As Merle and I celebrate another Valentine’s Day together, we can’t help but reminisce on our decades long marriage, our love, and most importantly, our children. Christina is living her best life in New York City and Catherine is still our resident firecracker at the ripe old age of eighteen. Our family life is pretty […]
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If you’re a regular visitor to Beyond The Waiting Room, then you know that October is a very special month for the Flakes family. We support and celebrate Catherine all year-round, but Down Syndrome Awareness Month gives the Down syndrome community a chance to take it to the next level. This month is all about […]
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Did you know that March 21 was chosen for World Down Syndrome Day because 3/21 symbolizes the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome? My family and I are inspired by Catherine on a daily basis, but having a day with global awareness that honors her and her Down syndrome peers is extremely important. This year […]
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“If there is hope in the future, there is literally power in the present.” Zig Ziglar In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Beyond the Waiting Room is featuring an incredible mom of four children. Clarice exemplifies hope as she cares for her growing family and manages the care of her fourth child, Summer Reign, […]
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As we continue to move through what seems like the fourth quarter of this challenging pandemic, we must answer to the year that has asked so much from us. What did I learn about myself? The quarantine at home allowed me to evaluate how I used my time on a daily basis. My answers really […]
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What did you learn in 2020? This is an important question to ask of ourselves. It is so vital to answer so you can create a path forward. We all had challenges that can lead to outcomes with long–term positive impact. Here are three things I learned from the world around me. Gratitude We took […]
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“There are years that ask questions and years that answer,” from author Zora Neal Hurston, is suitable for the season we are in right now. It was this time last year where we began to see our lives convert into what some may describe as the twilight zone. A pandemic emerged and engulfed our lives […]
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Please tell us your name and a little about yourself. My husband, John, and I live in Raleigh, NC where he is the Director of the Raleigh Rescue Mission. The RRM is a ministry that seeks to Rescue, Renew and Restore homeless individuals to a relationship with Christ and move them on to full employment, […]
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November is Children’s Grief Awareness month and I couldn’t have found a more deserving person to be featured than Bryce Fields. After losing his younger sister in a tragic car accident, Bryce channeled his pain and grief by writing a book with his grandfather that addresses the grieving process from a child’s point of view. […]
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“Sometimes, someone comes into your life expectantly, takes your heart by surprise and changes your life forever”. In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness month, we are featuring a remarkable mom of four teenage daughters. Gayle embodies this quote as she shares her story on Beyond the Waiting Room of being blessed twice with daughters with […]
