Really Day One--Paradise Lost Park 9-29-12

An amazing day! We visited a park called Paradise Lost which cost about $3.75 for adults and $2.50 for children. This is an opportunity these kids only get once a year!  There were about  a 100 kids plus moms bused in to spend the day, which we provided lunch, games, crafts, camel rides, boat rides and lots of love.
I wasn't quite sure what my emotions would be but once our bus arrived and all the children came running to it my heart began to melt. Their precious smiles and warm eyes grabbed my heart and i wanted to hug them all. I hadn't been informed what the protocol was, can I hug them? They offered their hand to shake so I did the same and told them my name, & asked them theirs. This took a bit of time as there were alot of them.
Shortly after the greetings we were brought together with the moms to have a little "meet and greet". I noticed Bonnie was carrying two kids and holding hands with a couple more. WELL, that was my signal that it was totally ok to love on these precious lives. I began my hugging and taking pictures, and had a few specific friends in no time flat. All the kids loved to have their photos taken then wanted to see themselves in the camera. Some would laugh and others just smiled. Just like my kids! They reveled in the idea of seeing their reflection.
Background info: these women(moms) were all HIV positive and some of the children. You could tell some of the women were newer into the program as they didn't look as healthy. But they were all so beautiful, you could see and hear their love and thanks to God for this path of love through the HEART organization.