Artistic Talent: A Family Legacy

Since childhood, I’ve admired my sister Ruth’s incredible gift for drawing. While she graduated high school in 1975 and I followed in 1979, I still vividly remember "sneaking" looks through her art school book, completely awestruck by her skill. As someone who can’t even draw a straight stick figure, her natural ability seemed like magic to me.

 

We always believed Ruth inherited this talent from our Grandpa "Gus" Bensman, who was gifted at drawing animals. Now, that legacy continues with my niece, Abby. Having inherited a "double dose" of talent from both the Bensman side and her mother, Barb, Abby is already a blossoming artist at just 11 years old.

 

This past summer, I helped Abby launch her own blog to showcase her work. She is currently taking after-school art classes and will be updating her gallery regularly with new pieces. I encourage you to bookmark her site and follow along with her progress!

 

You can check out Abby’s Artwork Blog here!

 

Reached Another Goal

1.0454 & 59:24

Can you guess what those numbers represent? That’s 1.04 miles in 59 minutes and 24 seconds! I am thrilled to have met my goal of finishing under an hour, especially while still wearing the walking boot. Once I transition to my new shoe and the pain subsides, I’m aiming to shave at least five minutes off that time.

To calculate my distance, I used the Gmaps Pedometer website. It’s a great tool—I just zoomed into North Star, mapped out my laps at the church parking lot across the street, and it did the math for me.

Adjusting the Routine 

On Sunday, I tried splitting the distance into two half-mile walks, finishing with a total time of 50:56. Today, however, I really struggled with the final four laps of my full-mile attempt. To manage the foot pain and "play it safe," I’ve decided to stick with the two half-mile sessions for now.

I have a few more things to get to, so I’ll head out for now!

 

Walking With God & My Community: Thank You!

These past five months have been a journey of frustration and triumph. While I appreciate every encouraging word left on my blog, I cannot take full credit for my progress. As my blog title, "Walking With God By My Side," suggests, I am only here through God’s grace. He gives me the strength to believe I will get stronger every day. All glory belongs to Him!

My Foundation: Family & Friends

I am richly blessed by my family, who have supported me for years. To my parents, Alvin and Joann; my siblings, Bob, Ruth, Russ, and Rick; and my extended family—thank you for being my bedrock.

Growing up as a shy child in a large family, I always treasured the visits from my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Though health challenges made me more reclusive in my teens, your kindness at family gatherings has always meant the world to me. To my small but mighty circle of friends: your support keeps me going.

My Daily Support System

• Dianne: My neighbor and aide since 2005. She is the ultimate "early bird," often starting her work at 7:00 AM while I’m still recovering from restless nights. Her help in the kitchen allows me the rest I need to face the day.
• Mary Ann: A friend since the 80s. We share a deep faith and a love for laughter. I look forward to our "fun" outings next summer once I’m more mobile!
• Diana: My aide since 2009. She has a gift for lifting me out of a "funk" with her humor and shared faith. Her passion for helping others is truly a blessing.
• Father David Zink: A joyful man of God whose weekly visits with Holy Communion provide immense spiritual strength. His kindness, humor, and knowledge of the Saints are a refreshing light in my life.

 

The Community of North Star

Living in a small town is a gift. Every time I walk, a neighbor says hello. It is a kind-hearted, wonderful place to live and a community I’m proud to call home.

My Medical Team

I owe my improved mobility to the following professionals:

• Surgeons: Dr. Thomas Lee and Dr. William DeCarbo (Orthopedic Foot & Ankle) for their expert skills.
• Care Management: Vicki Binkley at Carestar, for ensuring my medical needs are met.
• Nursing & Care: The professional and caring nursing team at Comprehensive Health Network (Glenna, Lil, Linda, and the many others) and aides Teresa and Shawn.
• Transport: Spirit Medical Transport, whose EMTs treated me with the utmost respect during my trips to Westerville. 

 

To anyone I may have missed: please know that I deeply value your thoughtfulness. Thank you all for walking this path with me!

My Walking Stride has Improved

It’s been nearly five months since my right halo foot surgery on April 6th. This recovery has felt much faster than my left foot surgeries back in 2008/2009—likely because being able to walk outside in the summer sun beats being stuck indoors during the winter!

The Journey So Far

• July 27th ("The Climb"): My first video showed me taking small, cautious steps with full crutch support. 
   
•  September 3rd ("One Step at a Time"): In this new video, you’ll see my stride is longer and my pace is quicker.

 

Though my mobility is improving, I’m still using crutches due to persistent pain. I suspect the rigid walking boot is straining my muscles and tendons; I’m hopeful that transitioning to a regular shoe soon will offer the mobility I need to feel better.

 

A Fun Note: The first clip was filmed by my niece, Abby, and the second by my aide, Dianne. Despite being filmed 45 days apart, I accidentally wore the exact same outfit — I promise I have more than one outfit! Stay tuned for the third and final video once I’ve mastered my new shoes. The song is a secret for now!