Nature Walks with our Puggle

Brokaw loves our walks outdoors. Since spring we have enjoyed the other animals in our neighborhood. His beagle instinct takes over sometimes and he can't help chasing them down. When they're far enough away he just watches. These geese were not happy to see us and squeaked to let us know. Brokaw was puzzled at the noise they made.



This mallard family was in our retention pond a few days ago. We saw three or four babies with them. Mamma Mallard had her eye on us. Brokaw wanted to get close, but I told him not to harass the poor babies.



Look carefully and you'll see a couple of bunnies in this photo. Don't feel bad if you don't because Brokaw didn't see them either. He usually sees the rabbits at night when sensible people are inside and they think they are safe. Silly rabbits. He gets excited when they bounce by.

Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Last Saturday morning, before the sun came up, I finished a book.

Not just any book.

A book that I feel one day, I'll be able to write myself, somewhat.

I finished this book with tears streaming down my face.
Two minutes after I finished it, I crawled back into the darkness and pile of pillows and blankets that is our king sized bed, and snuggled into my favorite place in the world.

Michael's right shoulder.

I shed a couple of tears on my favorite quad's chest.

You see, it took me weeks to finish this book.
Because I had to keep putting it down.
Some parts of it were just too real, too painful for me to read.

Like this, about Ken adjusting to living and loving someone with a disability:

"It took a while to separate himself emotionally from what happened in the bathroom, but he was able to shake it off. With God's help, he believed he was up to the task. She believed he was too. But it didn't take away the fear."

When Joni and Ken met and fell in love, she was already paralyzed. Living in a wheelchair and all of that was already a part of her "normal" life. Ken was swept off his feet by Joni. I can't blame him. She is breathtakingly beautiful, and full of God's grace. Who in their right mind, with the chance, wouldn't be swept away?

I was swept away with my quad, too.
I remember those days of simultaneously falling in love, and swimming in fear.
But the sweetest part of it was being able to trust God, and trust Michael.

Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story takes you through their journey of meeting and falling in love, and getting married, and then, the part that made me cry.

When they fell into the routine of everyday living/caregiving/working/marriage and keeping a house, and before they knew it...

"It was like climbing a mountain where you took one step ahead and slid back two; instead of making progress, you felt like you were going backward. No matter how diligently you worked at it, you were never 'done.'

Sometimes he found himself asking, How did I get here? Why is everything so hard? Why don't things ever get better?"

Joni and Ken have had additional and different struggles than we've had. Joni has had to deal with chronic pain, and breast cancer. Ken had to learn what it's like to be married to a famous person.

But, there is so much that we relate to, and so much to learn from this treasure of a book. I encourage anyone who is married to read it, especially if you juggle a disability in your marriage.

My favorite line of the whole book? It's from the beginning, when they were out on a boat, just the two of them, during their dating days.

"Ken spoke up. 'It could work, you know.'"

Joni and Ken are 30 years into their beautiful marriage. That's almost 10 times as into this as we are. We're thankful to have them as great role models to look up to. I am personally grateful that they decided to peel the veil back, and let us in. I'm also grateful for their ministry, Joni and Friends, which we've both been blessed by, and had the opportunity to serve.

We're so blessed that we've been able to meet them and get to know them.

I'd like to bless one of you with a copy of this book. Please share this blog post on Facebook, and you'll be entered to win. I'll randomly pick a winner, and contact you via Facebook to let you know you've won by Sunday, May 12th.

You can buy the book here.

What It's Like to be on a Reality Show

This past weekend, our episode of "I'm Married to A..." was on VH1.

You can watch the full episode here:

I'm Married To A... | Quadriplegic & Dominatrix

As I wrote about before, the crew was here just as we were first moving to Virginia Beach, and as I started my new job.

People have asked me if we were nervous to share our story. The answer? Not really. We share our story all the time here on the blog, and while no, we don't write about our sex life or about trying to have a baby, you had to know by now that both of those scenarios exist in our life.

By the way, there's no great baby update yet. Honestly, we haven't been trying, yet. Our life right now is consumed with my job.

So, that baby - while already incredibly loved, and covered by prayers of people all over the world - is on hold, for now.

You can read more of an update on VH1's blog. They interviewed us after the episode aired this week.

I want to tell you what the last week has been like.

It has been overwhelming, in the best way possible.

We have both received hundreds of social media messages and comments, emails and text messages from people in our lives (some that we haven't heard from in 20+ years) and some heartfelt greetings from complete strangers.

It's been hard to keep up.

But - it's all been so encouraging, and such a blessing.

We did not put our story out there for any kind of recognition. Definitely not for pity.

Knowing that our story, and our openness has given some people hope - that real love exists, that tough circumstances are worth pushing through, and that even a show that features a dominatrix can also show your faith, has been really fun.

We already knew that the love ("Love Like This") that we share is something special. It's interesting for so many other people to see it now, too. We want that for every marriage, every relationship.

Now - obviously, our love is not pure and perfect and devoid of me acting like a you-know-what during "shark week," and Michael sometimes being annoyed and disappointed. We face marriage issues like money and jealousy and selfishness, just like anyone else.

Don't put us up on a pedastal. Please. We'll fall right off.

But thank you for taking the time to encourage us, to lift us up, and to pray for us. It means a lot.

And to the crew, and the team at VH1 and everyone involved with the casting and production of the show, thank you for giving us a chance.

I'll never forget the day I came home from work, and there were lights and cameras all over my house.

I'll never forget wearing a microphone, and trying to come up with enough clothes that actually fit, for the wardrobe changes, that would work with wearing said microphone. And setting camera shots, and being on the other side of the camera - which, by the way - I was surprisingly comfortable with.

I'll never forget these nice people, Evie, Mary, Jenn, MJ, Brian, Orrin, and Andy - who took Brokaw on a million walks so you wouldn't hear a barking or snoring Puggle in the background of every shot.

I'll never forget watching ourselves on our own TV in our living room where everything was taped. It was the strangest thing, ever.

One day, we'll look back at this experience and chuckle, "remember that time we were on a reality show?"

But - I know this for sure, now. We won't ever regret it.

Thanks again to everyone who made this possible for us.

By the way - here are some more clips from the show.

Our love story:

I'm Married To A...

Our morning routine:

I'm Married To A...

Celebrating good news:

I'm Married To A...

And, finally, building a wheelchair ramp - which has to be the nicest we've ever worked together.

I'm Married To A...

Saturday Morning Post

Well.
Hello there, 6:30 a.m. Saturday.
I was wondering if you'd ever come back to me.

But, here you are in all your glory.
Your peace and quiet.
Your only sounds are the wind chime dancing in the back yard, and the Puggle crunching his Beneful.
Your taste is of Starbucks Tribute Blend.

Aaaahh.
Here you are.
My empty computer screen, and my full mind and my no-alarm-clock, sleeping-husband, everything-has-been-cleared-off-the-day-Saturday.
Let's hang out.
All day.

I've slept 13 hours, and Brokaw peed on that white chair up there, but I don't care.
I'll wash it. Later.

Let's do nothing.
Which we both know is actually a lot.
Three lists, actually.
Home.
Work.
Blog.

Let's tackle those lists and try to remember to rest and to eat and to drink more water.
Let's do this.

P.s. More on my thoughts of being on a reality show, coming soon. I promise. But now, coffee and an e-Book bundle that you really do need to check out.

Our Episode Airs Tonight!

I'm Married To A...

I told you guys last week about how Michael and I are going to be featured in a reality show called "I'm Married to a..."

Well... tonight is the big night!

I had to Google what the other couple was. I'd never heard of the word "dominatrix." Oh my.

The thought of all of the little church ladies all over the country watching this for our story makes me feel kind of weird, but obviously we have no control over who they paired us with. Plus - they may have had to Google "quadriplegic," anyway!

I hope you'll watch tonight at 10pm ET on VH1.

The episode will be online in a few days, along with extra clips.  

I'll admit, I'm pretty nervous about it, but thankful for the opportunity, and I know that our story will be out there for many more people to read. 

I just hope it encourages someone. We're thankful for the chance to have this experience!

I Wish I Had More Time

It’s 8:55 a.m. I wish I had more time.

Story of my life, right?

I want to write so much.

I want to write about how I finished Joni & Ken’s book at 5:00 a.m., with the moonlight streaming in through the big window over our living room, and all I could hear was Brokaw snoring, and the air purifier in the bedroom as Michael slept.

I want to write about how after I finished it, I snuggled up on my favorite shoulder in the world, shed a few tears, then fell back asleep.

I want to write about the nightmares I had. One was about giving a pair of cute mint Chuck Taylors found on sale, up to someone else, and having immense regret about it. Another was about how I was spending weekend time at home, until my boss called me to YELL at me about how the news was a mess and I needed to come to work immediately. And for some reason, I kept not going in, and yet at the same time, not getting anything done at home.

I have very real dreams.

I want to write about how I’m surprised by how much I miss being at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this weekend, but share about how the pain of not being there but having been there before is not quite as bad as the pain of wanting to go and wondering if I will ever get there was.

I want to write about TV news, and Boston, and Marvell Edmonson and how now that I’m a little older, I think it all affects me a little differently. And about that guy who cursed on the air and ended up on the Today Show.

I want to write about seeing our friends Steve and Christy and how special they are and how life and God are crazy good sometimes, if you just pay attention. 

I want to put together the Origami Owl giveaway for a blog reader.

But, alas.

Life goes on.

I’m out of time.

Maybe, maybe at some point, I will re-open this computer, expand my thoughts, and experience that deep exhale I feel when I write. I miss that feeling so much.

For now, another inhale.

Another day.

Yes, it’s a gift.

But this party is going by too fast.

See y’all later. It’s 9:04 a.m., and I've got to go.

The Day We Shopped Until He Dropped

This Spring was a long time coming.

A few weeks ago, in an attempt to fake ourselves out that Spring would, in fact, one day come, we went on a shopping trip to get some new, colorful Spring clothes for Michael.

We parked outside of what we thought was an Old Navy, but is actually an Old Navy under construction. We decided we were up for the exercise, so we walked through the mall to Target, and a few other stores.

By the end of the shopping trip, Michael was loaded down as pictured above, full pack-mule style.

He offers to do this, by the way. This is not quad husband abuse.

It's important to note that those Target bags hanging on the back of his chair were LOADED down with heavy things like laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, trail mix, orange juice...

Okay.
So, we stroll through the mall like this, totally parade style with people parting ways to stare at us like we're the Disney light parade or something. I was just waiting for small children to expect us to throw candy.

I was carrying stuff, too, just so you know. But not this much. :)

We get to the van.
I open it up.
The ramp deploys.

As I'm opening up the passenger door, Michael is wheeling himself up the ramp.

Then... ever so not-panicky... he says, "Um...."
And I look over.
And I see him, FALLING BACKWARDS but really, really slowly.

So, I walk behind him, and very slowly, his head plops down in my chest, and like the Sumo wrestler that I currently am, I muscled Michael, the wheelchair, and all of that heavy stuff that caused him to fall backwards so easily, upright.

I'm thinking it was about 240 lbs. I'm no math whiz, but it was a lot. I'm also clearly no physics whiz either!

There was a couple driving by in a mini-van, just looking.
Like, "something's not right here..."

I was so proud of myself that I didn't have to ask for help! I get a rush out of that. It's not healthy.

I got Michael tied down, started to drive away, and then I started shaking, a little.

Glad he didn't hit his head.

I have no idea how he fell so slowly and not-dramatically. Full Michael style.

I'm Married To A... Quadriplegic

Michael and I haven't been able to talk about it, but we are very excited to share with all of you that we are going to be featured in an episode of VH1's "I'm Married To A..."

The season premieres tonight at 10pm ET.
We don't know yet the specific date of our episode, but when I get that information, you can be sure I will pass it along to you!

This opportunity kind of came out of nowhere. They found us through our blog, and all of a sudden, we were doing a casting video.

I was just sure that we were going to be too old, I was going to be too fat, and Brokaw was going to be too crazy for us to get picked.

But we were picked!

So - remember when we moved, and you all thought I was so awesome for getting our place put together in like a week? Yeah. Nothing like having a reality TV crew arriving to make you get your act together!

I'm a TV producer for a living. Y'all know this, right?
Well.
Let me tell you.
Being on the other side of the camera, being produced myself, was such an interesting experience.
I can't say enough nice things about the crew.
They were so great.
Brokaw was seriously sad when the one crew member who constantly took him on walks was gone.

Y'all know we are pretty conservative people. I know a lot of y'all are too.
So, I want to be real with you about this show. There are some couples and story lines in the show that are out there.

I told the producers that we are going to be so boring!! Haha.

But - know this.
We decided it was something we wanted to be a part of, to share with the world that yes, while our circumstances may be different than the norm - we are so much like everyone else, and we face challenges like everyone else, and at the root of it all, we're just a couple in love.

I hope you will check the show out!
We totally upgraded our cable package so we don't miss it.

Here are a couple of trailers for the show.
This one is an extended set of clips from the season. We are at about 1:25 on this one.

I'm Married To A...

This one is a "First Look." We are at about : 20 in on this one.

I'm Married To A...

Color Vibe 5K, Who's In?

I'm so happy to be working out again, and getting back in shape.

I've been wanting to do one of these Color Vibe 5K's, because it looks like a ton of fun to be sprayed with a bunch of paint, run as part of a team, plus a 5K isn't crazy hard, and I should realistically be able to be ready by July 20th.

If you're in the Hampton Roads area and would like to join us on our team, you can sign up and register here. Our team name is "No Luck, Only Sacrifice," in honor of our friend Sgt. Derek McConnell.

I'd love to get back in shape, in Derek's name. I think he would have liked that.
So - if you're local - and would like to sign up, you can click on that link up there, and if you need the password for the team, just email me: danabrownritter@gmail.com, and I'll get it to you!

On Taking Out The Trash

You see this picture, here?
It looks like a trash can, right?

Well, it's not just that.
It's so much more.

Because my husband put it there.
My husband, who is paralyzed from the chest down, thank you very much.

This is how this went down.

I got a text message with the above picture and the caption, "Your hubby took out the trash."
To which, I replied, of course, "Whoa. How did u do that?"
Michael's answer: "Awesomeness."

I LOVE HIM!

I immediately started imagining how in the world he did this, without landing on the ground, covered in trash, Brokaw rolling around in it and eating coffee grounds.

Then, I stopped myself.
And I just enjoyed the simple beauty that is the fact that my husband took the trash can to the curb.

This is one of those little things that I don't think about a lot, but I just do over and over, and I assumed I would do it over and over for years and years until we had a kid, and that kid was old enough/strong enough/probably paid in some way to take the trash out to the curb.

But just like this, on a random Thursday morning, my world changed.

I'm not saying he will always take the trash out, or that I expect him to. That's totally not the point.

The point is that I am so blessed to be married to a guy who never gives up, never stops getting better, getting stronger, and finding ways to take care of me.

I love the trash guy.

And for the record, I still can't figure out how he did it.