A few months back, I wrote to some former students, family members, and friends to see if they would write about how knowing Annie has impacted them or changed their views on Down Syndrome. I knew I wanted to bring awareness this month by sharing Annie and I thought the more perspectives I have of her the better. The more Annie stories we can tell the more awareness we can bring. And better coming from more mouths than just mine. (Plus I knew we’d be away for Fall Break and that I desperately needed a bit of help.)

The response has been unreal. The words they have written have knocked me off my feet, brought tears to my eyes. There is no way I could ever tell them how much their words mean. Nor to thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to write about our daughter.

While I knew they “fell in love” with Annie from observation, I didn’t know how deep that love went. I am overwhelmed by their honesty. Floored by the impact my family has had on them. I want them to know that their impacts on us are 21 times as great as they claim ours on them to be.

Mike, Annie, and I leave for Poland today. By the time this post goes out, we will be in Munich waiting for our connection to Warsaw. The next eight posts or so will be taken over by guest authors. I am honored that they have volunteered to be a part of my little blog. They are spectacular and we love them all!  Thanks for helping me to bring 31 straight days of Awareness for Trisomy 21!

Please read all their posts! There words are much more powerful than my own! And as forewarning….there will be some tears shed in the next eight days!

For now, here’s a pic of Annie while we were packing for our trip to the beautiful, but very cold, country of Poland. Hope it makes you smile. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure her legs are appropriately covered too!