My sweet granddaughter Lilly celebrated her third birthday on Sunday, and the party was at our home. I lost count at 25 people, as they seemed to endlessly stream through our front door...all intent on celebrating with our dear little girl. The party had the makings of an awkward celebration. Hosted at our home, my ex-husband and his wife were invited, as was Lilly's biological dad. Our son is engaged to marry Lilly's mom, and will of course be Lilly's step-dad. He has been her father figure for as long as Lilly can remember.
Exes and aunts, uncles and estranged family members all arrived. We could have posed for a textbook picture featured proudly in Family Dysfunction 101. Yet it all went off without a hitch.
Everyone in attendance was here for one reason, and that was to celebrate our love for Lilly.
For those who don't already know....Lilly has Down Syndrome, and her mom so often hears the term "disability" when referring to her child. As I watched...a proud Nana on the sidelines with my trusty camera...I saw a child who knew unconditional love. I saw a child who so freely shares unconditional love. And I saw joy.
Lilly isn't afraid to clap her hands on a whim to express her elation. She dances to the music even when she only hears a few stanzas. And she wraps her short little arms around blessed recipient's necks and hugs with a warmth and tenderness that one can't help but feel genuinely loved.
Disability? I suppose on some level, yes. Lilly won't learn her ABC's or how to count to 20 as quickly as other children. Who knows? She might not learn that at all. But in the end just how much does that matter? When she knows how to love, how to share hope, admiration, fascination, and unequivocal joy....is she really lacking in all that much?
Disability is most certainly in the eye of the beholder. And Lilly, as well as the rest of us....her family? Not disabled. Blessed!
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Comments: 46
Happy Birthday Lily!!
I'm glad Lilly has such a wonderful extended family.
She is beautiful!
(In the day center I did the payroll for, there was a middle aged man with downs syndrome named John Hart. He always had a smile on his face and said God Bless you to everyone as soon as he saw them. Even people who didn't believe in God could see his love for God. As one counselor put it, if there is a God, John is definately going to Heaven. I think God had a special reason for these children. John's heart was so innocent and pure no one could miss that.)
I have been a sub for many children with Down's syndrome and my daughter's dance center has a lovely girl with Down's Syndrome, who performs at the recital with everybody else. It is amazing what these children can learn.
Featured in the Triple Name Club.
Thanks for posting to Kids and Grandkids.
God bless her and her wonderful family always...
much love and hugs...
Chris is now 20 and one of the sweetest boys you will ever meet. He lives in a group home for Prader Willys. He graduated from a special highschool, participates in the Special Olympics and holds down a small part time job.
Disabled? No...I don't think so. In his life he has accomplished more than some "full mental capacity" people have.
Chris is one of the most loving people you will ever meet. I think he is wonderful!!!
I have always enjoyed the special love of Down Syndrome children. A family that I went to church with in Colorado had adopted two. The girl they adopted had also had a heart defect and her one arm was misformed. They were assured when they were adopting her that they were wasting their time "taking her home to die." They had open heart surgery done on her and she beat the odds and prognosis, and was a darling little girl.
Disability is truly in the eye of the beholder, because we all have our special gifts, and those are limited only by how we choose to apply them.
She is getting so big!! What a beautiful little girl!
Lovely glimpse into your family life. She IS a blessing and she's blessed to have such a caring family.
She is addorable, and you sound like a wonderful grandmother :0)
I am disabled. I walk like Chester on Gunsmoke, but I'm much prettier since I look like Gabby Hayes. Being disabled gives you some advanteges, such as people being polite and helpful in public. There is a common goodness in many Americans. I have learned to adapt. For example, it is rather difficult for me to strum my guitar, but I can pluck the strings with my thumb. I think I'm playing better than before that fateful day.
I look at things quite differently. I used to hate pulling weeds, but now I see this activity as good dexterity practice. The biggest problem for someone disabled is to stop letting people do things for you. I do everything from laundry to washing dishes. I want to be a positive.
I'm an unusual stroke victim because I ended up with muscle trauma and a lot of different areas of pain in my body. Muscle cramps are the worst. The best part of my disability is the empathy it has caused me to feel. I find myself much more open to various opinions. What I miss the most is not being able to run. Second is the loss of my singing voice. Third is, well nevermind.