"WORDLESS" WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY!

our impromptu world down syndrome day picnic with big brother ethan!

tom's hotdogs and sonic drinks.... yummy!

yogurt is a finger food, right?

brothers playing hide and seek!

" this salt pot from the civil war is so cool... "

 "i really want to get in it!   help a brother out!!"

and of course, he did....who could resist?

pure joy!!!!

a beautiful day!

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

today is world down syndrome day!   we will be taking freshly baked muffins to share with wyatt's family service coordinator and the team who will be part of wyatt's first TRANSITION TEAM MEETING!!!   to say that this is a stressful time is an understatement!   this is the first step in transitioning out of the early intervention program into the public school system.  we have been so very blessed by the early intervention program, i do not look forward to transitioning!!!  but it is time to start the process, so here we go!  we covet your prayers as this process begins! 

three years ago we had never even heard of world down syndrome day, and today we actually celebrate it!   we certainly had no idea how much that little extra chromosome would change our lives!  we know that God has great plans for our little man, and that wyatt's Down syndrome was NOT a surprise to our Mighty God!  

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.   

I praise you because I am fearfully
and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. "   

Psalm 139:13-14 

"For I know the plans I have for Wyatt,"
declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper him and not to harm him,

plans to give him a HOPE and a FUTURE!!!"

Jeremiah 29:11

click here for a really awesome video that my friend made for world down syndrome day!  you just might see wyatt a *few* times.....as well as some of his friends!    blessings.....

Google Logo for World Down Syndrome Day!

it's almost time for world down syndrome day....march 21st!   this google logo was created by a man named mark jones, and there is an email movement to persuade google to use this!  please email google at proposals@google.com requesting this artwork be featured on 3/21 for world down syndrome day!

A Tale of Two Boys.....Wyatt and Christian

2 years ago i had no reason whatsoever to be concerned about "world down syndrome day....."  i didn't even know there was such a day!  and along came wyatt.....our precious surprise gift from God.  totally unexpected, pretty shocking to us, actually!   a baby, at our age?  really.....

wyatt....our sweet, precious, funny, busy little boy who is so loved by so many!   completely adored by his brothers, grandparents and extended family!   completely adored by our church family.....there are folks at our church who do not let sunday go by without speaking to/loving on our precious wyatt!   we are so blessed!   and continue to thank God for knowing exactly what we needed far better than we did!  so thankful He's in control, and we're not.....


loving the outdoors!





attacking mommy!



   

typically happy boy!

i wish you could hear the chuckle that
goes with this sweet expression!

this is where i found wyatt
this afternoon,
"reading" and playing with his toys!

and then there's little CHRISTIAN....born just 1 day before wyatt....across the ocean....worlds apart.   i'm christian's world down syndrome day warrior....i've been praying for him, sharing about him on facebook, in hopes that his forever family will find him, and go get him.   his world is so different from wyatt's world.  he has no mommy and daddy who meet his every need, often before he realizes he has a need!   no brothers who play with him, no grandparents who adore him, no church family loving him...... 

CHRISTIAN....
are YOU his forever family? 



there are so many who need homes.....   are you called to adopt?  if not, can you give to help those who are called?   click any of the buttons in my sidebar to help those families who are adopting.   can you pray?   please pray for these families who are called to adopt, that their financial needs will be met; pray for these babies and children who are abandoned in orphanages, and then transferred to adult mental institutions around the age of 5.....   pray that they will one day be loved as much as our precious wyatt is loved....

How Down Syndrome Has Affected Me....

here it is, our first world down syndrome day. locally we did not have an organized activity, so i've just celebrated with my online community of friends. what a blessing they are! with wyatt's continued "isolation," we couldn't do much, so maybe next year we'll plan a celebration! this past week, as we've all posted tons of publicity about this day, it's also been a time of reflection for me. one mom put together a photo montage of our kids, and asked "what does Down syndrome mean to you, or how has it affected your life? these are my thoughts on that question....

down syndrome has given me a greater compassion for differences in others, whether it be a disability, physical or mental illness, poverty, homelessness...the list goes on and on. mercy has never been my primary "gift," and God is stretching me in that area....oh how He's stretching me! down syndrome has given me a greater capacity to love and understand others. it has also given me a greater appreciation for the little things in life, wyatt's small daily accomplishments, causing celebrations that formerly were not celebrated! down syndrome has given me friendships i never would have had, a bond that only parents of children with special needs can share. it's shown me there's no room in my life for selfishness, self-centeredness. it's given me an intolerance for "foolish," unimportant "stuff..." life's too short to waste. i need to make the most of every day that God has given me...to serve Him and fulfill His plan for my life....

this is just a tiny little bit of how down syndrome has affected me..... ramblings....i was reminded at church today that i don't need to fear ....anything....including wyatt's future as a baby/boy/man with down syndrome. as i've said many times, God has a plan for us, for wyatt; i know He IS and WILL equip us for that plan, i just need to seek and follow Him daily, hourly, minute by minute...NO FEAR...."For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

so, happy world down syndrome day 2010! thanks for travelling this journey with me..