Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?!

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN McCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure - right from Day One! - that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

SARAH PALIN: I could see the chicken crossing the road from my house.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's' intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth? That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay, too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side.' That chicken should not be crossing the road.. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heartwarming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2008, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2008. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

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A friend sent this to me... Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

(Author Unknown - unfortunately.) I'll be happy to give credit to the original author if one makes themself known.

Skagit County Buddy Walk 2008 - Huge Success

This is the photo and captioning from the front page of the Skagit Valley Herald - Sunday Edition for October 12, 2008. Click here to visit the Skagit Valley Herald.

The Second Annual Skagit County Buddy Walk was a huge success, drawing approximately 400 people from around the county. We walked to raise awareness that people living with Down syndrome are equal contributing members of society, (not sick, ill, diseased or worthless "r*t*rds" [I HATE that word!!!] as some are led to believe). They are integral family members and valuable contributors in schools, churches, communities, and workplaces throughout our communities. Their participation adds so much value to everyday life throughout our communities in so many different ways.

Jessica's contribution is one of encouragement. She is the biggest and best cheerleader for her friends and family members. She is always the first one to say, "Good job!" or "Yay!". She thoroughly enjoys watching others succeed, whether in sports, music, at recess, in school, whatever effort she observes. Thank you, Jessica, for reminding us that we can enjoy life as we encourage others to do the same - "life is about enjoying the success of others... not all about me and my success".

We couldn't have ordered better weather for the event as we walked and celebrated the day's festivities in the warmth of the Fall sunshine, hardly a cloud in sight with just a nip in the air - perfect light sweater (& rainbow scarf) weather. [Not too sure how Jessica keeps getting the feature picture...maybe it was our bright rainbow colored scarves that attracted the reporters' attention...? For the past two years, I have made scarves especially for members of "Team Jessica" to wear as we walk together. This year the fabric was bright rainbow colors as seen above. Of course, I couldn't be more proud, though, we would be very happy to share the "spotlight"!]

Beyond the obvious, getting to celebrate Jessica for who she is... Yesterday was so much fun for me as a parent of a child with Down syndrome for so many other reasons as well. First, it was a huge blessing and encouragement to have so many of our friends, family, church family and community contacts come out and walk with us. It is this kind of love and practical support that makes all the difference in the world when raising a child with special needs.

Second, it is always a joy to see individuals with Down syndrome enjoying life at all ages and stages - from the youngest to the oldest. There were several musicians (with ds) who assisted Jon Dalgren and his band "Out of the Ashes" as they kept us all entertained with lively, amazing music throughout the day. These young (and old) musicians are very talented and obviously thoroughly enjoyed their most important role of the day! The day would have been very boring and dull without them!!! Thank you, Jon & band for the gift of music!

Thirdly, I was so inspired by the positive attitudes of all the volunteers and walkers! The way that so many community members came out and volunteered of their time, energy, and financial resources to make the lives of our ds community so much brighter was truly motivating. I heard so many compliments about the organization of the event and how it reinforced the message: "steps for a brighter tomorrow". One walker commented that, "I didn't realize until today how many people there really are in our county that have Down syndrome". Yes, there really are and there are many, many more who weren't even present.

So to each one of you who supports and encourages our community members with Down syndrome, from the youngest to the oldest, not only for annual events like the Buddy Walk, but on every level every day - in our hospitals, schools, workplaces, recreation venues, homes, and elsewhere - THANK YOU for taking "steps for a brighter tomorrow"! Each one of you make a difference! Thank you!

Myths and Truths about Down Syndrome

Myth: Down syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.

Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 733 live births is a child with Down syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome.

Myth: People with Down syndrome have a short life span.

Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent years, with the average life expectancy approaching that of peers without Down syndrome.

Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.

Truth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35-years-old simply because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother.

Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely “retarded.”

Truth: Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of intellectual disability (formerly known as “retardation”). Children with Down syndrome fully participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome.

Myth: Most people with Down syndrome are institutionalized.

Truth: Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community. They are integrated into the regular education system and take part in sports, camping, music, art programs and all the other activities of their communities. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways.

Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down syndrome.

Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with Down syndrome.

Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in segregated special education programs.

Truth: Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly, individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.

Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.

Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down syndrome for a variety of positions. They are being employed in small- and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions, childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry. People with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.

Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy.
Truth: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like everyone else in the population. They experience the full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.

(Christi Hockel looks up at her fiance Austin Davenport) Click here to read more about their story.

Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.

Truth: People with Down syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.

Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.

Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.

Give a High 5 to someone with Down syndrome today!!!

**All photos (except the one of Christi and Austin - engaged to be married) are of my daughter, Jessica.

Note: The above information (and more) can also be located at the NDSS website.

Local Buddy Walks Spread Message of Acceptance and Inclusion

The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and the Down syndrome community invite the public to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month this October, by participating in one of the 275 Buddy Walks taking place this fall.

"People with Down syndrome, like everyone else, are people first, each with their own unique gifts to contribute to their families, friends and communities," said NDSS President Jon Colman. "Down Syndrome Awareness Month and the Buddy Walk program provide a forum for dispelling stereotypes, educating the general public about their many abilities, and raising awareness for people with Down syndrome."

One in every 733 babies born in the U.S. has Down syndrome. The life expectancy of people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to 60 today. In that same span of time, advancements in education, research and advocacy have had a tremendous impact on the opportunities that individuals with Down syndrome have to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Today, many people with Down syndrome:
• Attend neighborhood schools and learn in typical classes alongside their peers without disabilities.
• Graduate from high school and go to college.
• Comprise a vibrant part of the American workforce.
• Actively participate in the social and recreational aspects of their communities.
• Live independently, make their own choices, and advocate for their rights.

The Buddy Walk
The Down syndrome community has been celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month each October since 1981. The Buddy Walk was created by NDSS in 1995 to provide its affiliates and other local groups with a way to promote acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in their communities. The Buddy Walk also raises funds for local and national programs and services to benefit individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Anyone can participate in this one-mile walk. With more than 275 Buddy Walks taking place in the United States this year - most held in October - there is one near you! Visit http://www.buddywalk.org/ to see a map of local walks. To learn more about Down syndrome and obtain information to share with others during Down Syndrome Awareness Month, visit http://www.ndss.org/.

Inspiration for the Day

"His grip is sure and His patience still endures- there will be no letting go today!" (Line from a song by the Newsboys)

I just read this quote on a friend's facebook status update and it really inspired me! (Thanks, Kristen!) Trust it inspires you as well...

Today when everything else seems so shaky and uncertain, He is our faithful Hope! Thank you Lord!