10 things. Well, 20 really.

Today is the last day of Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

No, I didn't blog about it at all until now. One year, I'd like to. I read some pretty awesome posts by friends all month.

No, I'm still not (technically). But I am going to point you to a couple of awesome posts, that I think you should read. And I'm going to post some stinkin' cute pictures of Micah and Abby next. (I tried to compile some for this post and found that there were so many cute ones, they need their own post. :)) 

These links aren't necessarily to raise awareness about Down Syndrome in and of itself. But in my humble opinion they are must reads if you have friends with children with Down Syndrome. Like myself. ;)

The first:

Ten things not to say to a parent of a child with Down Syndrome

And if you've ever said one of these things to me, its okay. Don't worry about it. You probably wouldn't even believe some of the unreal comments that people have made to me when Abby was born, when Micah was adopted and since.

If you have a child or children with DS, and have had these or other things said to you, my advice is to bite your lip and have some grace. People don't know what to say. And (usually) genuinely mean well. Try to look at their hearts and not what's coming out of their mouths.

Anyway, I love the realness of this post, and truly, I agree with every one of these ten things.

And the second post, much like the first:

Ten things TO SAY when a baby is born with Down Syndrome

Again, I love each and every point. Many of these things were said to me and it was healing for my heart. Keep this in your pocket for when a friend unexpectedly has a baby with Down Syndrome. Or any other syndrome, birth defect, or medical condition.

A big thanks to Gillian Marchenko for authoring these posts and the many others this month on her blog. She, like myself, is a pastors wife, who only births girls ;), had a bio daughter with DS and adopted another. Little Evangeline came home just weeks after Micah. Gillian was a huge support to me through email, in chat rooms, and over the phone. :)  Love ya friend.