This is my recap of the Helping Hands Foundation’s 2014 Winter Outing. Read about Friday here and Saturday here.
Did you know that the Australian Open (tennis) was on LIVE at 4am Sunday morning?
I didn’t, but found it after getting back to my room around then.
That’s what happens when you’re making friends.
After a few hours of sleep (which would become incredibly unfortunate later), I packed-up and headed downstairs for breakfast. Another buffet, featuring bacon and various other breakfast foods. Eventually I made my rounds, giving hugs and goodbyes to friends, old and new. We also had our annual HHF Winter Outing picture with the incomparable Dayna and Vennessa!
Dayna, Tony, Nikki, Moi, Beka, Nick and Vennessa
Last year I really had no idea what to expect when I attended for the first time. And it changed my life. It really did. That’s why I was so excited to come back this year! It’s amazing to hear attendee after attendee talking about how they’ve been coming for ten, fifteen, twenty, even thirty years! And yet, I feel like a part of the family. That’s what I appreciate most about Helping Hands. The acceptance, the love, the laughter, the support…it’s all there in spades. That’s why I can’t see ever not attending. Maybe that’ll change some day, but I can’t imagine how.
So, thank you to everyone who helped get me there! I can’t tell you how much your support means to me. And thank you to everyone who spoke words of encouragement to me. It so gratifying to hear that I’m able to help in some small way.
As expected, I loved meeting the kids and their parents at the outing. I forgot to mention that on Friday, while I was in line at the buffet, I noticed this little girl looking at me with her eyes wide open and jaw dropped low. I waved and smiled and then she came around and gave me this drawing:
Ruth drew this for me after watching my video about how to draw a turkey with one hand. She had been trying to find me since she arrived so she could give me her drawing. It was the cutest thing EVER. The head of the turkey was traced from her missing right leg and she drew those little insets to let me know what she’s missing. Is that not the coolest?? Bleh…I love it.
These kids are world changers. Some of them know it and some of them don’t, but they all are.
I can’t wait to keep watching them grow.
Hurry up, 2015!
Please checkout the Helping Hands Foundation and get involved or support their amazing work!
