On What We’ve Been Up To

Cheers! Grab yourself a Shirley Temple and get ready for a warm fuzzy, fill-your-bucket, Leah-moment-infused update from us – The Upside Down Sisters!

If you’ve been with us for a while now, you’ll notice we’ve made some updates to our website (the big one being our new URL: www.upsidedownsisters.com)! Leah and I are thrilled to focus on Upside Down in 2021 and excited for you to join along.

The heartbeat of our work together has always been two-fold; shifting perspectives and inspiring potential. This is our mission.

Our vision is to continue our work by connecting with as many people as possible – through our writing, as guests on podcasts, attending conferences (virtually, for now), Leah’s piano performances, and beyond.

Our current focus is securing a Literary Agent to help us publish our book Upside Down: Shift Your Perspective. The book is a compilation of stories, similar to many you’ve read on the blog, where Leah’s “disability” is, in fact, her “ability” to view situations through a non-judgmental lens. It will highlight the countless times her experience has been upside down and right side up. We’ll keep you updated on our progress while continuing to share our stories along the way!

Unlike our usual posts, this update is going to be written entirely by me, Lindsay. But have no fear, I promise to sprinkle plenty of Leah-isms throughout the post. Leah has been helping as we continue to tweak our Book Proposal, but I wanted to provide an update since it has been so long!

It’s no surprise that the last year has been extremely challenging for our family. We’ve had to protect ourselves and our gal Leah, which has meant remaining almost fully isolated for most of the year. Our hearts are with those who have been impacted by the pandemic.

We are beyond grateful that Leah has received her first vaccine and will receive her second in a few weeks. Thank God for our healthcare workers.

In late September, our family did, however, have quite an exciting event: my wedding! It was on our sister Megan’s land and was a dream. I’m sure we’ll write about the magical day in the future. And yes, Leah’s wedding gift was a “Just Married” decorated golf cart, in which she insisted on driving us around the property as the evening came to an end.

Oh, and her speech? It was more silent during her speech than when we said our vows! Everyone’s eyes were filled with tears and arms were covered in goosebumps as my big sis spoke about love and family. It was so special.

Kev and I took a COVID-friendly Honeymoon in our 1989 Chevy Beauville named Donna June that we converted into a camper van! Yellowstone, Moab, Telluride… it was perfect.

For Halloween, Leah asked me to help her to be Meryl Streep’s character in the movie Ricki and the Flash. You’re not the only one if you’ve never heard of it. I’m pretty sure we knocked the look out of the park, Guitar Hero guitar and all.

After Leah’s performance for the family, giving it up to her band, and thanking, “everyone for coming out tonight,” she proceeded to stay in character/costume for the rest of the night.

Nearly two months after my wedding, Leah would not take no for an answer on throwing me a Bachelorette Party, complete with karaoke, Shirley Temples, a tutu, and streamers. She just couldn’t and wouldn’t accept that I hadn’t wanted one.

The 3 of us danced, sang, and laughed all night. Leah’s ability to know what I want even more than I know for myself can be wild. She performed many times throughout the evening, notably Linda Ronstadt’s It’s So Easy to Fall in Love, during which the Guitar Hero guitar made yet another appearance.

On Christmas Eve, our family typically goes to the evening church service. When Kevin and I arrived at my parent’s house that evening, little did we know what Leah had been up to. She wouldn’t let cancelled in-person church services stop her — instead, she brought the Christmas Eve service home.

Pastor Leah had been working all day on her sermon, curating the songs that would be played, and tapping our mom to accompany Silent Night on the piano while we held our candles high. One of Leah’s greatest fears is an open flame, but every Christmas Eve she bravely tackles her fear and holds her candle. This year was no different.

Leah’s Forever Love, Mark, joined our family for Christmas for the first year ever. It was well worth the full two-week quarantine leading up to December 25.

…Also, if you ever are in need of a pick me up, I highly recommend sending Mark a gift and watching him open it. It is instant, pure, outrageously genuine joy.

That brings us to 2021! We are so excited for the possibilities this year holds for Upside Down.

This week, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to share our story at the FIRE Foundation’s Inclusion in Action National Conference (virtually, of course). The FIRE Foundation is an organization focusing on inclusive education in Catholic Schools. We can’t wait for attendees to learn from Leah’s journey through inclusive education and beyond.

The photo below brings me such joy. It was taken when my mom took Leah to get her first COVID vaccine.

That’s all for now, folks. However, the best is yet to come. -Lindsay