I wonder...

Did you know that October is Down Syndrome Awareness month?

 I wonder... how many of you have had the privilege of knowing a person with that extra special chromosome?  How many of you have taken the time to get to know a person with Down Syndrome? 

I have been blessed because....




















 I have a brother with Down Syndrome! 

Growing up with him was such fun.  He was always up for a fun adventure, he was famous for his "short cuts" that ended up getting him lost, and he was always there with a hug, kiss, and smile.

When my brother was born, back in 1975, my parents were told to put him in an institution because he would be too much work for them, a burden on the family.  The doctors told them that he would never be able to do anything.  Thankfully, my parents didn't listen to them!  My parents loved my brother from the start and set out to give him every opportunity to achieve his potential.  They also worked very hard to teach my brother how to act appropriately.

My mom, in particular, went through some very sad experiences when my brother was a baby.  Whenever she would take us out in public, people would walk over ready to "ooh and aah" over a new baby but when they peeked into the carriage they would quickly pull back and say "uughh".  This of course would make my mom cry.  She felt so sad! Sad that people were unable to get over the difference in looks or the obvious "disability", sad that they couldn't be happy for her or her new son, sad that they didn't value him as a person made in the image of God.  Sad that anyone would react that way. 

I wonder... have things changed that much?  Is having a child with Down Syndrome looked at as a blessing?  Are people able to get over the difference in looks or the obvious "disability" and see a person with great value?

Join me as I attempt to blog (almost) every day to raise awareness!

Where has the time gone?

How can it be that a whole month has gone by since my last post?  I have to admit that it was so nice being on vacation where there was no internet connection, no electronics, no phones!  How nice to be able to reconnect with relatives, play in the water with my kids, and enjoy God's incredible creation!

So much has happened in so many people's lives since I last posted.  May I please ask you to pray for the Cooper family?  They leave Saturday (in two short days) to meet two precious girls whom they hope to bring home and make part of their family.  They will be traveling with a 10-month old and are leaving behind a 2 and 5 year old.  Please pray for traveling mercies, for the children at home to enjoy time with grandparents, for the two appointments (July 23 and July 30) and as they meet the girls.  It has been such a joy to watch this family step out in faith and walk with God as He has led them down this path.

What journey are you on?  Where is God leading  you?  We know that as God leads he provides exactly what we need to carry out his will!  I want to encourage you to take that step of faith.... continue walking faithfully with God, trusting him to direct your steps... and finish well!


 

How to save a life

Whew... here we are in full swing with the summer schedule.  I am always amazed at how quickly the days pass, how jammed pack they are with activity, and yet I can't seem to keep up with the house.  I look forward to the relative ease of our summer schedule but I know I don't get as much done as I would like.  Then I have to remind myself... the time is fleeting.  I need and want to enjoy my children and husband.  They are what is truly important!  I'm always on the lookout for fun and creative ways to get the work done together.

I had thought I would do a better job keeping with with this blog, but I haven't.  I am hoping that this week will actually get some posts out of my head and onto the computer screen. 

Now for something very pressing.  I want to introduce you to a sweet boy named Tommy.  He doesn't know it, but there is a family that loves him and was planning on bringing him home as soon as they could.  Last week, all of that changed.  This precious family received the crushing news.... he doesn't have the time to wait for them.

Just looking at him you may wonder why he doesn't have time.  He has such a sweet smile, a light in his eyes, the will to live.  So why doesn't he have time?

He is the size of a 3 or 4 year old.  He has so much potential.  So why is he out of time?


Because this sweet little boy

turns 16

the first of the year!

He needs a family NOW!  Please, won't you help him?

Help him reach his potential, experience the love of a family, matter to someone?  Please share this need with everyone you know.  I know that God loves this little boy and has a plan for his life.  His story is already unfolding and you can be part of it.

There are special circumstances surrounding this precious boy.  Visit my sweet friend's blog to learn more about Tommy and what the next step is.  Is God is calling you to be his family.

Blessings Friends!

He Matters

It's Fatherless Friday!

This week we meet Beacon.  Please take a look at this sweet boy.  He is so tiny... would you believe that he turns 11 this year?  This precious boy is in a Very Bad place and needs a mom and dad to come for him quickly.  He is left in a crib day and night.  Is this how life should be for an eleven year old?  His eyes are so sad.  He needs someone to scoop him up and hug him and tell him how loved and valuable he is.  He needs someone to show him they care.

Please help rescue Beacon!  Could you be his mom and dad?  Could you spare the time to spread the word... to save his life?  He matters!

Beacon

 

 

 

She Matters

One thing I am passionate about is the plight of orphans.  I cannot imagine a life where I don't belong to anyone, where I'm not loved by anyone, where no one is looking out for my best interest or is even interested in me.  I cannot imagine any of my children having to endure that either.  But for 147 million children, that is the reality of their life.  They don't have a mom or dad to love them, teach them, look out for them, or provide for them.  It makes my heart break!  I want to do something... I don't just want to look at the number 147,000,000 and feel overwhelmed by the need. Or worse yet, unmoved by the statistic forgetting that there is a precious face and story behind each and every number.  To that end, I would like to introduce Fatherless Fridays.

I hope to dedicate Fridays to advocating for those who have no voice and no hope unless they are seen and rescued.  I am reminded that my heavenly father saw me and rescued me.  He did not leave me as an orphan.  He has done the same for each and every one of his children.  As a matter of fact, each one matters to Him.  He has seen each one of us - since the beginning of time - and he came to rescue us.  My prayer is that you have allowed yourself to be rescued and have not rejected that precious gift.

 Meet precious Stacy
 

She matters!  She is only 5 years old yet is already living existing in an institution.  She is such a tiny girl and so badly needs a family to love her, cherish her, teach her, and give her the opportunity to develop into the girl God created her to be.

She is hungry for love, she looks to you
Thirsty for kindness, she begs of you
Naked for loyalty, she hopes in you
Homeless for shelter in your heart,
She asks of you...
Will you be that one for her?

Are you Stacy's mom or dad?  Could you be the one to rescue her and see her potential?

What would it take for you to help spread the word so Stacy's parents can find her?  On your blog, facebook, twitter?

Could you spare $30 a month (a dollar a day) to help increase her fund to help her family bring her home?

Would you commit to praying for her daily?  That her family would find her and for her health (90% of children with Down syndrome die within the first year of being institutionalized).

Please look into her precious face and prayerfully consider what you can do to make a difference in her life.  You will be blessed!

Each One Matters

     Each.  One.  Matters.  I chose this title because when I think about what is most important in life, it's people.  Each life is precious!  Period.  Each person, each life, has infinite value and worth.  Not because what each one has to offer, not because of what each can do for me, not for how much each one makes or contributes to society, but simply because they were created in the image of God.  Each was created for a purpose and is loved beyond measure by the God of the universe.  And that is what makes each valuable.

     It seems so often that in the busyness of our days that the one thing most neglected is taking the time to value the people in our lives.  We acknowledge their presence, and as moms we care for our children's needs, but do we really treasure them?  Do we value relationships?  Do we enjoy investing into their lives?

     A number of years ago when I first met my husband's boss, his evaluation of our brief meeting as told to my husband was this, "I see Becky as... a task-oriented person."  I don't know why that has stuck with me or why it even bothered me - but it has.  It is true that I like to get things done quickly and efficiently.  I started thinking about what it would be mean if I wasn't task-oriented.  What would that make me?  So I finally asked my husband's boss.  His answer was relationship-oriented or people-oriented.  It seems that over the years, working with so many people, he saw people as either those who get the job done (and everyone get out of the way) or those who take time for relationships and build them as they are getting the job done.  As I prayed about it, I began to realize that what bothered me so much about his perception of me, was that he saw what was true.  I would get the job done at the expense of people.  I didn't like that about myself.  Since then, I've prayed daily that God would help me value people and relationships more.  That He would give me a heart for people - to see them as He does and then to allow Him to use me in their lives. 

     God has continued to teach me and remind me of the value of each person and that I should not be so busy that I don't have time to reach out to someone... to show love... to listen... to teach.  I love knowing that the greatest thing I can do is pour myself into people.  We were made for relationships - first with our heavenly father and then with people.  I want to encourage you today - take the time to enjoy each person God brings into your life today.  Because each one matters!