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Advocate Down Syndrome

#29DaysofAwareness February 29th

This is my last formal post in this series for the month of February for #29DaysofAwareness.

It hasn’t been easy to keep up with these posts this year. I think the challenge lies in the fact that I have also stepped up as Best Buddies Country Director for the Philippines in November. I devote so much of my time to the Buddies and the activities we host that further inclusion, and I have had a hard time sitting down to write more thoughtful and engaging pieces to share with all of you. 

I have asked some friends to write guest posts, just like I did last year. I have shared their stories alongside mine, knowing that as our stories unfold, they are also intertwined. I have also asked my kids to get involved this year by writing posts for their baby sister to encourage their sharing of what it is like to have a sister with Down Syndrome. Their bonds with each other are just as important as the work we do together as family to make the world a better place for her. I write so much of what I feel and hope as Gelli’s mother, so I thought the shift in perspective by having two of her siblings write something might be a refreshing change.

I tried to mix in my “feel na feel” posts with some informative posts on where to get help or where to get information for new parents here in Manila, so that if the time comes for them to search and look for answers in their own new facet of their parenting that maybe I could be of some help in providing a little direction.

Since December, I am happy to say that I have been contacted by a few parents of brand new babies. They have shared a bit of their beginnings with their new found extra chromosome and I hope that in some small way, I have been able to ease their fears and worries just a bit… #morebabiestolove

I know that’s what I needed in the beginning.

I needed someone to tell me to stop worrying.

To take it day by day…

And to just love on that brand new baby, because most of the time, that’s all we need to give of ourselves in those first few months.

I find it a bit challenging to continuously write about what our lives are like with Gelli in it. NOT because there isn’t enough to write about and share…

Because there is a lot…

But so many times, I start a post and think this will be great for someone to read…and then I stop myself, because I worry about oversharing. I think there is a fine line between sharing and possibly oversharing when we are talking we write for our blogs.

Of course there are many dangers to writing so publicly about our lives…I take this into consideration and weigh the risks and the benefits…for all of my kids.

Ok, so where is this post going? I have a child with special needs. I live in a place where children and adults with special needs are often discriminated against and even shunned. I want to make the world a better place for her. 

I started this blog more than three years ago to do exactly that.

I’m not quite sure where it will be in another three years, but I’m enjoying the process. I feel like I am shifting gears…gears in life, gears in my writing, and even gears in my advocacies. I’m excited to continue sharing all of these things with all of you, and I hope that at the very least, if you are coming back again and again, you are enjoying the process too. 

If you were able to learn something new from these past #29DaysofAwareness, I hope it it is something that you will pass on and share with others as well. There is a beauty in that sharing that doesn’t just benefit you, or the person you are sharing it with. 

It’s also benefitting Gelli.

 

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Comments

  1. Peter A. Ressa says

    March 8, 2016 at 11:46 pm

    Love Evangelina and the job you are doing raising my darling granddaughter!

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We were a little early for therapy this morning, s We were a little early for therapy this morning, so @gelliaventajado got to spend a little time with @grace_loedin!

@thevanguardacademyph is still open for enrollment in their summer program, and has a full staff for all therapies and interventions. We really love her school and all of the faculty and staff. It makes a huge difference when you have confidence in the people you leave your child with for learning!
Whipped Feta #Recipe up on @kitchen143 over @rappl Whipped Feta #Recipe up on @kitchen143 over @rappler now!

Link in my profile!

https://www.rappler.com/nation/kitchen-143-dreaming-greece-try-making-easy-whipped-feta-dip/
Thinking about the day I got off the plane in LaGu Thinking about the day I got off the plane in LaGuardia, was picked up by one of my dearest friends and spent the entire day at the beach just catching up on LIFE.

It was a breezy day. Overcast. A little chilly to be in a suit, but it was perfect to catch up with my girl Candy. Sometimes, if you have chosen your friends well, you can pick up where you left off, as if no time has passed at all. 

Just like I did, sitting in that beach chair, feeling the mist of the Atlantic Ocean, and watching the seagulls pick and the seaweed.

Thank you Candy! For the friendship, for dropping everything to come and pick me up. Drive me around and have dinner with me and Fayth. 

Wishing I was sitting on this beach with you right now!!!
Eggs Benny with BBQ Pulled Pork was just one of ma Eggs Benny with BBQ Pulled Pork was just one of many dishes that we enjoyed during #SundayBrunch at Waterside in @solaireresort .

From cornbread, to mom’s potato salad, melt in your mouth whisky cured short ribs, homemade sausages and more. This #BrunchBuffet had @manila.gent and I rolling each other out the door!

Hard to choose which was our favorite from the feast that was set before us!

Brunch is inclusive of some delicious drinks, some Southern smoked and BBQ Fare, and a most colorful sweet dessert buffet by way of Milkshake Bar!
Movie Night at home with the big screen made easy Movie Night at home with the big screen made easy by @lumosprojector_ph!

Summer Lovin’ ain’t over for #TeamGellibean. Hop on over to www.mommanmanila.com to read my full review on how easy this #homeprojector is to use when you want to watch your favorite family film!!

Gelli and I have watched Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Grease, and BTS Videos. Up next? The Sound of Music! 

Want to have your own #LUMOSRAYProjectoe delivered to your home? Stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway, too!

Link in my profile!

https://www.mommanmanila.com/lumos-ray-projector-review/
Missing my @migaventajado The short time I had w Missing my @migaventajado 

The short time I had with this guy in Florida was definitely something I will look back on. Wish we had more time to explore and do some fun things on our own.

Gah. How is this kid 20 years old already?
I remember when he was little and he loved peanut butter, chicken nuggets, Kylie Minogue, and sitting on my lap. He was squishy, in tune with my feelings, and I was always worried that he might have an asthma attack in his sleep so I would nebulize him every few hours. He always looked at new experiences with gratitude and wonder, much how he did while we were in FL together.😍

Praying he continues to strengthen his faith as he grows. 🙏🏻👨🏻🙌🏻

Miss you Miggy!
I’ll be sharing a little bit about my faith toda I’ll be sharing a little bit about my faith today with some university students. 

I have shared my testimony with other mommas, women in our community, and parents through this platform and others. It’s always come naturally and has often ended in tears of gratitude and joy for His faithfulness and unending LOVE. 

Of course, sharing parts of myself with others who may find it helpful is a privilege. But for some reason, I am always just a little bit anxious and apprehensive right before I am about to present parts of my story.

Perhaps today, I’m anxious because the format for how I will share is a bit different, I won’t have the comforts I have gotten used to since working from home. Instead I’ll print some cue cards for myself so I can stay on task and within my given time period. 

I love the opportunity this endeavor has given me, to reflect on His presence in my life. He’s been there all along, even if I didn’t know it. I love the understanding that I can have these intimate conversations with my Creator knowing that He has plans for me. He loves me. He knows all the hairs on my head. And that He knows what I need to fulfill my purpose.

This doesn’t mean I won’t have challenges, or times when I feel broken in my life and faith. In fact, there have been many times where my faith has faltered. All of it just means that He is fortifying me through each and every lesson. He is allowing me to create a greater understanding of who I am, where I am supposed to be, and how He will get me there.

Do you share parts of your faith here?
What does that look like?

#ThoughtfulThursday #faith #thoughtful 
#sharingiscaring
Brunch feels with beautiful ingredients. Tous Les Brunch feels with beautiful ingredients.

Tous Les Jours Toasted Ciabatta with toppings for everyone.

Exhibit A: Miso Peanut Butter Chickpea Salad with grated hard boiled eggs and fried onion strips
Exhibit B: Herbed Cream Cheese with Avocados and Everything But The Bagel seasoning
Exhibit C: Whipped Peanut Butter with Raspberry Merlot Peppercorn Jam and fresh berries

Thankfully, I was able to have a bite of each one. I cannot choose. Which one would you call dibs on?

A  B  or C?
If you love #Brunch and seafood the way I do, then If you love #Brunch and seafood the way I do, then this Seafood Tower @jonesalldayph will tempt your tummy and make your tastebuds sing. 🎶

You’re welcome! 🤗
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Definitely not enough time with these two!!!
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