Designer Diva…I'm hand crafted by God and I've got the genes to prove it
A mother's discovery that a child with Down syndrome is still a child like any other
From the Beginning
This my journey from thinking I had it all under control, to finally coming to the understanding that I am in control of nothing. I say this not as a victim of circumstance but as conqueror of challenges that have been presented before me. This is a blog about my life, my family and obviously my youngest daughter, Tatiana, who is the light of our lives and happens to have Down syndrome. I write this as someone who is begining a journey to somewhere that I have no prior knowledge of, know nothing about, had no desire to visit and have no idea how to get there, but nonetheless I am compelled to go. Come with me and discover who we are, who I am, at my deepest core when life doesn’t turn out as I planned.
I’m a mom of 6, a grandmother of 2 adorable grandsons ( I look fabulous don’t I…lol), wife of 7 plus years to my gorgeous husband, and most importantly a born again, blood bought, blood washed Christian. I also am a licensed minister, I preached my initial sermon in January of 2004. Now I am not your typical Christian, I cannot be boxed in a neat little package but I love Jesus with all my heart. You might say that I am radical as I dance to my own drumbeat, (reggae flavored if you please) and I don’t walk the walk and talk the talk of most Christian folk, nor dress the part unless I’m feeling it. What I am saying is I don’t do Christian, I am a Christian. Your average run of the mill preacher I am not, but don’t get it twisted, I know who my Savior is.
I also want to be a touchstone for African American families who have a child with Down syndrome, I have met some incredible people on this journey so far, but very few who are brown like me. I have wondered why since Ds know no boundaries and it touches people of all races and walks of life but yet I have not met but two families who are AA and have a child with Ds. There has been some speculation as to why that is, however I pray that is not the case, so I am here, optimistic that others like me will make themselves known.
Please share your thoughts with me, I am not afraid of intelligent conversation but do not even attempt to disrespect me or my family with negativity….it will not be tolerated, period!
Blessings
rastagalnj aka Tatiana’s mommy
5 Comments on “From the Beginning”
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Tatiana’s mom – I love your blog, love the whole message of it. I noticed that you don’t get many comments – maybe you don’t want any, if so disregard, but I think I know why you aren’t. In order to leave a comment on your blog i had to log into wordpress. It makes it a bit complicated. There must be some way to turn that off because I know other wordpress blogs don’t make you log in – just fyi, IF you turned that off, I know you would get lots of comments. But if you don’t want any, hey.
By the way – there is a woman in our neighborhood whose 5th child had Down and was about 20 at the time. I told her once that I was worried about it, since I was a lot older, and her response has always stuck with me: “Oh, don’t worry, you probably wouldn’t be lucky enough to get a child with Down Syndrome. Most people aren’t.” She wasn’t being facetious at all – she completely meant it.
I think of that every time I see the mysterious “declining rates” of children born with DS – oh, fools, to pass up such a blessing!
Love, Missy
Thank you Missy, I know how lucky I am to have her, people truly don’t know the blessing they are passing up. I absolutely love you blog, thank you for your faithfulness.
I have got to share “I don’t do Christian, I am a Christian” with my mom! She will love that!
Just came across your blog and LOVE it! A friend of mine just adopted an African American DS infant and I’m sure she would love your blog!
Hi Shannon, Thanks for visiting! Please send your friend on over, I would love for her to read about Tatiana and get to know her better.