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My brain drives me crazy
Originally published September 10, 2018, on Jepsonfiles.com So, I’m trying really hard to improve my independence and being able to write without holding someone’s hand is going to be the key to that. Once I can do that, I think my life is going to change. I don’t know why I can’t do it. It makes me feel mad and frustrated with myself, but I just have to keep trying. I think that it is like my marathon training. At first, I had to hold onto a rope to be able to keep running but now I can do it by myself with a reasonably solid pace. I’m still holding…
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New Heights
Originally published September 10, 2018, on Jepsonfiles.com Last Saturday, I ran my second marathon. I established a new personal best of 4:01:28 which I feel really good about. I was going for four hours which I just missed, but it was still about twenty five minutes faster than my first marathon. I am happy because we pretty much only stopped at the aid stations and an occasional five-second mental break. This is way better for me because I normally need to stop running about every ten minutes. But, now I know that I can push through and that gives me confidence. From here, I just need to keep getting faster…
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Just catching up
Originally published August 19, 2018, on Jepsonfiles.com It has been a long time since I wrote in my blog but I haven’t been idle. Since my last post, I have written a book about my journey of faith as a disabled person. I’m hopeful that since I kind of felt inspired to write it that Heavenly Father will open a door for it to be published. I’m glad to be done with that project and to have accomplished that goal. Now I am just going to focus on writing in the blog and trying to improve in various other ways. My dad and I are getting ready to run another…
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When I think about Easter
Originally published April 1, 2018, on Jepsonfiles.com When I think about Easter, I think about Christ at the tomb after he had emerged with a resurrected body and before he had risen to heaven to be with Heavenly Father. I love that it was so important to him that he show himself to Mary before he left to complete the mission. To me, that shows about how much he loves each of us. He knew that Mary was grieving and that she was there early to show her respect by preparing his body. I assume that she wasn’t the only one that was going to be involved in that process.…
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A new year’s resolution
Originally published January 6, 2018, on Jepsonfiles.com It is 2018 and I have been thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. First is to begin my service mission. It has been slower than I expected to get started but hopefully it will happen soon. That is my biggest goal for the year. But as part of that, I want to get better at writing and speaking so that I can gain more independence. I really would love to eventually live in my own place but I know that I have a long way to go to get to that point so I need to really focus on it…
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Time for Christmas
Originally published December 2, 2017, on Jepsonfiles.com Today, I have been pondering about how mankind has become so dependent on technology to function. Hardly a minute is spent away from our phones or IPads or our computers. I know that these things are useful and, in many ways, have improved our lives. In fact, without them, I would be unable to even share my voice, so I am not calling anybody out. But, how much of the time that we spend looking up needless information could we use in a better way. In my world, I find that if I look at something too much, I can’t get it out…
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My Light the World video
Originally published November 28, 2017, in Jepsonfiles.com Last September, the missionary department from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints asked me if they could tell my story as part of this year’s Christmas campaign called Light the World. They thought that my efforts to deal with my disability would be able to inspire others to think more about Christ and to focus more on Him during the holiday season. I agreed to it because, although I’m naturally a shy person, I feel strongly that Heavenly Father has a plan for me to use my challenges to help others overcome their own difficulties. It was weird to have a…
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The newest Jepson
Originally published November 10, 2017, on Jepsonfiles.com This week, my family got a new addition. He is a really cute puppy that we have named Jack. He is part Australian Shepherd and part poodle. It’s called an Aussiedoodle. Every dog is a doodle these days, it seems. We are just another doodle family. But, our doodle is the best! I really love it. It follows me everywhere I go and I’m excited for when it’s a little bigger and can go running with me. That is why we decided on this particular breed because they are bred for herding cows and sheep and are really athletic. And the poodle is…
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Marathon man
Originally published November 1, 2017 This past weekend, I accomplished a major goal of mine. My dad and I completed my first full marathon! It is such a great feeling to set an epic goal and then to achieve it. I love to break through those barriers that some put up for people with disabilities. The race was in a beautiful area in southern Utah called Goblin Valley State Park. It is full of cool red rock formations that stand in the middle of this big valley surrounded by red rock cliffs. We hiked through the valley the day before the race. It was really cool. It would be fun…
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Top ten things that I wish I could have told my parents when I was younger
Originally published October 8, 2017, on Jepsonfiles.com My dad suggested that I write a post about what I wished I could have told them when I was young and unable to communicate. He thought that a lot of parents might want to hear that. So, I’m going to write it as a list. My top ten list for autism.1. Mom, please don’t cry. I know that you are so worried about me but be assured that I’m going to be ok. My life won’t be what you had dreamed of for me, but I’ll still find a way to make it be a meaningful one.2. Mom, thank you. I see…
