Happy Harvest 2016

For the earth has yielded abundant harvests. God, even our own God, will bless us. 

And peoples from remotest lands will worship him.  

Psalm 67:6-7

Even Buzz Lightyear celebrates the goodness of our God. 

After a full day of celebrating at school, we celebrated with friends and church family at the annual Harvest Party. Popcorn, candy and games abounded. Even so, the craft table was the highlight:

I am thankful for fall colors, blustery days, cozy scarfs and little boys that are proud to bypass candy to make a paper pumpkin.  We are indeed blessed.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2016: What's The Point?

Awareness Months can seem a little...pointless. There are at least 15 things to be aware of every month. It's difficult to keep track of what color ribbon I'm supposed to be wearing this month. And who knows what you're supposed to give priority to. Seriously, just look at what we are supposed to be 'aware' of this month:

OCTOBER 2016 AWARENESS:

	National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
	National Liver Cancer Awareness Month
	Down Syndrome Awareness Month
	Energy Awareness Month (Go Green)
	Healthy Lungs Month
	National Campaign for Healthier Babies Month
	National Physical Therapy Month
	National Spinal Health Month
	Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
	National Psoriasis Month
	National AIDS Awareness Month
	National Dental Hygiene Month
	National Disability Employment Awareness Month
	Celiac Sprue Awareness Month
	SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Awareness Month
	Eye Injury Prevention Month
	National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
	National Medical Librarians Month
	Talk About Prescriptions Month
	Down Syndrome Awareness Month
	Hunger Awareness Month
	1-7: National Sarcoidosis Awareness Week
	3- 10: Hearing Aid Awareness Week
	3-9: Mental Illness Awareness Week
	3-9: National Fire Prevention Week
	4-8: Drive Safely to Work Week
	11-15: National School Lunch Week
	12-20: Bone and Joint Decade National Action Week
	18-24: National Drug-Free Work Week
	23-31: Red Ribbon Week (Drug-Free America)
	24-30: Respiratory Care Week
	24-30: Pastoral Care Week
	4: National Child Health Day
	7: National Depression Screening Day
	13: Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
	10: World Mental Health Day
	15: National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
	16: World Food Day
	20: World Osteoporosis Day
	22: International Stuttering Awareness Day
	22: National Mammography Day
	27: Lung Health Day
	Celiac Disease Awareness Day

Good gravy! Who can keep track?! Seriously, National School Lunch Week?  Talk About Prescriptions Month?  Does any of it really make an difference? What's the point?!

The point is this:

A baby girl was born in the US this month (in my city).  Born with Down syndrome to parents visiting from Asia. That little extra chromosome was unexpected and the extended family back in their home country made it very clear this baby would not be accepted. The birth family fought to find the resources to care for their sweet bundle of joy, but nothing was available in their home country. Could they move to a nearby country? Did they have resources? Would the love of their heart be welcome there? But nothing. The only option would to place their beautiful, innocent baby for adoption within the US before their visas ran out. HERE their baby would be cared for. HERE their little joy would receive medical care and appropriate therapies to keep her safe & healthy. HERE she will have a future that includes school inclusion, job training and and community support. HERE their precious daughter will be loved and accepted because as a society we have worked to be aware of the needs of those most vulnerable around us. 

The US isn't perfect. But we've come a LONG way and there is still a long way to go. However, newborns with Down syndrome are now lovingly supported to be with the families who birthed them. And for those who cannot parent their little ones, there is a community of domestic adoptive parents who step forward to do what others cannot. Because they are acutely aware of the need. 

Life expectancy for those with an extra chromosome has sky rocketed from just 20 years in the 1980s, to over 60 years. Because the medical community has become aware of medical and therapeutic interventions that provide quality and quantity of life. 

Institutionalization is no longer a reality in our country. School inclusion is! My child is fully included as an equal in his school classroom. Given responsibilities and required to meet appropriate expectations. Not only is he thriving, his classmates are too!  Even at this young age they are learning graciousness and how to be aware of those around them with vulnerabilities--would that more adults have these qualities!!

Meaningful employment is now possible and encouraged for those rocking designer genes. Emphasis on meaningful. It's quality work with measurable impact---just like I have. As a culture we are becoming aware that our friends and family with that little bit of extra give A LOT extra in the workplace and are valued employees. 

None of these things are available for the sweet baby girl born this month. If they were, she would be with her loving birth family now. That is the tragic result of a lack of awareness that feeds into abandonment & adoption in so many different countries around the world.  

THIS is why awareness months for Down syndrome (and other important issues) is so very vital. When we are aware, hearts change. When hearts change, people groups change. When people groups change, cultures and countries change.  When cultures change, sweet baby girls with Down syndrome thrive. 

So be aware. Wear your ribbon. Encourage people to ask questions and to question what has always been. Is it they way it should be? How can we make it better?

Now someone PLEASE tackle the National School Lunch issue...

Hello Fall!

We've had our life on hold a bit waiting to see how the transition into kindergarten would go. Since Isaac has done so amazing well, we escaped for a long weekend over the mountains to find fall...and we hit the jackpot!

We hiked around the forest and found a waterfall still raging after a recent series of storms. It was big enough that Isaac kept signing and SAYING "Oh-SHun! Oh-SHun!"

We hiked through the wood surrounding our hotel as well. It's fun to be almost 6 and to run through the trees!

There was lots of swimming in the hotel pool (guess who can kick the length of the pool and back all by himself?!), and rich delicious foods. I even took a nap--unheard of!  It was a great little weekend away.

Fall 2016

Fall Family Photos 2016

It's that time of the year again...pun'kin patches, apple cider, cozy sweaters and annual fall family photos. Our sweet friend of Cassandra Hamilton Photography once again captured us in a nutshell...constant movement, a million kisses and tons of laughter! 

My favorite part...comparing how much this little man has grown:

 My life isn't boring with this handsome boy and I wouldn't change that for anything <3 

New Things

We've spent the last couple of week getting used to our new Kindergarten normal, working on major projects around the house (hello updated kitchen!) and guest writing for a few online magazines:

Sounds Fun Mom

No Hands But Ours

The project of my heart though is the start of Village21, an online Village of families passionate about Jesus, Down syndrome, and Adoption. This was birthed out of the intimate connection of the Bamboo Project families and their desire 'to do more': To ADVOCATE for children with Down syndrome waiting for their new forever; to ENCOURAGE families like ourselves who are walking this amazing journey of faith; and most importantly to SUPPORT ministries in China who are caring for children with Down syndrome, changing hearts on the front lines of care.  

Will the world turn upside down because of our little band of crazy Christians getting our orphan care on? Probably not. Can we make an impact? Absolutely yes! We can't empty the ocean of suffering, but we can scoop out our bucketful (credit Lillian Dickson, missionary to Taiwan 1930s) This is our bucketful--changing the world for one child with Down syndrome without a family; changing the world for one family willing to step out in adoption faith; changing the world for one missionary doing the hands-on loving we cannot be there to do. 

This ministry gives me nervous butterflies--in all the wonderful and exciting ways a new relationship would. I don't know where God will lead through it, but I certainly want to find out!  There will be plenty of ways for you to SUPPORT, ADVOCATE & ENCOURAGE yourself so make sure to check back to the Village21 website on a regular basis. Until then please be praying for the children who wait, the families who are coming, and the missionaries who daily offer their lives for these sweet one and their extra chromosomes. <3 

Spurring Each Other On

I’ve recently been reflecting on the amazing-ness of the Bamboo Tribe:

Last week, two Bamboo families from opposite edges of Tennessee met together for dinner to swap adoption stories and encourage each other; they had never met, but were instant friends.

This week, two different families—one from Wyoming, one from Virginia, left to pick up their sweet bamboo children. This is the fourth trip to China for the Virginia family and they have been such an encouragement to the first time family from Wyoming!  They will meet up together at the US Consulate in about ten days.

Tomorrow, a family from Georgia will be arriving home with their newest Bamboo daughter. During their layover in Seattle, we will be meeting up with them and another local Bamboo family who is expecting to travel during the holidays. We’ll be providing Starbucks, homemade snacks, and enough hugs to carry them through their last leg home.

Next week, two Bamboo mommas, from Minnesota and Pennsylvania respectively, will meet face-to-face for the first time as they fly to Southwest China on a missions trip to love on children in a Christian foster home and to encourage our precious Chinese brothers & sisters there.  This is the province that Isaac is from---I’m SO VERY EXCITED that they are going to minister to those that ministered to my child, and they get to do it together. 

Two weeks ago a 6 year old Bamboo sister asked her parents to Facetime another Bamboo sibling three states away, because they had met at the Bamboo reunion and she missed her. <3

These are just a few of this month's examples of the care and encouragement this group of families provide to each other. It happens like this ALL the time…it’s so beautiful to watch; and incredible to be a part of. I am motivated by this group of families. 

Yes, we’ve all adopted children with Down syndrome from China, that is true—and really, on paper, that is the only similarity that binds us (we all come from wildly different backgrounds!)—but the familiarity is so much more than that. It is an instant trust, an immediate connection, it’s a confident safety in their presence because they love Jesus like we’ve been called to do.—humbly, graciously, passionately, full of crazy-scary faith. They are actively caring for the widow and the orphan and going out of their way to inspire those around them to do the same. They are walking out the Gospel with each other and that equates to “brotherly love” in God’s vocabulary.  We call it our Tribe. 

I don't know that there is a magic recipe other than what the Word says. Find the people who are loving Jesus like you (similar callings? same ministry? shared passions or giftings?) then encourage, build each other up, serve each other, serve together, be humble and compassionate, have fun, spur each other on to love and to good works (Heb 10:24)! Get connected and fellowship. Bear each other's burdens and love Jesus together. Find your tribe...love them hard...because this is how "all men will know that we are His disciples" (John 13:35) 

First Day of Kindergarten

Every mother's worst nightmare...The First Day of Kindergarten.  OMG, I've seriously been dreading this day. The mere thought of it has sent me into a fit of instant tears for over a year.  Who thought of this horrible rite of passage?!  Did you know in Denmark they don't send their kids to school until they are eight. EIGHT.. As in  5 + 3 = not today.  This is why the Danes are so good at...something. I have no clue what they are good at, but whatever it is, I'm sure they are freaking geniuses and it's ALL because they didn't start school until their baby peach fuzz had passed away and their mothers are allowed to smother their 5 year olds with kisses until they nearly choke. Where are our passports?!  We are moving immediately...please forward our mail. 

Nevertheless, today came:

Last month, I had the chance to spend a few days of Kindergarten Jump Start in the classroom with Isaac. It was good for both of us I think; for him to associate a new place with his momma, and for me to know what his day and environment will look like for the next 9 months. His sweet teacher has a background in attachment trauma so she has been more than gracious in giving our little family the space we need to navigate the changing waters of starting school. 

"Kindergartners stay in a line"

Self designated assistant teacher already. 

No joke, he mastered the scissors better than ANYONE in the class!

His sweet little legs don't quite touch the ground yet. 

Making new friends <3 

We both survived the day. I had support with me all day who held my hand as I cried in the car and made sure to keep me distracted as the clocked ticked towards 3:30pm.  At the appointed time, Isaac left the building FULL of energy and with full thumbs up from his sweet teachers. Hallelujah!  Maybe this kindergarten thing won't be so bad after all!

Seems flights to Denmark are $3,300 each...