Morning announcements

Good morning students, teachers and staff

This week is Down syndrome awareness week in Canada. But really everyday is a good day to learn about the uniqueness that makes us who we are. 

We are all different in our own ways. Some of us come from different countries, some of us know different languages, some of us have an extra chromosome. 

Jordan Grace, Ana Maria's little sister  has Down syndrome. But she's just a child like anyone else, she wants to be loved, she wants to have friends and she wants to be included.

Today I ask you to look around your school, it's a beautiful mix of a lot of different cultures and people. We learn from each other each day. 

People with Down syndrome learn a lot from everyone around them. Jordan Grace loves to copy what others do. That's why we have to be great examples, great teachers and great friends.

But you can also learn a lot from someone who has Down syndrome. You can learn patience because they may take a little longer to learn some things, you can learn that they are more like us than different, and that Down syndrome is not scary or contagious.

There's a new saying "inclusion is the new cool" what does that mean? Well it means that including all people in our daily life, play or work would make this world a better place for everyone. 

So today I challenge you to think about others around you, to be kind and to be a good friend to all! 

And When you see someone different than you please remember that we all were created by God, we all have a heart, we all have feelings and best of all God doesn't make mistakes! 

Have a great day everyone!!! And always remember the golden rule! Do unto others as you would have done unto you! ❤️

Saying bye bye to Nana is never good!

We were blessed to have mom here for a couple weeks. Of course those days flew by with tons of activities, from helping out at Jordan Grace's school to attending Bible celebration at Ana Maria's school, to parties, and book events, to a news crew coming to our home, and regular dance, piano and guides. To fun Halloween parties, festivities, parades and trick or treating. Our time was very short but packed with amazing memories to last a lifetime! We sure are missing her like crazy tonight though! 

Annual Halloween Dance

I've always been a fan of dressing up and celebrating...this year our family dress up came out of no where. It is actually a funny story. We were leaving piano lessons and Ana Maria's piano teacher asked what she would wear for Halloween. We were joking about the weather and said maybe I will just wrap them up in big blankets and they can be blankets for Halloween. The lightbulb went on! 

All the way home I drove and tried to talk Ana Maria into being Paris, I told her I would be Michael Jackson, daddy could be Prince and Jordan Grace would be blanket. We laughed all the way home and then as the days passed I completed our costumes.

The dance party was so much fun and a success, we made people laugh and we saw so many great friends we have made through the years at Ana Maria's school. We are seriously so blessed with so many wonderful people in our lives! 

Worth the wait!

Sooo worth it!!! This picture of her is so sweet! I can't explain to you how much I adore this little lady! We are so incredibly blessed and so in love with her!!! Truly worth the wait! 

Following along...

When I was pregnant with Jordan Grace I thought that she wouldn't be able to do things, for some reason. I was not educated on Down syndrome, so I just assumed that she wouldn't know what was going on. But I was completely wrong. 

She is a pretty smart little lady. She learns by watching others, and she's a very quick learner. Getting to know Jordan Grace for who she is has been the best decision of my life. I didn't want to label her.

I knew as a mother kids do things at different times.  Ana Maria my 8 year old didn't crawl until she was over eight months old, but she walked at nine months old. So I knew I shouldn't go with the "norm."

I couldn't be more proud of all the daily  things she's achieving. I love watching her grow and thrive...so blessed to be her mother. 

I didn't count on you!

My dearest daughter, I am so happy to tell you that when I got pregnant I was counting on a normal pregnancy, delivery and baby.  At twenty weeks of you developing inside, we were told that you had a heart defect.  We were scared, we were prayerful, among other feelings we’ve never felt before.  But the doctors didn’t stop at that, they also gave us the diagnosis of Down syndrome.  

 

This diagnosis brought us to our knees in pain.  We had never known anyone with Down syndrome, we had no idea what to expect.  You still had to develop for another twenty weeks.  Those days and months were filled with questions of why, tears, fear, uncertainty, and many dark moments I never imagined.

 

Somewhere along those long days my heart settled.  I knew I loved you from the moment you were created.  We wanted you so dearly, we tried for you for so long, so when you were finally a reality, we fell in love immediately.  I’m just sorry we had our doubts about your future.  When my heart accepted both diagnosis I couldn’t wait to finally hold you in my arms. 

 

One sweet February morning, three weeks before your due date, I knew you were on your way.  I went in to the hospital for a check-up and then I had to call daddy to let him know he had to come because we were going to meet you soon.  Sissy made it just in time after school, she got to feel my belly one more time, then went to the chapel to pray while you made your grand entrance.  Labor was fast, almost painless and easy. It was like a sweet movie, the doctor was amazing, she pulled you out and placed you on my chest as you looked up to me with trust and joy.  In that moment, I knew I would do everything in my power to change the minds of people all over the world.  

 

I didn’t count on you to have my heart so deeply, I didn’t count on you teaching me about life.  I didn’t count on you showing me about what love is all about.  I didn’t count on you to be so “normal.”  You have taught us that Down syndrome is just a little something extra you have, not something you are.  I thought it was all up to me to teach the world about you, but you are winning everyone’s heart as you meet them, by just being you. 

 

I didn’t count on you, I couldn’t feel more blessed that our dreams came true in a way we didn’t envision.  You came true in your own unique and special way.  You bring a certain kind of love that needs to be spread.  

 

My precious daughter, I’m glad you were sent to us, to be in our family, in our lives, how lucky are we to know and love someone like beautiful you!

 

Newspaper clippings

I have to say, this doesn't get old. It's kind of exciting to get google alerts when my name is published anywhere. But this is proof that not everything published under my name is alerted to me. Which is kind of cool to know that some stuff is published and I never know about it. 

What I mean by that is that our story is getting out there and people are reading it and hopefully getting something out of it! 

This newspaper clipping was sent to me by a friend. He said he was having coffee and reading this. Which is fun to receive because I didn't know it was being published! 

I'm so proud of my girls and sharing our story, but I'm touched when others are willing to share and are inspired by them!