Happy New Year’s Eve…

Here we are. The last day of 2018. We made it! I am looking back fondly and looking forward hopefully. I wish you all a safe day celebrating!

Well, I hope you all have a Happy New Year’s Eve!!!

Let’s get this party started …

I. LOVE. THANKSGIVING. It is my favorite holiday and the days leading up to it are always filled with a great energy. With my big kids coming home from college and the plans we have to spend with our family and friends, I am beside myself with excitement! I am SO thankful for all of them! And let’s not forget our Black Friday tradition. We ALWAYS have a blast! It’s like a whole week of celebrating and it begins NOW!

Well, I hope you all have a day where you get your party started!!!

SPLAT …

Jumping back into the real world after a long party weekend away is painful. Like falling on your face painful. Very. Very. Painful.

Well, I hope you all have a day where you don’t go SPLAT!!!

FOMO …

We are out of town celebrating Sidney, my oldest daughter, this weekend. And we are taking a few extra days to do it, HA! In situations like this it never fails. My body is energized and ready to PARTAY! It doesn’t matter how late I stay up, I wake up early the next day. Like my body and mind are screaming WHAT’S NEXT?!?! Trust me, I would LOVE to sleep in like normal people. But I think my body is worried it’s going to miss something important if we sleep an extra hour or two. Yes body, we will miss a few things … like the undead hours of the day and unopened coffee shops … OY.

Well, I hope you all have a day where you don’t have an innate fear of missing out!!!

Changed for the better …

Last night was the 40th Year Celebration of our local Down Syndrome Association. It was wonderful! I have been blessed to serve as the facilitator for one of their support groups for almost 7 years now. The event could not have been more perfect. The venue was lovely, the entertainment was fantastic, the food was tasty and the guests were simply amazing. It was a great evening connecting with old friends (and making some new ones) and celebrating the organization that has so positively and profoundly impacted our lives. What an accomplishment it is to serve a community of people with such dedication and diligence for four decades. It literally brought me to tears last night. I am truly grateful to have shared in DSAOC’s incredible history both as a client and as a facilitator.

When I was pregnant with Reese and found out that she had Down Syndrome I never shed a tear. Reese was going to be who God created her to be and I was the woman He chose to make sure it happened. I promised Reese that I would always be the mommy that she needed me to be. And that I would make sure that she would become who God intended her to be. Even as a social worker, at the time, I wasn’t quite sure what that all would look like. But I knew that I loved my daughter fiercely and that I would somehow figure it all out. DSAOC helped me do exactly that and I simply couldn’t be more thankful. Without a doubt, I would not be the person, or mommy, I am today without their influence on my life.

Well, I hope you all have a day where you are changed for the better!!!

Raring to go …

We had a long day and a late night yesterday. ALL GOOD! We are kicking off September with some traveling fun for Libs and Reese, who’s birthdays are just around the corner. I’ve decorated our suite for the occasion too. We have traveled enough around holidays and special events that this has become my “thing”. My family things I’m a little kooky for doing it, but I love it! I enjoy decorating even when we aren’t at home because it makes it even more festive! Despite being up late I found myself awake insanely early agin. I am above and beyond excited to start our day … but everyone is still asleep. Ugh!

Well, I hope you all have a day where you are raring to go!!!

On the road again …

Reese and Libs’ birthdays are coming up quick. With the long weekend ahead we decided to get a jump on celebrating. We planned a little trip and I intend on adding a few surprises along the way.

Well, I hope you all have a day where you get on the road again!!!

Too much fun …

Since my birthday last Thursday it’s been one celebration after another. I’m happy, but I’m freaking exhausted. HA!

Well, I hope you all had too much fun!!!

A nice day …

Holy moly, I am wiped out. I am still feeling the fallout from my awful long run on Friday and it’s been a hectic performance weekend for Libs. We were also out late last night after her final show for a little celebratory dinner and for some crazy reason I work up EARLY this Sunday morning. But it’s all good. I am so thankful for the a blessed and busy life we have! And despite being a little beat up, I plan on enjoying this day to the fullest! Later we are headed to the beach to attend a luncheon with some people I just adore. I can’t think of a better place or way to spend an afternoon recouping!

Well, I hope you all have a nice day!!!

Celebrating EXTRA …

Today is World Down Syndrome Day! And we all know that I have someone very special in my life who has Down Syndrome. My beautiful 8 year old daughter Reese!

March 21st is a global day of awareness that has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. How cool is that?!?! This date was chosen to represent the triplication of the 21st chromosome (3/21) found in individuals with Down Syndrome. Today I celebrate Reese and the amazing community of people with whom we share our lives.

I was told when I was 15 weeks pregnant that Reese had Down Syndrome. I did not grieve or cry. I did the complete opposite. My heart was immediately filled with hope for the future. And not just for my future or hers. From the moment that I was told that she had Down Syndrome I knew that Reese was going to change the world for the better. It was like a blanket of understanding that I had never felt before. And I have witnessed her work her magic time and time again ever since. She has softened the hardest of hearts and changed the most ridged of minds. I am so proud of her! This little girl of mine is smart, silly, kind and caring. Her compassion for others runs deep. She is a bright light in this dark world. She has taught me SO SO SO much and has showed me what real strength and perseverance looks like. And best of all, she loves me HUGE! Reese is an incredible human being and I am humbled that God chose me to be her mommy. It is truly a blessing and an honor.

I love you my Reesey Roo. You are my hero!

Well, I hope you all have a day where you celebrate EXTRA!!!