~Sharing News~
Newsletter of "Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona
April 7, 1998

Dearest Friends,

How wonderful it was to get together with you at our last meeting. So we decided we wanted to do it again! Just to visit and get to know each other. As I see you interact with each other and with your children I feel so blessed to call you my friends. How blessed your babies are to have you! Please come!

---------------------------------

What? Fun get together!
Where? Mesa Student Services Building
1025 N. Country Club (between University and Brown Road)
Time? 7:00-9:00p.m.
(we have to get out on time because poor Jane our custodian has much work to do. We LOVE you Jane!)
When? Tuesday April 14, 1998
Respite? YES!

-----------------------------------------------

Well dear friends, know that I love you. Thank you for making our group so great. At times I have heard others say they never wanted to attend a support group because they thought we would be crying "woe is me " all the time. Little do they know what we love our kids and are grateful God has blessed us with them.

I have been thinking about you and I wanted to share the words of a song that your child would write to you if they could...

"Because you loved me"

For all those times you stood by me,
For all the truth you that you made me see,
For all the joy you brought to my life,
For all the wrong that you made right,
For every dream you made come true,
For all the love I found in you,
I'll be forever thankful baby,
Never let me fall.
You're the one who saw me through it all.

(Chorus)
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith cause you believed...
I'm everything I am because you loved me.

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand... I could touch the sky.
I lost my faith you gave it back to me,
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall,
I had your love I had it all
I' m grateful for each day you gave me,
Maybe I don't know that much,
but I know this much is true--
I was blessed because I was
loved by you.

(Chorus)
You were always there for me
your tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining, your love into my eyes.
You've been my inspiration--through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you.

------------------------------------------------------------

As I sat with you at our last meetings my heart was so lifted. I wish I could put into word the love I feel for each of you. I wanted to share with you an experience I had two weeks ago. Having 7 children of my own has given me the privilege to attend those cute school programs where our kids aren't professional- but we love every minute of it!

As I sat watching our first grader, Emily, my eyes were drawn to my dear friend Garrison Suman. Garrison has never spoken a word in is life. I am not sure his disability is even diagnosed. I have known his parents, Jon and Cori for quite some time. I have always been impressed with their devotion and love. He is very handicapped, but you would not have noticed it that night. Somehow the magic of childhood lets him blend in right where he should be. As Garrison sat there in his wheel chair thrilled to be a part of what was rightfully his, I saw him proudly sitting there grinning from ear to ear. I know it meant the world to him to be included. But what happened next I never expected.

As the music began for the kids to dance the "Virginia Reel" I watched as a girl reached over to Garrison to have him dance with her. She had as much fun as he, pushing him through all the moves and turns of that dance. I wondered if there was anyway his parents could video tape this precious "Kodak" moment through their tears. I wish Burk Elementary school could know what that simple act of inclusion did for this old mother's heart.

-------------------------------------------

We have some new babies we would like to welcome. Chen and Ling Kuo had their triplets on March 22, 1998 and all three are home and doing well. Welcome (daughter) Sydney, (sons) Evan and Bryan. I am slightly prejudice but they are the cutest babies you would ever want to see!

Also congratulations to Darren and Jimmelle Hooks and a new baby boy Justin Michael (2-24-98) and ,

Justin Michael Bowden )1-26-98) first baby of proud parents, Louise and Chris Bowden. Welcome new babies!!!

-------------------------------------------

(the following is from a video given to me by the adorable Judie Walker)
A Recipe For Life

The ABC's of school...
Acceptance
Belonging
Community

School is a building
with 4 walls, with tomorrow inside.
The first step is always the hardest.
Person first-disability second
All the resources we need are in the mind.
A mind stretched by a new idea
never retracts to the same place.
Instead of putting others in their place,
put yourself in their place.
Be brave enough to accept the help of others.

You will never win if you never begin.
All glory comes from daring to begin.
Don't wait for your ship to come in,
swim out to it.

We don't make mistakes,
we make learning.

Don't make judgment
where you have no compassion.

Don't be afraid to go out on a limb-
that's where the fruit is.

Don't quit 5 minutes before the miracle happens.

Always look for the good in people.

When your work speaks for itself,
don't interrupt.

What isn't tried
won't work.

The harder to work,
the luckier you get.
Your work is a portrait of yourself.

We can not direct he winds-
but we can adjust the sails.

What we see depends mainly on what we look for.
Change comes slowly.
It does not matter how slowly you go,
as long as you do not stop.
If you get up one more time than you fall,
you will make it through.

The time is always right to do what is right.

To disagree, one does not have to be disagreeable.

Not being able to speak is not the same
as not having anything to say.

Well done is better than well said.

Troubles are like babies-
they grow bigger if you nurse them.

Laughter translate into any language.

A friend is someone who
makes you feel totally acceptable.

The greatest thing is to feel needed.

Optimism is a necessary ingredient for success.

To handle yourself use your head,
to handle others use your heart.

In the race for quality,
there is no finish line.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

Choose your thoughts with care
and let you words be kind.

To teach is to learn twice.

Tell me I forget,
teach me I remember,
involve me I learn.

Love is a gentle courtesy.

To err is human, but try to not over do it.

Do what you can
with what you have,
right where you are.

Anger is a cry from within to belong.

It takes an entire village to raise a child.

Celebrate diversity.

Together we are better.

Build an inclusive community.

Embrace inclusive education.

Written and Produced by Patty Waletzko

-------------------------------------

A CHILD FIRST..."Understanding he is a child first and disabled second is the greatest need in the handicapped child if he is to succeed educationally in the least restrictive environment. "
Education Unlimited
Martha F. Robinson

--------------------------------------

"When you are born you come into this world crying,
and all about you are smiling.
Live your life in such a way so that when you
leave this life, you will be smiling
and all about you will be weeping."

----------------------------------------

A Lesson in Life

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there. They serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are, or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be; your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover or even a complete stranger who, when you lock your eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way;And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they may seem horrible, painful, and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power, or heart.
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to no where. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life and the successes and downfalls you experience create who you are, and even the bad experience can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.;If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high.
Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it."

Author unknown

-----------------------------------------

Gina Johnson
425 E. Tremaine Ave.
Gilbert, AZ 85234
(602) 926-6500
gina.j@juno.com

"I know God will not give me more than I can bear.
I just wish he didn't trust me so much."
Mother Teresa