My earlier blog post this week recalled when Bill Gaither recently shared the precious story of how a rich and famous celebrity took a person under his wing who was a little different than he. But while that sweet story was the meat of the talk that day, the real key is why Gaither talked [...]

I had the privilege a few weeks ago to hear a touching story as told by Bill Gaither, acclaimed southern gospel writer, performer and founder of the Gaither Homecoming concerts that is sweeping the nation.  I have since received permission from the William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys about whom the story was [...]

OK I’m going to say it.  John Travolta and Kelly Preston are just like me.  They call Marion County, Florida home, and so do I.  O.K. we aren’t neighbors (have you seen the layout of their house in Jumbolair?), and I haven’t seen them in Starbucks or Cold Stone Creamery or Target like I’ve heard [...]

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Boca Raton with my friend, Toni James.  During our trip, my six degrees of separation from the developmentally disabled concept was further solidified when she mentioned to me a story about her cousin.  This delightful woman named Katherine lives in Connecticut and is developmentally disabled.  Eight or nine years [...]

The phenomenon of “six degrees of separation” is real and focuses on the idea that every person on earth may actually be connected by as many or as few as six relationships.  Basically, all of your friends and family members have additional connections you may not know.  Then those connections have more connections and the [...]

For months this blog has been devoted to the special people in this world who are developmentally disabled.  Though they may not look the same, talk the same or act the same as you, they are real, genuine individuals who care about their work, their play and their communities.
There’s another group of people who deserve [...]

For the second November in a row, the clients, staff, family and friends of ARC Marion are collecting  nonperishable food items for Interfaith Emergency Services  food pantry in Ocala.  Last year, it was a developmentally disabled ARC Marion client who suggested we do something in the community to help others in need.  At that same time, our local [...]

I love being busy, but I hate being busy.  I don’t like it when things are so slow-paced that I get bored. But I also don’t like it when things are going by so quickly that I don’t have time to stop and enjoy the little things going on around me…not taking time to “stop [...]