Imagine this for Heather
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| 10 year old Heather needs a family to love her and help her live a full life. |
In the last post, I wrote about my dream for Heath. I also often sit and imagine what life with a family would be like for my beloved Heather. That's her over there on the right. She is such a cutie, isn't she? There is very little we know about her except that she has Down Syndrome and lives in an orphanage. I don't know where her orphanage is exactly, I don't know how well funded they are or what sort of care she can get there. But all this doesn't change the fact that she is an orphan and she needs a family to help her to grow into her full potential.
Imagine with me...
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Heather runs, screaming wildly from her room, straight into the living room and into my arms.
“What's wrong, baby?” I asked, worried that she has hurt herself somehow, “Where does it …?”
Before I can finish my question, Tobi rushes onto the sofa, making loud 'bang bang' sounds at her. Heather, her voice muffled by the pillow she has covering her face, is still screaming... or maybe it's... she is giggling under that pillow!
I laugh and pull off the pillow, “My dear, you need to do this.”, I shape her hand into a gun shape and go, “Bang! Bang!” And Tobi pretends to be shot and falls onto the carpet, laughing. “See?”
She looks up at me, with her beautiful big eyes, and smiles, “Bang? Bang?” Actually, it sounds like 'ben ben' when she says it. She shakes her head, “No 'Ben Ben'.”
“Alright. No more bang bang. Ok, Tobi?”
A horn sounds. I pat both kids on their backs, “Now get your shoes on. That's Daddy waiting downstairs in the car for us.”
At the word 'car', Heather hops up and down and claps her hands. She loves riding in the car for some reason. She just sits in her car seat and watches the world fly by, it simply fascinates her. As the kids get their shoes on, Tobi asks, “Where are we going again?”
“We are going to get Heather some tap shoes.” I say, smiling down at my little girl who is trying her best to buckle her shoes herself. Last week, her dance teacher had said what a little talent she was at tap dancing. Heather really does enjoy going to dance class. It came to her so easily, following the steps and letting the music flow through her. I truly think she speaks when she dances. Anyhow, we decided to splurge a little and buy her her own tap shoes instead of her using the borrowed ones at the dance school.
Heather has been home with us for almost 9 months now, but her English hasn't quite caught up yet so she doesn't say a lot, even though she knows we can understand some of her mother tongue. I guess that's just her nature – quiet, shy. But the world is hers when she dances. I'm so glad we got her in tap classes.
At the shop, she looks at all the tap shoes. But most of them are in black, not a favourite colour with my daughter, I can tell you that much. She looks up at me sadly, “Boo?” I know she means blue. She likes blue.
I ask the lady and explain that my little gal really likes blue and these are her first ever dance shoes. She says blue isn't a colour she has in stock. I look at my husband, shaking my head.
He kneels down in front of Heather, “Look my dear, nice shoes. They make that tap-tap sound just like at Mrs Hope's dance class.” Heather shakes her head sadly. My husband looks up at me and then around the shop, as if trying to find a pair of blue shoes we all somehow missed. He gets up suddenly and walks out of the shop. “Be right back.” he calls out.
While Daddy is gone, Tobi and I try to get Heather to like one of the many pairs of shoes, ones with laces, ones with buckles, shiny ones, matt ones etc. After a few minutes, Daddy comes back with a rather small paper bag in his hand. He picks up the shoes, turns his back to us. I shrug at the shop lady.
Then with a spin on his heels, he presents us with blue shoes! Well, actually, black tap shoes but with brilliant blue ribbons instead of the normal black ones. Heather hops up and down and claps her hands. It's a done deal.
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Right now where Heather is, I know she has no such opportunity. She is so full of talent and potential - I just know it. All she needs is a family who will love her, support her and encourage her along the way and she will do wonderfully.
Are you her family? Could you give towards her adoption grant? A bigger grant means a better chance to get noticed by adopting families. Would you take time out and pray for her? Advocate for her?
syc
Do visit What the Cross has Done to read other similar dreams for the children listed on Reece's Rainbow. Read more...
