Author: nmgaultney

This past Monday I had another appointment with Mike, and we met at the gym so he could see my progress on the routine he'd given me. I arrived a…

"Everyone put your hands up in the air. Great, now how long do you think you can hold them there?" About three of my year seven and eight kids dropped…

I arrived back at my temporary home a week ago, and I jumped into the new school year of activities here in Christchurch wholeheartedly. Wednesday I returned to church staff…

When I ride home from physiotherapie in Germany, there's a ridge in Tannenkirch that gives the perfect view of the Swiss Alps off in the distance on a clear day…

I never dreamed I'd spend my 30th birthday in a wheelchair, but I also never dreamed I'd spend it road tripping on an island paradise to Hobbiton, so my life…

Before last Christmas, my sister asked me what my students called me so she could use my title on a personalized present. She was thinking of the difference between "Miss"…

Tuesday morning, I checked my phone to see a message from Jen to call her. Obviously, that's a great way to start my day because Jen is one of my…

One of my students is convinced that all the choices we make are predetermined and that free will is an illusion. We have loads of great conversations about this. Just…

Have you ever read Thomas More's Utopia? It's terrible. I mean, no way it could work, but if it did, life there would be horribly bland. Anyone who's known me…

There's always reason not to get up and walk - paralysis being at the top of the list for me. I obviously want to keep improving though, and I'll look…

I never wanted to leave Oregon; ask anyone who knew me there. I was the least likely to move away, and yet, at this point it doesn't look like I'll…

I got my Cinderella shoes Santa style nearly five years ago, and I've worn them almost every day since. They've gone through about five pairs of shoelaces, and are duct…

This Monday at physio, Mike had me practice a whole bunch more difficult tasks. We did a lot of standing on my own before grabbing on to his arms so…

Matt, the youth pastor I’m working with, asked me for some background on the American holiday of Thanksgiving while he was preparing for his sermon this week, and, cynic that…

I'm not one to let a Mulan reference pass me by. Remember that scene when our young hero is devastated that she can't live up to her family's expectations and…

I got my first church key when I started volunteering at Westport ages ago. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a small thrill from the importance, but…

During this past week, I've been trying to convince three of my former students to find paid internships in Portland. Obviously, I'm willing to be their reference, help them with…

I've had the blessing of several really talented physios over the past five years, and one of the gifts of working with Anja for over four years of that time…

Time with Dayla is always great, and as we were in the middle of taking a selfie with our handmade with love mugs tonight, we got a Cinderella style surprise…