yoongz

September 24, 2012

Have a Sibling with Down Syndrome…

reecesrainbowHeather-3 — This is a recent photo – a bit over a month ago… isn’t she such a cutie? She needs her family to come for her today…

Have you read my “imagining” for my lovely Heather? In June, i wrote a blog post for the Reece’s Rainbow Prayer Warrior’s blog, please read it before going on in today’s post.

As you can tell from that previous post, i really imagine Heather having a most fantastic time with a sibling; a sibling who will love her, care for her and look out for her best interests. A brother or sister who would encourage her and be her cheerleader.

But what i did not cover in that post is how Heather might impact or change the life of that sibling. In the video below, Ashley, who has a sister with Down Syndrome and whose family will be adopting a special needs child, covers that wonderfully.

Before you watch the video Ashley made, i want you to hold a few phrases in your head while you watch the video. Notice when and about whom these words describe.

unconditional love
not a burden
so much joy
such a blessing

Got the phrases? OK, now watch the video.

My thoughts on having a sibling with Down syndrome…. – YouTube.

i remember meeting a little girl with Down Syndrome myself, when i was a little girl. She was the niece of my Uncle’s wife. i only met her a couple of times but what i do remember is her smile and her readiness to accept people for who they are, just as they are. i have the picture in my mind of her so gently stroking my face.

What Ashley says of her sister is what my lovely Heather will bring to the family who adopts her. She will show that unconditional love. She will not be a burden but a joy and a blessing.

Maybe as you consider whether or not you could be Heather‘s family, you also worry about the children already in your family.

In the video, at about the 7.5 minute mark, Ashley answers the question whether or not she will find it a burden to take care of her sibling for the rest of her life, should the need arises.

This is what she says: “I would not want her to go to anyone else but me.”

Sure there was fear and uncertainty at the beginning of her relationship with her special needs sibling. Which relationship was not filled with doubts at the very start? But with time, that all went away, and what replaced it was love, true sisterly love.

A love i pray and hope with all my heart that my dear little Heather will get to experience.

My lovely Heather is perfectly healthy except for that extra chromosome which gives her that extra portion of sweetness. She needs a family. She should not be growing up in an institution or orphanage. She should be hugged and held by a loving mother and a caring father. She should be playing with siblings who love her to bits.

Are you her family? If there is a tugging at your heart, please don’t ignore it. Contact Reece’s Rainbow to find out more about Heather and about adopting her.

This month, September, is my lovely Heather‘s birthday month. She is 11. This is my 4th post for her special month. i pray and hope that these posts have made an impact; that you now know my little Heather and care for her.

Do continue to pray for Heather‘s daily needs and most of all, pray for her forever family to find her.

Do also donate to Heather‘s adoption grant. A bigger grant would hopefully get her more notice and bring her closer to finding a family. Click on her name or picture to get to her profile page where there is a Donate button. If you do make a donation, please leave a comment below so i can get in touch and send you a thank-you gift.

i leave you with Ashley’s words about her sister who has Down Syndrome : “She is my sunshine on a cloudy day.”

syc

September 21, 2012September 21, 2012

G D A E… 5, 6, 7, 8…

G D A E… those are the strings on the violin. 5, 6, 7, 8 is what you hear before you start hopping to Latin music in an exercise class 😉

And why am i talking about these things? Well, because i (yes me – the mummy, the well-over-the-beginner-age for musical instruments gal, the so-long-never-exercise woman) have started both violin classes and Zumba classes 😉

i have always been interested in music and playing a musical instrument. i did have piano lessons when i was about 12 years old. But it didn’t work out because i was a very impatient little girl and would not practice if i did not get the piece right the first couple of times. In the end, my piano teacher didn’t want to teach me and my mum sold my piano. i am still sad about it.

But now i have another chance at learning an instrument! Since Tobias had chosen the violin, i had been thinking about learning it too. Then i found out 2 of my friends have also embarked on their own musical learning journey; and interestingly, they are both also learning the violin.

So i plucked up the courage and asked Tobias’ teacher if it was too late for me to learn and how much are his private lessons. He was so very kind and encouraging. He said it’s never too late and that for now, till i am certain i really like the instrument and want to learn more, i can share the lesson time with Tobias at no further costs!

Excited, off i went to rent my instrument! Here it is, right next to Tobias’ half-size:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Tobias is playing a 2009 China handmade violin, i’m playing a 1920s Sachsen (by German violin maker, E. Martin Sachsen)

Tobias has been doing very well at his violin lessons, his teacher is very pleased with the progress he and i are making 😀

Now to Zumba…

i have been wanting to do a Zumba class for more than a year now. But the class timings and costs were what were keeping me back. Now i finally found a fitness studio, in the next village, which had a class which fitted into my schedule and was at a reasonable price. And i went for the trial class and liked it. The instructor is a latin woman, small-sized but oh such a bundle of energy, so very fit and fun!

Zumba really is quite a workout. It took me a while to get the basic steps and even after 3 classes, i’m still missing steps. There is such a lot of choreography to learn. But she does do the same few pieces each week so it is possible to learn it, just a matter of time. This week however, she introduced 3 new pieces… so… despite that, i do enjoy the class and do look forward to it.

Plus point, they even provide childcare for the particular class time i had chosen. So this means i can also go during the school holidays 😉

i don’t have photos of the studio… i was there to exercise so i didn’t bring my camera. But on the walk home (sometimes i take the bus, sometimes i walk) there is a nice view. So enjoy!

Camera 360 — Pardon the quality. It was 2 images taken on my smart phone and pasted together in a free graphics program. But i hope you get an idea of the view i’m talking about.

syc

September 18, 2012

Through No Fault of Her Own…

Kate-26-226x300 — This sweet 11-year-old is waiting for her forever family.

Meet Kate.

Isn’t that smile simply radiant? That smile simply lights up the room. That smile hides the fact that Kate is an orphan, an orphan who is HIV+. Otherwise she is an 11 year-old who is simply waiting for a family to come and call her their own.

Being HIV+ is through no fault of her own. It was likely passed onto her during her birth by her mother. HIV could also be the cause of her being orphaned. We don’t know. But what we do know is that she needs a family to love her and help her navigate life.

Without a family coming forward for her, she would be turned out onto the streets when she turns 16; in less than 5 years’ time. At 16, with a tiny bit of money given to her by the orphanage and likely just the clothes on her back, no skills or proper education, i can not imagine how she would find a job, a place to live and live a decent life.

Her profile says that she is sociable and interacts easily. She would make a great addition to any family. And her medical condition is so very manageable.

Please pray for her, for her daily needs, for her forever family to find her.

If you are considering adoption, maybe she is the one for your family? Do contact Reece’s Rainbow for more information.

Her adoption grant is also not very big. The estimated costs of adopting from her region is US$35,000. The bigger her grant, the faster her forever family can reach her. Please click on her name or picture to go to her profile page for more information and to donate.

Thank you for caring.

syc