May is Better Hearing and Speech Month

          Did you know that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month? Chances are that you probably didn’t. (Unless you are a SLP or an Au.D) And just in case you don’t know what those stand for: a SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist and  Au.D is an Audiologist. And as it turns out, I just so happen to be a SLP. Better Hearing and Speech Month is dedicated to raising awareness about communication/hearing disorders. Since it is May, I thought it would be fun to explain a little about my chosen career!

          Speech-language pathologists, aka speech therapists, speech teachers, etc. are professionals who evaluate and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders. They can work with individuals from all stages of life: birth-geriatrics.  Places of employment for SLPs include hospitals, nursing homes, schools, private practices, etc. As you can probably imagine, speech-language pathology is a very broad field! Here are some disorders that SLPs treat:

-         Articulation disorder: this occurs when a child substitutes one sound for another sound. Ex: wabbit for rabbit or tat for cat

-         Phonological disorder: this is an impairment in the rules of a sound system. Ex: omitting ending sounds in words

-         Fluency disorders: aka stuttering

-         Voice disorders: this occurs when there is an impairment in the volume, quality, resonance of the voice. Ex: sounding hoarse or like they are talking through the nose

-         Language disorders: impairment in learning language or loss of language skills due to trauma or illness

-         Swallowing disorders: because SLPs study the musculature of the speech mechanism (tongue, larynx-Adam’s apple) and those are the same muscles used in chewing and swallowing, they also treat swallowing disorders.

Speech-language pathologists may work with babies who have an impairment with swallowing which could be caused from a variety of reasons such as cleft palate, prematurity, or certain syndromes (ex. Down Syndrome). They work with children who have difficulty with any of the above communication disorders. They may also work with children who have communication disorders because of developmental delays, autism, syndromes, hearing loss, etc. They may work with adults who have traumatic brain injuries, strokes, degenerative illnesses (ex. Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, etc.), laryngectomies (having the Adam’s apple removed), etc. They may work with adults who speak different languages and have an accent on accent reduction and also with transgender adults who want to change their voice (completely unexpected, right?!) I’m going to stop here, but this list could go on and on!  

So that explains a little about the field of speech-language pathology and communication disorders. I’m sure you don’t think about all of the aspects of your communication skills on a regular basis, but if you can communicate you are blessed! Muscles have to coordinate at just the right time and move to a very precise area every time you speak. And to have the ability to think and know what you want to say and how you want to say it! Don’t take this for granted. Use it to encourage those around you and to praise God!

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29 NLT

“And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” Colossians 3:17 The Message

A Day Among the Animals

          One of the perks of working at a school is sometimes I get asked to go on field trips. Such was the case the other day when I was informed that I would be going to the zoo. I was excited because I would be getting a break from my typical work schedule and because I had not been to a zoo in a really long time. Like 15 years to be exact. I really enjoyed seeing all the different animals. Here are some pictures I snapped. Enjoy!

Mr. Orangutan

 Family-the baby was so cute!

 Just hanging out

 Flamingos-my childhood fave!

 I think this one was drinking a Coke :)

 Ostrich

Panda chowing down on bamboo

Eagle-the mascot of every school I've been to :) 

 Beautiful Jaguar

 Meerkats

Can't remember this one but I thought it was neat

 EEK!

 Mr. Popper's Penguins (btw- I thought penguins liked cold weather)

Komodo dragon

A Great Treasure

          I am so thankful for my sweet Mama! She is a wonderful mother and friend. When I was younger, she always took care of me when I was sick, helped me with problems, encouraged me when I was down, taught me right from wrong and so much more! She still has a great impact on my life. I know she loves me and prays for me. I thank the Lord for giving me a Christian mother who loves Jesus. He is the reason she is a great woman and mother. Without her love, support, and guidance, I would not be who I am today. What greater treasure is there than a mother who leads and points her children to Jesus? So, thank you, Mama and Happy Mother’s Day!!! To God be the Glory!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EFFIE!

Today marks a milestone in my sweet little puppy Effie’s life. She is one year old and has thankfully survived living with me this long, ha!

Yes, I put a party hat on her. Because I think it is funny. And she is cute in it.

This time last year, I had lived at my apartment for two years. I really didn’t have any neighbors and still didn’t have any friends or know very many people here. It’s hard at times being away from your friends and family. I’m really good at entertaining myself but still was lonely at times. <Enter the idea of getting a puppy.> I have two friends who have Yorkies, but I had always wanted a Maltese. The Maltese is a small, friendly, companion dog, which is exactly what I needed! So, I started my search!

            I drove to one lady’s house, ready to walk out with my cute little puppy. However, when I saw her, she seemed sick and wasn’t very active. (the puppy, that is) I was not about to buy a sick puppy, so I passed on her. Apparently Maltese are not very popular. To my surprise, I had more leads on them from Ebay. So, I had plans to stop by a breeder on my way to my parent’s one weekend. By this time, I had started second-guessing myself. “Dogs are expensive. They are a huge responsibility.” I never realized how indecisive I am! But, to be honest, it is probably good to really think about big purchases and if you really want something. Well, because of said indecisiveness, I backed out on stopping to see those puppies.

            I had pretty much talked myself out of a puppy when on the last weekend I was going to be home, my mom saw an ad in the paper: MALTESE, 3 BOYS, 1 GIRL. Well, I knew I wanted the girl. But, my indecisiveness was creeping up again! I just knew the girl would be taken already, but when we called she was still available! We made plans to go look at her. My mom still makes fun of me to this day about the way I was acting. “I’m so nervous; my heart is beating so fast! Mom, I need a code word if you think she looks sick or something.” It really is funny that I acted so silly about it. When the lady arrived, I took one look at her and knew I would get her. My mom couldn’t believe that I committed to buying her so quickly! She was just so cute! 

            I knew all along that I wanted to name her Effie. A lot of people ask me where I got that name or tell me that it was their grandmother’s name. (To which I respond, “Aw, I’m sorry!”) But the truth is I have a unique interest in names. I sometimes read name lists and apparently found this one on the internet a long time ago. I could just picture my future puppy named Effie. I gave her the middle name Ona because the last syllable in Effie, /fee/ + Ona= Fiona, which means white. And Maltese are solid white except the eyes and nose. (Remember, I said I have a unique interest in names!)

          I was very strict with house training her, and it worked! She thankfully goes to the door when she needs to go out and has ever since she was really little. She also knows how to sit, shake, high five, lie down, speak, and roll over. She has also had quite a few close calls in her short life like the time she ate cocoa powder and had to go to the ER, and the time she jumped out of the car at a gas station and I had to chase her down, and the time she got away from me when I was taking out the trash and I had to chase her through the parking lot. We even had a coyote look straight at us at the apartment complex one night when I first got her. Needless to say, we ran back upstairs ASAP! I have been paranoid about them ever since!

            So, every reason I could think of for not getting a puppy turned out to be true. Dogs are expensive and are a huge responsibility. However, I would not trade Effie for the world! She is so lovable and a lot of fun. She is always up for playing and hanging out with me. She makes me laugh every day, and who doesn’t like to laugh? She also has helped me meet several people in my area. When I got Effie, she became sort of the icebreaker. I guess she made me more approachable and gave me something to talk about. My best friend even thinks I’m more outgoing now! I love meeting new people and making friends and probably wouldn’t have without her. One couple I met was even inspired to get their own cute, little Maltese! (Score! :) This past year has by far been the best yet here. And not just because of Effie, but she has definitely brightened my life! 

Be Ready!

            A few days ago, I woke up early from a slightly stressful dream. I dreamed that it was my wedding day. I was getting ready and realized that I apparently failed to plan everything! My dress was old and tattered. My veil was hideous and did not match my dress at all. It was more like a long floor length hat with jewels on it. I couldn’t get my hair to style right. When I looked in the mirror, I looked absolutely awful. Also, my dad didn’t know if his suit matched the groom’s suit. Nothing was coordinated. I had not prepared at all! To top it all off, I was running late for my own wedding. I was so embarrassed. I was ashamed of myself. How could I not plan better-to look beautiful for my soon to be husband? I was afraid he would take one look at me and say, “No, I’m not marrying you! Get away from me!” I realize this was just a dream, but I have very realistic dreams sometimes. This dream was just stressing me out, ha!

            Well, as you can imagine, I finally woke up from this dream. As I was reflecting on it, I remembered that the Bible refers to the church as the bride and Jesus is the Bridegroom. It dawned on me that when I meet Jesus (whether I die or He comes back), I want to be ready to meet Him! I want to be beautiful for Him! How can I do this? Not by following a list of dos and don’ts, but by knowing Him. After all, what bride doesn’t intimately know the groom and want to spend time with him? In the same way, I need to know Jesus and spend time with Him. By doing this, He will make me beautiful by making me more like Him. I don’t want to be like I was in my dream- Ashamed that I didn’t prepare myself for my groom. I do not want to hear Jesus say the words I was afraid my groom in my dream would say. But Jesus warned that He would say these words to some: “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:23) I cannot even imagine how terrible being separated from Jesus for eternity could be. I know that I won’t be separated from Him, because He gave his life for my sins and I have given my life to Him and have a relationship with Him. I pray my relationship with Him grows more every day and that I become more like Him so that I will be beautiful when I see Him face to face.

            “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Let’s all Be Ready!!!

Chronicles of a Non-dater

     My name is Candace and I am a non-dater. Yes, I said it…I’m a non-dater. Let me clarify. By non-dater, I don’t mean that I choose not to date or even that I don’t want to date. In my case, it is simply the fact that few have asked me for a date. I can count on two hands (or maybe just one, ha!) the number of dates I have had in my lifetime. And those were blind dates at that. Lame, I know. Most of the time, I’m okay with this. But, to be honest, sometimes it does get to me. What girl doesn’t want a cute, cool guy to like her and want to spend time with her? So sometimes, when I see a guy I think may actually be into me and he doesn’t ask me out, it makes me feel unworthy. Like I’m not good enough or pretty enough or interesting enough. And that is when it gets to me. I don’t like to feel this way. But, that is when I realize, I’m not just a non-dater. I’m also a daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, employee, and Christian. And as a Christian, I know my purpose and fulfillment in this life is not found in whether or not I go out on dates, get a boyfriend, get married, and have children. My ultimate purpose in this life is to know Jesus Christ personally and worship Him. How awesome is that?! I certainly know I’m not worthy of Him. I’ve messed up so many times, and He lived a sinless life and laid it down for me anyway. Just so I could have a relationship with Him. So ultimately, what does it matter if I go on dates or not? Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” So I hope to do just that! Instead of focusing on what I don’t have, I’m going to live my life to the full, praising Him along the way!!! I love the life He has given me, and I want to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way. Life is a journey, not a destination, right? This is my life, these are my chronicles. To God be the Glory!