Observing and Reflecting

Yesterday, we spent the day at Lagoon, a local amusement park.  It was Down Syndrome Foundation day there.  They reserved a pavilion and provided soda and cookies for families who wanted to come eat their dinner in the shade.  Lots of families came.  We didn't know anyone, but we were so glad we went.

We got soaked by this ride just before dark.  Brrr...

(Landon was off wandering the park with his cousin.)

Throughout the evening as we wandered through the park, we observed many kids, a few teens and even a couple adults with Ds.  I felt like a stalker in a way, watching their every move, trying to soak in whatever I could while I had the chance.  Jeremy kept commenting on how cute they were. Even the teenagers melt his heart. He kept saying, "They are just so awesome."

That evening, I sat on a bench waiting for my son to do a kiddie ride and watched a couple of kids with Ds giggle as they felt butterflies in their tummies going up and down.  I wanted to talk to one of the moms, but I was too shy.  One of the girls I observed was probably a year or two older than Anna.  (Not the one in this picture.) While I sat on the bench, I pictured her being Anna, and me as her mom, watching her wait in line with her siblings. I loved how it felt!  I'm so excited. This little girl's legs were a little tired from waiting in line, so she had herself a seat right there on the concrete, put her elbows on her knees and rested her chin on her hands.  So cute.  I noticed that her siblings and mom didn't even notice.  I'm sure it was just "her."    Anyway, I sat there and thought about Down Syndrome itself and what a blessing it is.  The very things that make people with Ds different, are the things that we love because they make them who they are--just plain awesome.

It's really incredible what has been and is taking place in our hearts right now. The spirit is preparing us while we wait. What once felt burdensome, maybe overwhelming, now feels "normal," if there is such a thing as that.  It kinda feels like we've known all along that a child with Down Syndrome would eventually join us, but it wasn't time yet, so we didn't give it a thought.  Now it's like, "Oh yeah...this is us."  It feels familiar, in a way.  I wonder if this was part of God's plan when we found each other on this big earth nearly 17 years ago.

Besides the fact that it was fun...I loved yesterday because it gave us the chance to picture our lives with Anna a little more, and make it feel more real. We're getting more and more excited to meet her.  Hang on Anna girl.  We'll be there soon.