Now that I am back in Seaside, I have time to blog about the time I spent in Idaho. First, I am going to acknowledge that what comes to follow is going to sound very sentimental, however in order to truly convey how I felt, I can't omit all the touchy-feely stuff.
On Monday, we arrived at the Idaho Children's Village in the late afternoon and had a run down of how the Village was started and the struggles and sacrifices of many people that made the promise of one person into a reality. Dr. Anne C. Fox-Clarkson made a promise to two children, who had a history of child abuse and had spent time in foster care, that she would build them a home someday. The weight of that promise was not lost on her. The Idaho Children's Village is the fulfillment of that promise.
After our introduction to the staff and to the history, we headed to the Moyer house. This is the house that serves youth that are currently in foster care. While we were there, we gathered the children around the big dining room table and did our milestone activity. These children and young people had such powerful stories to share with us, and just being with them was so powerful. I forget how much energy children give me. I love how their happiness and laughter is so genuine. I wish I could give them all of my time. Eventually, we pulled ourselves away and went to the SAFY house for youth that are transitioning out of care.
All of the tables were set up so nicely and they served us dinner. Sitting there and talking with young people who are just a few years younger than I showed me the perspective that only a few years can bring in such a pivotal time of young adulthood. Everyone's stories were so complex and each person had a voice and perspective that is so valuable. I hope that they can access their voices to advocate for themselves and then for others. We went way past schedule, but we were so engulfed in conversation that we didn't really notice.
The next day, we went to downtown Coeur D'Alene. This week was one of the youth's birthdays, so we went to the store and picked up some goodies and gifts. A birthday present and cake, and a little something for all of the other children in the house.
I tried to think of a way to verbalize the rest of the day, but it is difficult for me right now because the day was so meaningful on a emotional level that I feel like I am still processing it. I gave one of the most meaningful gifts I could give to another person. I passed on the butterfly story.
Saying goodbye was the hardest part for me. It always is. I am terrible at them. They make me feel so deeply moved and I feel like whatever I say won't adequately express what I feel, so I end up just making jokes. This time was a little different, because the children needed a more concrete goodbye than the older youth.
As one of the girls ran upstairs to get me pajamas so that I could move into her room, a little boy came running and leaping into a little-man embrace. I was sitting on the floor on my knees, him leaning on my shoulder with his elbow when one of the little girls came up to me with her new slinky hanging from her teddy bear's head to give me her goodbye hug. Just as we were about to leave, another little girl grabbed my heart necklace and just kept saying "pretty, pretty, you wear with me, and you stay", another boy then also clasped my necklace with his thumb and forefinger and said, "you stay". In that moment, I thought my heart was going to explode with the warm and fuzzies and I had to run out there.
I was going to cry, in fact, I cried the night before I left just thinking of how beautiful, strong, and wonderful the people I met at Idaho Children's Village were. I cried because I wondered if they knew who special they were and if they were told that they were loved enough. All of the young people in both of the programs are capable of so much and have so much positive energy and I have faith that they will get to share it. They shared it with me.
Turning our trials and tribulations into divine appointments.