Over the last several weeks, it has felt like life was threatening to come apart at the seams. Every day was filled with stress and uncertainty and worries about things that were completely out of my control.

The one thing that was a constant wellspring of hope, love, and inspiration for me was the story of Mandy Breitenstein, who I follow on IG via her account @a_september_monday

I’m not a religious person, but if every Christian were like her, I would WANT to be a part of a group like that. She walks the talk in a big way and with love & humility & reverence at her core. I wish I could be like Mandy.

There’s a lot to her story and I don’t know all of it, but what I do know is that she and her husband (who already have four beautiful children) spent 777 days and over $50,000 to adopt a little girl with Down Syndrome from Armenia.

Mandy is not Armenian by blood, but had a great aunt who was Armenian and says that she feels Armenian in her soul. She is Armenian enough.

Children born with Down Syndrome are routinely abandoned after birth in Armenia. This is a fact and I try very hard not to judge that. The culture is certainly not welcoming towards children with different abilities.

Armenia will only allow foreign adoption of children with disabilities. And despite the fact that there is not a long list of Armenians (or people in general) waiting to adopt them, the government has made the process a long and arduous one.

In spite of this, the Breitenstein family has persevered – through a pandemic, through war in the region, through great financial and emotional struggle, to travel to Armenia with their four children in order to retrieve their fifth child, Ember. They consider themselves blessed to have her and to finally be able to give her the life she truly deserves.

Two-year old Ember had never seen the outside world, having grown up within the walls of the orphanage. She had never been outside, never felt the grass under her feet, never gazed at city streets from the safety of a cozy stroller. Never had the love and constant attention from siblings and caretakers alike. Her list of nevers was a long one.

To watch this family with this child… to watch her brothers and sisters embrace her and dote on her, to watch her new parents gush over her and pamper her… to watch Ember laugh and play and be joyful is truly to be in the presence of LOVE.

Every day, I draw hope and inspiration from this family. They have given me so much already. They have given all of us so much.

It is my wish to put together a care package with Armenian-themed gifts for baby Ember (and her lovely family). I’m hoping we can collect children’s books, toys, t-shirts… anything at all to show this family how grateful we are for their spectacular generosity and that they are welcome in our Armenian family forever.

If you own a shop, store, or feel like creating a handmade item to donate, please get in touch with me at ArmenianEnough@gmail.com

Let’s show this family that we love and appreciate them! And welcome Armenian and Armenian-adjacent families everywhere!