Habersham County native Susan Lewis Ellis with her husband David and their daughters Lila and Ansley.
Happy Rocktober! I am Susan Lewis Ellis and am honored to share with you this month about why we celebrate Rocktober in our family.
Northeast Georgia roots
I grew up in Clarkesville, the second daughter of Rev. Furman and Jeanette Lewis, with my sisters Laura and Martha. I graduated from Habersham Central High School in 1981 and Furman University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
I met my husband, David, while in college at Furman University. We were married at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville in October 1988. We were excited to be the first couple to hold our wedding reception at Glen Ella Springs.
I am so thankful for my deep roots in Northeast Georgia!
Our family recently relocated to Venice, Florida on the southwest Gulf Coast for David’s new job. I have worked in retail management and buying positions and am now a national sales manager for a manufacturer’s rep firm specializing in military exchange stores.
Starting a family
David and I always knew we wanted a family but delayed having children, enjoying our lives as a couple. In 2003, after 15 years of marriage, we were blessed with our first daughter, Lila.
Two years later, our second daughter, Ansley, came along. That’s when we found ourselves in a new world. A world where “Rocktober” is a reason to celebrate, because Ansley is rocking an extra chromosome!
Ansley has Down syndrome. We did not know this before she was born because we declined the genetic test that would have confirmed it. The doctor did tell us that he had “a suspicion” that our daughter “may have Down syndrome”, but that he was just not certain. Honestly, that was heart-wrenching to us. The possibility that our child, and family, would have this struggle in life was numbing. We prayed that it not be so. We told God we couldn’t be that family. We asked God to make her whole.
And He did.
She is perfectly created.
Celebrating our journey
We have the privilege of being that family, because of the strength and blessings God has given us. I am excited to share with you a little about our journey. Feel free to contact me through comments or messenger on Facebook if you have any questions for us along the way.
Yes, we absolutely celebrate our Ansley rocking her extra chromosome. It’s a joyful celebration, and it is my prayer that you will see and understand that joy, too.
Here’s to Rocktober!
“…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you, to give the reason for the hope that you have…” 1 Peter 3:15
