Dear Friends,
Puo Puo and Gong Gong are HOME!!!
After almost a week of sheltering-in-place on their interrupted vacation in Dubai, my parents finally made it on the very first commercial flight out of Dubai to the United States, and arrived at SFO on Thursday afternoon to an Arrivals Lobby filled with cameras, news stations, and anxious family members like my sister and I.
To see my parents and give them a hug was quite literally the best birthday present I could ask for.
Over 200 missiles and 1000 drones have been launched in the past week just at the UAE alone, and thankfully most were intercepted, but some were not, damaging major landmarks and injuring or killing people. There are over 20,000 people stranded in Dubai so my parents were extremely lucky to be among the first to leave safely.
The constant worry and anxiety my sister and I have gone through this week has been all-consuming.
Thank you all for your outpouring of love, thoughts, and prayers after my last newsletter. The photo above was Puo Puo Gong Gong's first class back on Zoom this morning!
Veronique Besfamille shared an expression in Spanish that sums up exactly how I feel:
"Me volvió el alma al cuerpo," which translates to
"My soul came back to my body," and means,
"I can finally breathe again!"
Please continue to pray for the safety of all the innocent citizens, visitors, and soldiers in the countries involved in this fight. My heart goes out to our broken world.
Karen, Grace, and Jane Fonda TUESDAY!
We hope you can join us this Tuesday, March 10th, at 9:30am @UUMarin (240 Channing Way in San Rafael) as we celebrate Karen Shelton and Grace's twin birthday with the theme, "Jane Fonda Workout!" Get out those leotards, leg warmers, and giant scrunchies and let's head back to the 80's!
After class, everyone is welcome to stay afterwards for a casual community hangout up on the "church hill!"
7th Annual Ruby's Rainbow Fundraiser SATURDAY!
Please join Cassidy and Jessica Kissane this Saturday, March 14th at 9:30am @UUMarin (240 Channing Way in San Rafael) for the 3/21 Pledge, a program developed by Ruby's Rainbow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adult students with Down syndrome by helping them achieve their dreams of higher education. Wear RAINBOWS!
Why 3/21?
Individuals with Down Syndrome have three copies of the 21st chromosome. This is why March 21 (3/21), is World Down Syndrome Day - a day when we celebrate these amazing individuals who are rockin' that extra chromosome!
The Ruby's Rainbow mission...
...is to grant scholarships to adult students with Down syndrome in the United States who are seeking post-secondary education, helping them achieve their dreams of higher education while spreading awareness of their capabilities and general awesomeness.
We have been incredibly grateful to have raised enough the past few years to grant three Ruby's Rainbow college scholarships! Please help us raise at least $3000 to grant another scholarship for 2026!
Donate here and join us in-person or Zoom link here
Dance is a Universal Language
This morning, we celebrated International Women's Day with a playlist of all female artists and empowering songs like "Diva," "Respect," "Woman's World," Golden," and "Confident!"
We also had the pleasure of celebrating Rodney's birthday for the second year in a row!
Rodney is Lisa Butcher's brother who has special needs, but loves music and dancing. During class, he sat down in a chair near the front of the room, but would pop up onto his feet at different times and begin clapping or giving a holler of joy!
Just like Justin Timberlake's song, "Can't Stop the Feeling," we were able to witness Rodney's purest emotions through his dancing.
Thank you to everyone who came this week to Stop Drop and Dance.
On Tuesday, I was deep in worry and all the songs in our playlist were on the lines of "Faith" and "Trustfall." Then on Thursday, when I knew my parents were in the air flying home, the playlist switched to songs like "Good to be Alive" and "I Feel Good." Finally, today, Rodney chose "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," as his birthday song, and I was so touched to see all of you dancing alongside him, welcoming and including him without judgment.
Thank you for allowing Rodney to shine and be showered with love, and thank you for dancing alongside my rollercoaster of emotions this week. I am so grateful.
"Dance, when you're broken open.
Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you're perfectly free."
- Rumi
Love,
Grace
