I am now home today to spend some time with my other babies, and to make childcare arrangements for next week. Being away from her right now is the hardest, but my other babies need us, too.
Spending some time reflecting on my sweet girl, and decided to focus on her and her amazing spirit right now, rather than the unknown.
Thought I'd share some things about her.
She has always had an amazing spirit. She started walking when she was six months. Was completely potty trained and out of diapers at 11 months. By the time she was one, she knew the ABC's, all body parts, colors, shapes, could count in both English and Spanish.
When she was four, she had her final stomach surgery in Salt Lake, UT. We were staying at the Ronald McDonald House. The Utah Hockey Team had come to the house one night to hang out with the guests, and Sierra had just gotten out of the hospital. We sat down with a full cafeteria, and Sierra offered to pray. She prayed for all families, their kids who were in the hospital, and the parents. She never mentioned herself. There was not a dry eye in the room, and in the end, people were coming to Sierra to thank her, and to give us their phone numbers to please keep in touch. The Hockey players fell in love with her, and carried her and played with her, and read to her, took pictures with her, etc.
When she was six, she started a neighborhood bible study for the kids who lived around us. She collected bibles, and gave each of the kids one. We'd often have 10-15 kids sitting in a circle in our yard, while she taught them lessons that she had learned at church. The kids loved it.
When the Angora Fire devastated Lake Tahoe, she gave almost all of her toys to kids who had lost all theirs in the fire.
In 3rd grade, she started the "Friendship Club" at school. It was a club of kids who took care of kids who were bullied, lonely, special needs, etc. Her goal was to make sure that they all felt safe, and loved. They would spend their lunch recess's playing with the special needs kids. She then carried that out of school, and hosted picnics and play dates for these sweet kids. Ken and I weren't sure how to help, and didn't realize how much of an impact she was having on these kids, till she hosted her first picnic out of school. The parents were in tears as they thanked her for making their babies feel loved and accepted. Sometimes, there was one little girl with autism who would struggle. The teachers would often call Sierra to the special needs room, because she was the one who could get them to calm down.
She has volunteered at the church for the past few years in childcare. Every Sunday.
Recently, she's started a grief support group for parents and siblings of those who have lost a child.
I am so proud of this sweet girl. She has a heart bigger than anyone I have ever known, and loves everyone she meets, fully and unconditionally.
I don't know why she's being put through this test, but I know if there is anyone on the planet who could pass it, and still come out smiling, it is her.
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