October is Down syndrome awareness month

Many people are blogging each day the month of October, because October is Down syndrome awareness month. I'm not taking part in the blogging for 31 days. For one reason~my thoughts are often times very sad and full of gloom and doom. Another reason~I sit down and have so much to say on this blog, but just can't get it all typed out. My head is just so jumbled. So, in memory of our sweet girl, and in honor of Down syndrome awareness month, I'm sharing with you all today the Down syndrome creed. Many of you already know it. I've posted it on here before. It's just special to our family and thought it needed sharing again.

The following is the Down syndrome creed. This was read by my Aunt Linda during Carly's funeral service.

The Down Syndrome Creed

My face may be different
But my feelings the same
I laugh and I cry
And I take pride in my gains
I was sent here among you
To teach you to love
As God in the heavens
Looks down from above
To Him I'm no different
His love knows no bounds
It's those here among you
In cities and towns
That judge me by standards
That man has imparted
But this family I've chosen
Will help me get started
For I'm one of the children
So special and few
That came here to learn
The same lessons as you
That love is acceptance
It must come from the heart
We all have the same purpose
Though not the same start
The Lord gave me life
To live and embrace
And I'll do it as you do
But at my own pace

For those of you who knew Carly, you understand how proud we will always be of her. How proud she was of herself, for her many accomplishments throughout her very short 8 years of life. Sure it took her a little longer to learn than her fellow peers, but she did learn. She enjoyed learning. She would come home from school and play school for hours. She would work on worksheets and then, erase them and start all over again. In fact, she was just taking off with her math skills. Something we were told she would struggle with due to being born with Down syndrome, but in true Carly style, she was proving all the text books wrong. She was getting it and LOVED it.

Our girl sure did teach those who knew her many life lessons. For those of you who didn't know Carly. You have no idea what you missed out on. This little girl gave love unconditionally; which is very hard for some people to ever do in a entire live time. She loved with her whole heart. And we loved her wholeheartedly too!