A year ago I had not even heard of COVID 19 and certainly had no idea that we would be living through a pandemic a year later. I didn’t blog as much this year, but I think what I did write was quality. With that and as we say good-bye to 2020, these were my top five blogs for 2020.*

Coming in at number five and appropriate for an election year is – We Don’t Always Agree: Be Civil Anyhow I must admit that I think a few people need to re-read this one.

21 Years of Beautiful is number four and also my personal favorite for obvious reasons. Rachel has truly made my life more beautiful.

Coming in at number three is, Rachel’s New Adventure: Another COVID Story. I am always humbled by your interest in the adventures of Rachel. While it’s been a different year than we had imagined, she has managed it with grace, perseverance, and joy. We are thankful that she has had other growth opportunities during this strangest of times.

Number two was picked up by several online outlets and is actually a re-imagined from a speech from six years ago. 21 Things You Should Know (What I Want New Parents of Children With Down Syndrome to Know) is appropriate for those with a new diagnosis and also some nuggets for the journey.

Number one, also picked up by several online outlets, A Few Covid Concerns as the Mom of an Adult Daughter with Down Syndrome (aka Supporting My Daughter with Down Syndrome as She Pursues Her Goals.)

I hope you will revisit some of these and find encouragement and humanness. One of the reasons I started blogging is because I hope that our journey will give others tools for their journeys.

Plainly stated, it has just been a weird year. I have found my hope in my faith and strength and encouragement through the gift of wonderful friends I can text, call, write, and follow on social media.

When the pandemic started and we started going into lockdown, I wrote in my journal that I had high hopes that God wanted us to use this time to learn to be kinder and more thoughtful. That is still my hope. So today I leave you with the Prayer of St. Francis and whether you are a person of faith or not, I believe it to be good instruction for all of us as we tackle 2021. Happy New Year to all.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

*The two top blogs were picked up by online outlets, I do not have access to information on how many people read them through those outlets.