Author: Jessica Grono

Do you remember in January when we were full of hope and goals? Currently, you might be looking back at the past year with disappointment. Perhaps you needed to obtain all the goals that you intended. Now the year is almost complete, and you wish you had accomplished more. Please don’t worry! There are plenty of positive goals that you can obtain by January. I know it’s never too late to start or finish a dream—one day at a time and one goal at a time. But, sometimes, you can feel overwhelmed if you look at the big picture. Everyone…

Thanksgiving is a week away. How are you feeling? Are you excited, nervous, or just tired? No matter how you’re feeling, here is a Thanksgiving checklist. Read it over, regardless if you’re the host or guest. 1. Buy your turkey. Pay attention to how many guests are coming to dinner. I understand that it’s one pound per person. The amount of turkey probably depends on how much your guests eat. 2. If you have the turkey, ensure that you give it adequate time to defrost. Defrosting a turkey takes several days, so check that turkey. 3. Declutter the house now.…

Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. A magical and spiritual time of year is also stressful financially. Budgeting begins in January, and we will get that shortly. However, there are tricks to do now to help your money issues. Several stores have Black Friday sales in November. Keep your eye out for these stores. Also, social media has several pages with deals. They’re legitimate because I use them. In addition to social media, try Brad’s Deals and Deal News sites. They are both up-to-date and have excellent deals. Please remember that Christmas doesn’t mean going into debt. Christmas…

Pumpkin pie. Nothing speaks Thanksgiving more than pumpkin pie. I remember anticipating the taste of pumpkin pie every Thanksgiving sitting at my Mom-Mom’s dining room table. The fantastic sweet bite after a savory meal was worth every year’s wait. Pumpkin pie is my favorite pie to eat during the fall. What is your favorite? Even if cooking is out of your physical ability, I bet if you find a recipe, you can direct someone to bake. I loved Thanksgiving as a child. My grandmother was an excellent cook. Her house smelled like a delicious warm home that you never wanted…

Back in my high school days, I ignored the school marching band. I knew it existed, but I didn’t give it much thought. Now I regret it because I realize how much work it takes. I am a band parent. At the end of eighth grade, Laura received several emails to try out for the high school marching band color guard Undecided – we discussed it many times. I remember asking her if she has nothing to lose by attending the information meeting. Laura nervously went to the high school to the forum. To my surprise, Laura came home with…

Shopping is fun to do for yourself, but especially for other people. Christmas is approaching, so I want to share my favorite things. Specifically, this list is items that worked for me, having a disability. I hope it’ll help someone you know or yourself if you have a disability as well. IPads, iPhones, soft blankets and anything that makes life easier is always welcome!

Gratitude changes your life. Spend time dedicated to giving thanks. Journaling is an excellent way to think about why you’re thankful. Sometimes it’s challenging to find gratitude when life is hard. No matter what we do, life will be challenging at times. How we respond to the situation can make all the difference. I keep a gratitude journal. Some days I need to remember to write. When I remember to write in my gratitude journal, my mood is light. I’m happier because I know I have many things, people, and situations to be thankful.  My challenge for you is to…

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you were a child with cerebral palsy today? I recently took my son to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania for headaches. Being there made me think if I had cerebral palsy growing up, what would life be like for me? Has anything changed for athetoid cerebral palsy? I have athetoid cerebral palsy with a mixture of other types. Athetoid cerebral palsy is unpredictable. Muscles often take control of you regardless of what you would want. Sometimes I’m calm, but anything can set off involuntary movements. Weather changes, mood, sickness, emotions,…

The Phillies Baseball team went to the World Series and lost. They gave it a great shot but fell short toward the end. Yet, for a brief moment, the Philadelphia area had solidarity. Politics didn’t matter, race or anything else, when our sports teams were doing good. Politics are always at the front of many minds. For me, it’s difficult being a conservative in a liberal town. I can only be who I am. I’m used to being different, though, because of having cerebral palsy. Lately, when I teach, there are kids in the class who think how I speak…

Motherhood amazes me. The fact that a woman can create and assist in growing a remarkable human life blows my mind. As a young girl, I loved babies. They’re not only cute but fascinating in how they learn and grow so fast. Women have a powerful gift, and I’m lucky to be a woman. Each Mother’s Day is different. One year, Jason wanted to give me his present because he didn’t understand the concept of a family present to me. My friend, who works as my attendant, took him to a place that sells produce and flowers so that he…