Project Happie

💜💜 So grateful for the hard work of the Truman Greek community! 💜💜

Greek Life Raises More Than $25,000 for Local Charities - Vol. 28 No. 30 - April 22, 2024 | Truman Today Features Greek students present a check to representatives of Project Happie, the Truman Serve Center Food Pantry and the Kirksville Parks and Recreation Scholarship Program. As part of the Greek Week philanthropy efforts, students raised $22,421.08 for Project Happie and the Kirksville Parks and Recreation....

The Truman State Greek community raised over $11,000 for Project HAPPIE! We’re so grateful for their support and excited about our plans for their donation. Can’t wait to share info on some new initiatives soon! 💙💛

We so appreciate the support of Truman’s Greek community!! 💙💛

It’s the last day of our “21 things we love about our daughter” (although I could go on for a year easy!). It’s been fun celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) and our incredible girl. 💙💛
21. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: even at her young age, she’s one of the wisest people I know. She doesn’t lose sight of what truly matters: forgiving quickly and fully, loving unconditionally, being grateful, spreading joy, treating all with kindness, seeing the good, living in the moment, and appreciating small moments of beauty. The world would be a better place if we all lived like she does. We are so lucky to have her!

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💙💛
20. She’s a loyal sister and best friend.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💛💙
19. She charms people everywhere she goes. Here, she’s making friends with Truman students while trick or treating.

We’re sharing 21 things we love about our daughter to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. 💛💙
18. She’s so determined. When she’s learning something new or doing something difficult, she doesn’t give up easily.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💛🌍💙
16. She loves herself some good food. In my family, known for planning dinner while still eating lunch, this trait is very appreciated.

We’re sharing 21 things we love about our daughter to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (3/21). 💙🌍💛
15. She’s such a good sport when her sister and dad and I have shenanigans in mind. She’s along for the ride! She’s so fun.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💛🌍💙
14. She sees the good in everyone, and she brings out the good in everyone. She keeps the rest of us focused on living in the moment, appreciating good times, and spreading love.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💛🌍💙
13. She cheats at co****le, and it’s adorable. 🤣 Seriously, though, she is curious and loves exploring and finding something fun and interesting to do.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💛🌍💙
12. She’s always been a great imitator, and she uses this skill to make people laugh (she’s a ham!) and to learn new words, sounds, games, dances, etc. etc.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💙🌍💛
11. She’s always been the best at snuggles. 🥰

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (today!) by sharing 21 things we love about our daughter. 💙💛
10. She’s so brave. Whether it’s undergoing a difficult medical procedure or trying some new adventure, she approaches everything with grace and courage. “Brave and tough” is one of her favorite phrases for good reason!

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💛🌍💙
9. She loves to read and can spend a long time looking through books on her own or cuddling on your lap enjoying a good story. 📚

Tomorrow is World Down Syndrome Day! People like to celebrate by wearing fun socks because chromosomes look like socks. Help Project Happie celebrate by posting a picture of you rocking your fun socks and tag us!
💙 🌍 💛

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💙💛
8. She is super fun and always down for whatever crazy plan her sister has thought up.

For World Down Syndrome Day (3/21), we’re sharing 21 things we love about our daughter. 💙💛
7. Despite having a more limited vocabulary than typically developing kids, she is skilled at getting her message across. I’ve always been impressed at how well she understands the communication around her and cleverly uses her words to communicate her needs. Also, she goes after what she wants—you gotta respect that! Here, she is very clearly telling me she wants the ice cream on my side of the table. 🤣❤️

To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (3/21), I’m sharing 21 things I love about our daughter. 💙💛💙💛
6. She savors spending time with the people she loves. Every morning when I sit down by her for breakfast, she says, “By you” and smiles her huge infectious smile. At least 4 more times while we’re eating together, she looks over, grins, and repeats, “By you.” I always respond, “I love sitting by you” and mean it completely. It’s impossible not to appreciate special family moments with her around. She always remembers to be grateful for them. We are so lucky to have her.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💙💛
5. She never lets an accomplishment pass by without a big celebration. When she’s proud of something she’s done, she jumps up and down and yells, “I did it!” When she was younger and met developmental milestones, she always clapped and grinned the biggest smile you ever saw.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (3/21) with 21 things we love about our daughter. 💛💙
4. She wants to do everything her big sister does and works hard to keep up with her.

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day by sharing 21 things we love about our daughter. 💙💛
3. Yesterday I shared that she looks for joy wherever she goes. At the same time, she’s not “always happy.” She gets mad, sad, frustrated, annoyed, etc. just like the rest of us. Her strength is that she quickly and fully forgives once the issue has been resolved and the wrong has been righted. She doesn’t hold on to anger. As someone who tends to hold a grudge, I can learn a lot from her!

To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (3/21), I’m gonna post 21 things I love about our daughter. 💙💛💙💛
2. She savors every beautiful little moment. I’ve never met anyone better at remembering to stop and smell the roses. She finds joy wherever she can. 🌹 ❤️

💙💛 To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (3/21), I’m gonna share 21 things I love about our daughter.
1. She smiles with her whole face and hugs with her whole body. Whatever she’s doing, she puts her full heart and soul into it! 💛💙

If we changed our cultural definition of success, how would we view Down syndrome? What if it wasn’t about mansions or high-paying jobs, but instead about how often you practice kindness and empathy? Whether you live with compassion, joy, gratitude, and love? Would people with DS be some of the most successful members of their communities?

New research about how people with DS were treated thousands of years ago has got me wondering…

Ancient genomes reveal Down Syndrome in past societies Burials show that children with Down Syndrome and Edwards Syndrome were recognized as members of their communities