Wishing I could have just one of these delightful desserts right now. yummmm….

I think we know who won this game! Well played sir!

I hope you’ll enjoy these photographs of their shared LOVE, and Congratulate!  

It was great to see these two families come together to celebrate Megan and Michael’s engagement, especially since we already have a special place in our hearts for the Gibbon’s. You can find Michael in his brother, Joshua’s, wedding party photograph. It was wonderful to catch up with Jamie and Josh, as well as Josh’s family.

Megan’s gorgeous ring… on the chapstick that kept it securely in his pocket.

aren’t these the sweetest! makes me anxious to see their wedding details!

I caught Michael and Megan sharing this moment at the end of the night, again everything faded away around them and the world only consisted of their love.

The evening of, unsuspecting Megan enjoyed a glass of red wine with Michael at the quaint D’Vine wine bar located in Grapevine’s town square. This was their second game-date. The objective of the game was to see who could plan and execute the “Perfect Date”. (I love games where both competitors are also the winners.) After their glass of wine they enjoyed a short stroll along Main Street until they entered the gazebo. Feeling a little anxious, Michael promptly kneeled, lifted the “perfect” ring off the chapstick lid that he kept safely, deep in his pocket. He proceeded to ask Megan if she would become his wife. She stood their shocked, amazed and in awe while trying to speak the word, YES! What a great response to part one of his “perfect” date! They continued their stroll through Grapevine as we photographed their excitement evolve. After reality started to sink in we said our goodbyes and Michael informed Megan that they needed to proceed onto part II of their “perfect date”.

This is one of my favorite leg/feet shots of a couple. There was so much excitement going on that I wanted to focus the stillness, not to mention her awesome shoes… and legs.

Megan still very much excited and in shock.

There is no question that Michael and Megan enjoy life together…

no doubt that they enjoy sweet moments together…

and everything stops or fades away when they want it to!

*love*

really I can’t take anymore.

they are made for each other

more to come tomorrow…

Lisa is 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. She says 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 Sistine Chapel, Gondolas. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting. After several 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 guidebooks. 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. You begin to notice that Holland has windmills. Holland has tulips. And 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 experience will never, ever, ever go away. The loss of that dream is a very significant loss. But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you might never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

Trip To Holland
By Emily Perl Kingsley

As they say, “It takes a whole Village to raise a child.” In some ways, downsyn.com was that community of valuable resources and priceless experienced wisdom. It was where many of us discovered that we were not alone and that our emotional roller coaster(s) were a normal process in understanding our new life with a child that has special needs. It’s where we found out that it was okay to have those indescribable emotions that take over you without a moments notice. It’s where we laughed and cried with sharing milestones and challenges. We found out that we were not alone, and we had a place to speak with people that TRULY GOT IT. The evolution of our new life’s purpose blossomed. We learned from each other and developed together. It helped me to realize that, “I am the Lucky One.” (insert you tube video link).

I’m so thankful to have been chosen to be Lana’s mom and to have been given the opportunity to experience this wonderful life with so many beautiful people. Marley and her family are only a few of those beautiful people that I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending.

Marley has the coolest (level-headed) demeanor of a child, her age, that I have ever seen. She will quietly observe then find that beauty within…well…everything. At times, it seems like nothing is strange to her. She is extremely giving and gracious. She is sweet, kind and an undeniable friend to all. She is Marley!

When she arrived we were so excited to see her and her growing family. It seemed more like a play-date with good friends than work. Yes, we love our job!!! Marley gave us some unique and fun photos.

Marley and family, Thank you for being a part our day! It was wonderful seeing and catching up with you all.

Now for a flashback from the past… A group of us from downsyn.com were able to meet up in Texas for a Get Together in 2007. I dug up the video that I had put together back then to share our time together. Warning, it’s almost twenty minutes long and the photos are prior-to me becoming a photographer. LOL!

such a sweet moment. I love Andre’s angle on the left and mine on the right.

Nate helped me with the selects of these images. On the image below he said “Oh Mom, you have to use this one. I love how her eyes are in focus.” I just had to share my proud Mom-photographer moment with my little man. Not to mention how gorgeous Sheridan looks.

Emme was not feeling well due to a severe allergy attack and took some time to warm up to us. While her mother tried to keep her distance, Emme made sure that she did not roam too far away from her site. Once she got the feel for our time together, she started to let loose. The strong wind blew across her face and the sun shone so bright that she had to close her eyes while breathing in deep. A smile lifted her lips and she began to dance and run in-between the parked trains. Witnessing her love for her mother and her carefree spirit, warmed our hearts and put smiles on our faces. She is a priceless LIFE treasure.

Is it just me, or do Emme’s eyes take your breath away? I adore her beautiful brushfield spots! A unique characteristic of 35-78% of children with Down syndrome.

It’s always a blessing to see people with a real desire to be parents be given the opportunity to raise and nurture a child, especially a child as precious as Laiken.  Both the parents and child will only benefit from the beautiful relationship that they share. Together they make one special family.  

Here is our first family showography that we created to share the Neff’s united love.  Enjoy!!!