Faith and Friends

If I were to ask people who know Faith what one of her favorite activities is, I am pretty sure they would all say the same thing: socializing. Faith absolutely loves people. She has been a social butterfly ever since she was little. 

She has always enjoyed going to therapy because she loves meeting new people, even those in the waiting room. Doctor appointments are also great because she gets to meet new nurses. She pretty much makes friends wherever she goes! 

Faith and friends blowing out birthday candles when she turned 7 

During her first years in school, she easily made friends with her classmates. Sadly, though, as the kids got older and since she was limited in her mobility, these friendships faded. When we pulled her out of school altogether in order to homeschool her, the hardest part was not having any friends. 

Thankfully, we lived in a building that had a community room. Faith and I would often hang out there for a change of scenery. She would sit and watch her portable DVD player while I read books. When someone walked through the lobby, she would be quick to say, "hi" and start up a conversation.

Eventually, we had many friends in our building, and we began to gather together on a regular basis. She loved getting together with them for potlucks, playing games, and meeting their pets. 

Faith with some of her friends at the park 

When Faith was 14, we joined a faith-based homeschooling group. She was the only student with special needs, but the parents and other students embraced her, nonetheless. 

Some of the girls in the group were ballerinas, so we began going to their performances at Northern Plains Dance. She also video chatted with her friends, hung out with them at the park, and invited them to her birthday parties. Her favorite thing was for them to take turns pushing her around in her chair! 

When Faith graduated from high school, she was sad that she wouldn't be able to participate in the homeschooling group anymore. Thankfully, though she remained good friends with some of them and continued to see them every now and then. 

New Years Eve party with friends in the lobby

Shortly after she turned 18, Faith began attending a day program. Not surprisingly, she quickly made friends with those at the day program, both with staff and the participants. When she first started, though, many of her peers were nonverbal, which limited her ability to communicate with them. 

Eventually, she moved to another room. She knew some of the participants in that room from therapy, and from being involved in Dreams in Motion. One of the guys used to live in the same building as us. She really liked being able to reconnect with them. 

It has been fun to see her enjoying these friendships with those in her day program. On the weekends, she talks to a few of them on the phone and even hangs out with some of them in person. One of these friends in particular has become very special to her. 

Faith even makes friends with nurses when she goes to appointments 

Faith and her date at this year's winter formal 

Ever since she was little, one of her deepest desires has been to have friends to do things with. It makes my heart so happy that there are people in her world who want to hang out with her and talk with her on the phone or video chat. 

This past month, Faith got to hang out with some friends at the mall and saw some other friends at the Michael W. Smith concert we attended. And just recently she went out for lunch with a few friends at Olive Garden. 

Faith visiting with friends after the concert 

Faith with her friends at the mall 

Of course, when she gets together with her friends outside of the program, I have to be there with her, but she doesn't seem to mind having Mom along! Eventually, I would like my respite staff to do more of these kinds of things with her, as this is the norm for adults with disabilities who live on their own. 

I feel like this is the next step for Faith, to live on her own with 24/7 staff. However, this is much more complicated than it sounds as accessible apartments are not so easy to come by. There are a few really nice group homes, but the waiting lists are long. (She has been on the list for 3 years). 

Faith with some friends from her day program 

I can't imagine not living with her one day and being her primary caretaker, but I also can't imagine anything happening to me and having nobody to look after her. It's a very scary thought, which is why I constantly have to remind myself that everything happens in God's perfect timing. It does give me peace to put our unknown future into the hands of an all-knowing God (YHWH). 

Church is also a place where Faith has made some really good friends. It is wonderful going to church where Faith is loved and accepted just as she is. She absolutely loves going each week, where she gets as many hugs as possible. 

Faith at Pizza Ranch with some friends from church 

We are truly blessed that Faith has so many wonderful friends!