Its NOT Cool.

There's this word, a certain word, that every time I hear it my stomach flips and I feel like there is seagulls in my chest trying to come out, that some one has punched me in the gut or stabbed me in my side.
 What is this word you ask? A word I don't say, a word that I refer to as the "R-word", But to most of you its "retard" and "retarded"

Do you think its cool to call a pencil that doesn't work properly this word?
Do you believe its okay to call your friend who did something stupid this word?
Do you its funny to make fun of some one who's different using this word?

Because it's not. It is then that you are referring to my little brother as stupid, dumb, wrong, imperfect, broken, etc. You get my point. It is NOT. It kills me every time. But I suppose its not your fault since you don't know the real definition, you all think the definition is An offensive term used to refer to someone acting in an irritating or generally stupid way. Usually most people don't mean to use it in the derogatory way. They think, "Well it means the same as stupid so I'll just replace it." Let me tell you one thing, my brother is not STUPID, he knows more than possibly 30 signs, he knows how to say tons of words, he knows more than you will ever know. My brother is perfect. Yes He has Down syndrome, but that's how GOD made him, and we are made in His image!

So please the next time you want to use the "R-word" please think before you speak.
Because its NOT cool.

3.21.12

3.21.12
To some its just another day, to us, its a special, special day.
Many people celebrate today.
Many people don't know what today is.
Today is World Down syndrome day!
Today we celebrate you and the people blessed enough to be born with an extra chromosome.

3.21
It is also YOUR Gotcha day anniversary. One year ago I typed that you were no longer an orphan, that you ran around the apartment, that I talked to you on skype for the first time.
How can that have been a whole YEAR ago? It doesnt feel like it was.
A whole year has gone by, A WHOLE YEAR!

A year in a family, has changed your life, yes. But my life more so. I know, I say it all the time, that you have made me an all around better person, that you have shown me how to really love and care about people no matter what. Vo-Shko, I love you.
You are one of the best little brothers in the world! Vahnya, how can I even begin to tell you how much you have opened my heart and my mind. Through you I have learned about the lives orphans with special needs have around the world. That they, well most of them, suffer each day, with out the love of a family. The life you no longer have. You have a family, V. I hope many angels can have their "Gotcha days" that they too can have a family!
My brother, I love you to the moon and around the world 50million times. 
Love sissy, Manda!

                                                                 Last year 3.21.11

This year 3.16.12

Your First "Sissy"

Today was an incredible, joyous day!
V, your sissy "Constance" met her family today!
You two grew up together for 3 years and 4 months. She too has DS.
Mommy and daddy met her on their first trip to visit you.
How about everyone read the words of her mom(dad?) and their first meeting of her.
http://thegatherednest.blogspot.com/2011/12/day-4-meeting-constance.html
When I read these words, and saw these pictures, my heart skipped a beat and i wanted to cry tears of joy!
GOD IS SOOO GOOD!

Words Can't Measure Up.

Earlier, before I dressed you into your jammies, the fuzzy navy ones with the feet, I was holding you, we were standing over Madi's shoulders as she was on facebook. You were being so snuggley, so cute, so lovey. Then, I flashed back to when mommy and daddy were in country last November, how my arms ached to hold that cute little boy in all the pictures I saw. To when I could only tell the walls of the house, and our siblings how much I love you. Now I can scoop you up any time of the day, (when you allow me to) kiss you on your cheeks, or cute little lips, and tell you how much my heart adores you, how much my life has been made better by you, how much my aching arms no longer ache, how much I never ever want to let you go, how much you have always been loved, how perfectly God made you, how many hearts your cute little eyes have grabbed a hold.
Buds, you are an amazing, gift from God, I wouldn't change you for the world, but if I could I would change the world for you. Babes. You make the sunshine even on the darkest days.

You are perfect in every sense of the word, your sparkly brown almond shape eyes, your cute little nose, your fiery red hair, your smiley little mouth, your chubby little fingers, your cute perfectly spaced toes, your voice when you ask for milk. The way you dance when you hear music, and sing along to songs you know.  The hugs that melt my heart, the giggle that is so contagious.

V, you are the most perfect, special, little boy in all the world. And guess what, Vahny, I'm glad--no beyond glad--I'm THRILLED that you are MY brother.

And though these words are to describe the love I have for you, babes, they don't even measure up to the love I have for you. Never.

"I'll do anything
For you dear anything
For you mean everything to me."

I Love you to Timbuktu and back.
Love Sissy Manda!

Thanksgiving

Hey there V, sorry i haven't written to you lately. It's been really hectic, i mean with thanksgiving, school, and more school(which is where I am right now).
Your first thanksgiving was amazing!  You absolutely LOVED all of the food!
It was a fun thanksgiving!
You are definitely Josh's baby brother, you love love love pumpkin pie! :D
When grandma was getting the pies ready for serving you came over to the table(eye height for you) and stuck your little fingers into the pie! Hehe grandma got a picture! :)

This Thanksgiving I am truly thankful for you and the rest of our huge family! I don't know who I'd be today with out mommy or daddy or any of our siblings! I simply can't see myself without Madison, Kenzy, MaeMae, Josh, Jordan, or you Vahny, i just can't! I try to imagine not having any siblings, what I'd get to do, travel, be by myself, go places with mommy and daddy, just me and no one else. Some of those things seem amazing to get the chance to do, but in all truths, I'd really rather be sitting at home watching a movie with all of you guys. My lord has truly blessed me with my family. I am so thankful for you guys. Mommy and Daddy are my heroes, in all aspects of life, going on a loong journey to get you, taking care of all 7 of us, managing bills, making dinner, providing a home, going to work, working two jobs, driving us places we need to go, and on top of all that showing us where we need to be with God. showing us that true love really does exist. OH HOW I LOVE MY PARENTS!

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for our family, and God's never-ending love being poured down on us daily!


(I'll post pictures later)

Christmas is just around the corner!

Love you to the top of the Eiffel Tower back down and up 1,000,000 times!
Sissy Manda!

Your Birthday

Today is the day God blessed this earth with you.
Buddy Today for you means freedom
It means life and love
It means a future that no one can think of!
A future so GREAT so amazingly planned.
By the one we call God
And right in his hand
Is where he holds us, bud, so dearly loved.

Vahnya, if you were still hidden in a baby home, if you weren't given a chance, bud.
You'd be a lost face of this earth, no one would know, you'd be a number.
You'd be hidden bud, in a mental institution. You wouldn't know love.
You wouldn't be here for me to hug.
V, it breaks my heart to think that this would have been your fate
If we would have not found you
Or if we were too late.
Tied to a crib, never to be loved, or hugged or even just looked at.

But instead, you get a party, a time to be loved, and celebrated.
A time of happiness, of joy, and glee!
A time to recognize that honey,
YOU'RE FREE
You DO have a future!
You WONT be ignored!

Buddy people love you.
Its beyond true!
You're the cutest
Youre the best!
I love you until the very last day!
Bud, I'll never go away!
Happy birthday to you, V, remember the love, the freedom, the celebration, and future you have!
Never forget what God gave to us!

Happy fourth Birthday!
I love you to death!

I love you to the moon and back a million times!

Love your sissy Manda!

Your FIRST Halloween!

Well Punkin, yesterday was Halloween.

I was going to post a bundle of super cute pictures from last night, but blogger is again being mean and wont let me. :/
That will be a post all its own I guess! :)

You were the cutest PUMPKIN ever! :)
You got sooooo much candy!
You thought it was the best thing ever!
Free CANDY who doesnt think thats awesome!