Melanie received her Personal Progress necklace, something that has been a joint effort between two wards. When her family moved into our ward 4 or 5 years ago, we inherited her book which contained value experiences girls in the other ward had worked on.
It was passed to me when I became the young women president almost three years ago. For several years I attempted to have girls work on it but it started to stall.
Then I had an epiphany one day. This should be her Personal Progress as much as it could be. Melanie has down syndrome which allows us to personalize the program as much as we need to. I started looking at things she had already done or was doing and started marking things off. She works at a doctor's office; she's competed in a pageant for special needs; she leads the music in our young womens each Sunday; she helped us make bread for the sacrament. Last October we decided as a group to try and have it completed by her birthday in March. Our activities and lessons going forward were centered on experiences we needed to finish to help Mel complete this awesome program.
She loves unconditionally and has a contagious laugh. Also don't get between her and her diet coke or you will get the evil eye.
What a privilege and blessing it has been to have her be a part of our young women group. What a privilege and blessing it has been for me to know her, and because of that relationship, I am a better person.
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