My daddy has always told me that "Success is failure turned inside out".  As I get bigger, I can see that is very true .  He says that in order for me to succeed in life, I just need to pick myself up and dust myself clean if I happen to fall ... and I do.  I also have a good attitude about things.

My name is Torvar Oskund.  I am 11 years old; I live with my Mama and Daddy in Blooming Grove, Minnesota.  I am in the sixth grade.  I have one younger sister (Olga, 6) and a baby brother (Maysen, 4 months; he was just born this past August).  We also have a Norwegian Elkhound named Scout.

I was born with spina bifida.  Basically, that means my spinal cord didn't close completely while I was being formed inside Mama's tummy; because of it, I am paralyzed from the waist on down and cannot walk without crutches or leg braces.  For longer trips, I use a wheelchair, as it's a lot easier.

I have been in and out of the hospital many times for surgeries or other procedures.  It's not a life for the weak or faint of heart, but I think that I have done very well for myself, all things considering.  I consider myself very blessed.

When I grow up I want to be an actor, a director, or a singer.  I love the whole scope of the entertainment industry and I have always had a very creative streak in me.  I take voice lessons as well as acting classes and I enjoy them very much.

Now that it is nearly Christmas, I will be singing in the Christmas Cantata next Sunday at church.  I will be singing O Holy Night.  I am really looking forward to it; I have been practicing very hard with my singing!  I hope I do a good job!

We will be putting our Christmas tree up tomorrow.  We will also do the house (well, Daddy and our neighbor Sam Torkington, anyway) and put up the lights.  While Daddy and Dean are doing the lights and the outside of the house, Mama, Olga, and myself will do the tree and the inside Christmas stuff.  Baby Maysen will just watch and probably wonder what the heck is going on.  LOL

Well, I hate to run, but English class is about to end and I have to get ready to go to my next class, which is music.  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Torvar Oskund saying over and out!  God bless and remember the REAL Reason behind why we celebrate Christmas!  And ... Merry Christmas!

~Torvar.  :)