Research - Targeted Intervention in Children with Down Syndrome

If you follow this blog and have read my free e-book, Homeschooling Children with Down Syndrome you know I am passionate about sharing what I've learned about how children with Down syndrome learn.  Much of my research has led me to believe that targeted intervention is the key to learning success in children with Down syndrome.  New evidence in coming out in support of the research of many:

Landmark research study shows targeted intervention improves the reading and language skills of children with Down syndrome

If you are interested in following the research into how we can improve the lives of those with Down syndrome, you can find the RSS feed from Down Syndrome Education International on their website.  You can also follow them on twitter and facebook

I think soon I'll make public the summary of what I have learned about education and Down syndrome.  It is much more comprehensive than my e-book!

Righting Wrongs - Healing from Adversity

In my last post, Loving My Life, I shared briefly much of the adversity I have faced and how a grateful heart turns sadness into contentment - even joy!  As I ponder the path I've taken, the person I've become and the life I'm blessed with, I look at the lessons I've learned along the way.

The greatest lesson I've learned is to look for the lesson!  There is always something to learn from our circumstances and work to make something good come out of adversity.  This introspective self (me) ponders circumstances naturally.  I was born that way and can't seem to shake it.

Yes, I had a difficult childhood.  My children only know safety, stability, love and affection. My childhood made me determined not to repeat history.  A wrong righted!

In my experience, righting wrongs brings healing. To remain a victim of circumstances may possibly perpetuate the cycle of abuse and contribute to depression.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not a perfect parent.  I get tired, distracted, cranky.  I even raise my voice on occasion - mostly because of my own state of mind.  But my intention and focus is on not repeating the mistakes of my parents, and their parents, and their parents...

My parents had multiple affairs during my childhood and young adult stages. The ripples of pain flowing out of adultery affected me deeply.  I've made my marriage a priority.  I vowed early on to making my home a home where faithfulness is true and love and peace reign.  A place that is to be an escape from the madness that the rest of the world has become.  I know the sweetness of a good marriage, to a good man who shares my love for the Lord.  I find that an amazing gift - for our whole family. 


We don't live perfect lives.  I and aware of and understand much of my brokenness in the little things and the big things.   We are called to live and serve in a broken world.  It is impossible to serve effectively unless we understand our own brokenness.  Otherwise, we place ourselves above the broken and are unable to truly serve.

I've known devastation in the death of my children - but therein lies my strength.  What God put together in me as a new creation, reborn from devastation, was woven in Him and by Him.  I am, not by my own strength, but by His.  I faced the worst with Him and have been healed through Him.  God is good.  All that flows from Him is good and because of that I know a miracle!

I am the miracle.

My husband, children on earth and my children in heaven would want me to be healed and whole - and to tell the story of God's love for them and our family.  Perhaps I didn't get my prayers answered as Michelle was dying or for the wee one I only knew in the love and anticipation of another child growing in my womb but God loved us through all the joyful as well as the pain, sadness and healing.

I am a better mother, wife and friend because of adversity.

God is not the cause of pain and suffering.  A sinful, fallen world is the cause of all pain and suffering.     Our God, The Great Physician, is the source of healing.

I am assured of His continuous presence and know that He loves me in my angst and in my contented state.  An ever faithful God who loves unconditionally, heals without hesitation and bestows grace and mercy to all.  He calls us beyond our circumstances tell His story.  Love, healing and miracles require a response beyond gratitude.  I would love to hear your story!

Loving My Life

I have been wearing my I love my life* t-shirt quite often these days.  It brings me great joy to display my contentment with life.  People will often smile at me comment on my shirt as if they understand.  I often wonder about their stories but usually the opportunity doesn't present itself to take the time to converse.  

I've often pondered how I would  describe the breadth and depth of that which makes up this time and place in my life so wondrous and beautiful.  If it were a tapestry, it would be woven with rich colors giving it a dimension that I think few know.  Some will not have the life experiences I know or  perhaps they feel burdened by what life has placed before them.

I understand that place too.  I've been there.

I knew a childhood filled with periods of poverty, dysfunction, abuse and pain.  I was never to know what childhood is.

I've plumbed the depths of  grief after the devastating loss of my firstborn.  A subsequent miscarriage took me back to that all too familiar place.

I understand the uncertainty of serious personal illness.

I know parenting of two children with profound disabilities.  I know their struggles.  I know their pain.

I could be a vastly different person from what I am today.  I could feel bitter and burdened by what life has put before me.  I know so many who choose that path when faced with their own personal tragedies.

Yes, choose.

I could have passively wallowed in pain and bitterness but I chose not to remain there at any stage of my life.  Sure there were times when I was too weary to move forward.  At times, I held on tightly to my pain because by letting go of it  felt like the love I'd known would vanish forever.

Instead, I choose to be grateful for what I've known and know today.

I'm grateful for the little things like my cat gently waking me in the morning with her sandpaper tongue for no other reason than she desires my company.  I'm grateful for the wagging tail of my pup that greets me in my half slumberous state when I exit my bedroom in the morning.

I'm grateful for the big things that I know in a loving husband and the sweetness of motherhood in my living children.

I'm grateful for the brief time I had with my children who now dance with angels in heaven.

I am grateful for the presence of the young lady with Down syndrome in my life and all the lessons in life that  I've learned from her and through her. 

I'm grateful for the daughter that has reached young adulthood, is successful in college who is wise beyond her years.

I'm grateful for the opportunity and blessings that come with our homeschooling lifestyle.  That lifestyle has grown us and taught us all so many valuable lessons on loving each other and learning together.

I thank God all day long for His work in me and around me.

I'm even grateful for days when the temperature reaches 104 degrees outside.

Through all my trials, I've known the love of my heavenly Father.  I've felt the embrace of my loving Savior.  The gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit in my heart calling me to new wondrous places where love resides and hope never dies.  I feel a little closer to heaven every day.

A tapestry will never do as a representation of the breadth and depth of the beauty in my life.  Words will never fully describe what a grateful heart will know in the beauty that comes with embracing what comes, living in my Father's will and letting the Holy Spirit be my guide.  I can only hope my soul will be pleasing to God when I am called home.

I do so love my life.

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*If you don't know the story of Julie and Derrick Tennant, please visit them at The Love Chromosome.  You will be inspired by their story and perhaps you will get your own t-shirt!

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