Beautiful People

I have not looked at these photos in a very long time. These pictures are almost 20 years old. I have not told the story of how it all began -- how I fell in love with these beautiful people.

My mother's younger sister, my aunt Yoshiko has developmental disabilities. I do not know all the details of what her disability is or how she became disabled. Growing up, we used to go visit my grandma twice a year. I did not know how to interact with my aunt. Fear of unknown, perhaps. Different. Was I scared? No, I don't think so. My aunt is the most gentle person. But I remember this awkwardness. I knew I was to be kind to her, but didn't know how. My aunt does not speak. She makes these grunting noises. As far as I know, she never went to school. I have never seen her leave the house. She wore diapers.
When I was in college, I decided to spend two summers working at Upward Bound Camp in Oregon State. It is a camp for persons with special needs. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I knew I was supposed to be there. Knowing that I was supposed to be there did not make it any easier for me. Many times, I wanted to quit. But this is where I fell in love with these beautiful people. People who live with developmental and physical disabilities. The work was hard. Majorities of our tasks were looking after the campers' daily physical needs, such as hygiene, medication and assisting them with their meals. It was while changing soiled diapers of a grown woman and holding a drool covered hand of a man, I saw my pride. Filthy pride....but they showed me what love was. They did not judge me. We became friends and made wonderful memories together. We went fishing and hiking together. We skipped rocks in the river.

"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action."
-Mother Teresa-

Here I am almost 20 years later, I am beginning to understand the meaning of the mother Teresa quote. I work with individuals with developmental disabilities in my community now. "Making Room"....this is what I am hired to do. Community inclusion. Giving them the best possible quality of life. Helping them find their gifts and abilities. Helping them fulfill their dreams.

I know it wasn't my aunt's fault that she never went out. There was no room in the community. The society doesn't want to acknowledge their existence. The society doesn't know what to do with them. In many countries, these people are sent away to orphanages and institutions to die.

What if my aunt had the chance to go to school and learn to read and to write? What if she had the chance to go fishing and go camping? What if someone had taken the time to find out what her dreams were and helped her fulfill them? I know my grandma loved her. I know my mother loved her. But what if.....

Things are so much better now here in Canada. There are programs, supports, organizations available to help individuals with disabilities have the quality of life they deserve. But I want to ask each of us to look into our hearts. Be honest. When we see a person with disabilities, what is in your heart? Do we pity them? Ignore them? Judge them? Avoid them? Are we uncomfortable? Programs alone aren't going to give them the best life possible. They need a community around them. People who will support them and help them achieve their dreams. They need friends just as we need friends. Will you be that person to someone with disability?

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. This is a day set aside to promote awareness and understanding towards people with Down Syndrome. I am asking myself, "what tangible things can I do to seek a better quality of life for individuals with Down Syndrome (or any other disabilities) in my life?" --Even if I was not hired to do so. And what motivates me to do this? I do not want to be motivated by pride or pity. I do not do this because it makes me feel better about myself. If that's what motivates me, I might as well just go home and forget about it. It isn't something 'special' we are doing. We do this because we are all humans.

A small gesture. Kind words. Making room in your life. It means the world to them when your actions are motivated by love. And I promise you, you will be blessed and changed forever.

Please take a moment to read this post by my friend Krista. As a part of World Down Syndrome Day, she is asking us to give towards adoption grant (through Reese's Rainbow) for a little boy named Bennett. Reese's Rainbow is an organization which promotes and provides support for international adoption of children with Down Syndrome. I have decided to support Krista's effort by giving away some of my handmade bags as incentives for you to give. PLEASE check it out and consider giving.

Reese's Rainbow

This is the time of year when we ask; how can we give abundantly?
I believe one way is by joining with family, friends and strangers that have the information to move forward, and give gifts that will make a world of difference in so many lives.
My friend Krista has signed up to be a Reese's Rainbow Christmas Warrior. Reese's Rainbow promotes the international adoption of children with Down syndrome. Krista has a precious little daughter with down syndrome, Ella. Please take the time to read the beautiful story of Ella, on her blog, One Beautiful Life.
Krista is an amazing advocate for these precious children. I would love to support Krista in her effort to raise some funds for Bennett. By raising money to offer adoption grants on waiting children, Reese's Rainbow is able to give adoptive families the extra financial help they need to bring a child with Down syndrome home from a miserable existence in overseas orphanages and institutions. Having worked with People with disabilities for most of my adult life, this is a cause that is close to my heart as well.
Click on the link below to read about this precious Bennett. You will read about what life is like for him as an orphan, who lives with down syndrome in Ukraine, and where he is headed. While you are visiting her blog, please notice big buttons on the right side, that will also provide you with a lot more information.
Giving abundantly even when we have only little. Though we have hope, when others do not. Small donations all add up tremendously. Krista has committed to raise $1000 before Christmas, but together, we can raise even more than $1000 and unite Bennett with his forever family soon. Thank you for reading and considering this. Wishing you all a festive season of Hope!

Bennett's Profile on Reeses's Rainbow

A True Canadian

The day Obama was elected US president, Maya told me that 'WE' had a new president and she recognized his face at the magazine rack in the grocery store.  'I learned about him at school'.

I asked her if she knew who Canada's prime minister was.  She looked puzzled saying, 'what's a prime minister?'

Going Fair Trade

I had a vision. In the middle of Superstore. It went like this. I saw a young mother in Cambodia. Sewing dresses in a factory. Pretty dresses. Spring flowers all over. Tears run down her face. Thinking of her little girl with grandma back home. Smell of sweat. Barely know the woman who work at the sewing machine right next to her because she has to sew so many dresses a day. No time to chat while at work. Her little girl back home. In rags. She looks at the dress and wonders who would wear this. A wealthy westerner? A princess? She thinks, “I sure would love to have something so pretty for my little girl….” “Maybe in my next life, I will be so lucky”
I am holding the dress at the checkout at Superstore. “$14. Made in Cambodia”. I shake the vision off my mind and pay for the dress…for my little Tori. So pretty.

We hear the term “Fair Trade” alot lately. It’s funny what can become “trendy”. If Martha Stewart puts it in her magazine, you can be assured that it will become trendy even if it was seriously ugly. I am baffled at the things that are considered “trendy” these days. I get a bit annoyed when people buy ‘Fair Trade” goods simply because it’s trendy. But I shouldn’t be so skeptical. It could be worse.

I’ve always had a “green” streak in my heart. But with this vision of Cambodian mother and some encouragement from some dear friends, I’ve become more interested in thinking about the process of a product getting into my hand beginning with how the materials are gathered. Now, let me be clear. I am not here to ‘preach’ on my little soap box or point finger at those who do not agree. This has been my journey lately and I just want to write about it. I’m not here to criticize anyone. So, after that being said….whenever Tori wears that dress, I think of her…the young mother. She may be just a fragment of my imagination, but she made me think differently about things that I own. I went through the house and packed away a bunch of stuff, starting with toys. I am hoping to have a garage sale in the next few weeks. I talked to Scott about taking a different approach when it comes to birthday celebrations. Just 1 or 2 friends and take them to the Zoo or Science Centre and DO something really special. Spend more time doing stuff with kids. Talking to them more. Playing games, exercising our imaginations. Playing “I spy” in the car. Painting rocks.

Anyways, I realized that being “Fair Trade” will make me the kind of a mother I’ve always strived to be. More involved, roll on the floor with the kids kind of a mom. Let me be clear here though. The last thing I want through this journey is making my kids suffer with the sense of guilt. They are so little and they don’t understand…not yet. But maybe a bit by bit, they will. I took them to “Ten Thousand Villages” the other day. They thought the store had some wonderful things from around the world. I want to help their eyes to be open to the bigger world around them. As we carefully took each item off the shelf to examine them, I told them, “this came from a country called Thailand…Uncle Sam and Auntie Cecile’s baby was born there. And they have elephants there.”

So, yes, we have “My Littlest Pet shop” and I shop at Joe Fresh Clothing. I don’t think I am a fanatic. But I can say truly that by thinking twice about things we buy and trying to minimize our consumption, I feel more fulfilled. I see more of my kids and I feel close to them. I have less and simpler life, but my joy has been doubled. Ironic isn’t it?

I’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg at this point in my journey. I had my first cup of Fair Trade coffee today. I’m not a coffee drinker…at all. I loved it! I am also aware that it is next to impossible to go completely ‘religious’ about this kind of life style. So, I intend to not make myself or those around me especially my family feel guilty when we are not able to access fair trade goods. But rather, when we come across them, I want to take interest and delight in the discovery of how things have been made. And in the process, maybe I get to be a good mom…now, that’s a bonus, for sure.