It's Time!

Yeah! We have made it, November 1st :) The start of the Christmas Warrior campaign. Time to raise awareness, find families, and help the financial burden of adopting these children, who need LOVE,Security, Food -- the basic HUMAN needs.

Last night, my Owen (who is 5 and has Down syndrome), went trick or treating. Mr. O loves to eat, but candy, not so much. He is rather picky in this area. He dressed up as a pirate, and set off with his older brother, his father, uncle and some friends. We live in a very good area for trick or treat.

Owen was one of the first kids to come back home. He was tired. And it was cold. He very happily went inside to hang out with my parents, while my dad went through his candy. For only going a short distance he sure ended up with lots of treats :)

At about 7:15 he was done. I came inside from passing out treats to put him to bed. Owen is a sweet man, loves to hug and all, but not at bedtime. At night, he loves a good cuddle and some kisses, then don't touch him or lay next to him - he sleeps on his own!

I like to sit next to his bed as he falls asleep. Yesterday, as we were there - he took his little hand and placed it on my arm. He kept it there for a good 5 minutes before he moved it and fell asleep. That little gesture meant so much. It was full of sweetness and love. Owen is pretty much non-verbal, so he doesn't say I love you or anything like that. He does find ways, like this, to show it. And his message was loud and clear. It reminds me of how beautiful life really is.

And maybe because we were on the eve of the Christmas Warrior's starting, that meaning ran a little deeper last night. I couldn't help but think of all the children who do not have families, or security, or sweet bedtimes. I think of all the love in their hearts, and no one to give it to. I think of the children whom cry at night (oh, my heart breaks to read that on a child's page). How lucky Owen is to have us. Even better -- how lucky We are to have HIM! Life may get frustrating at times, for us and for him, but it is so much better, so much richer with him here. I know I have said this before - on my list of why to adopt is to show people that we would CHOOSE a child with Down syndrome. Owen may not have been a choice, he was a gift, and we would gladly open our hearts again, by choice. Oh, how I wish that was our road, but it is not (at least not yet).

Here is a picture of the little pirate!