaze me. Like when she got her picture taken with the Easter Bunny. All the other babies in the mall cried when they saw that big floppy eared rabbit. But not my Ashlynne. She looked up at the bunny and burst out laughing! It was a perfect picture.

As we approach her first birthday, I just wanted to tell you that I am hopelessly in love with my baby. I cherish every second that I am with her, every sound that comes from her little mouth, and every time my fingers get to touch her soft baby skin. I know that the older she gets, the more fun we’ll have together. In about a year she’ll be as tall as I am, and not long after that, her little hands will be the same size as mine. I can’t wait to teach her our favorite songs. I can’t wait to swim with her in our pool, take her to the park, and watch The Little Mermaid with her. I long for the day when we will make cookies and cupcakes with MiMi Karen in the kitchen. My heart beats faster in anticipation of the fun we will have in the next few years.

I love you, Peanut. Happy Birthday!


Julie’s Joke of the Day

April 19, 2008

Q. What do you call a test tube that gets his diploma?
A. A graduated cylinder!

(I’d like to dedicate this goofy joke to my friend Monica who just graduated from college! You go girl!)


Jack Attack

April 15, 2008

I have been watching so much 24 lately. My family and I started with season 1 last year, and we just finished season 4 last week. We are so addicted. I don’t know how Jack Bauer always manages to save the world! He’s pretty amazing! If you’ve never seen the show, I have to warn you. Don’t start watching unless you think you can handle it. It gets pretty stressful! What did we do before TV shows were released on DVD? I don’t remember what life was like back then.


Good Fortune

April 12, 2008

I recently went to a Chinese restaurant, and when the fortune cookies arrived at our table, my friend Alyssa read my fortune to me. The tiny piece of paper said:
“You will become more passionate about your vision.”
How ironic that a blind girl would get that fortune!! Talk about a double meaning!!


Biker Chick

April 7, 2008

We’re still having lovely weather in our neighborhood, and I have found yet another way to enjoy it! A couple of weeks ago, we bought a little trailer that hooks onto a bicycle. It’s really meant for kids, but I fit into it pretty easily. I suppose that’s one more advantage to being 3 feet tall! Rob hooks the trailer (AKA “my chariot”) onto his bike, and he pulls me behind him. My mom rides her bike too, and we all go on great adventures together! We have these fabulous bike trails in our neighborhood that wind around through the trees. You feel like you’re out in the forest, surrounded by the splendors of nature. I love listening to the songs of the birds, smelling the sweet fragrance of flowers, and feeling the cool breezes on my face. It’s so nice to be tucked away in my little tent on wheels! We’ve taken trips to the store, the park, and other various places around town. We’re thinking about conducting a little Candid Camera experiment someday. When I’m sitting in my chariot, it’s hard for people to really see me in there. Most people probably think I’m a baby or a small child. If someone walks over to the trailer to “see the baby”, I might just have to say something really intelligent, just to see how they react! “So, what’s your view on the issue of global warming?”


My Book Club

March 31, 2008

One thing you need to know about me is that I am passionately in love with books. I am so enamored with the English language! I really enjoy reading fictional stories, inspirational books, things that make me think more deeply about life, and books that draw me closer to my Father God. Because I‘m a writer, I feel like I have a deeper love for the written word than the average person. My heart jumps for joy as I read a well-written, fascinating book. My spirit comes alive as I discover the many different ways that words and phrases are put together to form sentences. I may not be able to physically see print, but through the miracle of Braille and the wide variety of audio books available, I can still enjoy my most treasured hobby. Not every book that I want to read is in Braille or audio format, so I sometimes rely on my family to read to me. Every once in a while, I’m going to update you on the latest books I’ve been reading. I’ve always wanted to start a book club, but the logistics are a little tough. I know that most people don’t have enough time to devote to reading and discussing books. So, I’ve decided to just list the books I’m reading at the moment, and if you’ve read any of them, (or if you want to read any of them) and you would like to talk about them with me, feel free to leave a comment. I’ll either answer you here on my blog, or I’ll send you an email. Here are the books I’ve been reading lately:

The Search For Significance
By Robert S. McGee
I have been listening to this book during my devotional time, and I’ve learned a lot from it. It’s very eye opening, and I definitely recommend it. It has helped me to see my life from a totally new perspective.

Redeeming Love
By Francine Rivers
I absolutely LOVE this book! I think it is a must read for all women. The story is based on the book in the Bible called Hosea, but it is set in the mid 1800’s. The story itself is breath taking, but the insight you gain from reading it can change your life.

Mansfield Park
By Jane Austen
I love Jane Austen, and it is my goal to read every novel she has written. (There are 6 of them.) I am reading this one in Braille which is a bit challenging sometimes because of all the unfamiliar words. I just started it a few days ago, and I am really enjoying it so far.

The Kingdom Keepers
By Ridley Pearson
I chose to listen to this book because it’s a fictional story about kids that visit Walt Disney World when the park is closed at night. It’s meant for kids and teens, but I’m enjoying it. It’s total fantasy, but cute.

Tribulation Force
Left Behind series, book #2
By Tim LaHaye
I have read quite a few books from the Left Behind series in the past, but I’ve never read all 12 of them, so I decided to start over and try to make it all the way through this time! I really love this one. It’s got adventure, humor, romance, and some exciting plot twists!

Flat Cats and Fried Chicken
By Holly Chapa
We’re reading this book as a family and we have all been very touched by it. It is written by an acquaintance of ours who is a missionary in Australia. She writes about her husband’s death on the mission field, and how she and her 3 small children have gotten through the tough times. It’s a very inspirational story!

These are the books that I have been reading over the past few weeks. They have challenged me, entertained me, educated me and inspired me to become a better writer as well as a better version of myself. I’d love to know if you’ve discovered any good books lately, or who your favorite authors are.

Welcome to my book club!


A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood!

March 25, 2008

We are having the most gorgeous weather!! It’s been in the 60’s and 70’s during the day, and the 50’s at night. PERFECT!!! I’ve been spending as much time outside as I can. I’ve been sitting on our porch swing a lot, enjoying the lovely breeze, and drinking in the sunshine. We have also gone for lots of walks around the neighborhood in the past few days. And, I’d like to report that Sunday night, I walked all the way around the block….AGAIN!!!! Yay!!
Happy Spring!!!


Happy Easter!

March 22, 2008

Happy Easter!!!! Jesus is alive!!!! Celebrate!!!!!! My redeemer lives!! The tomb is empty!!