carefree.

today was the first party we held for the sallie house. a sweet little girl turning 2! we saw first hand the joy and elation the children had--all feeling celebrated by us. it seemed almost as if we were able to pause all the heartache and pressures of their lives, and let them just run around and be happy, carefree children! it was such a sweet moment to see them with balloons tied to their wrists just running in the open field laughing. they were happy. all the amazing donations, though from so many different sources, all came together to form into a united and organized theme. from the fantastic scavenger hunt game to the goodie bags and pencils to the party hats and the Dora tattoos, each child was acknowledged. i think a favorite moment would be when they all got a chance to reach in Dora's treasure box to pull out a special treat!! D. was celebrated in so many ways, especially with her beautiful cake and special gifts bought with just her in mind (a special pillow and doll, play doh, clothes, a personalized shirt, and a big box of puzzles to name a few). you would think lunch with 18 young children would be a challenge, but it happened almost effortlessly. everyone just sat down and politely enjoyed a nice lunch at the park. what is better than pizza, pretzels, and Dora Fruit Snacks served on Dora plates!! and then cake to follow! perfect!! they loved it and were all so wonderfully appreciative! i was left not feeling sadness, but feeling like we all did a little part to making a piece of their lives good. i just pictured them going back to their house for a nap, falling asleep while looking at their new Dora tattoo, and dreaming of a day full of laughter and hugs. not feeling alone for a moment, but embraced and treasured. they are all so special!