My two little Witches.......

31 for 21.....-Mom come quick-

Those were the words I heard last year as Greta and Emma Sage were watching 'So you think you can Dance?'.......of coarse as a Mother your first response to a scream like this ~ with such urgency ~ is to painic and pray nothing is terribly wrong as you go running towards the voice calling.

and here is what I saw:




I was hoping someone put it up on YouTube.....

and Emma Sage, my little dancer was dancing away, getting ready for the day when she auditions and Greta was sitting with the widest grin across her face and me, I cried.....tears of joy and happiness to see this young man on national TV.

How cool is this!?!

31 for 21 - Can-Do Abilities

Creekside Cookies & More

Simply Adorable Blankets

31 for 21 - Reece's Rainbow

The primary goals of Reece's Rainbow is:

To raise awareness regarding the plight of children with Down syndrome in foreign orphanages and their availability to be adopted

To raise adoption grant donations for each of our waiting children

To seek new adoptive families for orphans with Down syndrome internationally

To provide adoptive families with additional fundraising opportunities.

To fund humanitarian aid opportunities and improve the quality of life of our children waiting to be adopted

To fund educational and therapeutic opportunities for orphaned children with Down syndrome living in foreign orphanages

To fund and facilitate the development of new Down syndrome birth parent support groups in foreign countries, thereby decreasing the number of children placed in orphanages

To enact social change abroad about children with Down syndrome and other special needs through the testimony of adoption


Grab Button


I know all of our pocketbooks are stretched thin these days, and my hope of hope at one point in my life journey, was to adopt another child with T21, but as I have aged. my dreams of adopting in our family fades a bit....BUT the one thing I can do, is give little bits to a waiting child's fund, so that when their forever family comes along, the cost of adoption is offset by Reece's Rainbows sponsorship fund.

Think about sponsoring a child that is waiting for a forever home this holiday season and get a beautiful ornament to hang on your tree to remind you of the gift of life!

If you have a moment: Visit this blog~
Newbold Family Adoption
as it is one of the sweetest tributes to Down syndrome and the power of love, faith and prayer. A precious angel named Chloe graced the Newbold's life, only to be taken from them so quickly.....but Chloe gave a great gift in her short life, a love and understanding to her parents who loved her so dearly, to adopt two orphans, John Paul and Dasha. I promise you, you will leave this blog with a heart that has swollen in size from reading about the gift of Down syndrome in a families life.

31 for 21......Welcome to Holland

Welcome to Holland
Emily Perl Kingsley 1987. All rights reserved.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

31 for 21

Football Legend Would Pick His Down Syndrome Son Over ‘Normal’ Child
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
By Penny Starr, Senior Staff Writer


Coach Gene Stallings and his son Johnny – Legendary football coach Gene Stallings made history as the youngest college coach at the helm of his alma mater, Texas A&M, and a perfect 12-0 season during his reign at the University of Alabama. But he says raising his son Johnny was his greatest reward.

“My life wouldn’t have been nearly as rich without Johnny, no question about it,” Stallings told CNSNews.com of his son, who was born with Down syndrome in 1962.

Johnny outlived his doctors’ prediction that he wouldn’t live past the age of two because of heart problems, and when he died at 46 on Aug. 2, the accolades poured in.

Click here to read the rest of the story.........

I agree with Coach Stallings.......while my life has been an amazing journey, and all of my children are the jewels of my life, I know that Emma Sage has added a facet, a sparkle that radiates in all of our hearts and I know I am a richer Mother, Woman and Human Being because of her.

31 for 21 - Wordless Wednesday

Oh, how I love this child of mine....................

Gnome Wisdom

As those who visit our blog have learned by now, we are very Blessed to live in a little Hamlet not too far from the big city [both New York City and Philadelphia]. Rick grew up a mile up the lane from our home, and I lived 10 minutes away. It truly is a hidden treasure on earth.

The Columbia Trail that we walk regularly on, is also the home of Gnomes. It has been such a treat through the years to find new homes scattered along the trail. One of Emma Sage's favorite things to do when we are out walking is to stop a moment and 'look and listen'.

Well, Jerome the Gnome has come out of hiding in the forest and shares is Gnome Wisdom with us all. Last week we got to meet Jerome at our local book shop and take a little 'Gnome' walk. I have many pictures to share of our outing, but alas, my time is pressed. It is 8:21 pm and this Momma has miles and miles to go before she sleeps.

I leave you with my little Gnome~ [can you find her hiding?]




and a link to Gnome Wisdom

31 for 21 - Michael Jurogue Johnson

Michael Jurogue Johnson

The above watercolors of Emma Sage were painted by Michael Jurogue Johnson, an inspirational young man with Down syndrome, who is a wonderful painter.

Please go visit his site on the link about and visit all the galleries of his work.

If you are wondering what to do for your Christmas/Holiday cards this year, please consider purchasing some of Michael's cards, as they are just beautiful and all sales go to help him continue to purchase the supplies he needs to paint.

Christmas and Note Cards Link

I also know that if you e-mail Robin, Michael's Mother, she might have a selection of a box set of Holiday cards...I had seen them in the past, but I couldn't find them scrolling through last night [life has been so very busy, I have had no time to even stop and 'think', but I know they were there in the past]

P.S. aren't those paintings of Emma Sage just wonderful!!!! I look at them an marvel at Michael's talent.

31 for 21 - Mosaic Down syndrome

There are three classifications of Trisomy 21 [Down syndrome] ~

Nondisjunction - If a sperm or egg with an abnormal number of chromosomes merges with a normal mate, the resulting fertilized egg will have an abnormal number of chromosomes. In Down syndrome, 95% of all cases are caused by this event: one cell has two 21st chromosomes instead of one, so the resulting fertilized egg has three 21st chromosomes.

Robertsonian Translocation- Three to four percent of all cases of trisomy 21 are due to Robertsonian Translocation. In this case, two breaks occur in separate chromosomes, usually the 14th and 21st chromosomes. There is rearrangement of the genetic material so that some of the 14th chromosome is replaced by extra 21st chromosome. So while the number of chromosomes remain normal, there is a triplication of the 21st chromosome material. Some of these children may only have triplication of part of the 21st chromosome instead of the whole chromosome, which is called a partial trisomy 21. Translocations resulting in trisomy 21 may be inherited, so it's important to check the chromosomes of the parents in these cases to see if either may be a "carrier."


The remainder of cases of trisomy 21 are due to mosaicism: Mosaic Down syndrome happens when a person has a percentage of cells with an extra 21st chromosome and the remaining cells are unaffected. This type of Down syndrome accounts for about 2%-4% of the cases of Down syndrome.

Emma Sage has Mosaic Down syndrome.

What is Mosaicism?
from Dr. Len Leshin, MD, FAAP
Every cell in the human body comes from one initial cell: the fertilized egg, which is also called the zygote. After fertilization, the zygote then proceeds to divide. As new cells form, the chromosomes duplicate themselves so that the resulting cells have the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. However, mistakes sometimes happen and one cell ends up with a different number of chromosomes. From then on, all cells originating from that cell will have the different chromosomal number, unless another mistake happens. (All like cells originating from a single type of cell is called a cell line; for example, the skin cell line, the blood cell line, the brain cell line, etc.)
When a person has more than one type of chromosomal makeup, that is called mosaicism, like the mosaic style of art in which a picture is made up of different colors of tiles. In Down syndrome, mosaicism means that some cells of the body have trisomy 21, and some have the typical number of chromosomes.

Two very good resources regarding Mosaic Down syndrome are the International Mosiac Down syndrome Assocation and Mosaic Moments.

31 for 21 - Violets and Daisies

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." ~Buddha


Indulge me for a moment, and imagine yourself to be a violet growing smack dab in the middle of a beautiful bed of daisies -- and all of your (short) life, the multitude of daisies surrounding you seem frustrated that you are different. They try endlessly, and to the best of their abilities to turn your into a daisy, despite the fact that you, while very similar in many ways, are also very different than the other flowers who share your life. Would it serve you to try to be a daisy when it is clearly true that you aren't one, and never will be? How would it feel when the well-intentioned daisies around you continually insist that you look and act more like a daisy than the violet that you truly are? And, have you ever picked a violet and suddenly found yourself wishing that it were a daisy instead? Wouldn't you be glad of its' violetness, and that be sufficient, or rather exquisite, in and of itself? Is it any different with people?

I imagine, dear teacher, your mind is now thinking, well, this world is predominantly of, for and by the daisies. And true, you have generously and with much self-sacrifice spent a good deal of your time patiently teaching the violet a few daisy tricks, so that she can function effectively in the daisy bed. After all, she is growing there. And my point is, that if she has to deny her essence as a violet, there is no value at all in learning daisy skills. If daisy skills, however are optional, and she can be accepted as the violet that she is, she will gracefully and sweetly unfold into the fullness of her beauty, warmed by the sun, and nurtured by the trust and open-heartedness of her surrounding daisies.

**Violets, beloved friend and teacher, are NOT impaired daisies.**

Excerpt from: VIOLETS and DAISIES by Kay Drais

31 for 21

“Any time a thought, a sentence, or paragraph inspires you, or opens up your thinking, you need to capture it like a butterfly in a net, and later, release it into your own field of consciousness.”-Steve Chandler

31 for 21 - Our Beginning

The story of Emma Sage
Conceived one year to the day of our miscarriage, Emma Sage is our fifth child. Before that moment, I never fully understood the power of ones soul. It was a warm August night and the moon was full. Suddenly, I arose from a deep sleep, overcome by the most incredible sensation. As I, succumbed to a feeling of total peace, her tiny soul entered my body. I knew immediately that I was pregnant. I placed my hands just over my uterus and asked God for this baby to stay, as I looked up at the stars dancing in the moonlight through our skylight thinking about what just happened.

About ten days later, a home pregnancy test confirmed my belief. There would be three more tests, just to be sure. After losing our last child, I was anxious and just a bit nervous, so I asked my midwife to check my HCG levels. A result consistent with the current stage of pregnancy calmed those fears.

It was about this time I began dreaming about a perfect little girl who resembled a china doll. She was so beautiful. Subsequent dreams included a labor and delivery on the side of the road. It would be a reoccurring theme, a series of dreams, where her labor and birth happened everywhere. My sister, a labor and delivery nurse brought me a cord clamp and told me to keep it with me, just in case there was a need, as she laughed about all of my stories.

We had no idea that clamp would be used.

We took a family vacation to Florida at about eight weeks. It was during this trip that another powerful sensation overcame me. As we waited for the Blues Brothers to begin their show, I watched a little boy dancing around. He would come up to us, smile, and then dance his way back to his parents. During the show, I could not keep my eyes off him. I looked at Rick and told him that our little one would like just like him. He had a little bit of something extra on his twenty-first pair , by way of Down syndrome. Rick put his arm around me and said, “That would be just fine”. I shared this story later with my sister , and then forgot about it.

At my thirteen-week visit, I was measuring big, so I asked my midwife if I could have an ultrasound to rule out twins, Rick agreed. I was actually still so nervous about the pregnancy that I wanted a little peek at our little one. I did not know then that this would actually be one of the worst experiences in my lifetime. As the process began, the technician was cold and seemed rather unconcerned about my comfort. During the middle of the scan, she announced, “There is something wrong with this baby” and then immediately called my midwife. I remember hearing her say, “I think we have a problem”.

Instead of having a little peek, relieving me of some stress and reassuring me this woman sent us on our way feeling scared and confused. We left there headed straight for our midwife Peggy’s office. She told us that the baby’s nuchual translucency measurement, the thickness of the skin on the neck, was abnormal. Our baby was measuring at 3.6 mm and anything over 3.5 is considered a soft marker for Down syndrome.

It was a difficult day.

Later that night Rick and I sat outside in the garage on his motorcycle and talked. I was just so scared not knowing what the future held. At one point, I asked, “what are we going to do?” His response “we are having a baby, we are not God, nor should we ever play God”. Oh how I love this man, not only is he my best friend, he also provides strength and support. An amniocentesis was not an option we did not want one. We did schedule a level II ultrasound for nineteen weeks gestation at a hospital near us.

It was the beginning of my quest to find out everything that I could about nuchual translucency, soft markers, and Down syndrome.

The time between that day and the scan at nineteen weeks proved to be an enlightening. Everyone who asked me about my pregnancy heard about the possibility that the baby might have Down syndrome and the responses I got amazed me. Some would say things like “you will be truly blessed” other would say, “What are you going to do”, but the responses that were most difficult included “Your not going to have it are you?”

We gathered the children to discuss the upcoming ultrasound and the “choices” people make based on its results. My oldest daughter Greta looked at me and said:

“So mom, if parents had a crystal ball [like the ultrasound machine] and found out that the baby they were carrying was perfect and when that baby was five it was in a horrible accident and became disabled and that they had to take care of that child for the rest of their lives, could those parents choose to terminate that baby just because they didn’t want to deal with it later on?”

Emma Sage’s tiny little soul was already teaching those around her about the true meaning of life, even before she entered the world.

My sister came with me for the level II ultrasound. She was experienced in this department, and I wanted her with so that she could keep her eyes on the scan—focusing on the baby’s heart and other major organs. The baby was free of any structural defects and the nuchual translucency was no longer an issue. There was a concern about a slightly abnormal pyelectusis. This changed my risk/ratio from 1/47 to 1/280. There would be another scan at twenty-eight weeks. The baby had no soft markers for Down syndrome at that time, but I knew in my heart already that she would be born with that extra little chromosome.

I celebrated this pregnancy. I shared the joy with everyone. The possibility of Trisomy 21 didn’t matter.

This was our baby, our perfect, beautiful baby.

My dreams continued to intensify. At least once a week I had dreamt of the baby’s unexpected birth and my sister always laughed at my stories about the unusual places the baby was born. I kept the cord clamp with me, as I kept dreaming of an angel—that I thought might have been the baby we lost reassuring me everything was going to be fine.

On my due date, I checked out “Babies with Down Syndrome” from our local library, along with a bunch of books about gardening. When my mother in law saw it she looked at me and said, “you’re not going to need this book”, I just smiled and said, “I know, it’s just in case”.

On Tuesday May 8, three days after she was due, I was helping my daughter with a science project. When it was complete, everyone headed to bed early, as Rick had to leave by 3:00 a.m. I was having a bout of indigestion, and headed down stairs to take a warm bath. After the bath, I felt better and went out to the recliner, and fell asleep. About an hour later, I woke up in pain, and took another bath. This happened three times. The next time I woke up, it was 1:00 a.m. and I thought I might have been having contractions about fifteen minutes apart. I called my sister and told her what was going on; by this time, I was in a great deal of pain. She told me to call my midwife and she would get dressed and meet me at the hospital.

I left a message for the midwife at about 1:25 a.m. and waited for her call. During this time, the contractions seemed to be coming in waves, never really ending, just continuing. When she called back, the phone woke up Rick. He jumped out of bed and dressed because he knew something was going on. I told her I was not sure that this was the start of labor, and that I felt so weird. I thought it might be possible that she would check me and send me back home, but we agreed to meet at the hospital anyway. We woke up the children and I began dressing Otto. That was when a contraction that really scared me hit. I managed to get him dressed and then began dressing myself.

As I began pulling up my overalls, I got another contraction that hit me like a ton of bricks.

I remember thinking that if this was only the beginning of labor I was not going to be able to handle what happened next. I walked down the stairs as Rick and the children were already on their way out the door. Just before I reached the bottom, I had a strong sensation to go to the bathroom. I yelled for Rick, just as I realized this baby was well on its way, and I began pulling off my clothes. “Where do I go?” I ask Rick. I thought maybe the living room or back up to bed, but Rick told me to get into the bathtub, as he throws in a bunch of clean clothes while calling 911.

I listened as he asks the children “Kids, quick, what is our address again”, it had changed from a rural route just a few years back and he couldn’t remember the new one.

All those dreams, they had a meaning, they were my preparation for Emma Sage’s birth. I didn’t know where she would arrive, but I knew it was just going to be us, and that we weren’t going to be at the hospital. Rick helped me deliver her, surrounded by our children. As I raised her to my chest, I looked at Rick and said, “Oh look honey, she does have Down syndrome!”

Her birthplace was not only unexpected, it also shared an amazing coincidence. Rick’s grandfather died, sitting on a closed toilet in this very space. It was a gateway for souls enter and leave this worldly place. To honor her great grandfather Alexander, Emma Sage was given a third name—Alexandra.

Her birth was peaceful and joyous, not overrun with medical intervention or invasion. We welcomed her into this world alone, as a family.

When the emergency team arrived the loaded us into the ambulance, and we were off to the hospital. When we arrived, my sister and midwife were there to greet me. My midwife looked at me, smiling and said, “If it is nothing you can send me home”. We laughed aloud as Emma Sage had arrived just fourteen minutes after we talked about whether or not I was in labor.

Most newborn babies go to the nursery, but not our Emma Sage. Because she was born outside of the hospital, she was considered a dirty baby and had to stay with us. I would have had it no other way, because most children with Down syndrome are quickly whisked away from their parents for precautionary medical intervention—not our Emma Sage.

We all laugh to this day about the dirty baby who was born in a bathtub. I knew right away she had Down syndrome and my midwife and sister agreed. Many doctors came to peek at her. Hypotonia made her little body weak and unable to maintain her temperature, so the brought in a warmer for us. She was a quiet sleepy little one.

I tried nursing her but she was unable to latch on. I began pumping right away, as I didn’t want them to supplement with formula. I was going to breastfeed her, as I did all of her siblings, for as long as she wanted to. Those first feedings included a syringe, until she was able to latch, but once she figured it out, she nursed like a champion.

So many other unexpected things have happened since the birth of Emma Sage, so many subtle reminders about the true meaning of life.

Emma: The one who heals.

Sage: One with great wisdom.

Emma Sage, a name that she has lived up to since the before she was born.

October is National Down syndrome Awareness Month

and I am joining in the 31 for 21 ~ where I am going to write 31 blog posts in the Month of October to Celebrate my daughter Emma Sage and everyone else who was born sporting a little extra [chromosome that is] on their 21st pair.

So in the spirit of awareness, check this out:

JOSH & BERNADETTE - FIRST COUPLE IN TENNESSEE WITH DOWN SYNDROME TO GET MARRIED.

Josh & Bernadette's Ceremony Highlight from AndyCam Productions on Vimeo.

Someday I envision my daughter, Emma Sage walking down the aisle with her beloved Ryan. Last summer at the NDSC Convention in Boston, Ryan got down on his knees, with a fresh picked petunia in hand and asked Emma Sage to Marry Him!!!! She said YES!!!! Click Here to see photographs of the precious moment.

and then last year at the New York City Buddy Walk, they had their first 'official' date, as they decided that they were going to sit by themselves at the HardRock Cafe'





and here they are greeting each other after not seeing each other for over a half-a-year......



All I can say after looking at Josh & Bernadette's Wedding is ~ Mark your calendars for 2025, as Ryan & Emma Sage will be following in the footsteps of this beautiful couple!

Yesterday......

Yesterday was a day of reflecting......as it had been three years since my beloved Mother left her earthly bounds.

One thing that I have realized for a long time, is that I am usually the one behind the lens, capturing photographs of the moments of my and my families life journey. As I sat and watched the images of my Mother on my screen, I realized that I needed to make sure that I'm in more photographs, just for memories sake, as I would have been so sad if I did not have these little glimpses in time to reflect back on and remember how my mother looked throughout her life time.

Photography has always been a passion of mine [but I really dislike myself in photographs, so hiding behind the lens has always been my way of staying out of photographs]

So yesterday, after taking a few hundred photographs of our day......[which I need to share of Emma Sage] as we went for a walk, went to a book signing [Jerome the Gnome] went to the graveyard and then I was off to a babyshower. Of the 400+ images I shot of these moments, I decided to turn the camera on myself and take a self-portrait. I shot 8 frames [actually, Emma Sage shot them, as we set the camera up on an upside down clay pot [from my garden bench] placed it on the picnic table and then I set the timer, and when I sat down, I had Emma Sage push the button, giving me 10 seconds to stare into the lens and pray a good image was captured.....trying to look deep into the lens so that when my children look at this photograph many years from now, they will say "I remember Mom at 45....."

So here is what I came up with.....





and here is one that Emma Sage took of my Mother and I, the March before she passed away. I treasure this photograph, as I don't have too many of she and I together as adults ~ as I was usually the one photographing, or we were always in big, group shots.



So, I guess the point of my story here is, feel good in your own skin, take the time to capture moments....but make sure you are in the photographs some of the time, and hug your Mother, as when she is gone, the loss is great.

I miss you so dearly Mom......

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Flower Shop.....

My dear friend Fran is at it again......Thank you for bring a huge smile to my face and lifting my spirits!! You truly are a gem and I'm so blessed our paths have crossed.

Remembrance......

Eight years ago..........September 11, 2001


Eight years ago.............our world shook. It wasn't because of a natural disaster, like the Tsunami or Hurricane Katrina, but it was a far worse disaster ~ because it was created by human hatred

Life for our family is good [we are truly blessed] and the morning of September 11, 2001 found us in our typical daily routine.........up early, breakfast, drive the children to school and then Emma Sage and I would come home to a quite morning.

Rick was in Montreal, Canada, for school [we had been up to see him a week earlier and spent a glorious vacation touring Montreal, driving home Labor Day weekend.........because of the terror attacks Rick was not able to return home to us for days.]

I dropped Katrina and Greta off at Woodglen and then drove down the valley to drop Otto off at school at Valley View. On the way to Valley View I noticed a plane flying very low..........lower than I have ever seen a commercial flight on the flight pattern we see from our area heading to Newark Airport. I notice planes all the time because of Ricks career in aviation. I shrugged it off as maybe I was just off my bearings that morning.

It was truly a glorious September day,,,,,,,,,,,,,the sky was bright blue, the air was dry and warm, the landscape was draped in light that just made it look like a Rembrandt painting.

Emma Sage and I got home and went inside to hear the phone ringing. I answered the phone and it was my sister Patti, telling me to turn on the news as a small plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I had a brief moment of fear..............I had worked for years in the area and at one point in my life, had dinner at least once a week at Windows of the World,,,,,,,,,,,,,and then another sinking fear, I was supposed to be at a financial conference put on by Risk/Waters magazine this morning, but I had turned the job down because I just couldn't leave Emma Sage.


I watched the TV,,,,,talking with Patti on the phone. I said to her that I couldn't believe a small plane could have done such damage. I started to cry...........holding Emma Sage in my arms, pacing back and forth, kissing her sweet head and talking with Patti.........
and then BAMM!!!!

In horror my sister and I [on the phone with each other] watched the second plane crash into the second tower. I knew as I watched the plane that it was a big commercial plane and at that exact moment I knew this was a calculated attack.

Patti and I were both crying,,,,,trying to come to terms with what we just saw. All along I clutched this precious child of mine to my chest. Not wanting to let go of her, afraid of what was going on.

This was familiar territory to me..........buildings that were an important part of my life. I watched these buildings being built,,,,,my father driving us to the city from time to time to marvel at the progress of the towers going up,up,up,,,up. A fellow skydiver friend of mine jumped off the Trade Center. I dined at Windows of the World weekly for a few years, I traveled through the towers everyday to the American Express tower in the Financial Trade Center and the building I worked in for Merrill Lynch was the last building to fall on that fateful day. As I watched the TV screen, I was paralyzed by fear and overcome by a sadness that was, to this day, so utterly profound.


I tried to call Rick and was finally able to get through to him in Canada to let him know what was happening in the states.

I then I felt so alone. Watching the horror unfold............talking to my sister and crying, and holding my precious little girl.


As time has moved forward, I realize that there is a reason for everything [sometimes many reasons] and I know that Emma Sage is a blessing in multiple ways..........but one incredible feeling I will never release is the feeling that I have knowing that her extra chromosome [her Down syndrome] is a major reason I was not at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.


Her birth made Rick and I realize that my being home with the children [but especially this child],,,,giving up much in the way of income,,,,meant that she would have only family to care for her..........to work with her,,,to help her develop to her fullest potential, and it kept me home on that fateful Tuesday in September.


Today I remember a dear friend, David E. Rivers,Editor of Risk/Waters Magazine.......You were truly an amazing man, editor, writer, friend, husband and father. David, you are missed dearly and will never be forgotten.





This is the memorial at our township park.....these are beams from one of the World Trade Center buildings.




3,715 flags.......

Otto helped place these flags on the field on Wednesday evening with his Boy Scout troop.......he said that each flag he placed, he had to hold back tears......


Writen by a child........may we always remember.

Thank you Fran......

My Dear friend Fran is at it again.....look what she created this time. You know me and Angels and Fairies, so this just melted my heart!!!!

Thank you!

This is for AB&Cs Mom

You asked what was on Emma Sage's T-shirt......



I do think in the one picture the little girl was looking to read her shirt, but I have to share, that I have so many pictures that I have taken over the years, that capture how children 'stare' when they meet Emma Sage for the first time [or two] and are trying to figure out what is 'different' about her.

Isn't this the coolest shirt? I got it at the Princeton Down syndrome Awareness program. I can't remember the name of the vendor, I assume they must have a website and if I find it in a search, I'll post it.

Field Hockey 2009

The field hockey season has begun, and this season there is a new Hintz out on the playing field. Emma Sage is going into second grade this year, and is now 'Officially' our newest player. Even though the kid has had a stick since she was a baby [I have to go find it and take a picture of it, but it is the cutest darn thing ever...so small]

Eleven years ago, my friend Alison and I started the Lebanon Township Junior Field Hockey program. Greta was the first 2nd grader in our township to play, we had one 3rd grader [Alison's daughter] and 8 ~ 4th graders [Katrina and my friends daughter Stephanie, and six of their friends] so it has been so wonderful to see the program come full circle for me as Emma Sage is now out on the field.

Emma Sage loves hockey, indoor and field hockey, so she has been so excited all week. Unfortunately, it has been hot and humid, so it does wipe her out a little bit, but she is such a trooper and is all grins on and off the field.

One of the things that has hit me the hardest as I watch my little girl out on the field, is the realization that it seems like yesterday that Greta was my 2nd grader out there playing, and time has moved forward so swiftly and in reality, she is off to college in one week.

The other thing that brought tears to my eyes watching Emma Sage was that one of the few things that I wished and dreamed for after Emma Sage was born and we realized she had Down syndrome was for her to [1. read,,,,,,,that I truly did pray to GOD for and ask that she be given the gift of learning to read] and the other was that she would be able to participate in field hockey and other sports and activities [as sports are such a big part of our lives] so here she is........learning and playing field hockey.









and in action~*~*~*~*~





and one tired girl ready for a water break:


I have to go find and scan in pictures of Katrina and Greta at their first practice......

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

*~Please Vote for Emma Sage~*

My photograph of Emma Sage eating a delicious ice cream cone along the banks of the Raritan River has made it to the final round and now it is time to vote:

VOTE FOR EMMA SAGE [click this link]

Thank you so much for your support!!!!!

But we are not a family......

"But we are not a family" are the words spoken from my little girl.

"Otto, Greta and Nini are not here so we can't be a family" she continues.

Awe.........

That was the response I got when I told Emma Sage that her Daddy was taking she and I out to Gronsky's Milk House for an ice cream treat [her most favorite thing in the summer] and that were were going just us, as a 'family'.

But to her, we are not a 'family' as three members are missing.

We miss you Otto, Greta and Katrina [and look what you are missing.......Gronsky's Ice Cream!!!]

Tis' the Season ~ Raspberry Time

This is the Columbia Trail, that runs from the town I grew up in [High Bridge] up along the river to just north of Califon [where we have lived for the last 22 years, and where Emma Sage's Daddy was born and raised] It used to be a train bed [and when we were younger and out berry picking along the tracks, we would sometimes hop on a freight train that were creeping by.....they went sooooooooooooooooo slow, that you could run faster than they were going]

Now it is this amazing running/hiking/biking/horseback riding trail through one of the most picturesque places I know.



So last night, this little Imp and I went down to High Bridge to hop on the trail and berry pick [she also had an ulterior motive, as Gronsky's Milk House is also in High Bridge and she wanted Ice Cream too!!!!


And look what we found..........Japanese Winesap Berries.



More than you could ever imagine.......just stretched for miles along the trail [we are heading back out today with two big pails and a little more time on our side to pick] Yesterday's trip were eaten as we walked.



So sweet and delicious!


Yes, this is what you call a Raspberry overload face.......Yummy!!!



We then called PopPop and he ordered a Chocolate Ice Cream in a cup and we brought it up to him to finish out a wonderful evening out, just me and my littlest one.



This was taken two years ago, with a little of our bounty from our property. Rick has been busy clearing out all the stone walls around our property, and thus, our berry patches are gone. We have a few left, and I've been rooting the canes as they are cleared out, so hopefully next summer we will only have to walk out our door to pick.

Foever......

This will make you smile....tear a little from the realization that there is just so much LOVE and ENERGY surrounding this union.

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!
~Kalidasa

“May your days be many and your troubles be few
May all God's blessings descend upon you.
May peace be within you may your heart be strong.
May you find what you're seeking wherever you roam.”
~An Irish Blessing

Missing my Mother dearly today.......off with Emma Sage for a walk up the lane to the graveyard to visit. May your day be filled with an abundance of Blessings........

My little dare-devil

This child has no fear.....she will try anything, and usually with a smile on her face.

Tubing on the Delaware with her cousins......fun stuff.

Yummmmmm.......Ice Cream, Blue Bunny Ice Cream

5 Minutes for Special Needs is running a photo contect......

Here is my little ice cream lovers entry.

Go check it out and enter your little ice cream lover........

I scream, you scream ~ We all scream for Ice Cream!!!!!

What children pick-up......

One of the things that has always amazed me is how children pick-up everything that is going on around them, even if it is in bits and pieces.

A case in point: Emma Sage does not watch regular TV, she can watch the Disney Channel or DVDs, History Channel or her current favorite, The Weather Channel [she is hysterical with that one, as she is now my little weather forecaster!]

But there is TV in the home from time to time [especially if Daddy is home] and it is usually the news.

I had yet to mention the passing of Michael Jackson to Emma Sage.......first, because she truly is moved when she knows someone has died [and why expose her to more death than she has to be aware of] and secondly, I don't think she even knows who Michael Jackson is [I like his music, loved him as a young girl and I know how to do the Thriller Dance.....but that is as far as my fan-ship went] so it just hasn't been discussed here around her.

Well, she comes up to Rick the other night and has tears in her eyes......he asks her "What is the Matter?" and she says, "Jackson died....I really Miss him" He proceeds to say "Michael Jackson?" and she says "Yes, Jackson....he was FIVE" lol!!!

The kid has picked up from the background news programs [and I think now reading the covers of the tabloids at the grocery store [she is becoming a great reader] that a 'Jackson' has died and has figured out he was five because she must have heard 'The Jackson Five' a few times.

Too cute.

So, I sat down with her and explained who 'Michael Jackson' was and she is now learning how to do the 'Thriller Dance' herself!

R.I.P. Michael.....knowing you have a new little fan.

This was created by my dear friend Fran.....Thank you.

Let Freedom Ring......

"Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better." ~Albert Camus

This child of mine......

just makes me laugh, often.

Tonight we were all out getting some things that Daddy needs before his trip and we were driving in the car. Emma Sage turns to Greta and says "Greta, Text me" [she had my phone in her hands]

Greta turns to her and says "Why?"

Emma Sage replies "It will keep me busy!"

lol!!!!!

Sharing a beautiful gift.......

My children will be the first to tell you that I am the biggest sap in the whole world. I cry at commercials. Songs can move me to tears and laughter. I can only watch love stories or comedy's as anything else can profoundly move me, from sadness, to fear, to uncertainty, so very easily [and I feel my emotions with my entire being] so I just avoid movies and shows that are not, romance or comedy [two emotions that I embrace fully and easily]

Reading is my greatest passion and with reading, I can read more powerful stories, as I have the ability to pause and regroup much easier than in a film or musical score.

So, one of my most favorite things to read is true life stories, of love, of hope, of dreams come true.

The best place to read such stories is at my favorite ministry called Reece's Rainbow, as it is an international adoption resource for children with Down syndrome to be adopted. Sadly, in many countries outside of the U.S., children with Down syndrome that are not adopted by a certain age are destine to be institutionalized for life.

If you want to be empowered, to see the Grace of GOD at work, scroll through this page at Reece's Rainbow, as it is the photographs and stories [links to blogs] of families who have reached out and adopted a child with Down syndrome from around the globe.

and then if you will, click on one of the links to the children who are awaiting a forever family and if you are able, make a donation [however large or small] to help ease the cost of adoption, so that the dreams and hopes of a waiting child and their forever families may come true]

I promise you, it is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

Reece's Rainbow

I Am Neda

“Human rights is the soul of our foreign policy, because human rights is the very soul of our sense of nationhood.” ~ Jimmy Carter


I Am Neda........

My big girls at Camp PALS

Just sharing two photographs of my big girls at Camp PALS.





I just love the blog and being able to follow along the activities of the campers [and counselors] as the day's roll forward] Emma Sage made me record her today saying "I can't WAIT for Camp PALS" because she loves seeing all the video clips [she got the inspiration from the invitation that some of the Campers made to the sponsors to join them on Saturday at the closing ceremonies.

We are heading out early in the morning, as Katrina said that they have a few things for Emma Sage to do and they wanted her to join them for lunch and the to watch the closing ceremonies. I can't wait to see my little girl at camp.......as she is so excited to go again this year. I hope to remember my camera!!!!

Camp PALS 2009

This week is Camp PALS. It is both Katrina and Greta's favorite weeks of the year, as they have headed down to Cabrini College and are volunteering as Counselors. Katrina is now a head counselor and is in charge of the Purple Princesses. Greta is a counselor for a wonderful young lady named Miranda and they are part of the Pink Pather team.

Come visit this link and scroll down, watch videos and look at pictures......you will notice my girls about camp.

Camp PALS Link

On Saturday morning, Grammy, Emma Sage and I are heading down to camp to visit with the campers and girls [Emma Sage is a mascot and is invited to have lunch with all the campers] and then we will be off to the closing ceremonies.

It will be bittersweet, as we get to spend a few hours with Katrina before she heads back down to college in Florida. You know, this stuff about your children growing up and heading off to college and on with their lives can be sometimes very hard to handle. We have only been blessed to visit with Katrina for a week since last August........and sadly, I really don't know when we will get to see her next [praying it is sooner than 8 months again]