My name is Wendy Packard. I am 42 year old wife. I am a native of Colorado. I am just your average ordinary house wife. I have 3 beautiful children who I adore and they adore me. I am athletic and love to hike in the mountains exploring nature and taking in the beauty of God's creation.
I am a very successful author and speaker. I've written 4 devotionals and speak across the country about how through positive living and taking care of yourself, you can achieve anything.
I have been married for 9 and a half years to my husband who is a pastor of a church in the hills. He is attractive and sometimes that makes me turn into a jealous dote but he understands and is very patient with my shortcoming.
My mother and father are still alive both in their 60s. I have one brother and one sister, both younger. . My sister is pretty and owns her own furniture warehouse. My brother is a pretty strong and sturdy plumber and has won many awards for the work he has done, including work at Disney . I also have a sister in law by my brother and two nephews.
I have 4 years of college under my belt . I havemy counseling/psychology degree. My husband has also been a source of confidence for me. He makes me feel smart perhaps smarter then I really am and constantly encourages me to pursue things that will biuld on my strengths. I can also ask him anything and he doesnt make me feel stupid. When I have been convinced that I couldnt do something he will push me til I at least try my best.
My dream is to one day own my own christian counseling agency for people that are christians that have been hurt by the rest of the church. Often christians need help but are afraid to reach out because they are told they arent being godly or faithful enough and I would like a counseling agency that is a safe haven for people that need to heal.
Anyway thats my life in a nut shell. I hope to get to know you more as well and thank you for listening to my story.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Hello Stranger
My name is Wendy Packard. I am 42 year old wife. I am a native of Colorado. I wish I could tell you that I am your average house wife but that isnt exactly true. I am very unique in alot of ways. One of those ways that ditinguishes me as different is that I have a birthdefect called Spina Bifida. That means when I was born my spine wasnt fully developed so there are alot of nerves and tissues that were not connected so there are alot of complications that go with that.
Mostly internal complications are a part of what I deal with but as you can see I am in a wheelchair and have deformed legs and feet. I've been told that the upper half of my body is attractive although I dont exactly see what people see in me that gives them that opinion.
Most the time I do not have pain with the exception of nights when the nerves are dormant from not moving as much. I usually dont hurt unbareably but occassionally it does get overwhelming in which case I have a few pain meds.
Another thing you will find unconventional about me is I dont have very good coordination in my hands as they have a bit of cerebal palsy also my eyes are a tiny bit crossed.
Because of other internal complications I've had I have had 23 surgerys since I was 6 hours old. Most of the surgeries I've had are cosmetic but there have been some that have been life saving. The ones that have been threatening usually involved the shunt in my head which is there because of excessive water on my brain called Hydrocephalas. There have been very severe revisions to my shunt that I have had although most of them have not been.
Another thing about me is that I have been married for 9 and a half years to my husband who is a video editor. He is able bodied and still finds me attractive which blesses me because I have always thought I would only end up with someone with a handicap.
My mother and father are still alive both in their 60s. I have one brother and one sister, both younger. They were not born with any handicaps. My sister is usually pretty sickly but usualy its sinus infections and such, my brother is pretty strong and sturdy and is generally pretty healthy. I also have a sister in law by my brother and two nephews.
I am also married as of 2001 to my husband of 10 years at 32 years old. He is able bodied as well and I feel extremely blessed because I always thought that if I ever did get married that it would be to a handicapped person.
I have 4 years of college under my belt although no degree as of yet because of different circumstances that have pulled me away from finishing. I hope to someday get my counseling/psychology degree. Even though I havent finished I am satisfied with having as much as I did because it showed me that I have the intellegence that when I was born was discredited by doctors and other professionals.
My husband has also been a source of confidence for me. He makes me feel smart perhaps smarter then I really am and constantly encourages me to pursue things that will biuld on my strengths. I can also ask him anything and he doesnt make me feel stupid. When I have been convinced that I couldnt do something he will push me til I at least try my best.
My dream is to one day own my own christian counseling agency for people that are christians that have been hurt by the rest of the church. Often christians need help but are afraid to reach out because they are told they arent being godly or faithful enough and I would like a counseling agency that is a safe haven for people that need to heal.
Anyway thats my life in a nut shell. I hope to get to know you more as well and thank you for listening to my story.
Mostly internal complications are a part of what I deal with but as you can see I am in a wheelchair and have deformed legs and feet. I've been told that the upper half of my body is attractive although I dont exactly see what people see in me that gives them that opinion.
Most the time I do not have pain with the exception of nights when the nerves are dormant from not moving as much. I usually dont hurt unbareably but occassionally it does get overwhelming in which case I have a few pain meds.
Another thing you will find unconventional about me is I dont have very good coordination in my hands as they have a bit of cerebal palsy also my eyes are a tiny bit crossed.
Because of other internal complications I've had I have had 23 surgerys since I was 6 hours old. Most of the surgeries I've had are cosmetic but there have been some that have been life saving. The ones that have been threatening usually involved the shunt in my head which is there because of excessive water on my brain called Hydrocephalas. There have been very severe revisions to my shunt that I have had although most of them have not been.
Another thing about me is that I have been married for 9 and a half years to my husband who is a video editor. He is able bodied and still finds me attractive which blesses me because I have always thought I would only end up with someone with a handicap.
My mother and father are still alive both in their 60s. I have one brother and one sister, both younger. They were not born with any handicaps. My sister is usually pretty sickly but usualy its sinus infections and such, my brother is pretty strong and sturdy and is generally pretty healthy. I also have a sister in law by my brother and two nephews.
I am also married as of 2001 to my husband of 10 years at 32 years old. He is able bodied as well and I feel extremely blessed because I always thought that if I ever did get married that it would be to a handicapped person.
I have 4 years of college under my belt although no degree as of yet because of different circumstances that have pulled me away from finishing. I hope to someday get my counseling/psychology degree. Even though I havent finished I am satisfied with having as much as I did because it showed me that I have the intellegence that when I was born was discredited by doctors and other professionals.
My husband has also been a source of confidence for me. He makes me feel smart perhaps smarter then I really am and constantly encourages me to pursue things that will biuld on my strengths. I can also ask him anything and he doesnt make me feel stupid. When I have been convinced that I couldnt do something he will push me til I at least try my best.
My dream is to one day own my own christian counseling agency for people that are christians that have been hurt by the rest of the church. Often christians need help but are afraid to reach out because they are told they arent being godly or faithful enough and I would like a counseling agency that is a safe haven for people that need to heal.
Anyway thats my life in a nut shell. I hope to get to know you more as well and thank you for listening to my story.
Friday, April 1, 2011
If I were a tree
If I could be any tree I'd want to be an aspen. The are beautiful even when they are wilting and when winter has taken all the leaves they are still beautiful. In autumn when they are beginning to wilt they become more and more colorful and more attractive to the eye of the beholder. The dont seem very strong and tall but they last a long time and when itcomes down to it what good does it do to be strong and tall if your not sturdy and can stand the winds of the seasons or fires.
I'd like to think that I could be like that. The more time brings me trials and hard winds the more beautiful I become. Its already too late for the outside but the inside is what people are most drawn too and Id like to have people drawn to me.
I use to be more of an Aspen then I am now. Life has blown away alot of the beauty I use to possess but I realize that its not my beauty people see if they see any but our Lord's. I want to be drawn to Him more so that people see more beauty in me.
I'd like to think that I could be like that. The more time brings me trials and hard winds the more beautiful I become. Its already too late for the outside but the inside is what people are most drawn too and Id like to have people drawn to me.
I use to be more of an Aspen then I am now. Life has blown away alot of the beauty I use to possess but I realize that its not my beauty people see if they see any but our Lord's. I want to be drawn to Him more so that people see more beauty in me.
In My House
I have a couple of small black bookshelfs that we formed into our entertainment center.. It has our tv on top and a gadget that you push the buttons to turn from tv to dvd and such. On the other side is a valentines card and an empty vase.
On the first shelf is the wii and the life alert machine to respond to my bottun. The second shelf is a bunch of my husband's work dvds and a box of tapes.
On the next shelf is the cable box and dvd player and a couple of cds and on the last shelf is some phone books and some magazines
Next to the entertainment center is a tv tray with a bunch of magazins and mail on it also a remote.
on the far side of that room is a nordic track skiier on a mat.
In the middle of the room is a large round cherry wood coffee table on top of an oriental rug. Next to it is a large chocolate brown sectional with some blankets, a tripod and the black and white cat on it
On the walls is a serenity prayer picture with the laughing Jesus and Faith, Hope, and Love plaques. Another wall is a rose picture with two doves in the middle that says Love is Patient. Next to that is a marriage commitment plaque.
In the dining room is the water cooler and the Keurig coffee maker with boxes of Kcups next to it. There is a table with a whole box of snack foods and a couple of dishes that need to be cleaned, also a bag of cat food and some paper towels. Under the table is the cat dish with food and water.
In the kitchen is the counter with lots of dishes that need to be washed and the cooking gadgets such as the Nuave oven and kitchen aide mixer. On the other side of the stove is a Lazy Susan with serving spoons, ladels and spatulas.
In our main bedroom is a bed, a dresser, a bedstand, and my scooter. On the bedstand is our alarm clock and a glass of water. On the bed is quilt that is mainly light blue patches with flowery patterns, a bunch of pillows some normal and a couple of corn hull pillows.
In my favorite room is a desk with a bunch of books on top, a few flowers and a doll. Also a paper rack and some pens and pencils.
On the other side of the room is the day bed with a whole bunch of teddy bears and dollies on it
On the first shelf is the wii and the life alert machine to respond to my bottun. The second shelf is a bunch of my husband's work dvds and a box of tapes.
On the next shelf is the cable box and dvd player and a couple of cds and on the last shelf is some phone books and some magazines
Next to the entertainment center is a tv tray with a bunch of magazins and mail on it also a remote.
on the far side of that room is a nordic track skiier on a mat.
In the middle of the room is a large round cherry wood coffee table on top of an oriental rug. Next to it is a large chocolate brown sectional with some blankets, a tripod and the black and white cat on it
On the walls is a serenity prayer picture with the laughing Jesus and Faith, Hope, and Love plaques. Another wall is a rose picture with two doves in the middle that says Love is Patient. Next to that is a marriage commitment plaque.
In the dining room is the water cooler and the Keurig coffee maker with boxes of Kcups next to it. There is a table with a whole box of snack foods and a couple of dishes that need to be cleaned, also a bag of cat food and some paper towels. Under the table is the cat dish with food and water.
In the kitchen is the counter with lots of dishes that need to be washed and the cooking gadgets such as the Nuave oven and kitchen aide mixer. On the other side of the stove is a Lazy Susan with serving spoons, ladels and spatulas.
In our main bedroom is a bed, a dresser, a bedstand, and my scooter. On the bedstand is our alarm clock and a glass of water. On the bed is quilt that is mainly light blue patches with flowery patterns, a bunch of pillows some normal and a couple of corn hull pillows.
In my favorite room is a desk with a bunch of books on top, a few flowers and a doll. Also a paper rack and some pens and pencils.
On the other side of the room is the day bed with a whole bunch of teddy bears and dollies on it
I am
I am 4"11
I am suffering from allergies
I am wearing a pink t shirt from a womens conference in 2006
I am wearing jeans
I am in a wheelchair
I am bored
I am watching SuperNanny
I am really disappointed I couldnt go out today cause I didn't feel good
I am looking forward to church on Sunday
I am a bit hungry
I am not sure I am going to be very good at this writing thing
I am waitng for my home health worker
I am a christian
I am a daughter
I am a wife
I am a woman
I am drinking Dr. Pepper
I am hoping to get to see the movie Hop
I am making an I am list as a prompt
I am not sure how this is going to help my writing
I am suffering from allergies
I am wearing a pink t shirt from a womens conference in 2006
I am wearing jeans
I am in a wheelchair
I am bored
I am watching SuperNanny
I am really disappointed I couldnt go out today cause I didn't feel good
I am looking forward to church on Sunday
I am a bit hungry
I am not sure I am going to be very good at this writing thing
I am waitng for my home health worker
I am a christian
I am a daughter
I am a wife
I am a woman
I am drinking Dr. Pepper
I am hoping to get to see the movie Hop
I am making an I am list as a prompt
I am not sure how this is going to help my writing
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Night I Gave My Heart To The Lord
I grew up in a church where a relationship with the Lord was just something that was expected of you, not something you choose to do because your heart is in it. If you didn't want to go to Hell you get saved. I always thought I could say the words and that was enough. I didn't understand that it was my heart He wanted not just my will.
When I was 13 I was doing my usual going along thinking I was doing fine when I was laying in bed one night and I heard yelling in the living room, it was my parents. They were arguing about the church.
My father was on the board and unbeknown to me there was a merge between our church and the Korean church in town because they needed a building. My dad was against it highly for his own reasons but my mother and he disagreed.
All the sudden I heard my mother say, Ive been secretly going to another church for a couple weeks and Im going there this week and I'm taking the kids with me. I was stunned. Not only was I born as a part of that church I'd been raised there all my life. I didn't even know going to another one was "allowed"
Inside me I felt a sense of dread all night long. I wasnt suppose to have heard the conversation so I had to be silent until the next day when I could ask my mother about it. When she came to me and told me we were going to the other church I had a deep sense of dread. I was 13 so I was sure I was going to Hell and my mother was taking me there.
My mother dragged me there that Sunday, literally. I thought if I made it hard for her to get me ready and dug in my heels that she would give up and leave me home but no. We ended up going there and I was sent to the Sunday School program were I refused to participate. The would ask questions and I had nothing to add. This went on for a whole year. I was not going to give these people any satisfaction.
One day my parents said we needed to have a discussion. I thought it would have been about me being a "bad girl" in church but it wasnt. My dad had gotten a promotion and it would bring us to another town 500 miles away. I was pleased because I thought it meant my mom had come to her senses and once we moved we would go back to the denomination I grew up in. In my 13 year old mind that made perfect sense anyway.
My mother took as to the "new kind" of church but after a year of fighting and scratching I had given in and surrendered to the way it was going to be. I decided I'd be sociable so I said hi to people and such.
After a few months there was a new youth pastor that came in. Boy did he put a smile on this hormonal little girls heart. I thought he was the cutest thing since Shirley Temple. He asked me if Id like to join youth group as I hadnt been and I was more then happy to oblige. Little did I know that this man would be the one that really taught me who God really was.
I went for a couple of weeks and I listened to the youth pastor "eagerly". The more I did the more my heart was being molded and softened by something, "someone" I didn't understand. I began to feel different. I watched as other kids and people around me seem to feel something I didn't. I knew something was in them that wasn't in me so i decided to be brave and ask questions.
Over the next few weeks my youth pastor and his wife taught me about the Bible, even taught me that it was ok to look into it myself. I became enthralled with the scriptures. I never heard the things that I read there and wanted it to become reality in my life.
One night the youth group was having what was called a "lock in" we were at the church all night playing games, praying, bible study. I felt particularly curious that night and I hounded my youth pastor's wife with so many questions I'm sure she thought I was a goof.
We decided to go on a bus to a spot out in the middle of the city to pray over it. I didnt even really know what to pray or how to pray at the time but God all the sudden spoke loudly in my ear and said "I want to introduce Myself to you in a way that you've never known, I want a relationship with you". All of the sudden out in the middle of the city my hands flew in the air and I began to worship God even though nobody else was. Tears of joy came out of me that I'll never be able to explain but that night I knew I was going to get to know God.
When I was 13 I was doing my usual going along thinking I was doing fine when I was laying in bed one night and I heard yelling in the living room, it was my parents. They were arguing about the church.
My father was on the board and unbeknown to me there was a merge between our church and the Korean church in town because they needed a building. My dad was against it highly for his own reasons but my mother and he disagreed.
All the sudden I heard my mother say, Ive been secretly going to another church for a couple weeks and Im going there this week and I'm taking the kids with me. I was stunned. Not only was I born as a part of that church I'd been raised there all my life. I didn't even know going to another one was "allowed"
Inside me I felt a sense of dread all night long. I wasnt suppose to have heard the conversation so I had to be silent until the next day when I could ask my mother about it. When she came to me and told me we were going to the other church I had a deep sense of dread. I was 13 so I was sure I was going to Hell and my mother was taking me there.
My mother dragged me there that Sunday, literally. I thought if I made it hard for her to get me ready and dug in my heels that she would give up and leave me home but no. We ended up going there and I was sent to the Sunday School program were I refused to participate. The would ask questions and I had nothing to add. This went on for a whole year. I was not going to give these people any satisfaction.
One day my parents said we needed to have a discussion. I thought it would have been about me being a "bad girl" in church but it wasnt. My dad had gotten a promotion and it would bring us to another town 500 miles away. I was pleased because I thought it meant my mom had come to her senses and once we moved we would go back to the denomination I grew up in. In my 13 year old mind that made perfect sense anyway.
My mother took as to the "new kind" of church but after a year of fighting and scratching I had given in and surrendered to the way it was going to be. I decided I'd be sociable so I said hi to people and such.
After a few months there was a new youth pastor that came in. Boy did he put a smile on this hormonal little girls heart. I thought he was the cutest thing since Shirley Temple. He asked me if Id like to join youth group as I hadnt been and I was more then happy to oblige. Little did I know that this man would be the one that really taught me who God really was.
I went for a couple of weeks and I listened to the youth pastor "eagerly". The more I did the more my heart was being molded and softened by something, "someone" I didn't understand. I began to feel different. I watched as other kids and people around me seem to feel something I didn't. I knew something was in them that wasn't in me so i decided to be brave and ask questions.
Over the next few weeks my youth pastor and his wife taught me about the Bible, even taught me that it was ok to look into it myself. I became enthralled with the scriptures. I never heard the things that I read there and wanted it to become reality in my life.
One night the youth group was having what was called a "lock in" we were at the church all night playing games, praying, bible study. I felt particularly curious that night and I hounded my youth pastor's wife with so many questions I'm sure she thought I was a goof.
We decided to go on a bus to a spot out in the middle of the city to pray over it. I didnt even really know what to pray or how to pray at the time but God all the sudden spoke loudly in my ear and said "I want to introduce Myself to you in a way that you've never known, I want a relationship with you". All of the sudden out in the middle of the city my hands flew in the air and I began to worship God even though nobody else was. Tears of joy came out of me that I'll never be able to explain but that night I knew I was going to get to know God.
Ten Significant Events In My Life/ 10 Books I Loved Growing Up
1 Getting Saved
2. Graduating High School
3. Moving out on my own
4. Getting Married
5. Getting a real house
6. My first nephew
7 My first love
8. My first kiss
9. My first trip to California. (somewhere other then hick states)
10. college
1. Eight Cousins
2. Little Women
3. Heidi
4. Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farms
5. Jeanette Okes Love Comes Softly Series
6. Dee Hendersons Reunion Series
7. Ramona
8. Amelia Bedilia
9. Blessed Child
10. Hinds Feet On Hinds Places
9.
2. Graduating High School
3. Moving out on my own
4. Getting Married
5. Getting a real house
6. My first nephew
7 My first love
8. My first kiss
9. My first trip to California. (somewhere other then hick states)
10. college
1. Eight Cousins
2. Little Women
3. Heidi
4. Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farms
5. Jeanette Okes Love Comes Softly Series
6. Dee Hendersons Reunion Series
7. Ramona
8. Amelia Bedilia
9. Blessed Child
10. Hinds Feet On Hinds Places
9.
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