Tuesday & Thursday - Visiting the Girls of Dayspring

A big part of what Randy and I wanted to do on this trip was to spend time with the Girls of Dayspring.  We wanted to get to know them - see their personalities.  Boy have we had the chance!

The first time we stopped by we walked into the house and the girls were all over the team members that they had seen before.  They weren't too sure of us yet but that quickly changed.  I couldn't but help to immediately realize the difference in the house already from last year.  Last year Dayspring was a 'house' . . . with hope for a future . . . today it was a 'home' with little ones that had a hope for the future!  What a year has brought!  How amazing to see the difference!

Our first visit was to start on the garden.  One of the requirements from the organization that donated the monies to purchase Dayspring was that the girls had to have a garden and participate in planting and maintaining it.  What a wonderful idea and how the girls loved it as well.  The squeals when they found a worm or but was precious and watching them handle a worm was priceless!

The garden had already been turned over so the ground was soft after the winter.  Lynn took time to prepare the planting mounds and rows (with a little supervision) and then the joy began!

Each of the girls at some point in time participated in the planting.  Some more than others but everyone was out and about playing, laughing and having fun.  We planted carrots, pumpkins, beets, peas, and other veggies.  We also planted a LARGE strawberry patch.  I can see the girls sitting in the patch eating the fresh berries straight from the garden - what a joy that will be!

  

The pictures tell the story.  I had fun watching from start to finish and seeing the little personalities come out!  There is a little diva that I called my little me.  They got possessive about their rows they were planting.  They are truly little girls!  They are sisters!

Thursday we headed back for the afternoon for a LAMb staff meeting - fun seeing the team all together!  While sitting in the dining room, I could watch the little girls run all over, laughing and having lots of fun.  The laughter just made me smile - especially since I have heard their stories.  Trust me - laughter is a VERY GOOD thing.  Dayspring is truly their home and safe haven!

We cooked dinner for the girls and just spent time getting to know them!  Do we speak the same language? No.  But God's love does.  Laughter does.  Smiles do.  Compassion does.  We didn't need language to show them that we loved them.