Melody's Gift's http://melodysgifts.org Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:51:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Copyright © Melody's Gift's 2010 seo@be-found.net (Melody's Gift's) seo@be-found.net (Melody's Gift's) http://melodysgifts.org/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg Melody's Gift's http://melodysgifts.org 144 144 Melody's Gift's Melody's Gift's seo@be-found.net no no Ms. Senior America Philosophy of Life Competition http://melodysgifts.org/ms-senior-america-philosophy-of-life-competition/ http://melodysgifts.org/ms-senior-america-philosophy-of-life-competition/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:51:47 +0000 befound http://melodysgifts.org/?p=293

]]> http://melodysgifts.org/ms-senior-america-philosophy-of-life-competition/feed/ 0 Ms Senior America 2011 Talent Competition http://melodysgifts.org/ms-senior-america-2011-talent-competition/ http://melodysgifts.org/ms-senior-america-2011-talent-competition/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:25:26 +0000 befound http://melodysgifts.org/?p=291

]]> http://melodysgifts.org/ms-senior-america-2011-talent-competition/feed/ 0 MY THOUGHTS ABOUT MELODY’S GIFT http://melodysgifts.org/my-thoughts-about-melody%e2%80%99s-gift/ http://melodysgifts.org/my-thoughts-about-melody%e2%80%99s-gift/#comments Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:13:45 +0000 befound http://melodysgifts.org/?p=251 I first became aware of the fact there was a book titled “Melody’s Gift” from a Masonic friend of mine who lives in Roanoke, Virginia. He had met the author by chance one morning in a local Hardees’s Restaurant there in Roanoke and knowing of my interest in the intellectually disabled population, he shared that meeting with me, along with the name and phone number of the author of the book. My personal interest in the intellectually disabled began some 45 years ago when my first baby daughter, Darlene, was born and diagnosed as profoundly mentally retarded.

I contacted the author of “Melody’s Gift” immediately and purchased the book by mail. I will never forget the morning it arrived and after removing the book’s wrapper I began to read the most heartwarming story I had ever experienced reading. Paragraph after paragraph, and page after page, almost every topic or incident would bring back parallel memories from our family’s life during Darlene‘s early years. As I read each succeeding chapter I actually began to feel that I was personally acquainted with Melody, Louise, Jack, and the other family members and friends of Melody’s family. It was as if they were friends.

As I read I marveled at the fact that anyone working so hard to care for a loved one would have the forethought to document the many, many details that would need to be remembered years later in order to publish such wonderful memories. Most of my incidental memories from Darlene’s childhood had long since been forgotten, but so many came rushing back as I relived the happy and sad times of our lives as I read Melody‘s Gift. I found myself at times both laughing and crying, but the tears were certainly “tears of joy” as I relived the wonderful memories.

While reading through the book, my mind wandered to a place it has been so many times before. Over the years I have witnessed so many loving parents caring admirably for their disabled loved ones. I’ve often wondered if God took particular care, or was it just fate, that these children were so often born to such wonderful parents who were dedicated to raising, nurturing, loving and caring for them. However, with Darlene I soon became convinced that I was nothing more than an “average” parent when she was born, but only because of her “special” needs was I able to gain the courage, strength, wisdom and determination to become the parent and person that I am today. God truly blessed me by allowing me to be Darlene’s parent. After reading the book I believe Jack and Louise might feel the same about Melody.

Darrell Pickney

]]> http://melodysgifts.org/my-thoughts-about-melody%e2%80%99s-gift/feed/ 0 Melody’s Gifts Gives Back http://melodysgifts.org/melodys-gifts-gives-back/ http://melodysgifts.org/melodys-gifts-gives-back/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 05:20:38 +0000 Louise Wade http://melodysgifts.org/?p=197
Melody's Gifts gives back at Special Camp Craig Springs
]]> http://melodysgifts.org/melodys-gifts-gives-back/feed/ 0 Parents Helping Parents http://melodysgifts.org/parents-helping-parents/ http://melodysgifts.org/parents-helping-parents/#comments Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:17:37 +0000 Louise Wade http://melodysgifts.org/?p=172 Parents Helping Parents
1400 Parkmoor Avenue, Meeting Room 1
San Jose, CA, 95126
Noon Pacific Time

]]> http://melodysgifts.org/parents-helping-parents/feed/ 0 Spotlight on Women http://melodysgifts.org/spotlight-on-women/ http://melodysgifts.org/spotlight-on-women/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:43:29 +0000 martin http://melodysgifts.org/?p=142
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Calendar developed and supported by Kieran O'Shea

]]> http://melodysgifts.org/spotlight-on-women/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Month: January February March April May June July August September October [...] Month: January February March April May June July August September October November December Year: 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 2041 « Prev February 2012 Next » Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29         Category Key  General  Meet the Author Calendar developed and supported by Kieran O'Shea seo@be-found.net no no Melody loves everyone and I love her, I call her Sunshine because she brightens my day and my life http://melodysgifts.org/melody-loves-everyone-and-i-love-her-i-call-her-sunshine-because-she-brightens-my-day-and-my-life/ http://melodysgifts.org/melody-loves-everyone-and-i-love-her-i-call-her-sunshine-because-she-brightens-my-day-and-my-life/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:20:42 +0000 Louise Wade http://melodysgifts.org/?p=135 Thank you so very much for a true story about your beautiful daughter. It is true and very much alive, very inspirational.

In the years I have seen Melody grow in learning and working with the talents she has been taught and yes she can sing and loves music. I know her family, and they have put so much time in determination to show others that no matter what Mental Retardation can or would silence Melody or any others.

Melody loves everyone and I love her, I call her Sunshine because she brightens my day and my life.

I will say this, all should read THIS BOOK

Joyce Bowman

]]> http://melodysgifts.org/melody-loves-everyone-and-i-love-her-i-call-her-sunshine-because-she-brightens-my-day-and-my-life/feed/ 0 This book was entertaining, motivational and inspiring http://melodysgifts.org/this-book-was-entertaining-motivational-and-inspiring/ http://melodysgifts.org/this-book-was-entertaining-motivational-and-inspiring/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:55:58 +0000 Louise Wade http://melodysgifts.org/?p=133 I am a slow reader and it is difficult for me to complete the reading of a book in a timely manner. However, this was not true regarding my reading of Melody’s Gifts. This book was entertaining, motivational and inspiring. The true love, devotion and attitudes of worth expressed through Melody’s family were amazing. While reading this book, I laughed out loud during the funny times they experienced as a family and my emotions connected with the emotions as told by the family member Louise Wade and expressed by the writer Sheila Nelson. I made a special effort to read a chapter of this book each night until I had completed it. This book kept me interested and engaged in the life of Melody. It is an inspiring testimony of the faith of this family in their God to never give up on the success of their special family member. This family experienced a victorious testimony through the life of Melody because of their unconditional love to her and their perseverance during challenging times. I recommend you purchase this book. You will be blessed by reading it. As I read it, my strength was renewed to face the daily challenges in my life and to know that I, too, could have a victorious testimony by persisting to meet the challenges.

Debbie Southern
Meetings and Project Manager of Ruritan National located in Newbern, VA

]]> http://melodysgifts.org/this-book-was-entertaining-motivational-and-inspiring/feed/ 0 Melody’s life of accomplishments and challenges http://melodysgifts.org/melodys-life-of-accomplishments-and-challenges/ http://melodysgifts.org/melodys-life-of-accomplishments-and-challenges/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:55:01 +0000 Louise Wade http://melodysgifts.org/?p=131 Melody’s Gifts is a tender story about Melody’s life of accomplishments and challenges with cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Louise Wade is handing the reader, a mothers loving snapshot of the life of melody from birth to adulthood and the family, friends, churches,educators, and collective efforts to help and inspire her. Melody in turn guides & inspires them down avenues they never dreamed of……. God works in mysterious ways as you will find out in this wonderful & touching book. It is a must read book because it raises the awareness that there can be great strides with C P. and M. R. & that these experiences can help & support other families & students in similar circumstances in a very positive way. Linda Farmer Salem, Va.

]]> http://melodysgifts.org/melodys-life-of-accomplishments-and-challenges/feed/ 0 Melody Growing Up http://melodysgifts.org/growing-up/ http://melodysgifts.org/growing-up/#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:02:16 +0000 Louise Wade http://melodysgifts.org/?p=103

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