Dearest Hailee and Harper,
For most of my life I felt kind of awkward around people with disabilities. I never really knew what to say to them. I fumbled for my words. I avoided them in the shopping centers. I looked the other way. Sad, but true. I was a dork! Totally clueless.
Until you came along.
I never knew what a blessing Down syndrome is. It was always something I was afraid of in my pregnancies. I breathed a sigh of relief when the test came back “negative”. I just had no idea.
Until you came along.
I never knew the absolute JOY that the beautiful extra chromosome could bring to a family. Joy unspeakable, really. And unconditional love? Well, I didn’t fully grasp that either.
Until you came along.
I used to rush around and do a million things a minute, never really stopping to savor the moments. I lived my life in fast forward-forgetting to live for the day, for the moment.
Until you came along.
I forgot to cherish each and every milestone-and etch them in my memory forever. I didn’t pay much attention to the milestones our children reached. On most days I forgot to praise even the smallest victories they achieved.
Until you came along.
I worried about tomorrow, fretted about the future, and gave way too much attention to the things that really don’t matter. I got caught up in the mundane, trivial stuff time and time again.
Until you came along.
I thought I understood that each and every person was fearfully and wonderfully made just the way they were. But I didn’t really get it.
Until you came along.
My ears had never heard the judgments, the snarly remarks, seen the horrible prejudice, the mockery, the snickering, and the evil that is so often targeted at people who have special needs. I was oblivious to it all in my own little world.
Until you came along.
I never in a million years ever thought that I had the ability to parent a child who struggles in this life. I always prayed that God would give the job to someone else. Anyone but me God, thank you very much.
Until you came along.
I felt bad for families who had one of those kids…..
UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG!!!
And while I still have a very long way to go in getting things right most of the time, and I am one of God’s biggest works in progress……
Because of you, I am changing.
Because of you, I am becoming a better mom.
Because of you, I am learning to linger in the moments like never before.
Because of you, I seek out those who have “special needs” just to tell them how amazing I think they are.
Because of you, I am more patient, more understanding.
Because of you, my relationship with God is richer, deeper, more intimate.
Because of you, I see ALL children as valuable and priceless.
Because of you, I am learning to love unconditionally…just as you do.
Because of you, my life will never, ever, never, ever be the same again….it will be better!
Because of you, I am blessed beyond description.
Until you came along I had no idea how absolutely wonderfully and exquisitely created the glorious 47th chromosome truly is.
Our God never makes mistakes.
I know that now. With all my heart I know it to be truth.
This week we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with many, many other families who have been exceedingly blessed with priceless treasure such as you, our sweet daughters.
You are a GIFT to us.
In more ways than we ever imagined possible.
God knew that we needed you!
That was so very, very beautiful. Your children are very, very beautiful! Thank you for sharing, it really touched my heart.
Blessings!
Awww, you make me cry.
It’s an amazing thing when our children become our greatest teachers & inspirations.
And, can I just say that I want to reach through the computer & smoochie the cheeks on those punkins!? :o)
Beautiful.
Simply beautiful-your words and your girls.
Thank you for sharing them with us.
Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful….. I am so glad that they have such a wonderful mom.
absolutely beautiful!
So beautifully and perfectly said Adeye! Hugs to you, Hailee & Harper
Beautiful post Adeye - celebrating with you - love those girls :).
Such a beautiful post!! I really loved it.
I know so very little about DS. I am really clueless. I love reading your blog because it truly opens my eyes to a bit of the world that I know nothing about. Your daughters are beautiful - so fearfully and wonderfully made!
I saw a sweet little girl with DS, probably about 3 years old, at a Mardi Gras parade this month. Her mother was showing her all the dogs that people had brought to the parade, and this little girl was elated. What I noticed for the very first time, was how people would look at her precious little face, realize she had DS, and just walk away! It was crazy. Seriously. I thought of you and your family, and how great it is that you share and gently educate others about the true blessings of a child with DS.
Thank you!
All the best,
Nicole A., now in LA
This is absolutely beautiful. It brings so much joy to my heart! I am so grateful for families like yours that choose to adopt and find the blessing in it all. It’s amazing. 1 Kings 9:3
VERY WELL SAID!!! My thoughts to a T!
I know it isn’t the point of your post (your point was very good) but I just cannot get over Hailee RECLINING in the grass!!! Less than a year ago everything overwhelmed her and she had hardly ever been outside or felt grass. What a difference. They are so beautiful.
Amazingly beautiful, Adeye!
Your girls (make that your whole family) have taught so many of your readers so much about DS. What a blessing they truly are!
~Kelly
Hailee and Harper are beautiful and yes, they are most certainly a precious gift. Your thoughts so closely echo my own feelings for my son Charlie…there were so many things I didn’t know, understand or feel until he came along. Our children are such a blessing!
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above…
This is beautiful Adeye, your precious jewels are simply gorgeous and they’re getting so big!!
They truly are a blessing.
Adeye …
I want you to know that because of YOU, I have absolutely no fear about my baby having down syndrome. (I’m at a really high risk, because I am 49 and pregnant.) Seriously … no fear … because of you and your 2 precious darlings.
Thank YOU, for being an inspiration to so many of us.
Hope your week is BLESSED!
Laurel
I love the photos of the girls, but oh my Hailee is filling out in these photos. I agree my designer girl has forever changed my world. They are perfect just the way God intended!!!
Beautiful! I am blessed to have found your blog and be so encouraged by what you write. You are an amazing lady that the Lord is mightily using. Your children are all wonderfully made by our God. He is SO good!
Oh my GOODNESS, that one picture of Hailee where she’s leaning on one hand and has her knee up to her chest makes her look SO grown up! In all her pictures I see that adorable “toddlerness” (even though I know she isn’t!) but in this one she looks like such a serene lady!!! SUCH sweet pictures, as always.
Thank you for writing this. I am very touched. Yes, God NEVER makes mistakes…never! Have a blessed day with your precious children!
What a lovely tribute to your precious blonde girlies. And what conviction to this mommy who also does not cherish the little moments with my little ones nearly enough. Thank you!
I love your pictures, by the way. You make me want to capture those kinds of moments with my children, especially since Hailee and Harper remind me so much of my 16-month-old little girl in their expressions, the way they hold their bodies, etc.
Again, thank you.
Nichole
A very good post. We are adopting Brian (23) I know he will be a far greater blessing to us than we could ever hope to be to him. Thank you for the encouragement…we have family members who just do not understand, We feel that when he is finally home and they get a chance to be around our sweet little boy, then we pray they might understand. We praise God for calling us to be Brian’s parents and look forward to what God has planned for our family with a new son. Right now we are just praying that God will provide the rest of the funds we need to get him
What a beautiful tribute to some beautiful girls! So right you are when you say that one of the things missing in life - and that true innocents show us every day - is that we care too much about ‘what’s going on’ - and not enough about ‘who’s going on’!
thanks for ‘getting it’ - you and your family help bring beauty to the world!
hugs - aus and co.
absolutely beautiful post adeye!
until HE came along in my life - i didn’t know the meaning of love.
then when I said yes to HIM and opened my heart to His plan - I never saw anything the same!
what an amazing God we serve and are loved by! what perfect and precious gifts from above our children are - wonderfully and fearfully made.
i think it is time to take the I AM BEAUTIFUL photos of the girls??? and you my friend!
LOVE YOU!!!!!!
xoxox
Precious! You and your family and the posts your share are so special! These girls are so cute and I can see how they are growing with the love of you all. Thanks for posting.
LOVE it! Love those girls! Precious!!!
thank you for always sharing them with us so beautifully!!
A
Beautiful!
You are an inspiration to me each and every day.
A very beautiful and heart-felt blog post. I just love how little Harper has the cell phone!
Exactly how I feel, I just can’t write half as well as you. Today I celebrate my precious daughter’s first birthday. A year that has been filled with therapies, heart surgery, Buddy walks, we consider it all a blessing. She has taught me, loved me, and brought me closer to God. What an awesome blessing she is to us. Thank you for sharing exactly how I feel. And how big Hailee is getting!!
Love, love, love.
Thank you, Jesus!
Love, love, love.
Thank you, Jesus!
Beautiful pictures, beautiful words, beautiful babies!
Love,
Shauna
You have so beautifully put into words my life…not as a mom, but as a teacher. People ask me all the time how I do what I do as a special education teacher, and your words say it perfectly! Thank you for sharing
I am so glad that you have this blessing in your life.
You have so beautifully put into words my life…not as a mom, but as a teacher. People ask me all the time how I do what I do as a special education teacher, and your words say it perfectly! Thank you for sharing
I am so glad that you have this blessing in your life.
Beautiful post! I’m 14 and I love special kids!!! (I have a slight advantage; my mom was an OT.) Their innocence, their beauty, their girlishness; it looks like you’ll have an expert texter on your hands as soon as Harpy gets a cell phone!
How lovely! Your little ones are blessings to your family and to the rest of the world. (-: Thanks for sharing Adeye!
Beautiful! It looks like Miss Hailee is getting a bit of chub on her now. She is looking very healthy. They are both so cute!
Thanks for being an inspiration…i read often and appreciate your insights…
Truly beautiful post featuring two gorgeous girls. After reading your post about Hannah-Claire’s adoption, I am curious: how did you decide upon Hailee and Harper’s names?
Oh what precious pictures. What precious little girls!!!
I love it!!Hailee is really filling out!!! HOW wonderful…..When I was pregnant with my 3rd child, we had the “test”. It came back positive..and we were devistated…although she was not down’s. After reading this….how bad I feel for being sad it could have been that way. I love your blog and admire you SOOOOOO much! Hoping to adopt my first child one day! I have 4 biological children , but I have always always wanted to adopt, too!!! You are an inspiration. I am posting anonymous because I could not get the others to work for me!!! Jennifer
I don’t even know what to say Adeye. Beautiful. God’s ways…..just amazing! How He can take the things we used to fear and maybe even frown upon and use it as a source of JOY and LOVE and smiles unending.
Truly- there is No ONE like OUR GOD!
Thank you God for your indescribable gifts.
BEATUTIFULLY WRITTEN!!!!
Beautiful!! As a mother of 2 adopted chidren, one with a special need, you story has blessed me.
http://www.starnesfamilyonline.blogspot.com
Adeye…that was such a moving post. It is so amazing how God uses our children to teach us things that we could never learn any other way. Not only are your girls teaching you, they are teaching us through your blog.
This is beautiful, Adeye.
Want to go into the photography business with me?
Lisa
Oh my word these girls are priceless beauties.
Beautiful pictures. I don’t consider downs syndrome a blessing but I don’t consider it a curse. It just is. Like freckles or brown hair or blonde hair it is something that God gave. Love your blog.
That was so beautiful and sweet. Thanks for sharing it I really enjoyed it. Your kids are so so beautiful and you are a great mom
Wonderful post. Our beautiful daughter turned 29 last week - 29 wnderful years of joy and love. She has blessed people everywhere we have lived (15). And everythng you said applies to dad’s as well.
Precious words for so many reason :o)!
Goodness that was beautiful. I’ve kind of spent HOURS reading your blog. Learning about each adoption. I love it.
I have my own special needs child. He has autism and I made this wonder myself :). Before finding out he had autism I was VERY interested in adoption. That all went on the back-burner while I dealt with the emotions and all the things that needed to be done for him.
Now that my little Silas has opened my eyes to the beauty of exceptional children, the special needs adoption road sounds fantastic. I’ve fallen in love with a little girl with DS at my church, I’d even take her home any day
Now to just get my husband on board….hmmmmm.
Your children are beautiful and I love your blog!
That’s the most beautiful thing I have ever read, it made me cry!
This is sooooooo beautiful and sooo very, very true! Absolutely loved every bit of it! What an AMAZING God we have Who is TRULY bigger than ANYthing. And He DELIGHTS in revealing truth, mysterious and wonderful to us where we’re ignorant, mistaken, wrong…in such a LOVING way. You just magnified His heart, His glory… wow.
tears are rolling down my cheeks. So true, I did not realise until now. He did design us all. I remember someone telling me my Samuel’s condition (Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome) was not of God. I remember reading a poem about God hand picking us as parents of special needs kids because we had the heart for them. Amen. One questions - are Hailee and Harper twins? xoxo Love Rach
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Been following you since Harper and Hailee’s adoption. I have seen a lot of pics of your girls, but my absolute favorite favorite favorite is the fourth photo down on this post (where Hailee is sitting, kind of leaning back on her hand with her knee up). She looks so relaxed. She looks like such a… KID! Just chillin’. I LOVE IT. Very beautiful. Very different from the frail litte one from just one year ago. Beautiful.