N is for New Friends--Blog Hopping tonight for Ds awareness 31 for 21: Day 21

So I am getting started a little late tonight on the blog hop, and this would be par for the course as I can't seem to get any post out at a reasonable time of the evening.  My sweet friend Erin, over @ Crazy Beautiful Love, had a great idea at the beginning of the month to host a blog hop.  We are IRL friends and her Eslea bug is the most beautiful girl ever!  Those blue eyes are piercing and she always lets me hold her so willingly, and she always gives me the greatest smile when I whip out my camera and point it at her!  (momma bug Erin has taught her well!)  Anyway, Erin, this is a really neat idea to have others come and visit our blogs and spread the Down syndrome love!  Thanks so much!  There is still time to join in.  If you get to this too late, you can still click on all the links to the right  and visit those who did participate.  I love reading about everyone's life and the things that make their lives so special.  Happy Blog Hopping Everyone!!! Can't wait to meet you guys!


Edited to add @ midnight:  I only made it through 10 blogs tonight.  I will finish visiting everyone through the weekend.  I love reading everyone's story!

G is for Goodbye---We will miss you Emily, Todge and Renee! 31 for 21 Day 12

Tonight I said goodbye to the Smith’s.  Emily, Todge and baby Renee are moving to Nebraska, courtesy of the United States Air Force.  The Air Force has two very fine members in the Smiths and we know that duty calls.  I don’t know that our paths would have crossed had it not been for our sweet girls sharing a common bond, but I am oh so glad it did!

Emily—what a doll baby! Oh so pretty!

Renee was born a little over a year ago and we first met at a play date that our fellow friend Polly set up so that we could meet Emily and Renee and offer them our support and friendship.  (Todge was on TDY—Temporary Duty, which in civilian speak means that he was gone away on an Air Force assignment, which can last anywhere from a  week  or  6 months.)  To be part of the military is to be in something as special as this support group I am in with my fellow moms and dads.  Growing up in the military I remember (and still to this day have childhood friendships that I keep up with) the pain of leaving a set of friends only to find joy in the next set I would meet.  Make no mistake about it, our military families make enormous sacrifices to protect our freedom and for that I am extremely grateful. 

The Smith’s

Emily is one of our founding moms in helping to get our support group off of the ground.  Anything we have asked of her, she has done it willingly and with enthusiasm.  She has become a fierce advocate for her daughter and has been the liaison between the Air Force and our community as we have pushed forward to get the group growing.  I am so sad to see her go, but I know that this isn’t really goodbye…its so long for now.  We won’t get to watch her daughter Renee grow in person, but we will via the internet.  As I told her tonight, we are only one Facebook status away from each other! 

Emily, Todge and Renee, goodbye and good luck.  I wish you all the best in your new home.  Your old home will miss you, but we won’t forget you.  Thank you again for everything.  I look forward to seeing you blossom in your new support group, but will always cherish the fact that we had you first.  Renee is blessed to have you two as her parents as you are to have her in your lives.  She couldn’t ask for better advocates and parents.  Your journey began with us, but your story is still left to be told and one day 20 years from now we will look back and say, Remember when…….