Almost a year after Tori was born, I was still adjusting to her diagnosis, one morning I was driving to work and listening to the radio, a mother was proudly sharing that her daughter with Down syndrome who was in High School had just been crowned Homecoming Queen and that she was also a cheerleader.

I was so encouraged and inspired.

Almost 9 years later, I feel a lot like my mom did when I was a child, like her, my heart is that my girls have a relationship with the Lord and spend eternity with Him. Whether Tori ever participates in the things I did in my youth really does not matter to me but somehow that day as I listened to an excited mother tell a story of hope about how her daughter with special needs had achieved some special honors that most would not expect her to, I knew that I had not turned to that radio station by chance. I pray Tori’s life, whatever God’s Will is for her life, will someday also encourage another family. Like everyone else she will have good days and bad days. She will win some and lose some. She will conquer some things and struggle with others. Some people will like her and some people won’t…and all of that is okay.

Side note: all of the homecoming and football pics I have been seeing lately have me going down memory lane…so here are a few flashbacks from 1995.

 

Fallon said, “Your hair looks kinda funny mom.”

Jeff said, “Your hair looks beautiful, you should bring it back.” #loveisblind

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