Looking back, everything makes sense and falls into place in the beautiful and serendipitous fashion that can only be attributed to the handiwork of God. But looking
forward on that chilly November morning when we got "the call" that confirmed the suspicion that our first, unborn child would have Down Syndrome--absolutely nothing made any sense. I was too young to have one of "those" babies, wasn't I? She was our
first child, surely God wouldn't place that sort of a burden on us right out of the shoot...right? Would she be healthy? Would she need neo-natal heart surgery? Would she be beautiful, or would people only look at her with gruesome curiosity? Would I have what it takes to raise a child with special needs, or would I fail her and God all at the same time? Sooooo many questions, so few answers.One question that I absolutely knew the answer to was, "Will we keep her?" Yes. Resounding. Resolute. Without a doubt. Yes. Whoever that baby would become, whatever challenges we would face--she was ours and we would keep her.
The weeks, months and now four-almost-*gulp*-FIVE years later I simply do not want to imagine life without my ravishingly beautiful, sweet-natured, intelligent, compassionate, wonderful Rachel. The gift of her life is one that I will never in all the millenia of eternity be able to thank God adequately for. Sure, there are challenges involved in raising Rachel--but I'm pretty sure there are challenges to raising
every child ever. There would be a lot fewer Starbucks around if parenting was easy, just sayin'! But worth it? Oooooooh yes.
The month of October is National Down Syndrome Month--something I didn't actually know until just a few weeks ago! So, in honor of Rachel and all of the many babies, children, teenagers, men and women around the globe who share her almond-shaped eyes, tender heart and extra copy of the 21st chromosome, I am going to blog every day in October. About Rachel. About Down Syndrome. About Acceptance. About Love. About Family. About Life.
