[September 2013]
So much has happened since I began this blog in November of 2011. It’s my senior year of college, and I am in the process of applying to graduate schools for a master’s in social work. Through this blog, I have gained my voice as a writer whose dream is to eventually publish her memoir of living with Cerebral Palsy. It is because of this blog that I found the courage to open up about my difficult and painful experiences with Cerebral Palsy. Though there is still a long way to go, I hope sharing my story of living with CP can impact special needs children and their families, helping them to know they are not alone in their struggles.
[March 2012]
It’s been almost 5 months since beginning this blog, and already I feel like someone different than when I began. I’m no longer a Journalism and Psychology double major. Instead, I am a Psychology major with a Journalism minor, which seems to fit me better. Probably one of the biggest changes is the fact that I started writing a memoir this past January about how I’ve overcome the obstacles of having Cerebral Palsy. It’s something that is still in the beginning stages, but I’m beginning to see just how much I need to take this journey.
In the beginning, I didn’t really know where this blog was going. However, now I’ve gotten into a routine of “Tuesday’s Tunes,” since I love music, “Photo Friday,” since I also love photography, as well as book reviews, posts about writing and my book progess, and posts about my everyday life.
So, if this is your first time visiting my blog, welcome. I hope to see you back here soon.
[November 2011-the beginning]
Well, my name is Amelia and I’m a sophomore in college. This fall I transferred from Wofford College (in Spartanburg SC) to the University of North Carolina at Asheville. I’m a journalism and psychology double major.
Hobbies: reading (favorite authors: Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks, Diane Chamberlain, and Kristin Hannah), watching Gilmore Girls and Grey’s Anatomy, and I’ve started getting into photography (I’m still new at it though!)
Things I Love: coffee (It’s a definite!), books, sunsets, the sound of the rain in the mountains (trust me, it has a particular sound) and hugs.
lifeintheblueridges 
Two words Amelia…You shine!
Aw thank you. That means a lot. 🙂
i agree! and thanks for stopping by by blog, amelia claire.
I FINALLY took the time to read your blogs! I think it is wonderful. I’m glad you are taking time to do it and that you’re finding a level of fulfillment in doing so…..Take care of Amelia and have a great Thanksgiving!!!
I love your posts and have nominated you for a Versitile Blogger Award! Congrats and please keep up your fresh, authentic writing – we need more women like you out there 🙂 Jill Lurie
http://thenakedturtle.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/versatile-blogger-award-many-thanks/
Hey Amelia, you have a very nice blog here. Glad to have someone around that puts some thought into it 😉 Will check back later and hope the holidays were good to you ~ John
Thank you so much!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Hope you will visit again soon. I also grew up in the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia and I am convinced it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Since I have moved, I REALLY miss hearing the sound of the Whippoorwills at night echoing through the mountainous spaces. Its great to find someone on here that grew up in a similar part of the world so close, and shares the same love of that nature as do I. Happy writing. Celeste.
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I just nominated you for the “Versatile Blogger” award for WordPress! I had to write a post about my own nomiation- it’s a tradition, I guess.
If you decide to continue the posting tradition you need to:
1. write seven random things about yourself
2. nominate 15 bloggers that you follow
3. put the “Versatile Blogger” picture (you can find it on my blog on the very first post on the homepage) on your post.
Happy Blogging! : )
Great to have you drop by and visit my blog. I hope we can share our aspirations and benefit from the words of wisdom and positive, provoking thoughts. Have a wonderful day!
I have given you the Kreativ blogger award!! http://cheesecakesummer.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/kreativ-award/
Nice to meet you – I love Asheville so you chose a wonderful city for college – yay!
Very nice to meet you. Thanks tor following.
Rain in the mountains…I really want to here that now. Can you describe what’s different about it? Or is it a you-have-to-be-there-moment?
It sounds quieter, more hushed (since the raindrops are mainly hitting the leaves of trees first and not the ground). It’s one of those sounds that you don’t forget once you experience it.
It’s strange, but often having a hard time at the start of life can help us understand what life is about, and understand other people better. I’m impressed by your positive attitude and your interest in helping others. Wonder why you don’t offer the possibility of responses to your individual articles…
Thank you for the compliment. 🙂
Hello there.
Thanks for the like! Also, great content here 😀 keep it up.
Thank you for your visit Amelia! Big hug for you! 🙂
Thank your for visiting my blog and liking it and also a big hug frome me! Happy new year. And I love Grey’s anatomy as well…:)
thank you for liking my blog post on my 85/85 project. It’s about the view I have from my home office. A shame we have the electricity pole right there, …
keep on blogging, 😉
Ludwig
Hey Amelia,
Thanks for liking my post “the best things….” Appreciated. Frankly, your blog is wonderful. For someone who has just taken up photography you certainly have some amazing shots. Looks like you have an eye for it. Nurture that. We’re not all that lucky.
Gook luck with your writing and stay in touch.
That’s for checking out my blog, you have a great site! And you just earned yourself another reader. 🙂
Thank for checking out my blog. Your blog is great I’ll enjoy reading more.
All the very best
Paul
Journalism and Psychology double major! oh my! you go girl! I got a degree in broadcast journalism and have always been interested in psychology so we have much in common. I wish you all the best and remember–you are the master of your destiny! 🙂
Journalism and psychology, two of my very favorite things! Thanks for stopping by and subscribing! I read a headline that you applied for a semester in Ireland! I am really excited for you, and especially interested in your adventures.
Here’s to your tremendous success!
I give to you the One Lovely Blog award! http://cheesecakesummer.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/one-lovely-blog/
Thanks Laura! You just made my day. 🙂
Aw glad to have made your day 😀
coffee… books… what more do you need?
=)
thanks for dropping by. keep me up to date on your latest reads!
Thanks for stopping by my photo blog!
Thanks fo much for stopping by my blog— otherwise I never would have found yours. Great job- I am your newest fan:)
Grey’s Anatomy is the best US TV series i found in the past 3 years. cheers, sis 🙂
I am giving you the Sunshine award 🙂 http://cheesecakesummer.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/7-x-7-sunshine/
thank you, Amelia, for visiting my photo/writing blog! i enjoyed your sunset photos! cheers, y
ah, a fellow coffee lover! thanks for following my blog, i’m excited to read more of yours!
xo
You had me at Coffee! I LOVE coffee.
And you’re right, the rain in the mountains has a very particular sound. As does the sea hissing on the sand.
Thanks for the visit and “Like.” Much appreciated. Good luck with the writing!
Your pictures are beautiful! Soon these same mountains will surround my home as well.
Thank you for visiting my blog and the ‘like’. I look forward to seeing more pictures and reading more reflections.
Hi Amelia! You found my blog first, but yours is fantastic, too. Also I really like Gilmore Girls. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my site! It’s always fun to “meet” new people. I look forward to reading more about you. Hope to see you around more!
Betsy
http://www.shefoundstyle.com
Thanks for looking at my site! I’m only in high school and am new to the whole blog scene and it’s really cool to ‘meet’ someone who’s in college. 🙂 You’re site is SO cool! And I like your site name: CLEVER! Oh and by the way: I’M A GILMORE GIRLS FREAK! I have all 7 seasons on dvd! That’s all, I’ll definitely be reading your blog.
Thank you for reading my blog, you are the first!!! yay! plus…..My Grand daughters name is AnnaClaire…..whoo hoo!!!
thanks for liking my blog…hope you find more inspirational things there to help you along your own journey. btw-I also love Grey’s Anatomy!
Great blog. UNC Asheville is so beautiful!
Thanks for checking out my post. You have some awesome ones yourself 🙂 Psychology and journalism wow. You definitely have your hands full! Keep up the good work.
Hi Amelia. Very nice blog! Thanks for stopping by thefirstgates.
Thanks for your visit; the richness of the words in your blogs have made me take a closer look at myself, stirring memories from many years ago.
Hi Amelia,
Your blog is beautiful and is helping me through some of my struggles in life 🙂 You are an inspiration.
So I’m stopping by to say thank you.
All the best.
Hi Amelia! Just wanna let you know I tag you here http://puddinggirl.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/tagged-so-to-tag-others/ , thanks!
Thanks for coming by and liking my post today! I love Asheville. I bet it’s a fun place to go to school.
Sorry if this is a bit late, but I wanted to thank you for visiting my blog and commenting on my post! I truly appreciate it! 😀
Many thanks for reading my blog and I look forward to reading yours as well. Have a lovely day in the North Carolina mountains!
I’m really enjoying reading your blog. I have a lot of posts to go through, but you sound kinda like me: a college student trying to get through life who writes because is the perfect way to vent and escape this crazy world by creating your own.
I think I’m going to like you 🙂
Yep, that is exactly what writing is like for me! Thanks for stopping by.
I am so glad to read that you are pursuing your passion and writing. Writing can be theraputic, but writing can also be hard work. Interestingly, we have a lot of common interests. I have a background in social work, and I teach writing now. I also looovvve coffee and the mountains:)
Thanks for the like! Keep reading & writing!
hello Amelia
David in Maine USA – following you
Hi Amelia. Thanks for liking my blog. Glad to know about yours too.
J
Hi Amelia,
Thanks for following me! I thought I’d return the favor and I love your ‘About Me’ page. I was an English Lit/Psychology double major when I was in school, so I was psyched to see a similar combo by you. I have found that psych has helped me so much in my creative writing, so I’m using it more than I thought I would.
This is a neat blog, I had fun checking things out.
Thanks for stopping by. And wow, that’s neat to see that you were a English/Psych double major. I actually am thinking of majoring in Psych and minoring in Journalism, since I love Psychology so much more. However, I still love my creative writing, but I chose not to major in that as well simply because I feel like if I did I might lose all the love that I have for writing.
I love Ashville, the Biltmore is so cool. I have family in Charlotte and in Knoxville, TN so I’m over those mountains quite a bit. Double major wow, big props for that good luck with all you do!
Thanks! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by my blog. You have a wonderful blog.
i’ve nominated your blog for the versatile blogger award, if you’d like to take this award check my post for the “rules”:
http://wheretheindigosare.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/my-first-blog-nomination/
congrats!
So glad you found my blog! I love your optimism and that you have the courage to be vulnerable and authentic. That is truly a gift. I am excited to read more from you 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Hello Versatile Blogger – I was nominated by a blogger/writing friend and in turn – I have nominated you. I love reading your words and am happy to share them. You can pull the badge from my site and copy the post – keep up the awesome work and keep on writing! Linda
I cried when I read your introduction…and can’t stop…I am so impressed of your accomplishments. Why do I cry? Because I have a daughter who looks very much like you, your beautiful smile, and she also has cerebral palsy. That is why I cried. Unlike you, however, she is not as functional as you. For her, she suffers greatly in the means by which she communicates. It is very difficult for her and frustrating. She is finally learning sign language at a local community college and is the best student in the class. I am so proud of her, for her this is a remarkable achievement. It has taken this long for people in the disability program to listen that she has a voice, it merely is with her hands. She also suffers mentally and will always be around 10 years old, despite that fact she is turning 24 this month. She also has signs of aspergers and autism. I commend you on your accomplishments with such a difficult condition to life with and overcome. I will definitely be following your blog. In fact, I am putting it on the top of my list. Thank you for your comments on mine. It was fate that brought us together. “Things in this life happen for a reason, for which we don’t always know or understand at the time; if we maintain an open mind and heart, the meanings and reasons so often become clear, in time.” LA Edwards. I look forward to hearing of your journal. Good luck in school. All the best. 🙂
Please give your daughter a big hug for me. It has taken me a long time to be open about my CP. Yes, people knew about it, but it wasn’t something I talked about or shared with others. I kept my pain and difficult memories bottled up for so long. Thankfully, about 4 years ago I met someone who wanted to know about my past. Not because she was curious, but because she wanted to get to know me better. To this day, she is one of my truest friends, and I’m grateful that she helped me learn the benefits of opening up. Even with her though, I didn’t open up to everything. I kept some things buried, as if they’d be safer if I didn’t speak them aloud.
It wasn’t until I began writing my book in January that I started letting everything out. At this point, it is as if I have cracked open boxes of memories and pain, and no matter how much it hurts, I know that I’ve got to write through the pain. Some days it’s so hard that all I can do is put my head in my hands and cry. However, I hope that writing this book will be helpful to future kids with CP. I only wish that I had some kind of book to turn to growing up so that I knew I wasn’t alone in all the pain and fear I was feeling.
You keep working on the book…we are all waiting.
Be encouraged!
Thanks for liking my guts.
Be encouraged!
Great blog! Keep it going, and thank you for the like on my blog!
Hi, thanks for liking my post, and good luck with your studies. cheers
Your blog is wonderful and I just nominated you for The Liebster Blog Award.
Congratulations 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’ve been reading some of your posts and we have a lot in common. We’re the same year in school, majoring in similar things (I kept Journalism as my major, though), thinking similar things about coffee and God. I’ll definitely be back!
Glad to have a similar blogger around. 🙂
Thanks for the like on one of my posts – it is even nicer when the trail leads back to a blogging treasure such as your site. I am moved by your writing. Your style is deeply introspective, yet so easy to read.
It just tickles me to death that you “liked” my blog today. It’s not just that everyone likes to be liked – it’s very special that a young college woman would like something written by a sixty-six year old woman! I do believe I feel a bit younger myself!
And I’ve enjoyed looking around your blog. I was touched by your post about not feeling well, and how moms can make that experience better. My own mom died last summer, and believe me – even though she was in her 90s, she still iked to “mother” me when I didn’t feel well! I’ll miss that, the next time I’m sick.
Best of luck wrapping up the semester!
Thanks for liking my blog post ‘this 21 yr old girl has MS’ on grahamandkennedy.wordpress.com
I always check out those who do visit and what a gift you are! I just read your post ‘To Grace’ and now your about page and it would seem that you’re on quite a journey. I wish you all the best and keep writing as eloquently as you do. Beautiful photo by the way, that’s radiance from the inside out x
Hi Amelia, nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I look forward to exploring yours. All the best, Naomi
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I love your blog! Great to meet you!
The feeling is mutual. I’m glad to have discovered your wonderful world of writing.
Amelia, you are a true inspiration to many. I love your blog. Your writing will touch many people’s lives especially those that are going through difficult times. It doesn’t matter of the details of what we go through, it is our response. Thank you for sharing your struggles and trials. May God continue to bless you! I also love Asheville! I live about 3 hrs away
Lynda
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Amelia.
Reading this, I think we have quite a few things in common: I like coffee, books, the sound of the rain, and photography. It’s great to have met you here. 😀
Amelia Claire, I love your name. I came to visit because you have started following my Woman in the Rain blog. You have a lovely face, a nice blog and you are a shining example of the kind of people we need in this world.
Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award (http://serendipityplus.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/versatile-blogger-nomination/) You have a really awesome blog and I love reading it and seeing your photos. Please, feel free to participate or just simply enjoy the nomination. 😀
thank you for commenting on my post. Your blog is beautiful – you really do have a way with words. And the design you chose is quite engaging. Happy writing – and reading!
Thank you. 🙂
Greetings from Va… I plan to stop by again and read a post or two. Found you thru Stand Tall and I have a darling with CP, the cutest 4 yr old EVER.
Thanks for the stop by and liking my post
Am following
All the best, Jenny
Hey Amelia,
Thanks for liking my post.
Greetings from Indonesia. 🙂
Yoga.
Congratulations ! you have been nominated for the sunshine award! http://wp.me/p2dM7J-g3
Thank you!!
You are not alone on your journey. It’s really wonderful to read about somebody else with CP who isn’t feeling sorry for themselves and I’m looking forward to following your chronicle. Coincidentally, I have two degrees, one in journalism (I was editor of my college paper) and one in psychology. Isn’t it a small world? 😉
Hi there
I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Check it out at
Thanks Amelia for liking “Twilight Swim”, which brought me to your blog, and I’m so glad. I enjoyed reading some of your posts and look forward to seeing more of your photos. — Rob
Amelia- I really appreciate your honest style of writing. You have encouraged me to move my ‘professional’ self over enough to reveal a more personal side. I have a couple of questions I’d like to ask — if you are comfortable drop me a note by email (lilly031@gmail.com) and I will respond.
Thanks again for all you offer!
Carrie
I hope you can enjoy mountains and some hiking in Ireland!
So glad to have found your blog and I look forward to keeping up with it. Your lists of likes are very similar to mine. Happy blogging!
I love your blog, especially the photos!! 🙂
Just so you know, you’ve been given the LIVING PASSIONATELY AWARD.
Tah Dah!
http://notlostjustweird.com/2012/05/14/living-passionately-award/
Thank you so much! 🙂
You got this award because you DO live passionately. 🙂
I am new at this too, two months in and I still don’t really know what I’m doing. I am journalist but my hobby is pshcology whih i suppose some of my posts show … other than that I love fun, smiles, giggels and laughs
Hello just stopped by to say I have nominated you you for the ‘A Lovely Blog Award’. I have enjoyed stopping by and reading your words – and thought I’d let the blogging world know they should also visit your pages for a good read! Part of being nominated is passing on the nomination to other people – visit my page here to see if you want to take part in this award: http://merlinspielen.com/2012/05/15/a-blogger-award/
I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Blog Award and the Liebster Blog Award. Congrats.
http://nicolerandall.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/liebster-blogger-award-and-sunshine-blog-award/
Hey Amelia,
Thanks for encouraging me and being an inspiration! I nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blog Award. Check it out in my post. http://ariannasrandomthoughts.com/2012/05/22/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
🙂
Hi! thank you for coming by my blog 🙂
Hello, Amelia! I’m new to the blogosphere, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you’re dropping by my page today! I’ve been leafing through your postings, and I can’t begin to tell you just how inspiring you are- as a blogger, and as a person. I’ve started my bog to help work through some of my own obstacles, and seeing how successful you’ve been, and how gracefully you’ve worked through the challenges in your own life gives me a lot of hope! xxx Anne
Hi Amelia, I realize you have been awarded over 13,764 blogging awards, but the Nobel Laureates would not be dissuaded. So here is one more. The Liebster Blogger Award is highly prized and although it has been rumored for years that a sizable financial remuneration will be forthcoming, as of ten seconds ago is was still zip.
Be encouraged!
You are prob tired of receiving blog awards, but I just couldn’t help it, I nominated you for a Beautiful Blogger Award! http://byroisinhealy.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/ive-been-nominated-for-a-beautiful-blogger-award/. Keep up the great blogging because your followers definitely appreciate it 🙂
Thank you for reading my blog. I clicked to check out yours, saw your photo and thought that you were too young and pretty to have much to say. That’s because I’m old and cranky. Then I read your published work. I will continue to read what you write. It has depth and intelligence. You are correct. We should be teaching our children how to learn, not what to memorize. Keep it coming.
Thank you so much for your support. It means a lot. 🙂
YES! Jodi Picoult!!!!
She is the bestttttttttttttt.
I am officially a fan of you.
-Lynn
I’ve read all of her books, and I love them ALL! 🙂
Your story is inspiring! Good luck, and thanks for visiting my blog!
Beauty 🙂 thanks for liking one of my post. Your blog and the contents look interesting 🙂
Hi – I’ve nominated you for a ‘versatile blogger’ award – come and have a look if you get a chance (week 47)
EJ 😉
Very inspiring! Love this. Cheers. 🙂
Coffee is the elixir of the gods.
Thanks for stopping by HSSJ.
Thank you for liking my post, Amelia! You have a very lovely blog; photos from Ireland are magnificent! 🙂
Great blog. I wish that I could live in Asheville! I would drink coffee in that double-decker bus/coffee shop all day! I hope it’s still there 🙂
Yep, the double-decker bus is still there! 🙂
Woo-hoo!!!!!
Your blog is beautiful, thanks for stopping by mine.
Patrice
I studied music at Brevard one summer during college. It was the most magical summer of my life. Every weekend I hiked with a musician friend to a different waterfall. She is now a pediatrician. It is nice to meet you and I do remember the sound of the rain in the mountains. Thank you for sharing your life and thoughts with others.
Hi Amelia! I just discovered that you “liked” my post on The Art Seen blog. (I didn’t know that people could like blog posts, so this was nice information to have! 🙂 ) My post was about the memoir sketchbook I am working on, about my son, Michael.
I then, of course, checked out your blog. Serendipity! It took my breath away. I never mentioned it in my post, but Michael was born with Cerebral Palsy. Your stories have really touched my heart. It is good to meet you here, and I look forward to reading more stories as you progress in life. Thank you!
Mary
Wow! I’m so glad to have connected with you, Mary! 🙂
Keep on writing your book. Yours is a story that needs to be told.
Sending you a big hello all the way from the UK Ameliea,
I’ve just found your blog and already love it. After reading a couple of your posts I was surprised to find out that you’re in your 20s, like me. You seem so much wiser. I think writing a memoir about living with your illness is a great idea. I would certainly love to read it. I do something similar on my blog (chronickatie.com), where I write about life with chronic illnesses. I think people really value being able to understand what it’s really feels like to live with an illness- the good and the bad. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Love Katie
Katie-
So happy you found my blog. I’ll definitely have to check yours out as well. 🙂 And yes, I completely agree that people need to hear our stories. Write on, Katie! 🙂
Oops I just realised the typo in your name, sorry!
Lover of coffee, books, writing,, and hugs?? Me too!! I am cheering you on in your story and in sharing it with the world. It is through our stories we connect, my friend. Your story ignites my story ignites someone else’s story… connecting us together in community. Amazing things happen in community! Looking forward to learning more about you. 🙂
Your blog has really grown in the months since I was last using WordPress, which was last spring. I’m glad WP archives comments, so I could find my back to your site after all this time. Your content is great, and it is so exciting to see how it has developed. Take care; I’ll be back to read more.
Hello! I’m a Psychology graduate, and now a counselor. It’s good that I met someone here with the same passion as mine. That includes books (reading), writing, and photography! :)) You have a great blog! Keep it up! :))
Since we follow each other’s blogs, I wanted to send this quick note to let you know that my blog now has a new name, theme, and web address. Your last comment said you were looking forward to the next post in a series I’m doing. Please make sure you’re following the new blog so you can stay up to date. Pieces of Me is now called “Getting Personal with Gina Marie” and it can be found at http://www.FeelAndHeal.com
Carry on!
Hi, I’ve nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award!
– Niki
Hi Amelia Claire,
I’ve decided to follow any WordPress members who commented on or liked my past posts, in an effort to be more community minded. Don’t feel compelled to hit me back, but if you do I hope you enjoy and say hi.
bcpkid (pettiplays)
I’ve been thinking of you and missing your insights. I hope all is well. Peace.
I love reading novels by Nicholas Sparks too. And movies of his books, no matter how cheesy, never fail to make me reach for the tissues! I haven’t read anything by Kristin Hannah but her name is familiar. Do you have any particular recommendations for books by her?
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah is amazing!!! 🙂
Wow, you replied quickly!! Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check it out. 😀
I have cerebral palsy too thank you for being an inspiration I am 10 years old I have a fb page sharing my journey its called A Stairway To The Stars Heaven’s Journey With Cp
Thank you! 🙂