Grace's story

Awareness, acceptance and inclusion.  These three words are some of the most important concepts for us as human beings to understand and truly live by in order to allow one another the freedom to live and become our full potential.  Aware that we are all both different and alike in so many ways.  accepting of our differences and including one another throughout every aspect of life.  Our sweet baby girl, Gracie,was born in January of 2016.  She came into this world with big beautiful hazel eyes, gorgeous brown hair,  a sweet smile that can melt anyones heart and an amazing extra chromosome.  Learning that she had Down Syndrome was the day that forever changed our entire family
in tremendous ways.  We have all grown to become better people.  it has changed our minds on how we perceive others and the whole world.
It has opened our minds to perspectives on life itself that we never knew before.  it has made our hearts grow, on a daily basis, in love and in joy.  Gracie is now just 2 years old and has been changing minds and stealing hearts from day one.  Down Syndrome is merely a trait she was born with the same as her eyes, hair an skin tone.  They do not define who she is, same as yours do not define who you are.  We have  hearts and souls full of personality and potential.  We all want to live our lives to the fullest doing what we love, being with those with love and experiencing everything we possible can so we can attain
our full potential.  Our daughter is no different.  She wants to
experience everything same as anyone else.  she wants to be and do whatever it is she wants to be and do, same as anyone else.  She laughs, cries, feels sadness and happiness same as anyone else.  She wants to play and explore, be with her friends and families, and loves with her whole heart, just like anyone else.  Gracie has hobbies, she loves books and music.  She dances all the time. Gracie loves cars and dolls and pretty much any and every kind of toy! She loves to watcha cartoons and music videos.  Because just like anyone else, she loves to have fun and she loves to learn.  Shes a great teacher too.  Gracie has taught our family and anyone that knows her far more than any of us will ever teach her.  Gracie has a heart that truly sees the goodness in everyone.  She feels joy and she feels it to its fullest.

She has a bigger than life type of personality and everyone who meets her would agree!  She’s kind in such a pure way to everyone and loves unconditionally, accepting you fully as you are.  It would be nice if more of the world was this way.  Kind.  Seems simple.  I want the whole world to see Gracie’s adorable and infectious smile, her beautiful eyes, the love and the joy that radiates from her heart, how smart she is, how talented she is, how funny and silly she is.  How impassionate and caring she is.  Never see Gracie as a diagnosis,different or with a disability.  She has no disability.  And she is more alike than different, as we all are.  She is a human being fully able to do what all other human beings can do. And she will.  How did we get to be so lucky to be blessed with her in our lives?  Words could never express our hearts, she is our world and life is so much better with her.  Awareness, acceptance and inclusion.  Imagine a world where this is true to life for us all!  Can you picture it?
This is the world our Gracie deserves. We all do!