5 of 31 for 21

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Anyone who even remotely knows me, knows I have a heart for orphans, but especially those with Down Syndrome. I found out about this site when I was "searching" for my children on the internet, it's called Reece's Rainbow. It gives the plight of children with Down Syndrome, in foreign countries, a voice. It's goal is to find a home for God's children that are considered of little or no worth.

This web site is the brain child of Andrea Roberts. She has a son, Reece, who was born with Down Syndrome. Andrea sacrifices MANY hours a day/week/month/year, to finding homes for these children.

The biggest fund raiser of the year for RR is coming up, it's the Angel Tree Project. For a $35 donation you get a Christmas Tree Ornament with RR's emblem on it and a picture of "your" orphan. You get to pick which orphan you would like to sponsor and ALL that money goes into a grant specifically for that child. The grants can often be a major factor as to whether a child gets adopted or not.

The cost of adoption is HUGE, there are so many families that are willing and would love to adopt these children, but the cost is just too high. Sometimes a grant can give parents the courage to start the adoption process.

So, I ask you to visit Reece's Rainbow and see if you might not see your child there, if not, maybe you will decide to sponsor a child, either for yourself, or as a gift for someone else. I got a sponsorship for each of my parents last year for Christmas, they loved it!

4 of 31 for 21

Today we celebrated my niece Rachel's 10th birthday and Anah's 12th birthday. We went to Build a Bear. Rachel also has DS. Rachel has been there before, so has her sister Gracie and my son Joey, but it was new for Jonathan and Anah. Jonathan loved it. He liked the stuffing machine, that kept all the fluff spinning around. Poor Anah on the other hand, took a while to warm up.

I'm not sure if it was the busyness of the mall, the noise in the store or a combination of all of it, plus the fact she can be insecure and unsure in new situations, but she cried for the first few minutes. She semi-picked Hello Kitty as her animal to stuff, Rachel picked a Jonas Brothers dog, Gracie picked a Hannah Montana glittery bear, Joey picked a camo-bear and Jonathan was happy with a basic bear. The girls then picked an outfit for their new friends, of course, being girls, they also had to get matching shoes for their animals. Joey was happy with a pair of jeans for his bear and Jonathan's bear left in his "birthday suit".

Life is such a fun road when you travel with a child (or 2 or 3) with Down Syndrome! :oD

3 0f 31 for 21

A Bill of Rights for Parents of Kids with Special Needs

This is part of a post that one of my blog friends posted. It really does hit the nail on the head regarding some of the feelings a parent has when they are raising a SPECIAL child. Not a "special needs child", the needs don't define the child, but a "child WITH special needs". I am blessed by God to be deemed worthy to raise such special children!

"Here are a few of the bullet points that hit home for me:

* We have the right to expect our kids to be seen for who they are as individuals, not as labels or diagnoses.

* We have a right to trust our instincts about our kids and realize that experts don't always know best.

* We have a right to ignore the remarks, questions and stares and not give explanations or excuses for why our children are the way they are.

* We have a right to choose alternative therapies for our kids.

* We have a right to wonder “What if…” every so often.

* We have a right to react to people’s ignorance.

* We have a right to not always have our child be the poster child for his/her disability and some days be just a child.

* We have a right to go through the grieving process and realize we may never quite be "over it."

* We have a right to hope for an empty playground so we don’t have to look into another child’s eyes and answer the question, “What’s wrong with him?”

* We have a right to talk about how great our kids are when people don’t get it.

* We have the right to not always behave as inspirational icons who never complain or gripe about the sometimes awful realities of raising a child with special needs.

* We have a right to get tired of people saying, as they give that sympathy stare, "I don't know how you do it."

* We have a right to wish that sometimes things could be easier.

* We have a right to cheer like crazy anytime our children amaze us—or weep like lunatics.

* We have a right to push, push and push some more to make sure our children are treated fairly by the world.

Written by Ellen, Max's Mama"

2 of 31for 21

Today we had homeschool co-op. I love that my children with DS are so loved by everyone there. Same at church. They are included in as much as I or the children want them to be. I know I'm blessed.

I also feel that my children are a blessing to others. Every time our co-op or church family see our children, they immediately smile and come over to see the children and see what new things they are up to. Some people had never actually known anyone with DS before, now they know two ;o) .

I would like anyone that isn't familiar with children with DS to know that they are children first and just happen to have an extra chromosome.

31 for 21

Well, it's October again, and that can only mean one thing, no, not fall, not Halloween, DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH!!! This month I will, once again, attempt to blog all 31 days in Oct. in honor of all the wonderful people who have Down Syndrome, two of which happen to be my children and one who is my niece.

I will try to post a fact about Down Syndrome (DS), each day. I will label where I get that day's info. Today's facts come from Wikipedia.

"Down syndrome (the most common term in US English), Down's syndrome (standard in the rest of the English-speaking world), trisomy 21, or trisomy G is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British doctor who described the syndrome in 1866. The disorder was identified as a chromosome 21 trisomy by Jérôme Lejeune in 1959. The condition is characterized by a combination of major and minor differences in structure. Often Down syndrome is associated with some impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth as well as facial appearance. Down syndrome in a baby can be identified with amniocentesis during pregnancy or at birth."

To me, DS is not a deficit, it is a special enhancement that not all get. My children with DS are such a blessing to me, they are fearfully and wonderfully made, perfect in every way.

Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

Location, Location, Location, Location

I read this on another blog and it really spoke to me, so thought I'd share it with you.

I KNOW...totally no excuse!

No excuse for not blogging, other than vacation for the month of July and laziness and too much stuff going on in August. For now I have something I saw on a friend's blog, I loved it, so Renee said I could "borrow" it:

The Lord's Prayer

"Our Father Who Art In Heaven.

Yes?

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.

But -- you called ME!

Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven.

There -- you did it again!

Did what?

Called ME. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven" Well, here I am. What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.

Well, all right. Go on.

Okay, Hallowed be Thy name.

Hold it right there. What do you mean by that?

By what?

By "Hallowed be Thy name"?

It means, it means ... good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?

It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense.. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?

What are you doing about it?

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if You got control, of everything down here like You have up there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know.

Yes, I know; but, have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church.

That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money -- all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read?

Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those People at church!

Excuse ME.. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you -- for example.

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that You mention it, I could probably name some others.

So could I.

I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, You know, be really free.

Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME. I'm proud of you.

Look, Lord, if You don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread.

You need to cut out the bread.. You're overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden You break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.

Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME -- and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying. ( pause ... ) Well, go on.

I'm scared to.

Scared? Of what?

I know what You'll say.

Try ME.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

What about Ann?

See? I knew it! I knew You would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me... I've sworn to get even with her!

But -- your prayer -- What about your prayer?

I didn't -- mean it.

Well, at least you're honest. But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness and resentment isn't it?

Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born.

No, you won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. You know how unhappy you are -- Well, I can change that.

You can? How?

Forgive Ann. Then, I'll forgive you; And the hate and the sin, will be Ann's problem -- not yours. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned.

Oh, You know, You're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You . (sigh). All right, all right . I forgive her.There now!

Wonderful! How do you feel?

Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight. I haven't been getting much rest, You know.

Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer, are you? Go on.

Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

What do You mean by that?

You know what I mean.

Yeah. I know.Okay.

Go ahead. Finish your prayer.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy?

No, but I'd like to know. I want to please You now.. I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly follow You... I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me . . . How do I make You happy?

YOU just did".