I was appalled by a statistic I read a little while ago. According to an article in Samaritan Ministries Christian Healthcare Newsletter, “When Down syndrome is diagnosed prenatally, 84 to 91 percent of those babies will be killed by abortion.” I sat and shook my head in disbelief. They really have no idea. No idea what they’re missing or what kind of incredible blessings they’re aborting and how much richer their lives could be. No idea at all… I couldn’t help but think of the beautiful little gift God gave our family just over 11 years ago. Meet Christina.  Her nicknames include Teenz, Kessy, C-H and Tina-bop. When asked her age, her usual response is, “16.” That’s because her dream is to work at Shady Maple, and her aunt told her she needs to wait until she’s 16. 
Her great sense of humor has us all in stitches time and again, and she has a delightful imagination that can’t be beat. In fact, when she’s holding conversations with imaginary friends in her imaginary world, she won’t even acknowledge anyone in the real-world who tries to talk to her. She loves to watch videos, and can single-handedly act out long sections of movies. 
These are a few of {Christina’s} favorite things… baked potatoes with sour cream
teasing (but not being teased)
reading 
playing with dogs 
strawberries – picking, eating, pie, you name it… 
dressing up (you should see the outfits she comes up with. Wow!) taking pictures (she’d make a fine paparazzo) 
coloring in her jumbo Strawberry Shortcake coloring book playing with her dolls 
visiting the library quoting Andy Griffith 
playing harmonica for an audience of cows in the wee hours of the morning while dressed in a snowsuit no matter the weather. 
her pink crocs I LOVE THIS GIRL! No, I am not naive. We cried plenty of tears the night she was born. Not because we didn’t love or want her, but because she wasn’t exactly what we were expecting. I am very well aware of the challenges of medical bills, physical therapy, dental bills (and bills, and bills) and all the times when Tina has to stay at home while her siblings do things she’d like to do but can’t. But I can say without a doubt in my mind that the blessing Christina is to our family, church and community outweighs the challenges by far! She is one of the most wonderful gifts God has ever given our family. 
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