Dear Renée,

Dear Renée,

I attended your husband Dan's, celebration of life yesterday. As I walked into the auditorium, immediately, the beautiful picture of Dan caught my eye. You are instantly drawn to his smile and really awesome hair. It was an inviting and welcoming atmosphere for all of his friends and family. I knew from the moment I walked through the doors, we would be celebrating a man who has impacted the lives of so many. A man who made a difference in this world.

We sat near the front, I looked around and could feel all of the love, respect and admiration in the room. Dan had a lot of friends, whether they were family, business or drinking buddies. He was loved.
You asked Dan's voice coach to share songs that meant something to Dan and his family. They were all beautiful. I laughed. I cried. I knew that each song had a special place in all of your hearts. Hearing Dan's voice, that is something that you get to share with Audrey for a lifetime, she gets to continue to sing with her daddy night after night.

As I sat and listened to all of the speeches that were given by friends and family, I realized that Dan was somebody who people looked up to. He was the organizer. He was the person who kept up his friendships. He valued the importance of being a loyal friend, a loyal husband and a loyal son and brother. He lived his life to the fullest and made sure to include those who were most important to him.
The love that he had for his young daughter is a love that you know is unbreakable. I'm pretty sure that Audrey was Dan's hero. Dan was 40 and Audrey is 5. The bond and connection that they shared, is one that no other will be able to match. He will continue to take care of Audrey, he will watch over her and protect her. He will always be her daddy.

I have only ever met Dan a couple of times. It's unfortunate that I wasn't able to get to know this amazing man. Yesterday, while listening to others share their stories, I realized that I have missed out. He was a mentor, a best friend, a go-getter, a thoughtful and kind-hearted man. He was generous, stubborn, a perfectionist, a business man, a son, a reliable and trustworthy friend. The qualities that Dan possessed, were qualities that most of us work on all of our lives, but don't always acquire. He was one of a kind.

My words to you my friend.

Your journey ahead will be difficult. You lost your partner, your lover, your best friend. You are left with raising your beautiful daughter, but this will be what allows you to heal. Audrey will keep you grounded. Audrey will still want to play, dance and go places. She will force you to be present. This is the time where people return to their lives, while you sit and try to find the reason, why cancer took your husband's life. I don't always understand why God calls some home earlier then others. Always remember that Dan will be with you forever, in your heart, in your dreams. He will watch over you and your family.
You will heal. You will find the strength to move on but you will hold all of the memories and cherished moments close to your heart.
Talk about Dan, share stories with others. Keep his memory alive. Let your friends and family support you. Lean on others. Cry when you need to cry. Get mad when you feel anger. For most, what you are experiencing, is not our reality. We don't know what it is like to lose a spouse at a very young age. It's sometimes tough coming up with the right words to comfort you, but remember that you have an extensive support system that surrounds you and will always be there for you. You will find strength within yourself that you didn't know existed. You will find courage within yourself that you didn't know existed. You provided your husband with a loving and caring home, filled with laughs, support and family values. Dan is proud of you Renée. 

"...the most important thing is, even if we're apart....
I'll always be with you." - A.A. Milne

Love,
Krista

TRUST FUND DONATION LINK

A Look Back On 2014

A Look Back On 2014!

New Year's 2013

 

Our first donations for the baskets

 

Mom and dad think that the bear pictures are coming to an end

 

Working so hard

 

My first love

 

Mom walked away

 

Just one more month

 

EEG - I loved it

 

My first love

 

My mom is on a mission

 

First basket

 

Brinley's second birthday

 

Funky sock day

 

Getting rid of the soothers - it was working out well

 

What is this white stuff?

 

And....we're done!

 

No more night oxygen - April/14

 

My second love - Disneyland - April/14

 

Sometimes you need to eat ice cream for breakfast

 

I'm always happy ;)

 

Matching pyjamas :)

 

My best friend

 

Grandpa retired

 

A fun vacation to Radium

 

Dad got a speeding ticket and mom laughed....hysterically!

 

Adele's first birthday

 

Brinley became a Jedi Warrior

 

Sort of learnt how to ride a bike

 

I have a sense of humour

 

I'm gorgeous

 

Making a difference

 

My second love and forever love

 

My second Halloween

 

Stronger and working so hard

 

Silly!

 

<3

 

Music Therapy has been one of our best decisions for the girls

 

Our baskets have grown :)

 

I'm not too sure....

 

Loved Santa

 

Potty training

 

Thank you to all of our friends and family for the love and support over the past year. We are blessed, thankful and grateful. It has been a great year for our family. We have delivered 12 welcome baskets to families who have a baby born with Down syndrome. We have received donations from all over the world. Thank you! We have been featured on Global News and in several magazines. We have done presentations at our local elementary school and we were recently asked to submit photos of both girls to a major clothing company who is taking part in Changing the Face of Beauty. It's been a busy and wonderful year. Our goal is not fame, our goal is to get the word out, to educate, advocate and bring some comfort and joy to families. If you would like to donate or if you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email -

krowland23@hotmail.com or you can contact me through Adele's Over the Rainbow Baskets - Down syndrome LOVIN

 

Have a wonderful 2015! We are looking forward to making an even bigger difference in the year to come. Stay tuned! :)

Love,

The Collins Family xo

#IMREADY - Changing the Face of Beauty

On November 1st, 2014, Changing the Face of Beauty launched a campaign encouraging everyone to call out their favourite retailers and asked them to include models of different abilities in 2015. 

When one sweet little girl graced the pages of Target's flyer, the world stepped up, sharing the flyer and picture. It went viral quickly, letting the world know that it's time to change the face of beauty.
People view beauty as the wide-eyed child, with perfect cheekbones, strutting their stuff in kiddie couture and trying to sell everything from fruit snacks to automobiles. The perfect child model does not include those with Down syndrome, autism, wheelchair bound or any other (dis)ability.

It's time for companies and magazines to include children of varying abilities. Inclusion and acceptance shows that you are a company that cares about all children. You respect families and are teaching the world that all children are worthy. All children are beautiful. All children need to feel loved, appreciated and respected.
When companies include children and adults with (dis)abilities in their campaign ads, you are taking a step forward, a step in the right direction.

Who decides what is beautiful?

When I look at Adele, I see total perfection. I see beautiful, almond shaped, blue eyes. I see perfectly shaped ears and sweet, full, pink lips. I see a smile that lights up a room. I see a cute, tiny little nose that is shaped perfectly for her face. I see this little being that is so full of personality and life. Adele is beautiful.

I want to see my daughter grace the cover of magazines. I want to see her representing clothing companies. I want to be able to tell her that the world thinks she is perfect and worthy enough to be apart of major ad campaigns. I want the world to tell her that she is beautiful.

The road for our children is not always paved in gold. There are many challenges and bumps along this journey. I believe that by showing equality and respect for all children, teens and adults, it is advancement and a positive move in the right direction.  

Share the post below on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Share this blog post! Let's change the face of beauty.

“Hey (your favourite retailer) #IMREADY for change.  We want YOU to include models of all abilities in 2015.  We want YOU to be part of the #15in2015 . 15 retailers including models of all abilities. It's time to step up. Let's see change. Let's see inclusion and acceptance."

Adele's Over the Rainbow Baskets - Down syndrome LOVIN

Christmas Unplugged

I was thinking about how I want to spend my Christmas. The past three weeks have been hectic, full of appointments and dates and outings with the girls. It's been a lot of go go go. I try hard to keep to a schedule with the girls and work at not depriving them of their naps. It is important for them to get the rest that they need and it keeps this momma sort of sane.

Having Adele, our world has truly changed. When people think about Down syndrome, they think of intellectual delays and that's it. It is truly so much more then that. I have two full binders filled with appointment forms, milestones, education, government links, mileage and parking forms, funding and so much more. She goes to ACH for hearing, vision and pulmonary appointments, plus we go for occupational therapy, physiotherapy and starting speech in the new year. It's a lot of work and dedication and making sure that she receives all of the care that she needs and deserves. While she is this small little being, we want to access all of the necessary services and supports so that she grows into a beautiful, strong and capable girl. We are busy. All of this hard work will pay off. All of this hard work is worth it.

Having Brinley means that she comes along for the appointments and participates in her sister's therapy. Brinley has become this caring and wonderful big sister. We have decided to access private therapy in our home and Brinley helps the therapist and her sister while we work on feedings and exercises for Adele. This kid has taught us so much about compassion and love. She is such a beautiful little girl. We are proud.

My point....our lives are so busy. I make sure that everybody gets the perfect gift, which sometimes isn't so easy because we are a one income household. There are six kids to buy for, both sets of grandparents, visiting relatives, James' work, all of our therapists, James and I fill each other's stockings as well as a few more gifts for others. Sometimes, I think that we have truly lost the real meaning of Christmas. We go out to the busy malls, with our lists and make sure that we get the perfect gift for each person on our list. We spend so much money every year and sometimes forget what it is truly all about. We put loads of gifts under the tree for our children and this sets the bar for future years. It gets bigger and more extravagant every year. You spend more as they get older and the demands get bigger.
I am guilty of this. Brinley will be three in March and as many of you know, she is obsessed with Minnie Mouse. We should have purchased some Disney shares, I'm sure that they are pleased with how much money we have handed over to them. I see something and I buy it. Brinley reaches her hand out and grabs something off of the shelf in WalMart, I buy it. I love buying her goodies and I love seeing her smile. We get the new Minnie toy back home, it is played with for a short time and then it is forgotten. I was pretty sure that this would have been her favourite toy.



What do our kids need? Our kids need love and for their parents to be present. Our children need for us to spend quality time together. Our children need for us to stop telling them "in a minute." I have told Brinley to give me a minute because I am sending an email or a text. I have actually told my child to wait because technology has sucked me in.....again.
Our children want us to sit on the floor with them and wrestle and make jokes and do arts and crafts. They want us to laugh with them and hug them and kiss them and roll around on the floor with them. We are teaching our kids that the bigger the birthday party, the better. The more kids, the better. The more toys at Christmas, the better. The more designer clothes, the better. We are losing the true meaning of how to properly love our children. Brinley and Adele are still at the age where we get to decide how greedy they will be in the future. I sometimes feel that I want the bigger and better, not because I am competing with all of the Pinterest moms, but because I think that I should be doing this for my children. I should have big birthdays, I should invite all of my friends, I should do all of this because this is what my children would want me to do.
Our children want their families together at Christmas time. Our children want us to put down our cell phones and IPads. Our children want us to play with them and laugh with them. Our children want us to sit together for Christmas dinner. Our children want us to be together as a family.

This Christmas, we are giving our children the best present ever. We are going to be present.
We are going to come together as a family and we will unplug. We will value these times. We will cherish these moments, while they are still little. These moments pass by quickly and we won't get them back. I want my children to know what is important in life and value the true meaning of what it means to be spoiled - health, happiness and family.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Side Note - our town was flooded in June 2013. Many families have not yet recovered and are still out of their homes. There is a huge need for gifts for children. I know that the deadline has passed, but if you are out this way, I'm sure that they would greatly appreciate a toy for a child in need.
Salvation Army urgently seeking Christmas hamper donations