ETB 56: Ready to journey into the heartwarming world of Carlee Ragains, a creative spirit, mother, wife, and mimi? Carlee's story weaves a rich tapestry of love, courage, and perseverance, as she shares the joys, challenges, and unimaginable fulfillment that come from parenting her 16-year-old daughter, Ellen, who was born with Down syndrome. Carlee paints a vibrant portrait of Ellen, a high functioning, verbal, independent, sensitive, and personality-packed young woman - an inspiring beacon of hope and testament to the beauty of embracing uniqueness.
Carlee's creativity doesn't stop at parenting; she has harnessed her experiences and channeled them into the creation of a beautiful children's book. Would you believe the ideas for this book started flowing in the shower? This book aims to promote self-advocacy, create connections, and foster understanding about disabilities. Carlee talks about her journey from an initial rejection by a publisher to eventually seeing her labor of love come to life.
Carlee dreams big. She envisions a series of books that illuminate different diagnoses and disabilities, engaging readers in an inviting and non-threatening way. This woman's relentless optimism and her dreams for her daughter to thrive are as beautiful as her project. So, if you're ready to be inspired, uplifted and enlightened, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Come, join us on this journey of celebrating uniqueness and potential in all children, regardless of their abilities.
Connect with Carlee
Newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/498c1a387cc6/bqr1oq075o
IG: @carleeragainswrites
Blog: https://carleeragains.wordpress.com
Eleanor's eXtraordinary Dreams Illustrator:
Megan Webber
Megan's IG: @megan_webber_art
Eleanor's eXtraordinary Dreams Publisher:
https://unitedhousepublishing.com/
Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sandy Deppisch (00:05):
Hey there, I'm Sandy Deppish, and this is the
Embrace the Blessing podcast.
Each week, I talk with a parentwho has a child with a
disability.
They share their biggestchallenge, their greatest joy
and their hopes and dreams forthe future.
You'll learn about resourcesavailable to you and discover
helpful hints and tips If youwant to be inspired and
(00:27):
encouraged, stick around.
Let's walk the road.
Let's travel together.
Well, I am so excited to haveyou here today.
I talked to you.
It felt like maybe just like alittle over a year ago, when you
shared this idea that you'regoing to share with our audience
(00:49):
, and it's just happened so fast.
From my end, of course, it'slike a pregnancy when someone's
pregnant, it's always faster forthe other people than it is for
the pregnant person.
But you have something reallyexciting to share with our
guests and I cannot wait for youto start telling us about it.
So, to begin, would you pleaseintroduce yourself and tell us a
little bit about you.
Carlee Ragains (01:09):
Yes, sure, my name is Carlee Regans and I am a
wife, a mom, a me-me Now haveseveral grandchildren, so that's
really fun and I would callmyself a creative.
I mean, I have had severalseasons of different aspects.
(01:29):
Of that, probably primary onewas I spent 17 years in a church
as a music minister.
So did that.
And then this last season myfocus has been more on writing
and I'm getting ready to releasethe children's book into the
world.
So that's really where my focushas been.
(01:50):
So love arts and want todevelop some of that as well.
But, yeah, I'm a mom and a wife, I would say, first and
foremost, and then the writinghas been the most recent
creative endeavor.
Sandy Deppisch (02:08):
So you've not been a writer in the past like
that was not something youdabbled in.
Carlee Ragains (02:14):
Oh, I certainly dabbled in it.
I mean, I've always loved towrite, I've always been a
journaler, I've written songs,I've written poetry articles and
used writing in what I did, youknow, in ministry and whatever.
But a book this is the firsttime that has come up and I've
(02:37):
always thought maybe I wouldwrite a book, but I didn't know
what, what kind and when.
This idea kind of surfaced,then I just I tried to lean into
that.
But it has been a long processactually.
Sandy Deppisch (02:49):
Yeah, wow, and I was not aware about your music
ministry background.
That's really fascinating.
Carlee Ragains (02:56):
Yeah, that's my like training.
I guess that's where my collegeand seminary and spent a lot of
years doing that.
Sandy Deppisch (03:05):
That's amazing, wow, awesome.
Well tell us a little bit moreabout your family.
So tell us about your childwith special needs.
Carlee Ragains (03:14):
Yeah, so my husband and I have a daughter.
Her name is Ellen and she's 16.
She's a sophomore in highschool.
She has Down syndrome.
She is, I would say, quite highfunctioning.
She's very verbal, very active,quite independent.
(03:36):
I mean, as she gets older Ijust have to keep reminding
myself she is 16.
You know, she's not a childanymore.
Really, she's a joy.
She's just been such a joy tous and to others.
She's very what do I want to say?
She's very sensitive.
(03:56):
That's one of the things thatwe've noticed through the years.
Like when she was younger, shewould walk into a room and know
who, who needed a hug, you know,and they might be taken aback
because you know she would justcome and give them a big hug.
But to see the response maybeon their faces, of just knowing,
oh, that person, you know, mayhave been kind of on the fringes
(04:19):
but she knew, and so that'ssomething about her that I've
really appreciated and loved tosee.
But yeah, she stays active,loves school, loves friends,
loves sports, loves to sing anddance, and she has a lot of
spunk and a lot of personality.
Love her.
Sandy Deppisch (04:40):
Yes, did you know?
I didn't prepare you for this,but did you know prior to her
birth that she was going to haveDown syndrome?
Carlee Ragains (04:46):
We did not, we did not and, to be honest, I
didn't even see it when she wasborn.
I just really felt like I don'tknow, like there was just kind
of a veil, like I noticed somethings, but I had never had a
child and so I didn't think anydifferently.
I do remember very distinctlythat the nurses came and
(05:10):
basically said we're going totake her for about four and a
half hours and we'll bring herback later.
And I thought that was weird.
But I thought, well, you know,what do I know?
And so I don't know.
I feel like maybe, you know,the Lord kind of veiled our eyes
.
I mean, I do believe insovereignty of God and I believe
(05:30):
that he had a plan.
And so, yeah, they told us apediatrician would be there that
evening, our pediatrician andso I was like what?
That's weird.
But again, I didn't know anybetter.
Now I do Right, right.
But yeah, we had a wonderfuldoctor that we had already kind
of lined up and he came in andjust said what do you know about
(05:54):
Down syndrome?
You know, and this is what Ithink is, this is what appears
to be the case, and you know,this is a flood of like the
questions when you have no clue,you don't know, you don't, you
weren't expecting, but then youdon't even know what that is.
And you know, my husband and Ikind of had different responses.
(06:15):
He actually the doctor actuallytold me before my husband
arrived because he had gone totake I have three stepchildren
who are Older, and so he hadgone to take them to eat.
And the doctor came and said isyour husband here?
And I said, no, you know.
And so he ended up telling meand then met my husband at the
(06:37):
elevator, so kind and gracious,and just said it's gonna be okay
.
I'm so grateful for a doctorthat Came from a positive point
of view, because I know so manypeople have different
experiences.
And he just said look, I'velooked for every possible thing
that could be an issue and shewas very healthy and, as we said
(07:01):
, we prayed for a healthy babyand we got a healthy baby and I
know so many With Down syndromehave other challenges heart
challenges and so we were reallygrateful for that and he just
said she will do anything shewants to do.
It's gonna probably take herlonger, but he really gave us
(07:21):
that thing of the sky's thelimit.
Don't set a boundary for her,don't Limit her, and know
there's lots of resources.
And so I'm very grateful forthat and I think a lot of that
is why she is very strong,because we just we just went for
it.
Sandy Deppisch (07:40):
How phenomenal that you had that amazing
experience with such anincredible doctor, because
that's not always the case.
So he he did a great service toyou guys and and to your
daughter, because that's yeah,that's not common.
Hopefully, things are changingand that will be the way things
go in the future and arehappening now.
I hope, but that's wonderful.
(08:00):
So you guys just you kept yourexpectations high for her.
Carlee Ragains (08:05):
Yeah, yeah, I think you know there's always
things that just kind of in theback of your mind, like the
long-term things, and but wewere surrounded by a great
community and people just lovedher and included her, and Early
on for sure.
And so, yeah, we just did allthe things you know, all the
(08:25):
therapies, and kept her in anInclusion scenario as long as we
could.
Ammings, you know, mainstreamturn school.
There did come a point where wehad to shift because she was
very frustrated heading intomiddle school, and so there have
been moments, you know, wherewe've had to kind of face the
(08:45):
Kind of reality of it.
Oh yeah.
Sandy Deppisch (08:48):
We'll share your greatest joy and parenting your
daughter, oh Goodness.
Carlee Ragains (08:53):
I think my greatest joy right now is
watching her Kind of come intowho she is, like finding the
things she loves, that she'spassionate about and being very
independent.
Like you know, sometimes that'sa challenge right as a parent,
because there's some pushbacksometimes.
But again, just seeing herreally be who she is and Pick
(09:18):
her clothes whether they wouldbe what I would do or not, you
know, and just Just let her be,I think that's been really fun.
And then just in the victories,like for example Yesterday,
actually, she's been kind ofdoing this thing of having a
morning routine like that's Ihave my morning routine and she
gets her phone and she recordsherself because she's been
(09:39):
watching these YouTube videosand Really more than I had
realized, you know, and she'sgot all these things and she's
like okay, mom, I have my, myroutine.
And I walked into her bathroomyesterday and saw that she had
printed off a Like basic makeuproutine and it was sitting
beside the same.
I was like, oh my goodness, Ijust had this smile and I just
(10:00):
thought, man, she's just soseeing her like own those things
.
I Think she's doing that morethan sometimes I give her credit
for, and so just reallyReleasing her to do that.
It's a balance right now.
Sandy Deppisch (10:16):
That is awesome.
Yeah, I think with independence, it's always a fine line.
We want them to be asindependent as possible, but
then, I mean with any child,there's some points where it's
like you're not quite ready forthat level of independence.
So we want them to back.
You know, and it's it's a hardthing to balance, but, wow, I
love her, her willingness tolike embrace things.
(10:36):
I need to figure out makeup.
Let me print out a tutorial.
That's incredible.
Yeah, so I think I already knowthe answer to this question,
but what inspired you to write abook and tell us a little bit
about your book?
Carlee Ragains (10:50):
Yes, well, ultimately, my daughter, she,
she is the inspiration for thebook, she's the inspiration for
the character.
I did want it to be a universalthing, so it's not like
specifically her story per se,but the characters, totally the
(11:15):
main characters, totallydesigned After Ellen, so our
daughter Ellen.
The book is called Eleanor'sextraordinary dreams and so,
yeah, I heard that.
I think the thing thatTriggered the seed finally to
kind of be birthed was aboutfour years ago, actually, I
(11:37):
heard an interview with ateacher turned publisher.
She was an elementary teacherand she was looking for books on
kindness and compassion To readto her kids and to teach those
values and to teach to herstudents, I should say.
And she wasn't finding manythat she felt were strong and I
(11:58):
do think that has changed in thelast Few years and I think
she's obviously been part ofthat.
But she ended up writing her ownbooks and Found such a need for
it that she ended up quittingteaching to publish books, and
so I had heard her talking aboutthis and as she was talking, it
(12:20):
was like it just lit a spark,like I had the idea.
I was like, oh, I need to dothis, I can totally write, you
know, this story with Ellen kindof as my model or whatever.
But it didn't come easy, itdidn't come right away.
I just could not settle.
I'm like, okay, well, at somepoint and really you know Our
(12:43):
experience over the years Ellenhas really been received Most of
the time.
I do have some, you know.
There have been some times,like one specifically.
We were in a smaller communityand I remember seeing pictures
on social media of a birthdayparty of a classmate and it was
obvious that the whole class wasthere and Ellen hadn't been
(13:05):
invited and you know um.
Obviously, Ellen maybe didn'tknow right um, but I did you
know, and, you know, as a mom,it's like, oh you know, I wish
that People were morecomfortable.
And we also, at the same time,had a, a couple that were
(13:28):
friends of ours, that came to usin this same community and said
hey, we want to support you, wewant to support your daughter.
Would you teach us about her?
Would you teach us about howyou, you know, want to support
her and whether it's adiscipline or whatever, we would
like to come alongside and be asupport to you.
(13:51):
And, oh, my goodness, you knowwhat a difference that made.
Yeah, incredible people, yeah.
Sandy Deppisch (13:58):
I that's.
I'm just blown away.
Were these people at yourchurch?
Carlee Ragains (14:03):
Um, they were, they were in our community, we
were actually overseas and soyou know, they were other
international people that werekind of in the same community
with us and they just were soaware.
And that, for me, kind of thecontrast of those two things I
was, has really stuck with me.
And I think a lot of times wePeople maybe don't reach out or
(14:31):
don't Initiate because they'reuncomfortable, because they
don't know right, just like whenwe first found out, you know,
you do all these what if?
Scenarios immediately, like my,my first thought with how long
is she gonna live?
Well, I had no idea what Downsyndrome was, you know.
So I think people put up a bitof a wall sometimes because
(14:51):
they're uncomfortable, notbecause they don't want to, they
just don't know how.
And so really my heart behindthis book is a couple of things.
One is Kind of a most basiclevel of self-advocacy, like
this character owns her story,owns who she is, and in doing so
she Actually creates aconnection with another student
(15:15):
who is having her own challenges.
And so it's kind of a flip toof what you would maybe
Initially typically think, thatsomeone would come in and help
the person who has thedisability, when in reality
she's the one, the one with Downsyndrome, is the one who
reaches out and draws out thisother person, which totally is
(15:35):
how Ellen is, how our daughteris.
And but my heart is to invitepeople into conversations that
Bring some awareness, bring someunderstanding, take away some
of the Uncertainty or theuncomfortability, so that people
can get beyond that to not onlyReach out to a person who has a
(15:59):
disability and engage them as aas a person, as a fellow, you
know person in life, but also sothat they can benefit from that
person.
Because I firmly believe thatwe're all made in the image of
God and we all have somethingthat we bring.
(16:20):
And I believe that in bearinghis image we bear part of his
character.
And so my husband and I haveBeen kind of saying to each
other or asking the question forI don't know, the last couple
of years you know, what is itthat we get to see or know about
(16:40):
God that we wouldn't know ifEllen didn't have Down syndrome,
like what of his charactershows up in her Because of her,
you know, diagnosis or whateveryou want to say that we wouldn't
get to experience otherwise.
You know, and of course, as amom, you know.
(17:02):
I mean, I've been changed byher.
And then that example I gave ofher walking into a room and like
just having this, you know,unconscious, subconscious
awareness of people's needs andso yeah, that's.
(17:23):
I really hope to invite peoplein a non-threatening way, in a
fun, whimsical rhyming you knowchildren's picture book, that is
very engaging to then be ableto say oh like to have a
perspective shift and actuallyin the back of the book we've
(17:47):
included discussion questionsthat teachers can ask children
and parents can ask children, sohopefully it's a whole family
experience.
That's perfect, yeah, to invitepeople to think outside their
box.
Sandy Deppisch (18:01):
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
I love that it's the, like yousaid, your daughter's character,
the individual with Downsyndrome that is paving the way
for the typically developingchild and trying to help her,
which is amazing, becauseoftentimes I think our kids do
that just naturally anyway, butI don't know that the world sees
that.
(18:21):
So this is great that you'rebringing awareness to it.
But I love also, as a formerkindergarten teacher, I love
that you have questions in theback of the book, because this
can open up so many discussions,and five year olds well, all
ages, but that's my experienceFive year olds are so open and
compassionate and lovingnaturally and wanting to think
(18:43):
about other people.
They're still in that it's allabout me stage, but this is a
good time to springboard intofocusing on other people.
They're just accepting, though,which is awesome.
I love this.
I cannot wait.
So I know the book is scheduledto come out sometime this month
.
Well, no, we're in September.
In October, tell us a littlebit about that.
Carlee Ragains (19:02):
Yes, so the kind of official date is October
21st.
There may be a little bit ofgive in that, so towards the end
of the month.
October is also Down syndromeawareness month, so I really
wanted to I've had it just kindof in my mind this whole time to
launch it at that time, and sowe're kind of in the final
(19:24):
stages and yeah, we'll beputting it out specifically, but
I would say, look for ittowards the end of October.
Sandy Deppisch (19:35):
Okay.
So I'm gonna jump a question toask you where can we find your
book when it's published, whenit's available?
Where will that be?
Carlee Ragains (19:42):
Yeah, it'll be available wherever you buy books
Amazon, obviously, and thenlikely Barnes, noble Books, a
Million and Walmartcom, probablythe four kind of big ones, and
I'm also hoping to get it intosmaller bookstores and libraries
(20:04):
.
And so, yeah, amazon obviouslyis gonna be the big obvious one
but yeah, that's excellent.
Sandy Deppisch (20:13):
So tell us, what has the book writing journey
been like?
I know the idea was plantedlike four years ago, but now
it's coming about.
So what has that been like foryou?
Carlee Ragains (20:25):
Well, it's been long in that it just takes a
long time.
And now to be here it's justkind of it's still hard for me
to like get my head around it.
I'm gonna have a physical bookin my hand really soon.
It's been a process, you know.
It's been a process for me tolearn how to let an idea sit and
(20:47):
simmer for a while, to notforce it.
I attempted to force it.
I would sit and think, okay,how can I tell this story?
And it just wasn't happening.
And so actually it probably Iguess it took about two years.
I have a note on my phone thatgoes back to, I think, 2021,
(21:08):
july of 21.
And I was in the shower one dayand I just had like a download
of like it just was like a songrunning through my head, you
know, like a poem kind of thing.
Like all of a sudden I saw kindof the details, like I had been
formulating the idea of someinteractions, but I was like, oh
(21:29):
you know, had to scramble andhurry up and get a phone out and
write it down quick.
And I remember coming out tothe kitchen where my husband and
daughter were and I was like,can I really do something?
I was like giddy and I read itand Ellen responded that's me
and I was like, oh, like youknow, there was just like this
(21:51):
moment of, oh my gosh, like shegot it, and if she saw herself
then okay, I'm gonna go withthis.
And then I'd say the secondpart, or the kind of rest of it,
came in, another kind of rush.
But then really, the work ofliving with it, tweaking it,
(22:12):
because it is a rhyming picturebook, so it's like you know, it
all has to be, has to make senseand it has to rhyme, you know,
and so that takes some time andgetting into the like, the
structure of it.
And I actually submitted it to apublisher Actually the
(22:34):
publisher I was telling youabout and that was a no, and so
that was hard, cause I was likeI was sure you know, this is
gonna be the one and I hadn'tdone it before.
So it was a whole process.
I didn't have an agent, butthey were taking submissions
anyway, and so then I just hadto sit with it again and say,
okay, you know, and honestly,where's this book supposed to go
(22:58):
?
What am I supposed to do?
And I sat on it for about sixmonths and just kind of toyed
with different things.
Do I submit it somewhere else?
You know, and probably aboutthat time last year, sandy, I
remember thinking I need to sendit to Sandy because I know you
write and you blog and podcastand you have a child.
(23:19):
You know what Down syndromemeant.
Not knowing, you were a teacher, and you were very encouraging,
like, oh, you need to dosomething with this book.
You know, I was toying withself publishing and then a
publisher that I followed onInstagram just one day posted
and said we're takingsubmissions and send us a DM and
(23:40):
I thought, well, how hard canit be?
I've already done the work and Imean within a day I had an
appointment for an interview andthe doors just kind of flew
open and it's been a reallygreat process.
It's a hybrid company UnitedHouse Publishing it is the name
(24:02):
of the company and so I've justbeen able to be a part of the
whole process, which intraditional publishing wouldn't
have been the case necessarily.
But I've gotten to have a handin all of that and work with an
illustrator and be very hands on.
So it's been a very fun process.
(24:23):
It's taken, like you said,about a year.
I think this happened the endof September last year, and so
we're right there.
Sandy Deppisch (24:29):
So did you have to find your own illustrator, or
do they have illustrators thatyou're able to?
Carlee Ragains (24:34):
Well, I kind of had the freedom to find someone,
and again, I was not, I was.
I didn't know where to start,what to do.
I had some people that I kindof liked their style and but
they had someone that they hadworked with before previously on
(24:55):
a book, and so they sent thisout you know kind of the concept
to her and maybe some others.
She was the only one thatresponded, and so we started a
dialogue and we met on Zoom, youknow like this, and I just kind
of had the opportunity to castvision, because I knew what I
wanted it to feel like, I knewthe style, what I wanted it to
(25:19):
look like.
Then I had attempted actuallyto play with it, to do it myself
, and I just didn't feel like Iwas in that place, like that
wasn't my skill set for thisparticular thing, and I just
thought, no, it needs to be, youknow, it needs to be somebody
that can actually capture what Isee in my head, and so that was
a really fun process to do that.
Sandy Deppisch (25:42):
Yeah, I can't wait to read the book.
I mean just reading what I readwhen you sent it to me.
It was so incredible to me.
That's why I was a littlesurprised when you said the
first publisher turned it downLike that.
Carlee Ragains (25:54):
I just Well, I think there's just so many, so
many submissions.
I think they had like 2000submissions and only took a
couple maybe, and so and Ireally just believe that I was
supposed to be in this situation.
I'm in and so, even though itfelt like a blow I mean, authors
(26:14):
talk a lot about that you know,being okay with the no and
waiting and seeing what else andtrying other things, and so
that's been a good learningprocess for me too.
To not take that as a blow andto never pick it up but to say,
okay then what is it, and kindof wait.
Like I said, it's been long,but I think that part of it has
(26:37):
been good for me.
To just trust the process andtrust that it's gonna get in the
right hands.
Sandy Deppisch (26:45):
I'm also impressed with the fact that you
let it sit for a while and youknow you had the download in the
shower, but you had the ideaand it just wasn't coming.
I feel like oftentimes forcreatives maybe this isn't
accurate, but feels to me likeit is, maybe because this is how
it works for me.
When I get an idea, it comesand I'm like, boom, this is it,
we're just gonna do it, and Ithink the sitting and letting it
(27:07):
simmer perfects it and that'sreally admirable, that you're
able to do that.
Carlee Ragains (27:13):
I need to learn from that.
I don't know that.
That's my natural way.
Yeah, and I would say this lastseason that's last seven years
or so, eight years or so hasbeen one of slowing way down.
You know, having been in a muchfaster pace for so many years,
(27:36):
you know raising children, allof that but being in a place now
where I've been able to kind ofrest, focus on my own health
mental health, emotional health,all those things and learn to
live a little differently.
And so I think this has all beenpart of that, like not to panic
and not to think it has tohappen or it won't happen.
(27:59):
And even you know, there's beenother books that have come out
since this idea.
You know, since I had this ideaand I've just had to say, okay,
I'm gonna keep moving with it,because they all have their own
perspectives.
And I think you know, the morethe merrier, in the sense of
(28:20):
this kind of awareness thing andcompassion.
We need more of those anyway,Absolutely.
Sandy Deppisch (28:27):
Yeah, the whole idea, too, of the other books
coming out.
I can imagine there was amoment of ah, like my book's
coming, wait, you know.
But you're right, the morebooks like this on the market,
the better it is to get themessage across.
So, yeah, what are your hopesand dreams for the future?
Do you perceive that there aregonna be more books?
(28:48):
Is it gonna be like a seriestype thing?
And then also, what are yourhopes and dreams for the future
for Ellen and your family?
Carlee Ragains (28:55):
Well, since we're talking about the book, I
guess yes, I do hope do haveplans to write more books.
Yeah, as this one developed, Icould see just where this could
go.
I'm amazed at, as I look at,really, the community that we've
been a part of now for the lastfew years.
(29:17):
I mean, everywhere I turn,there is a family who has a
child with a disability, and I'mjust I am very aware of that
Like, oh, okay, and so I reallydo feel like there are more
stories like this, where one ofthe things that was important to
(29:37):
me about this was that it wouldbe somewhat in the first person
.
It's not actually fully in thefirst person, but you hear
Eleanor's voice Like she istalking through the book of the
book, and it was reallyimportant to me that the world
kind of hear from thatperspective, not from a third
person telling about someone,but her voice saying like this
(29:59):
is who?
Sandy Deppisch (29:59):
I am.
Carlee Ragains (30:01):
And so my hope is to be able to create, to
develop a series that deals withother diagnoses, other
disabilities, in a, again anon-threatening kind of way that
invites people in and takesaway some of the unknown.
So that is, that's the plan.
(30:21):
I've kind of started the secondone, but I've had to kind of
I've had to.
I can get really distracted,you know, really easily, like oh
, and thinking about the future,and so I'm really trying to
learn to stay present too, andso I believe, when it's time to
write that book, it'll be there,you know, the rest of it will
(30:42):
come, and then I'll have abetter idea of the process.
So, yes, that's, that's my hope.
And then, as far as Ellen, Imean, I was totally going to say
, you know, my hope for her, mydream for her, is to thrive.
I just want her to thrive andto be as independent as possible
.
You know, for years she said Iwant to go to college, you know.
(31:04):
So we want to try to figure outhow to make that happen.
And so I mean now we'reactually, you know, beginning to
look at that because she's asophomore, but to create
opportunities for her to be hertruest self and to bring that to
the world and be bold about it.
(31:26):
So that's my hope for her andour family.
I mean, we have some, we havesome dreams as a family to be
able to do some things to helpsupport her and to do as a
family.
Yeah we'll see.
So, we have some things we wantto do, but we'll see when that
season is right.
Sandy Deppisch (31:45):
Yeah, exactly it's.
It's.
Everything is a season.
That's the best way to gothrough life, I think sometimes
is to realize this is just aseason for when things are hard
and also when things are amazing.
You know, everything comes inseason.
Yeah, yeah, I think when, whenyou're meant for that next book,
it will download for you in theshower, just like the first one
(32:06):
.
Carlee Ragains (32:07):
I hope so.
I will probably try to be alittle more faithful in just
sitting, sitting down to thepaper over, but I have learned
that sometimes it's just mullingit over, you know, letting it
marinate, and then yeah, andthen it comes when it's time.
It doesn't mean you don't workat it once it's there, but a lot
(32:29):
of times that's how it's beenfor me over the years with other
things too, and so it kind ofcomes and then then you have to
like tweak and work and edit andall those things.
Sandy Deppisch (32:41):
Yeah, wow, that's the best way for someone
to get in touch with you, thebest way, I appreciate you
asking that.
Carlee Ragains (32:50):
I would say, if people want to know kind of the
latest updates and whatever, ifthey would want to join my email
list, that would be the youknow the best way, probably the
most involved option.
And then I have an Instagramaccount Carly Regan's rights and
they can also find the way tosubscribe to my emails in that
(33:14):
bio.
So those are probably thebiggest ways right now.
I'm on Facebook too, but yeah,I would say Instagram, but my
newsletter would probably be thefirst thing.
You know where they'll get thefirst things.
Sandy Deppisch (33:31):
Will you be doing any book signings anywhere
?
Carlee Ragains (33:34):
I hope so.
Yes, I don't have a lot of thatlaid out yet because I'm still
waiting on just the specific,you know, making sure we have
all the things.
But yes, I hope to do that.
I hope to, you know, be able toconnect with libraries I'm
connected to a couple of themhere locally and so you know
whether it's to do a readinghour for the kids you know for
(33:58):
to read the book, maybe evenhave Ellen there if that would
work out, you know, and signbooks and so, yeah, I certainly
hope to do in person, and eveneven classrooms, schools, so if
there are teachers that hearthis and say, yeah, I want you
to come to my classroom, or youknow, I would look at doing that
(34:19):
virtually as well If peoplewanted to do that.
So I think there's a lot ofoptions nowadays to be able to
do that, and so I'm really inperson is really you know where
my heart would be to reallyengage with people if possible.
Sandy Deppisch (34:36):
Yeah, and I'm thinking even like librarians in
elementary schools.
If they would reach out, youknow that would be an
opportunity for you to come, andthen you could spend a few
hours as a different classescome in and you have a scheduled
time and you could read to themthe book.
And if Ellen could be there,that would be incredible.
Wow, this is so exciting.
(34:56):
I cannot wait for your book tocome out.
I know it's going to be amazingand I'm so proud of you for
sticking through this process.
It's been a long one, butyou've done it.
And now there's life at the endof the tunnel Amazing.
Carlee Ragains (35:08):
Thank you, sandy .
Yeah, I'm very excited.
It's just kind of that lastpush.
Now you know that last okay isreally happening, so yeah very
excited.
I appreciate you reaching outto and letting me just talk
about it.
It's really it's a great thingto be able to do, to to recall
(35:29):
all those things, right, right.
Sandy Deppisch (35:30):
Yeah, I appreciate you and thank you so
much for being here and sharingthis story, and when you write
your next one you'll have tocome back on and I would love
that.
Yeah, and if I can put a littleplug in there, I think I would
love for you to write a bookabout Eleanor from Ellen's
perspective Eleanor with someonewho's a non-speaker and how
(35:52):
they how to teach other kids totreat people who are
non-speakers, because I thinkour perception is sometimes that
there's not intelligence, whenreally oftentimes there is
intelligence, it's just a, youknow, brain, body disconnect.
Carlee Ragains (36:06):
Anyway, that's my little plug.
Absolutely One of your booksWe'll talk.
Sandy Deppisch (36:10):
Thanks so much for being here.
Thank you Thanks for listeningto the Embrace the Blessing
podcast.
Visit embracetheblessingcomslash podcast for show notes and
links to any resourcesmentioned.
If this has been beneficial toyou, please share it with a
friend or post it on your socialmedia pages.
Join me next Wednesday for moreinspiring stories from people
(36:33):
just like you.
Hey there, I'm Sandy Deppish, and this is the
Embrace the Blessing podcast.
Each week, I talk with a parentwho has a child with a
disability.
They share their biggestchallenge, their greatest joy
and their hopes and dreams forthe future.
You'll learn about resourcesavailable to you and discover
helpful hints and tips If youwant to be inspired and
(00:27):
encouraged, stick around.
Let's walk the road.
Let's travel together.
Well, I am so excited to haveyou here today.
I talked to you.
It felt like maybe just like alittle over a year ago, when you
shared this idea that you'regoing to share with our audience
(00:49):
, and it's just happened so fast.
From my end, of course, it'slike a pregnancy when someone's
pregnant, it's always faster forthe other people than it is for
the pregnant person.
But you have something reallyexciting to share with our
guests and I cannot wait for youto start telling us about it.
So, to begin, would you pleaseintroduce yourself and tell us a
little bit about you.
Carlee Ragains (01:09):
Yes, sure, my name is Carlee Regans and I am a
wife, a mom, a me-me Now haveseveral grandchildren, so that's
really fun and I would callmyself a creative.
I mean, I have had severalseasons of different aspects.
(01:29):
Of that, probably primary onewas I spent 17 years in a church
as a music minister.
So did that.
And then this last season myfocus has been more on writing
and I'm getting ready to releasethe children's book into the
world.
So that's really where my focushas been.
(01:50):
So love arts and want todevelop some of that as well.
But, yeah, I'm a mom and a wife, I would say, first and
foremost, and then the writinghas been the most recent
creative endeavor.
Sandy Deppisch (02:08):
So you've not been a writer in the past like
that was not something youdabbled in.
Carlee Ragains (02:14):
Oh, I certainly dabbled in it.
I mean, I've always loved towrite, I've always been a
journaler, I've written songs,I've written poetry articles and
used writing in what I did, youknow, in ministry and whatever.
But a book this is the firsttime that has come up and I've
(02:37):
always thought maybe I wouldwrite a book, but I didn't know
what, what kind and when.
This idea kind of surfaced,then I just I tried to lean into
that.
But it has been a long processactually.
Sandy Deppisch (02:49):
Yeah, wow, and I was not aware about your music
ministry background.
That's really fascinating.
Carlee Ragains (02:56):
Yeah, that's my like training.
I guess that's where my collegeand seminary and spent a lot of
years doing that.
Sandy Deppisch (03:05):
That's amazing, wow, awesome.
Well tell us a little bit moreabout your family.
So tell us about your childwith special needs.
Carlee Ragains (03:14):
Yeah, so my husband and I have a daughter.
Her name is Ellen and she's 16.
She's a sophomore in highschool.
She has Down syndrome.
She is, I would say, quite highfunctioning.
She's very verbal, very active,quite independent.
(03:36):
I mean, as she gets older Ijust have to keep reminding
myself she is 16.
You know, she's not a childanymore.
Really, she's a joy.
She's just been such a joy tous and to others.
She's very what do I want to say?
She's very sensitive.
(03:56):
That's one of the things thatwe've noticed through the years.
Like when she was younger, shewould walk into a room and know
who, who needed a hug, you know,and they might be taken aback
because you know she would justcome and give them a big hug.
But to see the response maybeon their faces, of just knowing,
oh, that person, you know, mayhave been kind of on the fringes
(04:19):
but she knew, and so that'ssomething about her that I've
really appreciated and loved tosee.
But yeah, she stays active,loves school, loves friends,
loves sports, loves to sing anddance, and she has a lot of
spunk and a lot of personality.
Love her.
Sandy Deppisch (04:40):
Yes, did you know?
I didn't prepare you for this,but did you know prior to her
birth that she was going to haveDown syndrome?
Carlee Ragains (04:46):
We did not, we did not and, to be honest, I
didn't even see it when she wasborn.
I just really felt like I don'tknow, like there was just kind
of a veil, like I noticed somethings, but I had never had a
child and so I didn't think anydifferently.
I do remember very distinctlythat the nurses came and
(05:10):
basically said we're going totake her for about four and a
half hours and we'll bring herback later.
And I thought that was weird.
But I thought, well, you know,what do I know?
And so I don't know.
I feel like maybe, you know,the Lord kind of veiled our eyes
.
I mean, I do believe insovereignty of God and I believe
(05:30):
that he had a plan.
And so, yeah, they told us apediatrician would be there that
evening, our pediatrician andso I was like what?
That's weird.
But again, I didn't know anybetter.
Now I do Right, right.
But yeah, we had a wonderfuldoctor that we had already kind
of lined up and he came in andjust said what do you know about
(05:54):
Down syndrome?
You know, and this is what Ithink is, this is what appears
to be the case, and you know,this is a flood of like the
questions when you have no clue,you don't know, you don't, you
weren't expecting, but then youdon't even know what that is.
And you know, my husband and Ikind of had different responses.
(06:15):
He actually the doctor actuallytold me before my husband
arrived because he had gone totake I have three stepchildren
who are Older, and so he hadgone to take them to eat.
And the doctor came and said isyour husband here?
And I said, no, you know.
And so he ended up telling meand then met my husband at the
(06:37):
elevator, so kind and gracious,and just said it's gonna be okay
.
I'm so grateful for a doctorthat Came from a positive point
of view, because I know so manypeople have different
experiences.
And he just said look, I'velooked for every possible thing
that could be an issue and shewas very healthy and, as we said
(07:01):
, we prayed for a healthy babyand we got a healthy baby and I
know so many With Down syndromehave other challenges heart
challenges and so we were reallygrateful for that and he just
said she will do anything shewants to do.
It's gonna probably take herlonger, but he really gave us
(07:21):
that thing of the sky's thelimit.
Don't set a boundary for her,don't Limit her, and know
there's lots of resources.
And so I'm very grateful forthat and I think a lot of that
is why she is very strong,because we just we just went for
it.
Sandy Deppisch (07:40):
How phenomenal that you had that amazing
experience with such anincredible doctor, because
that's not always the case.
So he he did a great service toyou guys and and to your
daughter, because that's yeah,that's not common.
Hopefully, things are changingand that will be the way things
go in the future and arehappening now.
I hope, but that's wonderful.
(08:00):
So you guys just you kept yourexpectations high for her.
Carlee Ragains (08:05):
Yeah, yeah, I think you know there's always
things that just kind of in theback of your mind, like the
long-term things, and but wewere surrounded by a great
community and people just lovedher and included her, and Early
on for sure.
And so, yeah, we just did allthe things you know, all the
(08:25):
therapies, and kept her in anInclusion scenario as long as we
could.
Ammings, you know, mainstreamturn school.
There did come a point where wehad to shift because she was
very frustrated heading intomiddle school, and so there have
been moments, you know, wherewe've had to kind of face the
(08:45):
Kind of reality of it.
Oh yeah.
Sandy Deppisch (08:48):
We'll share your greatest joy and parenting your
daughter, oh Goodness.
Carlee Ragains (08:53):
I think my greatest joy right now is
watching her Kind of come intowho she is, like finding the
things she loves, that she'spassionate about and being very
independent.
Like you know, sometimes that'sa challenge right as a parent,
because there's some pushbacksometimes.
But again, just seeing herreally be who she is and Pick
(09:18):
her clothes whether they wouldbe what I would do or not, you
know, and just Just let her be,I think that's been really fun.
And then just in the victories,like for example Yesterday,
actually, she's been kind ofdoing this thing of having a
morning routine like that's Ihave my morning routine and she
gets her phone and she recordsherself because she's been
(09:39):
watching these YouTube videosand Really more than I had
realized, you know, and she'sgot all these things and she's
like okay, mom, I have my, myroutine.
And I walked into her bathroomyesterday and saw that she had
printed off a Like basic makeuproutine and it was sitting
beside the same.
I was like, oh my goodness, Ijust had this smile and I just
(10:00):
thought, man, she's just soseeing her like own those things
.
I Think she's doing that morethan sometimes I give her credit
for, and so just reallyReleasing her to do that.
It's a balance right now.
Sandy Deppisch (10:16):
That is awesome.
Yeah, I think with independence, it's always a fine line.
We want them to be asindependent as possible, but
then, I mean with any child,there's some points where it's
like you're not quite ready forthat level of independence.
So we want them to back.
You know, and it's it's a hardthing to balance, but, wow, I
love her, her willingness tolike embrace things.
(10:36):
I need to figure out makeup.
Let me print out a tutorial.
That's incredible.
Yeah, so I think I already knowthe answer to this question,
but what inspired you to write abook and tell us a little bit
about your book?
Carlee Ragains (10:50):
Yes, well, ultimately, my daughter, she,
she is the inspiration for thebook, she's the inspiration for
the character.
I did want it to be a universalthing, so it's not like
specifically her story per se,but the characters, totally the
(11:15):
main characters, totallydesigned After Ellen, so our
daughter Ellen.
The book is called Eleanor'sextraordinary dreams and so,
yeah, I heard that.
I think the thing thatTriggered the seed finally to
kind of be birthed was aboutfour years ago, actually, I
(11:37):
heard an interview with ateacher turned publisher.
She was an elementary teacherand she was looking for books on
kindness and compassion To readto her kids and to teach those
values and to teach to herstudents, I should say.
And she wasn't finding manythat she felt were strong and I
(11:58):
do think that has changed in thelast Few years and I think
she's obviously been part ofthat.
But she ended up writing her ownbooks and Found such a need for
it that she ended up quittingteaching to publish books, and
so I had heard her talking aboutthis and as she was talking, it
(12:20):
was like it just lit a spark,like I had the idea.
I was like, oh, I need to dothis, I can totally write, you
know, this story with Ellen kindof as my model or whatever.
But it didn't come easy, itdidn't come right away.
I just could not settle.
I'm like, okay, well, at somepoint and really you know Our
(12:43):
experience over the years Ellenhas really been received Most of
the time.
I do have some, you know.
There have been some times,like one specifically.
We were in a smaller communityand I remember seeing pictures
on social media of a birthdayparty of a classmate and it was
obvious that the whole class wasthere and Ellen hadn't been
(13:05):
invited and you know um.
Obviously, Ellen maybe didn'tknow right um, but I did you
know, and, you know, as a mom,it's like, oh you know, I wish
that People were morecomfortable.
And we also, at the same time,had a, a couple that were
(13:28):
friends of ours, that came to usin this same community and said
hey, we want to support you, wewant to support your daughter.
Would you teach us about her?
Would you teach us about howyou, you know, want to support
her and whether it's adiscipline or whatever, we would
like to come alongside and be asupport to you.
(13:51):
And, oh, my goodness, you knowwhat a difference that made.
Yeah, incredible people, yeah.
Sandy Deppisch (13:58):
I that's.
I'm just blown away.
Were these people at yourchurch?
Carlee Ragains (14:03):
Um, they were, they were in our community, we
were actually overseas and soyou know, they were other
international people that werekind of in the same community
with us and they just were soaware.
And that, for me, kind of thecontrast of those two things I
was, has really stuck with me.
And I think a lot of times wePeople maybe don't reach out or
(14:31):
don't Initiate because they'reuncomfortable, because they
don't know right, just like whenwe first found out, you know,
you do all these what if?
Scenarios immediately, like my,my first thought with how long
is she gonna live?
Well, I had no idea what Downsyndrome was, you know.
So I think people put up a bitof a wall sometimes because
(14:51):
they're uncomfortable, notbecause they don't want to, they
just don't know how.
And so really my heart behindthis book is a couple of things.
One is Kind of a most basiclevel of self-advocacy, like
this character owns her story,owns who she is, and in doing so
she Actually creates aconnection with another student
(15:15):
who is having her own challenges.
And so it's kind of a flip toof what you would maybe
Initially typically think, thatsomeone would come in and help
the person who has thedisability, when in reality
she's the one, the one with Downsyndrome, is the one who
reaches out and draws out thisother person, which totally is
(15:35):
how Ellen is, how our daughteris.
And but my heart is to invitepeople into conversations that
Bring some awareness, bring someunderstanding, take away some
of the Uncertainty or theuncomfortability, so that people
can get beyond that to not onlyReach out to a person who has a
(15:59):
disability and engage them as aas a person, as a fellow, you
know person in life, but also sothat they can benefit from that
person.
Because I firmly believe thatwe're all made in the image of
God and we all have somethingthat we bring.
(16:20):
And I believe that in bearinghis image we bear part of his
character.
And so my husband and I haveBeen kind of saying to each
other or asking the question forI don't know, the last couple
of years you know, what is itthat we get to see or know about
(16:40):
God that we wouldn't know ifEllen didn't have Down syndrome,
like what of his charactershows up in her Because of her,
you know, diagnosis or whateveryou want to say that we wouldn't
get to experience otherwise.
You know, and of course, as amom, you know.
(17:02):
I mean, I've been changed byher.
And then that example I gave ofher walking into a room and like
just having this, you know,unconscious, subconscious
awareness of people's needs andso yeah, that's.
(17:23):
I really hope to invite peoplein a non-threatening way, in a
fun, whimsical rhyming you knowchildren's picture book, that is
very engaging to then be ableto say oh like to have a
perspective shift and actuallyin the back of the book we've
(17:47):
included discussion questionsthat teachers can ask children
and parents can ask children, sohopefully it's a whole family
experience.
That's perfect, yeah, to invitepeople to think outside their
box.
Sandy Deppisch (18:01):
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
I love that it's the, like yousaid, your daughter's character,
the individual with Downsyndrome that is paving the way
for the typically developingchild and trying to help her,
which is amazing, becauseoftentimes I think our kids do
that just naturally anyway, butI don't know that the world sees
that.
(18:21):
So this is great that you'rebringing awareness to it.
But I love also, as a formerkindergarten teacher, I love
that you have questions in theback of the book, because this
can open up so many discussions,and five year olds well, all
ages, but that's my experienceFive year olds are so open and
compassionate and lovingnaturally and wanting to think
(18:43):
about other people.
They're still in that it's allabout me stage, but this is a
good time to springboard intofocusing on other people.
They're just accepting, though,which is awesome.
I love this.
I cannot wait.
So I know the book is scheduledto come out sometime this month
.
Well, no, we're in September.
In October, tell us a littlebit about that.
Carlee Ragains (19:02):
Yes, so the kind of official date is October
21st.
There may be a little bit ofgive in that, so towards the end
of the month.
October is also Down syndromeawareness month, so I really
wanted to I've had it just kindof in my mind this whole time to
launch it at that time, and sowe're kind of in the final
(19:24):
stages and yeah, we'll beputting it out specifically, but
I would say, look for ittowards the end of October.
Sandy Deppisch (19:35):
Okay.
So I'm gonna jump a question toask you where can we find your
book when it's published, whenit's available?
Where will that be?
Carlee Ragains (19:42):
Yeah, it'll be available wherever you buy books
Amazon, obviously, and thenlikely Barnes, noble Books, a
Million and Walmartcom, probablythe four kind of big ones, and
I'm also hoping to get it intosmaller bookstores and libraries
(20:04):
.
And so, yeah, amazon obviouslyis gonna be the big obvious one
but yeah, that's excellent.
Sandy Deppisch (20:13):
So tell us, what has the book writing journey
been like?
I know the idea was plantedlike four years ago, but now
it's coming about.
So what has that been like foryou?
Carlee Ragains (20:25):
Well, it's been long in that it just takes a
long time.
And now to be here it's justkind of it's still hard for me
to like get my head around it.
I'm gonna have a physical bookin my hand really soon.
It's been a process, you know.
It's been a process for me tolearn how to let an idea sit and
(20:47):
simmer for a while, to notforce it.
I attempted to force it.
I would sit and think, okay,how can I tell this story?
And it just wasn't happening.
And so actually it probably Iguess it took about two years.
I have a note on my phone thatgoes back to, I think, 2021,
(21:08):
july of 21.
And I was in the shower one dayand I just had like a download
of like it just was like a songrunning through my head, you
know, like a poem kind of thing.
Like all of a sudden I saw kindof the details, like I had been
formulating the idea of someinteractions, but I was like, oh
(21:29):
you know, had to scramble andhurry up and get a phone out and
write it down quick.
And I remember coming out tothe kitchen where my husband and
daughter were and I was like,can I really do something?
I was like giddy and I read itand Ellen responded that's me
and I was like, oh, like youknow, there was just like this
(21:51):
moment of, oh my gosh, like shegot it, and if she saw herself
then okay, I'm gonna go withthis.
And then I'd say the secondpart, or the kind of rest of it,
came in, another kind of rush.
But then really, the work ofliving with it, tweaking it,
(22:12):
because it is a rhyming picturebook, so it's like you know, it
all has to be, has to make senseand it has to rhyme, you know,
and so that takes some time andgetting into the like, the
structure of it.
And I actually submitted it to apublisher Actually the
(22:34):
publisher I was telling youabout and that was a no, and so
that was hard, cause I was likeI was sure you know, this is
gonna be the one and I hadn'tdone it before.
So it was a whole process.
I didn't have an agent, butthey were taking submissions
anyway, and so then I just hadto sit with it again and say,
okay, you know, and honestly,where's this book supposed to go
(22:58):
?
What am I supposed to do?
And I sat on it for about sixmonths and just kind of toyed
with different things.
Do I submit it somewhere else?
You know, and probably aboutthat time last year, sandy, I
remember thinking I need to sendit to Sandy because I know you
write and you blog and podcastand you have a child.
(23:19):
You know what Down syndromemeant.
Not knowing, you were a teacher, and you were very encouraging,
like, oh, you need to dosomething with this book.
You know, I was toying withself publishing and then a
publisher that I followed onInstagram just one day posted
and said we're takingsubmissions and send us a DM and
(23:40):
I thought, well, how hard canit be?
I've already done the work and Imean within a day I had an
appointment for an interview andthe doors just kind of flew
open and it's been a reallygreat process.
It's a hybrid company UnitedHouse Publishing it is the name
(24:02):
of the company and so I've justbeen able to be a part of the
whole process, which intraditional publishing wouldn't
have been the case necessarily.
But I've gotten to have a handin all of that and work with an
illustrator and be very hands on.
So it's been a very fun process.
(24:23):
It's taken, like you said,about a year.
I think this happened the endof September last year, and so
we're right there.
Sandy Deppisch (24:29):
So did you have to find your own illustrator, or
do they have illustrators thatyou're able to?
Carlee Ragains (24:34):
Well, I kind of had the freedom to find someone,
and again, I was not, I was.
I didn't know where to start,what to do.
I had some people that I kindof liked their style and but
they had someone that they hadworked with before previously on
(24:55):
a book, and so they sent thisout you know kind of the concept
to her and maybe some others.
She was the only one thatresponded, and so we started a
dialogue and we met on Zoom, youknow like this, and I just kind
of had the opportunity to castvision, because I knew what I
wanted it to feel like, I knewthe style, what I wanted it to
(25:19):
look like.
Then I had attempted actuallyto play with it, to do it myself
, and I just didn't feel like Iwas in that place, like that
wasn't my skill set for thisparticular thing, and I just
thought, no, it needs to be, youknow, it needs to be somebody
that can actually capture what Isee in my head, and so that was
a really fun process to do that.
Sandy Deppisch (25:42):
Yeah, I can't wait to read the book.
I mean just reading what I readwhen you sent it to me.
It was so incredible to me.
That's why I was a littlesurprised when you said the
first publisher turned it downLike that.
Carlee Ragains (25:54):
I just Well, I think there's just so many, so
many submissions.
I think they had like 2000submissions and only took a
couple maybe, and so and Ireally just believe that I was
supposed to be in this situation.
I'm in and so, even though itfelt like a blow I mean, authors
(26:14):
talk a lot about that you know,being okay with the no and
waiting and seeing what else andtrying other things, and so
that's been a good learningprocess for me too.
To not take that as a blow andto never pick it up but to say,
okay then what is it, and kindof wait.
Like I said, it's been long,but I think that part of it has
(26:37):
been good for me.
To just trust the process andtrust that it's gonna get in the
right hands.
Sandy Deppisch (26:45):
I'm also impressed with the fact that you
let it sit for a while and youknow you had the download in the
shower, but you had the ideaand it just wasn't coming.
I feel like oftentimes forcreatives maybe this isn't
accurate, but feels to me likeit is, maybe because this is how
it works for me.
When I get an idea, it comesand I'm like, boom, this is it,
we're just gonna do it, and Ithink the sitting and letting it
(27:07):
simmer perfects it and that'sreally admirable, that you're
able to do that.
Carlee Ragains (27:13):
I need to learn from that.
I don't know that.
That's my natural way.
Yeah, and I would say this lastseason that's last seven years
or so, eight years or so hasbeen one of slowing way down.
You know, having been in a muchfaster pace for so many years,
(27:36):
you know raising children, allof that but being in a place now
where I've been able to kind ofrest, focus on my own health
mental health, emotional health,all those things and learn to
live a little differently.
And so I think this has all beenpart of that, like not to panic
and not to think it has tohappen or it won't happen.
(27:59):
And even you know, there's beenother books that have come out
since this idea.
You know, since I had this ideaand I've just had to say, okay,
I'm gonna keep moving with it,because they all have their own
perspectives.
And I think you know, the morethe merrier, in the sense of
(28:20):
this kind of awareness thing andcompassion.
We need more of those anyway,Absolutely.
Sandy Deppisch (28:27):
Yeah, the whole idea, too, of the other books
coming out.
I can imagine there was amoment of ah, like my book's
coming, wait, you know.
But you're right, the morebooks like this on the market,
the better it is to get themessage across.
So, yeah, what are your hopesand dreams for the future?
Do you perceive that there aregonna be more books?
(28:48):
Is it gonna be like a seriestype thing?
And then also, what are yourhopes and dreams for the future
for Ellen and your family?
Carlee Ragains (28:55):
Well, since we're talking about the book, I
guess yes, I do hope do haveplans to write more books.
Yeah, as this one developed, Icould see just where this could
go.
I'm amazed at, as I look at,really, the community that we've
been a part of now for the lastfew years.
(29:17):
I mean, everywhere I turn,there is a family who has a
child with a disability, and I'mjust I am very aware of that
Like, oh, okay, and so I reallydo feel like there are more
stories like this, where one ofthe things that was important to
(29:37):
me about this was that it wouldbe somewhat in the first person
.
It's not actually fully in thefirst person, but you hear
Eleanor's voice Like she istalking through the book of the
book, and it was reallyimportant to me that the world
kind of hear from thatperspective, not from a third
person telling about someone,but her voice saying like this
(29:59):
is who?
Sandy Deppisch (29:59):
I am.
Carlee Ragains (30:01):
And so my hope is to be able to create, to
develop a series that deals withother diagnoses, other
disabilities, in a, again anon-threatening kind of way that
invites people in and takesaway some of the unknown.
So that is, that's the plan.
(30:21):
I've kind of started the secondone, but I've had to kind of
I've had to.
I can get really distracted,you know, really easily, like oh
, and thinking about the future,and so I'm really trying to
learn to stay present too, andso I believe, when it's time to
write that book, it'll be there,you know, the rest of it will
(30:42):
come, and then I'll have abetter idea of the process.
So, yes, that's, that's my hope.
And then, as far as Ellen, Imean, I was totally going to say
, you know, my hope for her, mydream for her, is to thrive.
I just want her to thrive andto be as independent as possible
.
You know, for years she said Iwant to go to college, you know.
(31:04):
So we want to try to figure outhow to make that happen.
And so I mean now we'reactually, you know, beginning to
look at that because she's asophomore, but to create
opportunities for her to be hertruest self and to bring that to
the world and be bold about it.
(31:26):
So that's my hope for her andour family.
I mean, we have some, we havesome dreams as a family to be
able to do some things to helpsupport her and to do as a
family.
Yeah we'll see.
So, we have some things we wantto do, but we'll see when that
season is right.
Sandy Deppisch (31:45):
Yeah, exactly it's.
It's.
Everything is a season.
That's the best way to gothrough life, I think sometimes
is to realize this is just aseason for when things are hard
and also when things are amazing.
You know, everything comes inseason.
Yeah, yeah, I think when, whenyou're meant for that next book,
it will download for you in theshower, just like the first one
(32:06):
.
Carlee Ragains (32:07):
I hope so.
I will probably try to be alittle more faithful in just
sitting, sitting down to thepaper over, but I have learned
that sometimes it's just mullingit over, you know, letting it
marinate, and then yeah, andthen it comes when it's time.
It doesn't mean you don't workat it once it's there, but a lot
(32:29):
of times that's how it's beenfor me over the years with other
things too, and so it kind ofcomes and then then you have to
like tweak and work and edit andall those things.
Sandy Deppisch (32:41):
Yeah, wow, that's the best way for someone
to get in touch with you, thebest way, I appreciate you
asking that.
Carlee Ragains (32:50):
I would say, if people want to know kind of the
latest updates and whatever, ifthey would want to join my email
list, that would be the youknow the best way, probably the
most involved option.
And then I have an Instagramaccount Carly Regan's rights and
they can also find the way tosubscribe to my emails in that
(33:14):
bio.
So those are probably thebiggest ways right now.
I'm on Facebook too, but yeah,I would say Instagram, but my
newsletter would probably be thefirst thing.
You know where they'll get thefirst things.
Sandy Deppisch (33:31):
Will you be doing any book signings anywhere
?
Carlee Ragains (33:34):
I hope so.
Yes, I don't have a lot of thatlaid out yet because I'm still
waiting on just the specific,you know, making sure we have
all the things.
But yes, I hope to do that.
I hope to, you know, be able toconnect with libraries I'm
connected to a couple of themhere locally and so you know
whether it's to do a readinghour for the kids you know for
(33:58):
to read the book, maybe evenhave Ellen there if that would
work out, you know, and signbooks and so, yeah, I certainly
hope to do in person, and eveneven classrooms, schools, so if
there are teachers that hearthis and say, yeah, I want you
to come to my classroom, or youknow, I would look at doing that
(34:19):
virtually as well If peoplewanted to do that.
So I think there's a lot ofoptions nowadays to be able to
do that, and so I'm really inperson is really you know where
my heart would be to reallyengage with people if possible.
Sandy Deppisch (34:36):
Yeah, and I'm thinking even like librarians in
elementary schools.
If they would reach out, youknow that would be an
opportunity for you to come, andthen you could spend a few
hours as a different classescome in and you have a scheduled
time and you could read to themthe book.
And if Ellen could be there,that would be incredible.
Wow, this is so exciting.
(34:56):
I cannot wait for your book tocome out.
I know it's going to be amazingand I'm so proud of you for
sticking through this process.
It's been a long one, butyou've done it.
And now there's life at the endof the tunnel Amazing.
Carlee Ragains (35:08):
Thank you, sandy .
Yeah, I'm very excited.
It's just kind of that lastpush.
Now you know that last okay isreally happening, so yeah very
excited.
I appreciate you reaching outto and letting me just talk
about it.
It's really it's a great thingto be able to do, to to recall
(35:29):
all those things, right, right.
Sandy Deppisch (35:30):
Yeah, I appreciate you and thank you so
much for being here and sharingthis story, and when you write
your next one you'll have tocome back on and I would love
that.
Yeah, and if I can put a littleplug in there, I think I would
love for you to write a bookabout Eleanor from Ellen's
perspective Eleanor with someonewho's a non-speaker and how
(35:52):
they how to teach other kids totreat people who are
non-speakers, because I thinkour perception is sometimes that
there's not intelligence, whenreally oftentimes there is
intelligence, it's just a, youknow, brain, body disconnect.
Carlee Ragains (36:06):
Anyway, that's my little plug.
Absolutely One of your booksWe'll talk.
Sandy Deppisch (36:10):
Thanks so much for being here.
Thank you Thanks for listeningto the Embrace the Blessing
podcast.
Visit embracetheblessingcomslash podcast for show notes and
links to any resourcesmentioned.
If this has been beneficial toyou, please share it with a
friend or post it on your socialmedia pages.
Join me next Wednesday for moreinspiring stories from people
(36:33):
just like you.
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