Help us celebrate National Down Syndrome Day

I started blogging on this day two years ago in honor of World Down Syndrome Day.  You see, March 21st is the day every year where individuals with Down Syndrome are to be celebrated.  March 21st was chosen, because individuals with Down syndrome have three copies of their 21st chromosome.  Clever, eh? Well, please join my family today in celebrating the value, acceptance, and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome.

My first year, I wrote Willow's birth story.  The second year, I wrote a blog about Down syndrome two years later.  This year, I do not have any inspired words.  I have tried to think of some and have come up blank.   Maybe it is because I am busy and that tends to hamper creativity.  But perhaps it is because Down syndrome has become such a normal part of our lives that it is difficult to imagine life without it.  It is something that has given me new lenses through which to view the world.  It is something that has given me a platform to advocate for individuals with special needs that I never asked for but am so thankful for.

Please spend just a few moments today to honor an individual with Down syndrome.  Do something to honor my Willow.  Do something to honor Adam, Asher, Grace, Andrew, Tim, Caleb, Meera, Ophelia, Brady, Megan, and all of the others who live in your midst.

Here are some suggestions:

1.) Random Acts of Kindness:  Down syndrome advocacy groups all over the nation have decided that they would like folks to provide random acts of kindness around the world in honor of our friends and family with Down syndrome.  This movement is explained here and gets me excited thinking about the impact these acts could have just in 24 hours.  And GO!

2.) Donate to help fund the adoption of a child with special needs internationally through Reece's Rainbow.  Help bring a child like our Willow home to their forever family.

3.) Consider donating to Ruby's Rainbow and help make an individual with Down syndrome's college dreams a reality.

A brief update on Willow:
This past month, Willow had her second set of ear tubes placed, her adenoids removed, and her feeding tube removed.  Everything went smoothly, and we were so happy to bring home a tubeless baby for the first time ever.  She is signing and speaking some words, and, in typical toddler fashion, her favorite word is NO which she says with a little more sass than I am comfortable with.  She is still not walking yet, but we are making strides and working hard with twice weekly physical therapy and a new set of braces we are hoping will help once we can find a pair of shoes large enough to fit over them.   Willow loves Chick-fil-A, Adam Levine, making messes, eating dirt, and playing with other children.

Thank you to those who have loved, encouraged, and challenged our family.  We love you, and I hope to blog more in the future, but no promises.

the Wickers

So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith.
Galatians 3:26