Village

It takes a whole village to raise a child.

African Proverb

Recently, the kids and I took a quick trip to Shrewsbury, PA to meet Aunt Melissa and the girls at the Amish market there.  We arrived early and grabbed lunch from Chick-fil-a and headed to a shady park right near the Amish Market.  We had over an hour to kill before we were to meet Aunt Melissa.  Upon arrival, I noticed two middle aged women having lunch under the pavilion next to the park.  I unloaded all our food, stroller, and diaper bag and then retrieved the kids.  One of the ladies immediately struck up a conversation with me, very friendly she was.  She said hello to Erin and Eoin, asked their names and ages and was genuinely interested in hearing their answers.  My first thoughts, admittedly, were 'ugh is she going to talk to us the whole time, now the kids will never eat'.  Well, let me tell you, yes, yes indeed she was.  Because when she laid eyes on little loo loo belle, she was popping up from that table to come over and see us.  Bridgie was in the stroller at that point and I was getting things settled for the other two.  She came straight over and sat down on the concrete right next to Bridgie.  This woman was on a mission!  And that mission was to love on loo loo.

And I mean, wouldn't you?

And they had the most wonderful conversation!  Ms. Ashley, as we later found out her name,  asked if she could hold Bridgie and I said of course, thinking for sure Bridgie would push away from her, pull her hair, grap her glasses, maybe even bite her.

Who me?  Nope. Nuh-uh. No way.  That girl sat on Ms. Ashley's lap facing me and cooed and babbled and smiled and shrieked.  And do you know what she did for this stranger?  She STOOD UP without grabbing onto anything.

Yes. You!  You little stinker!

Turns out Ms. Ashley has been working with children and adults with special needs for 20+ years.  In fact, the other lady she was with, yeah she was still there, Mary, she was autistic and Ms. Ashley was her helper.  The came to this lovely park three times a week for lunch and knitting lessons.  Ms. Ashley was so inspiring and helpful and lovely.  She showed me how to hold Bridgie, or in fact not hold her, so that she would not be frustrated and could focus on standing instead of pushing my hands away.

God was shining down on us that day.  And his rays flowed through Ms. Ashley.

As we left the park, the kids ran over to say good-bye to their new friend.  And she once again got up from her knitting lesson to give high fives and wish us well.

T'was a beautiful sight to watch Ms. Ashley and Mary knitting at a little park on a gorgeous day. 

Was even more beautiful when Erin said "Mom I have a new invisible friend, her name is Ashley".

We will never see Ms. Ashley again but we have grown from her spirit.  She gave me a glimpse of a future full of hope, love, and simple pleasures.

God is Good.

Look who thinks she is one of the big girls now.