Hey friends, welcome to the Rhythms for Life Podcast where each week we talk about four rhythms

that help you reduce stress and anxiety and take charge of your emotional health. Rest,

restore, connect, create. These ideas come from Rebecca's best-selling book,

Rhythms of Renewal, trading stress and anxiety for a life of peace and purpose. So grab your

copy, invite your friends, and let's live in rhythm.

Hi, I'm Gabe Lyons. Welcome to another edition of the Rhythms for Life Podcast. And we are so

glad that you are part of this community with Rebecca and I and all the learning that's taken

place, especially during this season where we're talking about overcoming adversity. In fact,

you're going to hear an amazing conversation that Rebecca and I were able to have with Heather

Avis in just a few moments, another parent who has two children with Down syndrome, which very

much is like Rebecca and I's life. And we're just returning from getting to have a little bit of

time away with the family for spring break. And I got to say, especially this day, because it's

the day after world Down syndrome day, March 21st. And the 21st is significant because the

technical name for Down syndrome is Trisomy 21. And it represents the different pairs of chromosomes

that they have and the fact that they actually have an extra chromosome more than all of us in

their bodies. And so these little children are amazing. They're unique. They're so perfect in

all kinds of ways. And I know, man, when I used to be younger, I didn't have any kids with

special needs or Down syndrome. I know people would say that about their children and you're kind of,

you kind of sometimes would look at it a little bit and be like, well, I know you think that maybe

you're doing that psychologically to make you feel better about your situation. I got to say,

for our life now, 22 years, for Rebecca and I both. And I would say also for our two other

children, Kennedy and Pierce, I think we would say, man, our lives truly have been so enriched

...