Charlie Jr's Journal
"These kids are out there, having so much fun...they love it.
Hannah and Friends is a place for people of all abilities."
- Charlie Weis Jr.
****************************************************************************************
April 17, 2010 - "The Circle of Life"
Just this past Saturday, I spent my time being a deejay for the Hannah and Friends dance party. Hannah and Friends is an organization made for people with special needs and disabilities. At Hannah and Friends, there are fun programs for the people with special needs to do. As I played the music, I realized that the dancers who range from all ages, some are just five-years-old and some are as old as sixty-five, just enjoy being themselves. Even with their so called “disabilities,” they have fun dancing, singing, and enjoying their time together. Some of them have trouble communicating, others have visual impairments, and some lacked the ability to walk on their own, but yet I see the beauty of all these wonderful people. They are some of the most loving people I will ever meet and bring a smile to my face every time I am with them. I cannot even describe how much fun they have.
Individuals with special needs are people that are truly living the way God wants us to live. They love everyone and despite the problems they face, they are truly happy. Even one young girl at the dance was once asked what she did when people were mean to her, she replied, “I am even nicer to them.” This is a perfect example of the Christ-like way individuals with special needs act. It is amazing to think this great place would never have been without my sister Hannah. So let's now take a flashback to see the miracle that led to Hannah and Friends.
Click here to continue reading...
****************************************************************************************
February 11, 2010 - "A Place for Good People"
I go there nearly five times a week, and my feelings have never changed. It’s the strange feeling I get every time I visit Hannah and Friends that keeps me coming back. No matter what the season, hot or cold, rain or snow, green leaves or the beautiful autumn leaves, the feeling never changes. The feeling I get when I go there is simply
a feeling of goodness. Every single time I step on the grounds of the farm, I just feel better about life itself. It may be the beauty of the farm, with several animals such as horses, goats, and cats or the beautiful green grass that covers several acres of land. Perhaps that feeling of goodness comes from somewhere other than that wonderful
property.
At Hannah and Friends, so many good things happen to good people there. Children with all different types of special needs regularly attend activities at the farm. These children are able to go to Hannah and Friends to escape the troubles of daily life where many “normal” people do not accept them for who they truly are. The farm is welcoming to all children with special needs. Children with special needs enjoy the company of those who they can relate to and those who love and care for them. It is a wonderful place to go for these children who often are looked at as misfits to society and have trouble enjoying themselves in public places. Hannah and Friends welcomes all children with what I like to call “different abilities.” The children participate in activities such as singing and dancing at dance parties, running and playing different games at a fair, and cooking delicious meals at culinary arts classes. The smiles I see on the faces of these children give me that good feeling deep down.
Click here to continue reading...
