Numbers

Let's talk about some numbers associated with the T21 Traveling Afghan.

To date, thirteen families within the United States have received the afghan since March of 2009.

There are currently 211 United States families on the list who are waiting to receive the afghan. There are participants in all fifty states.

There are 53 families in various countries who are also waiting for the afghan.

This means there are 264 families waiting. At a week per family, the afghan will be traveling for another FIVE YEARS minimum!

Talk about awareness! Talk about global! Talk about amazing!!

In addition, there have been twenty-five children who have received their own afghan. There are currently twenty-four T21 afghans in the queue and four sibling afghans.

The project itself simply amazes me.

Seeing the numbers brings me a sense of unity and community unlike any other I have ever experienced. Talk about awareness. Talk about global. Talk about amazing!!

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

Here is the updated video of the kids and the afghan!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Joaquin's Family

Mr.Joaquin over at Three's A Charm has received the Traveling Afghan!

His buddy, John Michael passed it on to him yesterday!

Stay tuned for more great photos and check out this entry on Three's A Charm!

Here is John Michael and Joaquin with the afghan...




Joaquin has decided the afghan makes a GREAT teether!



Not to mention a great nap buddy!!



You can see much more of Joaquin and his family on their blog, Three's A Charm!

An Afghan For Kaden

Mr. Kaden has received his very own afghan and he couldn't be happier!

As you can see, he is quite the character!!

Kaden, may your afghan bring you many peaceful nights of sleep and endless cuddles!!

John Michael's Family

The afghan switched hands! Sheridan handed it off to his buddy John Michael! You can learn more about John Michael and his family on their blog Monkey Musings!

You can also see a few more pictures on their post Guess Who Has The T21 Traveling Afghan Now?

How cute is he?!?

Here is John Michael with his new friend, Jace! That's what the afghan is all about, sharing it with our friends!!

And a kiss to seal the new friendship!

John Michael and his friend, Sheridan...the ties that bind!

The afghan is making its rounds and touching lives!

Don't forget to visit John Michael's blog, Monkey Musings!

John Michael is passing the afghan on to his buddy, Joaquin, over at Three's a Charm!

Here's one last photo of John Michael before handing off the afghan! But never fear, but this time next week he will have his very own afghan!



And here is a photo of John Michael and Joaquin with the afghan! The ties that bind! These are two adorable little boys!!

Afghan Winner Announced!!

After a lot of consideration, we have chosen a winner for the Win An Afghan Of Your Own contest sponsored by Sonia and I.

I want to start off by saying how difficult this decision was. Numerous people volunteered to read through the entries and there was a lot of back and forth with the decision. EVERY entry was wonderful. As I said, it was very difficult to choose! I highly recommend you visit this post and read every one of the entries!

They truly define the ties that bind and the connections we make in the Down syndrome family.

However, we did have to pick just one winner (although we will be running another contest in a week or so!)

Therefore, the winner of this contest is....

The Idaho Neumanns

This post, like many others, truly explains how ties within the Down syndrome community tie us together in love, support and "family".

The Nemann family stated they would gift the afghan to Megan if they won the contest. Therefore, this contest is gifting two afghans...one from MaKenna to Megan and one from Sonia and I to MaKenna.

Here is a picture of MaKenna, Megan:

Congratulations, Idaho Neumanns! Your post was inspiring, amazing and hit the topic of the contest perfectly!!

Win An Afghan Of Your Own

Awhile back, Sonia bet me I couldn't finish an afghan in twenty-four hours. I bet her I could. She said if I succeeded, not only would she order an afghan for her daughter, Lillian, but she would order one to go to a child of my choosing.

Needless to say, that afghan was finished in twenty four hours and I won!

The problem? Choosing the family!

That's where YOU come in!

Sonia and I decided to run a blog contest in order to spread the word far and wide about the T21 Traveling Afghan Project. Here's the deal.

We give you a blog topic.

You post about it on your blog with a link back to The T21 Traveling Afghan Project.

You come back here and leave us the link to your submission in the comments section. I will then re-link it directly on this post.

In one week, on Friday, August 14th; we will announce a winner.

The winner chooses the colors or color scheme they would like for their afghan (or they can gift it to another child) and I whip it up and send it off at no cost to the receiving family. (I do ask for 2-3 weeks from win to receiving!)

The blog topic is:

Ties That Bind, Connections In The Down Syndrome Community

Go, blog, prosper, win!

CJ and Sonia!

Participants:
(In alphabetical order)
Bill and Ria
Deb's Blog
Hanzely Clan News
Just Two Of A Kind
Life with Chloe
Lily's Life Is Great!

Little LC Boom Boom
Mosaic Moments
Mutterings and Musings

My Precious Saira
T-Cubed
The Flege Farm

The Idaho Neumanns

An Afghan Of Their Own Fund

An Afghan Of Their Own Fund

This fund has been created through The T21 Traveling Afghan Project in order to provide afghans for children with Down syndrome who are ill or facing other challenges.

This money goes towards purchasing yarn and covering the shipping costs of the afghan. You may make a donation towards a specific child or donate to the fund in general.

When you donate, the child will be sent a card with your name on it and you will be informed as to which child your donation provided an afghan to.

Sheridan's Family

The ever adorable Sheridan took his turn with The Traveling Afghan last week! You can also see more pictures of the afghan with Sheridan at the NDSC Conference in this post!

As you can see, this is one adorable little boy! You can learn more about Sheridan and his family on their blog Genetically Enhanced!

(I stole these pictures off his blog, there will be many more to follow!)





Sheridan will be passing the afghan on to his buddy, John Michael next!

An Afghan For Hannah

Miss Hannah was one of the first kids I started to follow through her mom's blog when I first started reading blogs about children with Down syndrome. Her red hair and amazing smile are hard to resist!

You can see much more of her and her brother on their mom's blog The Shamptons!

Her and her twin brother really keep their mum on her toes!

Miss Amarli decided to gift Hannah her very own afghan! Here is Hannah afghan surfing and Hannah and Kit with the afghan!





And here's Ms. Hannah is playing tug-of-war with it!



Her babies get a turn, as well!



Sharing the love!



Her smile says it all!!

Again, you can check out Hannah, Kit and their family on their blog, The Shamptons!

NDSC 2009

The afghan made an appearance at the 2009 National Down Syndrome Congress Convention in California this past weekend!

Sheridan and his mom, Lisa, of Genetically Enhanced were gracious enough to show it off for us!






The afghan will be spending some time in California before it heads into a hectic schedule of visiting various Buddy Walks all over the United States. By this fall, I hope to send it out of the country for a bit!

This afghan is certainly getting well traveled, and well loved! Thank you, Lisa and Sheridan, for helping it on its journey!!