My daughter could teach many people a thing or two about life.

I mean, she is only seven, but she's had to face more obstacles than what most people face in a lifetime.  Nothing slows her down for long; she is absolutely incredible!

My daughter's name is Taylor Wren.  Taylor is in the first grade at Apple Valley Elementary School here in Rosedale, California, where we live.  She does very well in all of her classes; the other students and her teachers love her.

She is a model student.

My daughter loves to do many things.  Play her guitar, sing (her favorite singer is Loretta Lynn), read (she is a voracious bookworm), draw, write stories or poems, and play on the computer, among other things.  In many ways, she is a very typical little girl.

On the other hand, she has some differences that are apparent once you see her.  For starters, she has spina bifida, and she uses a wheeled walker for getitng around (or a wheelchair for longer trips).  For short, short jaunts, she uses her crutches, but she's most comfortable using her walker or her wheelchair.

Secondly, she has four fingers on one hand.  We don't know what happened; she was born this way.  It's never really slowed her down; some things are tricky, but she's found a way to master any new skill she learns.  She is very intelligent, even despite her problems.

In addition, she wears glasses.  She has bad eyesight; this was probably due to her being born premature.  At birth, she weighed less than two pounds.  She wasn't expected to survive; Taylor had other plans.  She is still flummoxing her doctors seven years later; she is a miracle child!

Taylor is a very happy little girl with an outgoing, bubbly personality.  She can make even the saddest, grouchiest people smile just by opening her mouth; she always seems to know the right things to say. 

I will be writing more about Taylor in the coming weeks, in addition to writing about our other three children, Tanner (8), Tobin (9), and Tallie (11).  They are special, and they get along famously with their little sister; they are perfect kids, extremely well behaved.

My name is Oreida (like in Oreida Potatoes! LOL) Mae Hinson.  We live in Rosedale, California. as I mentioned earlier.  I am a homemaker; my husband, DeWitt, is a teacher; he teaches high school English to students who are learning to master the English language. 

Other than our youngest daughter being disabled, we are like many other famillies:  we laugh, we cry, we dream, we worry about bills, our financial future.  I also worry about what will happen, now that we have a new president-in-residence at the White House. 

Time will only tell.

Well, I have to go get the children from school, so I will let you go.  I wanted to tell you about our children, in particular, Taylor, who has stolen our hearts, something she's been doing ever since she burst onto the scene seven years ago!  I feel her story isn't done, and I feel that the others will have a story themselves.  You haven't heard the last from me!

Take care and may God bless you mightily!

~Love, your new friend, Oreida Mae Hinson, Rosedale, California.  :)