As many of you know I'm part of a retreat group called Celebration. I have done 6 retreats so far as a team member and will be my 7th retreat in December. Over the past year or two since John and I have been on team we have found a community who accepts everyone for who they are, through Christ.
While being on team and getting to know everyone really well, and becoming close friends. John and I have met some of our closest friends and still are. Anyways, through this community, I have felt more comfortable talking about Fragile X to everyone. I have given some witness talks over the past few retreats and have mentioned Fragile X in them, and what it is because most people no clue and because I was called to give a witness talk to share important things in my life.
In the witness talks I have talked about some of my struggles living with FX. Also outside of giving a talk, I have shared my struggles with my team members and close friends because they accept me for Who Iam and they have been there for me and are continually there for me if I ever need anything. They have been a huge support in the whole learning to drive and giving me confidence that I can do it and not to give up on it. Being on Celebration, they have constantly reminded me of this quote: "You are created in the image and likeness of God". I have learned to accept that God gave me FX for a reason and he created me this way and I should appreciate it.
I always wear one of my FX t-shirts on each retreat not only to spread awareness but in hopes that maybe a New Kid has heard of it before. This summer I plan on getting FX t-shirts for my friends so that they can spread awareness as well. If they want a t-shirt! Lol
One of my closest friends on team, she is going to school to be an elementary school teacher. Well this semester she has a class dealing with learning issues and they have to do a project on a learning disability and they had a list to choose from and on the list was Fragile X!!! So she decided to do that because she knew me who had it and could give her tons of information about it which I did. I was in awe when she told me that she was doing the project on Fragile X. It made me smile and feel good. She was spreading awareness and she is learning more about it at the same time. Also teaching her teacher about FX that they might not know about it.
Anyways, I'm extremely thankful for God putting Celebration in my life. My life would not be the same without it that is for sure. I have found another community who love me cause I'm me!
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