#howwethrive

[eternallystoked]

Excellent question - "What would happen if you stopped asking, “God, WHY am I going through this?” and started asking, “God, WHAT are you #preparing #me for?” @stevenfurtick - Just thinking about this brings a sense of excitement and #purpose. God has so much more for us and wants to use us. So be available to God's plan and not limited by your situation. The impossible #possibleawaits! #motivationmonday - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers (at Tidal Basin)

[eternallstoke]

#WakeUp with a SHOUT of #PRAISE! #howwethrive • #lagunabeach #mylagunabeach #pacificocean #lategram

[letterstothrive]

Letters to Thrive: Your Prince Charming Rides a Wheelchair

[image: Mandy, short dark hair and glasses, cuddles with Bill, both smiling]

Dear Freshman Mandy,

The last few months were a trial of your strength and emotions. You see, that guy you met at a community service buddy program, you somehow have feelings for. And you don't know why.

You've been fearful around guys since you were in high school. You never got to date because you kept yourself secluded in your Neopets games and obsessions for 80's pop culture. You could read men like a book, and knew you would be hurt if you even tried. It wasn't worth the aggravation, nobody wanted to date the legally blind girl. And you knew it.

A few months ago, you met Bill as a way to gain service hours and find a distraction from the classes you were taking at the time. When Bill called you the first time, you were freaked out a bit by his over friendliness. You only met the guy less than 24 hours ago, and he takes the first step to invite you on a trip to the movies where he worked as an usher.

"But....he's....special....." You think to yourself, knowing the man uses a wheelchair and has a bit of developmental delay that according to your roommate, reminded her of Forrest Gump. Your family has high expectations for you to find that college soulmate, get married, and have babies. You try to keep things civil with Bill, but fate had other plans.

You fought hard to break that feelings. But tonight, you had your first kiss. And right now, you're sitting in your dorm trying to talk yourself out of those feelings with your roomie.

Well, sweetie. Life will be one big adventure for you and Bill that will stretch well into the next decade and beyond.

You'll start dating him in secret, trying to hide your relationship from your roommate and your family but to no avail. But you kept at it all freshman year and well into your college life.

As you and Bill became closer, you soon realized that this relationship would help you find your voice in self advocacy. Bill, unknown to many who see him at first, was a member of the board to a self advocacy group, and gave many speeches and workshops in his life by sharing his story on how he got to where he is today despite what others told him he couldn't do.

Bill helped you find your voice by tricking you into presenting a shoebox of your favorite things to a room of about 100 or so strangers at one of those conferences. By doing so, you learned it was OK to be different.

But college came to an end and a so called normal man came into your life, which led you to a crossroads. Do I do what's right for my family, or follow my heart instead?

You will find yourself taking the easy way out, which sadly leads you on a path of trying to figure out what was best for you. Turned out that what people thought was best for you wasn't necessarily the right choice. Society's prince for you turned out to be a toad.

You go through 7 years away from the man who changed your life, but he always found a way to contact you, even in your darkest moments. He never gave up on you.

You will travel the country in search of meaning, at one point chasing a childhood dream of working for Disney, making your grand escape on the road to finding yourself. Disney will be a blessing, promoting you and eventually allowing you full time status.

You will work harder each day, seperating yourself from the normal man society wanted you to have and accepting the fact that destiny played a big part in finding your soulmate. You will eventually board a plane with the paid vacation hours you accrued to be back in his loving arms once again.

In a world where society expects you to be a certain way, you will learn that it's OK to beat to a different drum and that it's actually fun to take chances and find your true happiness.

You will also learn that your Prince Charming doesn't have to ride a white stallion and you don't need to have that fairy tale ending everyone wants for you. You will learn to write your own chapter.

You have each other, and that's all you need.

Your happily ever after may differ due to complications regarding your prince's care and the long distance you have in between. But you are currently making the most of it pulling Cinderella hours and talking through the Magic Mirror known as Skype.

Your fairy tale is just begining, princess. Don't settle for less, because what society may label as less might actually be more than you ever imagined. Rule your own kingdom, and most importantly, love yourself the way your Prince sees you.

Make your own happily ever after. You have the pen, you have the power within. Make your story worthwhile and never be afraid to share it with the world.

Stay royal,

Mandy at age 30.

Mandy Ree Legally Blind Bagged http://legallyblindbagged.wordpress.com

[wwwpronutritionconsultingcom]

Mission Complete! Thanks to my #triathlon training partner @amygriffithexercisingbalance Can't wait for our next #challenge #howwethrive #Tri harder #yesyoucan #pronutritionconsulting (at Lake Erie, Pa. Presque Isle)

[eternallystoked]

Amber Waves of Grain 🇺🇸#americathebeautiful #washingtondc #unionstation - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #dcarchitecture (at Union Station, Washington D.C.)

[eternallystoked]

Flew in the opposite direction giving us a view of the #nationalharbor and the #mgmgrand. #iflyalaska - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #dcarchitecture #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers (at National Harbor, Maryland)

[eternallystoked]

The Ocean's Pulse • As I walk closer the ocean fills my senses. Something about the salty air makes my #heart skip and fuels a #passion so deep that can't be explained. The deeper I step into the water, my #purpose ignites as I feel the #ocean pulse. - “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” John‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭MSG‬‬ - #pacificocean #lowertrestles #Trestles #theoc #christiansurfers #orangecounty #hurleypro #acreativedc #dcphotographer #igdc #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers (at Trestles)

[eternallystoked]

“Now may the God of #peace Himself #sanctify you through and through [that is, 👉🏻 separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you #pure and whole and undamaged--consecrated to Him--👉🏻set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord #Jesus Christ. 1 THESSALONIANS‬ ‭5:23‬ ‭AMP‬‬ - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #dcarchitecture #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers (at Glover Park)

[eternallystoked]

#OnLocation • Be where the #action is happening. God needs us to be on location. He wants us to be where he needs us. Too many times we get lost due to the clutter of our #atmosphere. The moment is now. Don't let #opportunity pass you by. #Capture the moment for which God made you. - #iphoneart #shotoniphone #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers #streetperformer #fotoweekdc2017 (at Cathedral Heights)

[eternallystoked]

as·cribe əˈskrīb/ attribute something to a cause. 🌒 “#Ascribe to #theLORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD #glory and #strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; #Worship the LORD in the #beauty and #majesty of His #holiness [as the #creator and source of holiness].” PSALM‬ ‭29:1-2‬ ‭AMP - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #washingtondc #dc #dcchasers #lovewins #solareclipse #solareclipse2017 (at National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution)

[eternallystoked]

SUPERMAN is ready. #solareclipse #washingtondc - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers @capitalweather

[eternallystoked]

A little bit of #city and a little bit of #country • The #crosswalk at Connecticut Ave NW & @smithsonianzoo blended with @butlersorchard #flowers and #butterfly 📸Prints available for $25 - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers #itsamazingoutthere #iphoneart #vsco #enlight (at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

[eternallystoked]

Spiritually Mixed Up - How many influencers are we letting feed our soul? What kind of high end spiritual cocktail are we siping on? 🤔 Just something I've been thinking about. More to come... - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers (at Peirce Mill)

[eternallystoked]

O Lord thank you for this beautiful reminder of your #promises. ⛈🌞🌈#rainbow - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers (at Cathedral Heights)

[eternallystoked]

"I invite the people of the #UnitedStates (on Aug 6)... to invoke the influence of His #HolySpirit... to guide the counsels of the government with #wisdom adequate to so great a national emergency, and to visit with tender care and consolation throughout the length and breadth of our land all those who, through the vicissitudes of marches, voyages, battles, and sieges have been brought to suffer in mind, body, or estate, and finally to lead the whole nation 👉🏻through the paths of repentance and submission to the Divine will back to the perfect enjoyment of union and internal #peace." #AbrahamLincoln National Proclamation [July 15, 1863] - - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #dcarchitecture #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers (at Lincoln Memorial)

[eternallystoked]

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." #AbrahamLincoln • #LIVE #LIFE #totheMAX! - - #acreativedc #dcfocused #dcphotographer #igdc #mydccool #fotodc #howwethrive #canon6d #canonphotography #mycanonstory #dcarchitecture #washingtondc #dc #itsamazingoutthere #dcchasers (at Lincoln Memorial)