"Josie" - Missoula, Montana              (Submitted by Mary, Josie's mom)

The name Josilyn means "My Joy" and little did we know how fitting that would be for our 4th child, Josie.

Josie is a delightful, smiling, bright and polite little 4½ year old, blond hair, blue eyed girl. She is engaging, affectionate, cooperative, smart, able to follow routines and directions, loves preschool and enjoys books, movies, eating noodles and exhibits a desire to know the name of every person she meets. Josie is a naturally thankful and cheerful kid, loves bible stories, sings several songs and is talking as well.

Josie has a life verse that is Psalm 138:8 "The Lord will work out His plans for my life!"

I'm glad that I met Josie before I read the text books about Down Syndrome, everyday I let Josie tell me about what Down Syndrome is really like. Children with Down Syndrome are more similar than they are more different from other children! We must also remember that Josie has our genetic makeup as well and so many of her traits are just like those of her family members. Down Syndrome is just a small part of who Josie is. Josie is a person first.

It is good to remember that God didn't make a mistake, Josie has purpose in her life and value as a person. She is a messenger from God, sent to us to see if we are teachable, educable, trainable and if our compassion outweighs our IQ. We have so many lessons to learn, children will do that to you! The best thing anyone ever said to me when Josie was first diagnosed was our neighbor Laurie who said "Oh bless her little heart, she'll be such a fun girl!"

I have never felt "special" or that "if anyone could handle this, you could" as a parent but I have always felt especially chosen for this path. When I feel unable, I have a very big God who is able. He equips us for the road ahead, one step at a time.

It is our intention to give Josie every opportunity and every advantage to enable her to reach her full potential in life. Our goal for Josie is the same as that for our other 3 children: To live a meaningful life, pleasing to God. Josie is well on her way!

Josie has indeed been "Our Joy" and God's gift to us and to our other children. Because of Him we are all learning to be a little different. At first it was grievous to think that we would have to travel a different path with our 4th child. Our concerns were for her but we also knew that our lives were being affected for a lifetime. We are so grateful and feel privileged to raise a special child like Josie. She is a very fascinating person. She has been very healthy and has been learning and growing steadily for which we are very thankful. However we have had much to learn, about Down Syndrome, about Josie and about ourselves.

We are indeed on a new path and not one that many others can understand. For those who wish to get close to Josie, she is like a bright light in their lives. But that is sometimes the unknown secret of raising a child like Josie. There's work involved, and letting go of the way "I" wanted things and looking at things from a new perspective. I am always feeling stretched into new boundaries! Getting educated has shed tremendous light, being in prayer and searching the Word has led us in a dependence upon the Lord instead of leaning on our own abilities. In her development, it will be Josie's love for the Lord that will steer her ability or disability. The same is true for any person... Josie will be more similar than she is more different to the other kids.

But Josie will outshine any of us by her love.

"For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16