Carly's Voice

I'm not much of a book reader but this book is different. 

About the Book:
At the age of two, Carly Fleischmann was diagnosed with severe autism and an oral motor condition that prevented her from speaking. Doctors predicted that she would never intellectually develop beyond the abilities of a small child. Although she made some progress after years of intensive behavioral and communication therapy, Carly remained largely unreachable. Then, at the age of ten, she had a breakthrough.

While working with her devoted therapists Howie and Barb, Carly reached over to their laptop and typed in "HELP TEETH HURT," much to everyone's astonishment. This was the beginning of Carly's journey toward self-realization.

Pooch Party

Yesterday, the Charlotte Checkers held a pooch party.   Fans were allowed to bring their dogs to the hockey game.  I borrowed this picture from The Charlotte Observer.  It is a Great Pyrenees....just like our Sadie was. 

The Checkers have been tweeting some really cute photos of the canines watching the game.  I just had to show you this Bernese Mountain Dog that looks a little pooped from all of the festivities. 

Looks like someone is "dog tired".  Who knows, maybe I'll have a four-legged hockey fan to take with me next year.   

O Say Can You See...

I rarely watch MLS (I'm a hockey girl), but I always get goosebumps when their fans sing the National Anthem. Watch this and you'll see what I mean...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For your St. Patty's Day viewing pleasure here is last night's "Riverdance" performance by Chubby Checker and the Checkmates.  You'll have to wait a few seconds before the big polar bear comes out onto the ice.

Population Me

I've been slack with my blogging lately!  I pretty much had to work all of last weekend and so I've been spending every free moment NOT at the computer. :-) 

Lately I've been struggling with selfishness.....It's all about me.   I was driving home from work the other day and I heard a song that I had not heard in a while but needed to hear. It really spoke to me right there in my car.  Here are the lyrics and the video if you are interested.....

My Own Little World

In my own little world it hardly ever rains,
I’ve never gone hungry; always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket
shoes on my feet
In my own little world
Population me

I try to stay awake through the Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give ’til it hurts
and I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see
it’s easy to do when it’s population me


What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose
I could be living right now,
outside my own little world?


Stopped at a red light, looked out my window
Outside the car, saw a sign, said “Help this homeless widow”
Just above this sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, “God, what have I been doing?”


So I rolled down my window and I looked her in the eye
Oh how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money then I drove on through
in my own little world there’s Population two...


Father break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me