Faith's first...

Yesterday was a big deal for our little girl.

Her friend from Girl Scouts (a third grader, mind you) came home to play with her, last night. She had her first friend over! Now some of you may be shocked but Faith does have family friends over and family kids over but this was her first....outside friend!

A friend that she made, on her own, who does not have to be nice to her because she is family or a close family friend...

This is the same little girl whose daddy made the beautiful horse for Faith's birthday. The same little girl who is so possessive over Faith. She has been begging for weeks to come home with Faith and we finally worked out a time, after their cookie sale last night. It was good because she was only able to stay for about an hour and fifteen minutes since Faith had to go to bed. It was just enough time for them to get to play but not for Faith to get overwhelmed or worn out. They read together, played kitchen, played in her room on her bed and ate girl scout cookies (Lemonades, if you were wondering...) together. It was the cutest thing ever!

When it came time to leave, her little friend said "I'm gonna ask my momma if I can spend the night with Faith one night"
Yes, friends, I was bawling my eyes out by then...

She got to see Faith get her night time medicines thru her feeding tube, get dressed for bed and have her diaper changed and she didn't bat an eye! Acted like it was nothing at all!

Then today at our second booth sale she came running up to Faith and hugged her and said " I wanna come home with Faith today!"

Ok everybody, you can all pull out your hankies and have a good cry, now....

On my honor...

Once again, I bring you adventures in girl scouting...

Two of Faith's friends helping her hold her hands right for the Pledge of Allegiance

and the Girl Scout Promise. The girl on the left, is diligent about this every week!


This week they made cards for the soldiers who will be receiving the cookies that we raised for "cookies for soldiers". These are two of Faith's helpers, working on her card with her. Are you crying yet?

Faith's best buddy, tying her shoe for her. What angels...

Can't you see the love on her face for these girls? They included her in everything, even bringing the cards up to their troop leader!

As I was snapping these pics, I noticed a spat between the little girl in yellow and the little girl behind her in blue, they are cousins, the smaller one is not a girl scout but was visiting. The visitor put her hand on Faith's wheelchair and was pushing it forward. The girl in yellow turned around and pushed her hand off of the chair! Like she was telling her to lay off! I just about died! I know they don't need to fight over her.....but how do I complain about that? I also got a cute video, that I plan to post when I have an hour to download it. Faith has a rag that I keep on her chair to catch drool. Two different times, I saw two different girls pick up the rag and wipe her mouth for her! They weren't asked to, they just did it because she needed it and they love her! What can I say, every week those girls top the week before. I am crying right now, just thinking about those girls!

Adventures in Girl Scouting.....

This Saturday we had a cookie rally for the Girl Scouts, gearing up for the cookie season. Our entire troop was expecting to attend but in the end only 3 girls including Faith made it. It was the first rally that our county had ever had. They did an opening session with the cadets leading the children in some cookie chants and a former soldier who spoke about what girl scouts cookies mean to the troops, overseas. (Girl Scouts pack boxes of cookies to send to the troops, every year.) Then the children had to go around to different stations to learn about setting goals, selling etiquette, selling safety and recommending cookies. Faith, of course, was a little overwhelmed. She gets this way in large crowds...she kind of shuts down and is slow to respond to people. But she did enjoy one project...making cards to send with the cookies to the troops. She loves to play with crayons and this was right up her alley! Although her card was simple and I had to write in it for her, it's the thought that counts. I am sure it will make some soldier's day. At the end of the rally each of the children received a new patch for their uniform for attending.
Last night, I sat down and stitched all her patches that she has earned, so far. With most kids, they have to earn the front patches by learning the code, the g.s. law, etc. But since Faith can't do this yet, we have to focus on other areas. So we focus on participation in events b/c she CAN earn badges for that! She now has three on her uniform...a Juliette Low patch, a parade patch and a cookie rally patch. She was so proud of them once I got them sewn on, she kept signing "please" then her sign for "put it on". So here she is showing off her patches. It was sentimental for me because I was able to sew them for her and I was able to use thread that belonged to my grandmother to stitch it. The thread was part of the sewing basket that belonged to my Bamboo, that is a fascinating relic of the last 50 years. There is thread and ribbon and bastings as old as my father! I use her thread all the time and it's hard to believe that 30-40 yr old thread still holds well! This particular thread was purchased at TG and Y for 22 cents! I really enjoy using all of my Bamboo's things in my sewing, they remind me of her whenever I look at them. So Faith will have something that her mother sewed, that she earned, with thread that belonged to her great grandmother! This girl scouts thing has become a wonderful adventure for Faith and for me. She has made some wonderful friends....I have been able to see that she can be accepted in our community....We both have shared some good bonding time....and we will have something that we both can remember for the rest of our lives.

MARCHING...

GIRL SCOUTS MOUNTAINS TO MIDLANDS TROOP 2844

The girls get their picture made with our state senator, Thomas Alexander

This was Sunday at our town parade... Faith was escorted by two sweet girls in our troop who took the utmost care, pushing her over a mile! I must say how much I love these little girls! They have renewed my "faith" in humanity. They include Faith in everything and actually she is the center of attention most of the time. I never imagined that perfect strangers could be be so accepting and love her so much. They all took turns signing her casts and questioning me, in detail, about her surgery, recovery, pain and possibility of walking. They wanted dates when she would be able to walk! It was sooooo cute! I cannot even begin to express how much good it has done me and Faith to be involved with these little girls and their families. Special, Special, Special! We saw lots of people we knew and everyone was commenting on how cute she was. We decked out her chair in sparkly things, bells and YES even LIGHTS on her wheels! She was the coolest chair there!~

What friends are for...

So yesterday, we got a call from hubby's sister, saying that she had some cards from Faith's girl scouts troop. She dropped them off, last night, just before Faith went to bed. All the little girls and her troop leader had handmade these beautiful cards with confetti and horse stickers and ladybugs all over them. Each one had each girl's unique personality displayed with touching messages of healing for Faith. Carl and I had tears in our eyes as we read each one to Faith. They also had cut out pictures of horses and glued them to construction paper. They were all colors and designs and so beautiful! They also included a Beanie Baby Horse for her. The biggest thing to me was that someone remembered that Faith loved horses and had her room done in ladybugs. I don't really remember talking about that except for one comment to some of the girls that Faith was going to have a horse birthday party! Faith was so excited to take each card out of the bag and examine each piece. We lined them up on our kitchen bar so that we can all be reminded that Faith has 9 new friends who care for her! That means more to me than a million dollars! We are so humbled by the kindness of adults and children alike. I still think about how nervous I was about taking her to girl scouts and worrying that she wouldn't be accepted. All my fears were unfounded and she has become a thriving member of a group of girls who love her and hopefully are learning something from her. I have learned a valuable lesson, myself, about children that I didn't know.