21 Images to Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
1w ago
World Down Syndrome Day (#WDSD21) is Thursday, March 21.  It is a day recognized by the UN, countries, and organizations around the world where we celebrate the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. We also try to raise awareness and educate others about individuals with Down syndrome. It is March 21 every year.  March, the third month, symbolizes the three copies of the 21st chromosome and the 21st day represents that 21st chromosome. This is scientifically what causes Down syndrome. A person or their parents do nothing to cause them to have Down syndrome. The creation of the tri ..read more
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Happy 24th Birthday Rachel!
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
10M ago
Dear Rachel, How are you 24? Wasn’t it only yesterday that you announced your arrival with a loud scream and those precious little hands in the air? Those blue eyes had me from the start. For many years, one of our birthday traditions for you was to gift you a kind of classic book or one that we were especially fond of, with letters from your dad and me. I don’t know where I learned about that tradition, but you still have those books from birthday number one through your 16th birthday. Of course, the messages were slightly different each year. However, there were a few common themes. Somewher ..read more
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Auditions: Paralyzed by Fear
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
1y ago
I’m reviving an old blog, Auditions: Paralyzed by Fear. Originally written in 2011, I talk about how Rachel became involved in theatre and her first audition paved the way for me to overcome my own fears. During National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I thought this might provide a different kind of encouragement for other families who are navigating this journey. Actually, I think the life lesson is applicable to a lot of journeys. Auditions: Paralyzed by Fear I remember Rachel’s first audition like it was yesterday. She was 6 ½ years old and in kindergarten. We lived in the Memphis suburb of ..read more
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23 Years Ago – No Ordinary Day
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
2y ago
Yesterday was World Cancer Day.  My husband Jonathan is almost 23 years cancer free. He had a colorectal tumor removed 23 years ago yesterday. We are blessed. Twenty-three years ago today, our world changed forever when we learned our unborn daughter had Down syndrome.  There is an old song based on the words of Psalmist that says “Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning. Weeping only lasts for a time.”  Very true as evidenced in the story below. Rachel , two months. Glimpse of God’s Grace Originally published in the Faith Writers section of the Kansas City Star, February 201 ..read more
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Rachel’s Real Thoughts on Adult Life
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
2y ago
A few weeks back I wrote a blog about my real feelings and thoughts about adult life. Almost 1,000 hits in two days. That’s a big number for me. I also had a plethora of Facebook comments, and many of you reached out to me directly to say thank you. To say, “we understand.” Like I said, that was how I was feeling on that day. Today is a new day. Many of you wanted to know Rachel’s thoughts on adult life and her job. While I did clarify some of her answers to make them easier to understand, these are her thoughts and responses. With her permission, here we go. What do you think about adult life ..read more
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My Real Thoughts On Adult Life
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
2y ago
This blog has been hard for me to write. Almost didn’t write it. Emotional. But here we go. Rachel just got a job at a local grocery store chain. She is a courtesy clerk which is just a fancy name for grocery bagger. Overall, it suits her well. She gets to meet a lot of people. She doesn’t get bored. She enjoys it. She seems to be doing well and has a big, bright smile. She worked at Olive Garden for three years as a hostess. She loved that job. She misses it, but we, and we does include Rachel, have always had a goal of full-time employment with benefits. We may or may not get there, but it i ..read more
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Celebrating Rachel – Number 22
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
3y ago
Today, Rachel turns 22. The week of her birthday, I usually find myself reflecting a lot on years gone by. We have had some standout birthday bashes to celebrate this girl. From ladybug, Veggie Tales, Elmo, Hannah Montana, Build-a-Bear, Pump-it-Up, Lizzie McGuire themed parties, to New York City for Wicked, Mary Poppins, and the Lion King, to Disney Cruises, Theatre in the Park, Chicago for Hamilton, Alamo Drafthouse for Wonder Woman, and one or two dance parties, we have celebrated. Though hard to pick a personal favorite, my vote goes to the Disney Cruise. Disney Cruise 13th Birthday – Worth ..read more
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Plans Change: Keep Swimming
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
3y ago
Rachel graduated from Project SEARCH* Friday night.  It was a lovely celebration. She was very proud. The other graduates, all of the employees, and family members were proud. We were and are super proud of Rachel.  Still, this wasn’t Rachel’s plan. Because of our work in the Down syndrome community, my blog, and our willingness to put a lot about ourselves out there (we hope to help others), people usually start asking me about Rachel’s next transition months before it happens.  When Rachel was approaching high school graduation, everyone was asking because that’s kind of a co ..read more
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Celebrating Ten Years of TheSassySouthernGal – My First Blog
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
3y ago
Ten years ago yesterday, I launched my blog with this piece, “Great Women of My Life.” Here’s to celebrating Mother’s Day and ten years of TheSassySouthernGal.  May 8, 2011 Jonathan has been wanting me to do a blog for several years. Most importantly, I chose a name for my blog. SassySouthernGal. Seems quite appropriate. Don’t know where this will go, but I did think that Mother’s Day is the perfect day to enter into the world of bloggers.I could blog every day for awhile on the great women I have known – the great women of my life.  However, I’m going to pay tribute t ..read more
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Down Syndrome Awareness is Great, But
TheSassySouthernGal
by sassysoutherngal
3y ago
Sunday, March 21 was World Down Syndrome Day 2021. Through the years, the Down syndrome community has done all kinds of things to raise awareness of Down syndrome. You see beautiful pictures of people, often babies and children, with Down syndrome. People share them. People love these pictures of our loved ones with Down syndrome who are always so “sweet and cute.” You see all types of fundraisers. You see crazy socks and mismatched socks (that one always makes me scratch my head.) There are all kinds of walks and runs and dress up, dress down, Derby days, Get Down for Down Syndrome events, an ..read more
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