Breaking the mold

A couple weeks ago Gracie got to experience her first ever official school picture photo shoot. It went as well as that little ballerina who goes off impromptu and does her own dance solo her way instead of with the rest of the group. She was really not enthused about smiling for the camera if that meant having to stand still and put her hands at her sides. But getting to jump for the camera was a way more of an exciting experience and easy to smile for! While the picture we picked is not a typical portrait picture, it embodies so much of who Gracie’s has always been. A brilliant little girl with arms joyfully wide open to the life she’s been given, who has no idea she has Down Syndrome or that there is this box she is supposed to fit into. More times than I can count figures on my hands, someone would say why or how her Down syndrome was going to keep her from doing something and within the week, Gracie was doing that very thing. Far before she ever could talk and we thought she could understand, she kept achieving milestone after milestone!  As one of Gracie’s very close admirer’s put it, “Gracie’s just a regular kid stuck in a Down Syndrome body.” There has still been a lot of time, work and support we have and continue to put in as her parents, but I am so grateful for this beautiful child God has given me and the ways he is blessing her. While I’ve never doubted her God given abilities, there have been moments where she has humbled even me not to doubt what God is doing in her, for her, and through her and one of those moments happened this morning. Gracie wanted me to read books to her while she ate breakfast so I picked out Go Dog Go, First touch freely book, Beep Beep, Moo Baa La La La, and Look Look. I started to read Go Dog Go first and she looked at me and said, “No! I read!” and proceeded to read the book word for word! I was astounded! We’ve been working on sight words (up to about 20) and improving auditory memory and here this morning she blew past those small goals. She proceeded to read the rest of the books and I suspect some of what she did was part reading and part memorization from me reading these books over and over to her before. In this moment it reminded me how God is able to give far beyond what we ask or image to show his power. (Ephesians 3:20). This little girl has reminded me more of who God is than I could have ever imagined. We thank everyone for prayers, support, and ask for continued sharing with others Gracie’s support page.