wonder

this girl. 

every day she finds something new. even in 'old' things. 

and she reminds me of how to look at life. 

how to open my eyes and look around in awe of what is right in front of me. she reminds me to have wonder.

Ruby's Cheerleader

Ruby has been doing a soccer program on Friday nights for the last month or so. While she enjoys playing soccer in general, her main love of these Friday night sessions has been spending time with a new friend. Blair is a 5th grader who volunteers at the soccer nights, and she connected with Ruby the first time she met her. Since then, when they are both at soccer, they are inseparable. 

Blair is also a junior cheerleader and has taught Ruby some of her cheers. That quickly moved into Blair's mom arranging for Ruby to participate with Blair's cheer squad at the homecoming game; she even lent us an official uniform!

A little backstory on Blair: her mom works in Special Education, which has obviously had an effect on Blair. She connects with people, and has an amazing heart for and patience with everyone. It has been really neat to watch her with Ruby (and without!) over the last month!

Today was the big day: Ruby was beyond excited when we arrived; she could not take her eyes off of Blair (and it was mutual!). Once the girls were introduced, Blair pulled Ruby on the field to get the game started and then they cheered next to each other on the side lines. 

Blair was so amazing, never taking her eyes off Ruby and trying to explain all of the cheers as they came up. (There were a LOT of cheers!) 

She high-fived and encouraged Ruby at every turn, and never left her sight or let her feel alone. She even carried her back after they all ran down the field for an important play.

Just before half-time, Ruby told Blair she was tired and came to sit with me for the last 1-2 minutes of the half. I'm very impressed she lasted that long given all that she was taking in while she was participating.

We are so grateful for Blair and her mom, and everyone who let Ruby participate. These opportunities are ones that seriously just land in our lap sometimes and I have to believe they are intentionally given to us so that we can own our influence (Ruby's influence!). Maybe now one of the girls on the squad, or someone in the stands that saw Ruby will interact differently when they meet someone who looks a little like her, or maybe they'll even feel comfortable enough to say 'hi'. The world needs more Blairs, but I know that she doesn't exist without first knowing some Rubys.

homework

one would think with all of the extra therapies and work and intentional 'play' that we you do, that the last  thing you would choose with your free time is homework.

but even in an afternoon full of play, you'll find a pocket of time between making food in your kitchen and packing for yet another sleepover to sit down and write or draw. always.

confidence

in some areas you've always had it. in others, you take your risks quietly. last week i watched you slowly work to standing on the stand-up-paddle board when you thought no one was looking. when you straightened your legs, you lifted your fists and quietly said, 'yes!'. then last night you shared the skateboard with your dad for ten minutes before sneaking in a few tries yourself. you weren't quite ready to stand without assistance, but you kept thinking about it. 

keep on, big girl. you've got this.

you

there is rarely a quiet moment when you are around. you are always talking, always asking, always connecting.

you have many bruises. likely because you are always jumping, always dancing, always moving. 

you are so many things to our family. you are light. you are music. you are joy. 

Buddy Walk

This event is one of our family's favorite annual celebrations. We gather with oodles of other Atlanta area families connected with Down syndrome in some way and just enjoy our community. We have always invited some of our 'typical' community to join us as well; two years in a row we had over 100 people representing Team Ruby! The last few years we have done less 'promoting', opting for a smaller gathering that day, in an effort to be able to hang out with the T21 family as well. There has still been much Team Ruby representation though, because you can't deter the love these people have for our girl!

That was so obvious in our team this year: over 1/3 of our Team Ruby participants were part of her teaching team at school. Amazing! These women spent the bulk of their Saturday with us, supporting Ruby because of two things: they are AWESOME and they love Ruby!

The weather was perfect, the setting was green and grassy and ideal for just hanging out, and everything except for our tent blowing away (twice) was perfect. Ruby thoroughly exhausted herself climbing up and down and through the bouncy houses and inflatable slides as much as possible leading up to the 'walk' at the halfway point.

She then obliged us and walked (or rode on shoulders) for the short processional. Her receiving her medal was a highlight for me!

And then she and her best 5th grade friend tackled all of the inflatables again (and again and again).

We shut the place down, finally packing up our tent after most of the official event clean up was complete. We just didn't want it to end! So much love for such a great reminder of the reach of Ruby.