Joshua

   From the second he was born we knew he had Down Syndrome.  My husband and I had mixed feelings.  How could this happen?  What did we do?  There was a period of mourning for the child we thought we would have.  Many worried tears were shed, we had no idea what to expect.  How would I take care of him, and how would our lives be changed?  Joshua is now four years old almost five!  Looking back through the last years I have enjoyed every moment with Joshua.  He is always so cheerful and very busy. He loves so many people and he loves to go to new places. He plays the guitar, loves music, watches movie, great at gymnastics, will be in an inclusive setting for Kindergarten next year. If only I knew how "normal" and exceptional life would be with him I would not have spent even a moment mourning or shedding a tear, I would have been rejoicing.  If I could say one thing to others that have a child with  Down Syndrome it would be this....
  Don't Worry The Time Away, But Enjoy it with all your Life.

I can't believe he is almost five!

 

Rose Capital of the High Plains?

         I grew up in the Rose Capital of the Nation.  It wasn't until I moved to the high plains that I realized how fortunate it was to live where I grew up.  The first year of our marriage, I saw my husband outside watering the trees we had just planted.  I thought he was just teasing me. We never watered trees and we didn't have to plant them.  They were just always there. Of course it turns out, living on the High Plains, if you want trees you have to water them after you plant them and water, and water, and water and they still might not make it! 
         We lived in a rent house for seven years, when we first moved into the house there was no landscaping, no trees and no rose bushes. By the time we left we had planted 12 trees and many, many flowers, but it was always so hard to keep the trees and flowers watered well so I didn't think rose bushes would work. It was October when we purchased our own home on the plains.  I knew there had to be some plants dormant but my expectations were not set high.  I was so surprised when spring time rolled around at the number of plants, trees and flowers that kept popping up all around the yard.  Then I noticed we had rose bushes....everywhere!  I counted at least 10 rose bushes!  I grew up in the "Rose Capital of the Nation," but at my house it is, "The Rose Capital of the High Plains!"