Happy Birthday!

From Tina -

21 years ago today, a beautiful little girl was born in Focsani, Romania. She spent her first 15 months in a dreary orphanage with no one to care for her or love her. She is now a beautiful caring young woman who I am proud to call my daughter. Happy birthday Daniela!

 

Training Heidi - teaching basic obedience to a friend's dog

Hi Everybody!

It's been awhile since I've written. I'm sorry about that! My mom had surgery a couple of weeks ago but now we are back!


For the past couple of months I have been doing a basic obedience course at the Gloucester Kennel Club with my sister's friend's dog Heidi. I was excited to get the chance to learn how to work with a dog. It was lots of fun and I learned a lot. I want to thank my sister Marcy and her friend Jacob for helping me to do this. Below are some pictures of my training and a video! 


The first couple of weeks were hard but it got easier every week. I would love to do the advanced course in the spring.


I think the course will help me a lot with my volunteer work at the Humane Society.

love,  Daniela

Teaching Heidi to stay!

Receiving our certificate at the end of the course!

The Winter I'm Determined Youth Summit

With Miss Virginia - She has a disability too!

With Mr. Doug Cox, the head of Special Education with the Virginia Dept. of Education

With Brett Leake - a very funny comedian who has appeared on the Tonight Show! He also has a disability!

With Darren (who I met at the summer summit) and another staff member of the summit

With my friend Zach, who I also met at the summer summit. His mom is also very nice!

With staff members from the summit!

at the dance with my friends

The dance was  great!

with the DJ for the dance!

I had a wonderful time at the winter Summit in Staunton Virginia last month. I got to meet new friends and meet up with old friends from the summer summit. The most fun event was the dance and kareoke.

I learned more about how to stand up for myself and others. My mom went to special classes just for parents and she had a really good time too. We had a beautiful drive through the mountains going to the summit, but coming home the weather was awful with lots of fog and rain! I really miss all the friends I made at the summit. I hope I get to see them again. If any of you are reading my blog please email me so we can stay in touch! My mom and I want to thank everyone at the summit and everyone who made the summit happen. It was really wonderful. Other students with disabilities in Virginia should really apply to be apart of the next summit. You will learn so much and make so many friends!

Love,

Daniela