Faith's Adaptive Skiing Adventure

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I am usually all for Faith trying something new. Years ago, though, I drew the line at adaptive skiing. I knew that Dreams in Motion does an annual event at Huff Hills (North Dakota's largest ski area), but I was too afraid to let Faith try it. I just didn't know how she would do being strapped down so tightly, especially with her high tone and issues with her left hip.  At her day program, some of her friends had been going for years and Faith thought it sounded like so much fun. So, this year, I decided we should give it a try. Since there are only 20 spots available for this event, I got her registered the morning it opened up.  Lots of fresh powder at Huff Hills  As the event drew near, I knew I needed to get snow pants for her (since she had none) and make sure I had all the right winter apparel to keep her warm. That was also one of my biggest concerns is her getting too cold, which can cause her tone to increase even more.  As the day approached, she was...
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The "Stinky Face" Story

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This morning, I had the privilege of going to school with Faith and reading a few stories to her class. One book I chose to read is called, "I Love You Stinky Face." (written by Lisa McCourt) This book is really a story about a mother's unconditional love for her child. The title of the book comes from the child asking the mother that if he was a smelly skunk and his name was "Stinky Face," would his mother still love him. She tells him she would put him in the bathtub, but if he still smelled she would tell him, "I love you Stinky Face."

It's a cute story, but there is a story behind the story that I wanted to share with Faith's classroom.

Faith and I share one of her favorite books with her kindergarten class. 

 After reading the book to them, I explained that a few years ago, one of Faith's friends and caretakers (Kimberly) took her to a place where they could make things out of clay. Faith decided she wanted to make a cup or a mug of some sort. She wanted it to be really big because she knew how much her mom and dad loved coffee.

After Kimberly helped her mold the big mug, Faith decided she wanted to paint it pink and purple. So, they painted it pink and decided to write a message on the mug in purple. Kimberly asked Faith, "If you could tell your mom and dad anything you wanted to, what would you say?"

Faith responded, "I love you stinky face."

Kimberly wasn't too sure about writing this on the mug because essentially Faith was calling her parents stinky face.

Kimberly asked, "Are you sure you don't just want to write 'I love you?'"

Faith was adamant and said it had to say, "I love you stinky face."

After I told this story, Faith's teacher said, "That sounds just like Faith!"

The beautiful mug made just for us!

 Her class really seemed to like this story and laughed and laughed. They all especially enjoyed passing the mug around to look at it more closely. I told the children that this mug is one of the most precious gifts Faith has ever given us.

It was so much fun to share this book and this story with Faith's classroom. Later, I also read "Amelia Bedelia" which is Faith's favorite book. It was cute because Faith even filled in some of the lines. The kids in her class are so sweet and I am going to miss Faith being in kindergarten with these wonderful kids, teacher and teacher's aide.

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Faith's Adaptive Skiing Adventure

-
Image
I am usually all for Faith trying something new. Years ago, though, I drew the line at adaptive skiing. I knew that Dreams in Motion does an annual event at Huff Hills (North Dakota's largest ski area), but I was too afraid to let Faith try it. I just didn't know how she would do being strapped down so tightly, especially with her high tone and issues with her left hip.  At her day program, some of her friends had been going for years and Faith thought it sounded like so much fun. So, this year, I decided we should give it a try. Since there are only 20 spots available for this event, I got her registered the morning it opened up.  Lots of fresh powder at Huff Hills  As the event drew near, I knew I needed to get snow pants for her (since she had none) and make sure I had all the right winter apparel to keep her warm. That was also one of my biggest concerns is her getting too cold, which can cause her tone to increase even more.  As the day approached, she was...
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