#149 He Gives Long Hugs

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  I've posted in the past for World Down Syndrome Day (3:21) details about Down syndrome, what it is, and the impact my brother has had on my life.

You can read those posts here:

All That Matters About People With Down Syndrome 
Jonathan in the Special Olympics of NJ

I hope one day I'll be used to do more to help individuals with Down syndrome than simply dedicating an occasional blog post to them, but until I can be used in a larger capacity this will have to do.  It is my heart's desire to help people with Down syndrome to reach their fullest potential and, most importantly, to be treated by society with the respect and love they deserve.

To promote awareness and recognize the incredible individual my brother, Jonathan, is, here is a glimpse of what Down syndrome has looked like in my life.

What Exactly is Down Syndrome?

It's a baby.

It's a baby becoming a boy.

A boy becoming a man.

It's a smile.

Long hugs.

It's laughter.

Pride.

It's challenges.

And sometimes tears.

It's pushing the limits.

To discover something wonderful.

Something you never believed could be wonderful.

Something special.

Something we need.

Something we should all try...

To be just a little more like.

#127 He is Aware

For once, I'm right on time.

World Down Syndrome Day is tomorrow, March 21st.

The first time I realized this was a date actually etched in calendars across the country, I blogged about it a little late.  You can find that post here.

The second time, not to find myself in the same situation as the year before, I blogged about it a week early.  You'll find that post here.

Rather than give a spiced up version of the point that Jonathan has changed my life in such a drastic and positive way, I've decided to take a more photojournalist approach to this post.

Hopefully these pictures will speak better than my finely laced words ever could.

Jonathan makes my world positively beautiful.