It has been a big year at our house. Rachel started college and is part of the first class of the Missouri State University Bear POWER program in Springfield, MO. She started in January and loves being a college girl. She is taking acting and hospitality classes, serving as a student senator and learning a lot about independent living. She has found a church (Life.Church) and a campus ministry (The Vine), too. She is hoping to be in a sorority (ADPi). She spent her summer working as a hostess at the Olive Garden. She also assisted in presenting some workshops on ABLE & Grassroots Advocacy at the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention. We were humbled and quite honored when she was selected to receive the Laura Lee Self-Advocate Leadership Award at the State of the Art Conference. We traveled to Reno, NV for her to receive the award and speak (I Really Love My Life). The award is in honor of Laura Lee who was a pioneer in advocating for post-secondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. Laura passed away a few years ago. Her mom is our good friend and amazing advocate in the Down syndrome and disability community. This made it even more special.
In October, our Dora crossed the rainbow bridge. She was 15 and had been the very best puppy-o for Rachel and us. We miss her desperately but know she is running, herding sheep and sunbathing on the other side.
Jonathan continues running both for pleasure and in his work for Sedgwick. Sedgwick just keeps on growing. He has traveled quite a lot this year and always has funny stories.
I continue to do my inclusion and grassroots advocacy gigs. There will never be a lack of policies to be tackled.
Rachel has a way of showing everyone around her that there is joy in the journey. Our wish for you in the coming year is that you will find joy in your journey. May you all have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Piece.”
Jonathan, Jawanda and Rachel Mast
