I had a 3rd person this week (who I know cares about me) say Debbie, you can't change the world!  Ughh.. and I say, why not!!!  Seriously, why can't I make a difference.  I would imagine that all the people out there who truly do make a difference were told the same!!  I am glad that never stopped them!  I think of Andrea Roberts, the Executive Director of Reece's Rainbow.  What would of happened if she never proceeded with Reece's Rainbow?? Seriously, WHO would be helping these kids?  Who would make us aware that there is this need in the world?  So you see, this is my point, if you want to make a difference, do it! You may not have the support of everyone.... BUT you will know in heart if it is what you need to do!

I was told I need to take care of myself.  This advice has sat on my brain and I agree!  I have learned that some other friends who want to save the world have been told the same thing as well.  Well, it is true. If I'm not healthy and happy, I wont be much good to anyone!!!  So, I fight to find the balance to be a great Mom , a great wife, a great daughter, a great sister, a great friend, take care of my home, my job, fight for advocacy for Down syndrome, save the orphans AND find time to go to the gym, read a good book and just maybe go to bed early and sleep in late.

For now, my blog is my sanity to try to figure out where to go from here!!

Thanks for listening :)

www.reecerainbow.org

The Starfish Story... You CAN make a Difference!

While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.

He came closer still and called out, "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

The old man smiled, and said, "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it into the back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."

This story has been circulated around the web in many versions, usually with no mention of author. It is said to be paraphrased from "The Star Thrower" by Loren Eiseley, 1907 - 1977.

Someone said to me.. Actually I think a couple people have said to me , Debbie, you cant save the world!
I didn't like hearing that.  You see, it upsets me because, in fact, I want to save the world.  I want to make a difference! I want childhood cancer to go away and NEVER come back, I want to end the use of the R word forever!! and I want to fly to Eastern Europe and save all the children in orphanages that can't save themselves!

What can I do realistically?  Well, I always say I can start with me.  Make the changes and be the person I want to be and the rest will follow!  I unfortunately may not find the cure for cancer (though that would be wonderful).. I do think I can save the world.. or at least pieces of the world.  I think it is attainable to save my friend Max 2H.  Though we are having a fundraiser for him, I just don't feel like that is enough.  I feel like he is my boy and I want to save him.  I can picture him with our family and know it would be the best thing to ever happen to him....So, my mind is constantly trying to figure out just how we could possibly adopt him.  I want to do something big, something to make a difference for all these orphans with Down syndrome.

You see, once you love a child with Down syndrome, you suddenly have this love for each child with Down syndrome.  You want to make each and every one of their worlds better.  You want the world to know what you know.. to think like you think.. to love like you love....and slowly, I think I just may be spreading this way of thinking to one person at a time.