Changing the World....

When I set out on this journey a little under 18 months ago, I had no idea what it would entail. I was scared, I was worried, I was completely unsure of my ability to raise a child that others believed was different in a world that seems to put so much value in being the status quo.

 But all it took was one look at my tiny princess to know that I would virtually move mountains to make this world a better place for children like her to grow up in.

 As time has passed since that day when I first gazed upon her face, I have been shown the sometimes overwhelming opposition to the goals of all parents of children with any type of special needs. And I have been disheartened by it more than once. I have found myself returning again and again to those same doubts that I had in the beginning. Can I truly change the world? Most days, I truly don't think that I can......
I cast my words out there into the great unknown, opening myself up for the world to see, never knowing if anything I say makes a difference, if anyone truly cares.
All in the hopes that I will reach one person, change one life. 

I have always firmly believed that tiny Lydia will change the world more than I ever will. Her grace, her beauty, her heart stopping smile, and her determination to beat the odds will take her further in life than anything I could ever hope to do to pave the way for her. But I also feel a responsibility to find little opportunities along the way that just might lighten the load that she will eventually carry on her tiny shoulders and make the path just a tiny bit easier.....

I don't always jump on the typical bandwagons that make the rounds in our community. But I try very hard to make even a small difference where I feel led to. I speak my mind about a variety of topics that I feel are important, not really caring if the world in general feels as if I am out of line or not.
I don't care if I have the world's approval. All the accolades I need are the unwavering love of my family and for my God to be proud of me.

With all of that being said, the last few weeks have done much to bolster my faith in the power of words (and a whole lot of prayers) to actually scale virtual mountains. I have witnessed the power of one blogger's post, which has spun the author into a stratosphere of publicity, allowing him to spread the word about our amazing kids in a very public way. I have witnessed a movement spread like wild fire throughout the special needs community, reaching its hands across the dividing line between our own little club into the wider world, resulting in the very real possibility that the life of one little girl will be saved. 17000+ signatures, 17000+ people standing up and saying that it is not acceptable to deny a child a chance to live and grow because of a label. And I have been a humble participant in watching the numbers of people who stand beside us at IDSC For Life swell to nearly 900, all standing together to say that ALL life is precious....
My faith is renewed. My resolve is reborn. I may not ever receive fame with my words and I am okay with that. I may not have it within my power to change every closed mind who happens upon this blog and as much as that saddens me, I'm really okay with that as well. I may not be able to change the world myself.....but with so many standing beside me, I CAN and will make a difference, even if it's only in the life of one small girl.....who already made a world of difference in me.