OT: Thankful
It is a wonderful Saturday morning here in COLD *** North Dakota. The air is so crisp you could freeze your nose off. I guess it is time for me to hang up the spring jacket and bring out the winter one. I just try to make that a last event,knowing if I give in,winter will be that much longer LO L
As I am getting ready for my day I was reflecting back on many things I have to be thankful for, family friends,taking control over my health,My partner in life,putting me first and a bunch of other general things. When I think of family I think often of my sister who passed away a few yrs ago at the age of 39 ( she would be 58 come December). Even tho she was 11 yrs older then me we were pretty close. She was not one of who people call lucky- she was born with downs syndrome and had a hole in the upper chamber of her heart. They claimed she would never amount to anything,never walk,talk,potty train etc... She lead a full life and did all the things they said she would never do.She even had her own/shared apartment for the last yrs of her life. Yes,she grew up and left home. She was a comic in her own rights and kept our family in stitches a lot of the time. She was our super bond glue.
When I met Curt approx 8 or so yrs ago, he also had/has a sister with downs. My sister and his sister would of been best friends had they known each other. They are so much a like. They say that birds of a feather flock together. While I don't always agree with that, in this case I would have.
When I first went out into the work field I landed a job working with people with disabilities (group homes,work shops,vocational programs,job coach...), 20 some yrs later I am still in that line of work and would have never traded that off in a million yrs. I am(3 yrs) a paraprofessional for middle school aged kids with special needs.
I have so much in my life to be thankful for and this just touches a small corner of it. Thank you for reading this ,thought I would share. May your blessings and thanks be plenty .
AND THEY CALL THEM RETARDED- And they call some of these people "retarded"... A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back... every one of them. One little girl with Downs syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle".
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kelly/tink
www.onetruemedia.com/shared
My aunt had 2 Down Syndrome kids--a boy and a girl, both born with defective hearts, a condition so common with DS folks. These kids were born a year apart. (No birth control available 40-some years ago. Also--the aunt had had thyroid surgery just before, and was probably 'change of life') Anyway--Cindy died in her sleep, and the next day Danny died--couldn't live without his little sister. I remember going to the wake--I was just a kid myself--and it was soo sad, two tiny coffins. When my aunt died of cancer last year, the family rejoiced that she would be reunited with her angels.
It's blood cold here in Thunder Bay this morning. Don't know the temperature but it's below freezing with a nasty wind. Sure looks winter is here to stay. Seems like a good time to relocate to Tucson!
OT--isn't today an anniversary of the assassination of John F Kennedy? I was 1st grade and we were sent home. So many adults bawling...
Happy Thanksgiving next week!
Life touches people in many different ways. We hold on to those wonderful touches within our hearts.
Yes, today is the JFK assassionation date.
Have a great weekend!
Kelly
www.onetruemedia.com/shared
~Sandie~ 
-147!!WLS:12-12-06:Preop 268,Ht.5'4",BMI 44.9
Click on link to see my journey!!!
http://www.onetruemedia.com/my_shared?z=2bfaca5561a1d558fceb
87&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
"Do unto others as you'd have done to you"~ The Golden Rule to Live by!
You are what you EAT and WHO you hang out with! Choices=Outcome~ what's YOUR choice??
I'm not perfect but I am going to die trying!!!
Kelly/tink
www.onetruemedia.com/shared
Kelly/tink
www.onetruemedia.com/shared
I have a neighbor who had an "oops" baby almost 4 years ago - Jordan. He was born with DS, the 4th child of the family. His mom was DEVASTATED to learn that he had Downs - they had no forewarning at all. But in the time that has passed since, he has become an enormous source of joy for her whole family! Yes, he is delayed in many ways. But in trying to bring some perspective to her early on, I was thinking out loud and told her - 'just think, tho... EVERY milestone he reaches will be THAT MUCH SWEETER than with your first 3! Walking? Talking? Riding a trike or scooter? How much MORE exciting will that be with Jordan???' Then I felt really awkward and BAD for suggesting such a thing, as if she wasn't excited when the first 3 experienced those milestones.
Last week, she called because as of 12/1, they no longer qualify for PCA's for Jordan, and she's trying to create a line-up of potential baby-sitters for him, including Bailey and I. And she told me that every time he DOES achieve something new, she thinks back to what I said, and she told me I was so right it scares her! I'm not sure I've ever been so validated in my life. I mean, I'm sure I have, but that really felt GOOD
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
Thanks for sharing that story. All these stories I tell,hear,see etc... hold a special spot in my heart. I am so dedicated to the causes. Thanks again!
Kelly/tink
www.onetruemedia.com/shared
