dis·a·bil·i·ty
1. A physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.
2. A disadvantage or handicap.

The word disability is a hard one. The term can refer to countless conditions and situations, most of which are life-altering for the individuals affected. It has become a label, often replacing the individuality of the person it defines. Many times, the biggest obstacle faced by a person with a disability, is overcoming the stigma attached to that description.

In our family, disability is a word that simply describes something to conquer. My mother, Becky Guinn, is a a brilliant artist and teacher. She brightens the lives of everyone that comes in contact with her and serves as an encouragement and inspiration for people around the world. She is also a quadruple amputee. The loss of her arms and legs was a horrific event in all of our lives. However, she never stopped long enough to be defined by that loss. The things that made her an amazing woman before are still the same and the strength that allowed her prevail is quick to outshine any visible disability.

Being a quadruple amputee is not a common situation and finding people and families that can relate to our needs and concerns has not been easy. Because of this, I will never forget attending my first baseball game with CAST ministries. As we approached the group, we quickly saw that a majority of members were amputees. Everyone was welcoming, gracious, and having a wonderful time. For once, mom fit in better than we did and it was truly a fabulous evening. I have no idea who won the game (or even who played), but I remember loving the entire experience.

Because of this, I was thrilled to join CAST Ministries‘ for their 3rd Annual Walk, Run, & Roll Benefit and Health Fair. This was a wonderful event for families and supported a truly inspiring organization. The day began with a one mile family fun run which preceded the main 5K run. The focus of the day was disability awareness and many organizations joined the event to provide information to attendees. Inflatables, a maze, wheelchair races, a Birds of Prey show, and guest Storm Troopers kept the crowds very entertained throughout the morning.

The most inspiring moment of the day was when the final participant of the 1 mile race came across the finish line. The 5K race had already begun and I was running around with my camera trying to catch shots of my family, who had separated and spread out all over the course. I happened to glance over at the finish line, as a crowd gathered to see the first race come to an end. I remembered seeing the man headed down that last stretch of track as the race began. He passed by long after everyone else and slowly walked with a friend for support. I had honestly forgotten about the first race with the excitement of the start for the second and certainly hadn’t realized that it was not quite over. As he came toward the finish line, the power of that moment hit me.

This man had taken every step of this race with determination and perseverance. Each time his foot lifted and returned to the ground, he was a step closer to his final goal. He didn’t care about who had passed him or the speed of his race, he simply set his goal and took one step at a time to achieve it. There were many other participants who overcame many personal obstacles that day. The finish line in this race became much more than a judge of speed. In the end, it wasn’t about how quickly you finished, but about the journey to the goal.

Watching the final moments of this race, I realized…

- You can only experience the elation of crossing a finish line if you set a goal and enter the race.
- The people that pass you have no affect on your ability to cross the finish line.
- Sometimes, the most important part of a race is the journey there.
- True friendship is found in the people who walk at your pace and encourage you along the way.

Life can change in a moment. It is easy to take for granted that tomorrow you will be able to run, speak, see, and move through the day as you always have before. However, it is not guaranteed. We cannot know what obstacles we will have to face in our future, but we know they will come. The qualities that allow you to persevere in life do not come after tragedies. They are a vital part of the character you build within yourself over a lifetime. You may not know what tomorrow brings, but you can live your life in a way that ensures you will see the finish line, regardless of the obstacles you may face along the way.

How loud can 25 children get in a hotel pool?  How long can seven-year-old girls stay awake when clustered in groups?  Do five-year-old girls get more make-up on themselves or the bathroom counters when left to their own devices?  How many ibuprofen does it take to repair your head after listening to high-pitched squeals for nine hours straight?  I learned the answer to each and everyone of these questions a few weeks ago.

At the same time, I saw how precious young friendships can be.  I saw a mother express love for her daughter by moving the world to show her how special she is.  I watched little faces light up as they held the largest piece of birthday cake ever distributed at a party and instead of wasting it, decided to wear it.  I discovered the magic that surrounds little girls as they dress up and imagine the women they will become.  I found out that giggles really are contageous.  I renewed old friendships and started new ones.  And ultimately, I was reminded of what a precious thing it is to be a little girl.

Following an afternoon of swimming, yard games, pizza, cake and presents, the girls all retired to suites on the top floor of the hotel.  They were endlessly pampered.  They were given facials and were taught relaxation techniques by Blakely Stevenson of BeautiControl.  She is one of the best make-up specialists in our area, as well as being patient, generous, and caring as shown with each of the girls (and the adults).  The girls were also treated to manicures and had their make-up done.  Of course, they had to redo the make-up, because we didn’t use nearly enough.  The natural look was a bit unpopular there.  After all of this, the girls raided the dress up clothes and we hosted a fashion show.

It was a wonderful night and I am thrilled to share a few of these moments with you!  If you have time, take a look at the video and see a little more of the details.

Spring is finally here and I didn’t even have to look at my calendar to know it.  Here are a few revealing clues…

• The divas and I have eaten the past two lunches outside enjoying the weather and dodging bees.
• Each time they come in from playing outside, I get a handful of little flowers deposited on my desk.
• My car is yellow from pollen and we are buying Puffs Plus in bulk.
• The birds are filling up our trees faster than the cats can run them away.**
• The sun is bright and color has finally returned to our yard.

It is a perfect time to appreciate life and start something fresh.   So that is what I am doing…starting fresh.

Over the past seven months, I’ve gotten buried in the business of having a business.   I have been honored to capture so many memories for my clients and have enjoyed my work very much.  However, somewhere along the way, I started letting go of my creative side and simply worked.   I gave up what was most unique about my art and exchanged it for a higher volume than I could handle on my own.  So, I’ve decided to go back to the basics and start over with a fresh new direction for Artistic Moments.

Step #1: New blog √

-AM

**If you’ve never seen a cat fly 10 feet through the air to land in a tree and displace 30 birds at once…you should…and be prepared to duck.

Moments are the elements of life.  They are linked by time and come together to define who we are.  Some are big and some are so small that we barely feel them passing.  Each of them holds a unique value that may be immediately apparent or take years to discover.

Art is the physical manifestation of the imagination, driven by passion and designed to elicit an emotional response.   It provides a means to empower the ordinary and alter the way the world is viewed.

Artistic Moments are what I create.

-AM