Yes, I have just now started my own blog and was inspired by our dear friend, Heather Lightfoot-Withrow when she began blogging about her children, especially Orion.  I thought since I have always wanted to be a writer of some sort and this is a good place to write my thoughts out loud.   



I really doubt I would have an audience but I hope for our friends to be checking in here from time to time to check us out.   However, for those who are interested but do not know us, I am going to briefly give you an idea of who we are.  I'm 34 years old young at heart woman born and raised in Wisconsin along with my two older deaf sisters whom I love with my whole heart.  My folks have been married for about 45 years and last I checked, they seemed to be recently married.  This is what I call a beautiful marriage, by the way :).   



Shell and me after MSD HC 2004



Five years ago, I gave birth to my beautiful daughter, Neva Shell Whittaker in Fulton, Missouri.  It was unfortunate that six months before the birth, I lost Neva's father to massive cardiac arrest in which his life was taken into God's hands.  The healing process would not have been possible if not for those who were there for me (parents, sisters, coworkers, and students at MSD, Fulton community, Meddra, Marla, Lori, Mandy, and Margie as well as the whole Whittaker clan). 

A month after Neva was born, I received word that I received full funding to return back to Gallaudet University to complete my Bachelor's degree and I jumped at the chance for many important reasons.  When we were settled in on campus, the years flew by so quickly that before I knew, it was May of 2010 and I was receiving my Masters.  It was one of the proudest moments in my life and I hope I made Neva proud.  I also hope that I have set an example for single mothers out there who want to reach as far as furthering their education that they CAN with determination and passion.  



The summer of 2010 was gruesome for me because I had no strong job prospects, my lease was up at the end of July and I had a child to raise.  The pressure was mounting up.   On June 28th, the day after my birthday, the Delaware School for the Deaf called and offered me a job.  Oh!  I cannot begin to describe to you the fleeting thoughts I have had at that moment.   I definitely cried a LOT and thanked God and lots of people who stuck by me through those years.   August 1st came, we left Washington, DC to move to Newark, DE.  I truly appreciated the years I was in DC and for those that I have become friends with or have grown to known, I've been blessed.  After few months of being here in Delaware and being with the DSD family, all I can say is that I hope I continue to do what I do here because I love everything about Delaware. 



Our most recent picutre 12/10