Victory Games

On April 18, 2011 Malachi participated in the Victory Games in Cherry-vale Kansas which prepares them for the special olympics in Pittsburg Kansas. Not all the children who do the victory games do the special olympics because they are not old enough.
Over the last several years I have not had a chance to go and watch Malachi participate in these games, this year I was able to and let me tell you the overwhelming since of pride I had. He was so big. He walked to every rotation with some help but no wheel chair and some of the walking was clear across the football field and even a little difficult for him, but he prevailed.
The first rotation was a race. Malachi can't really run, he just gets on his tiptoes and walks really fast. He finished the race. It wasn't a very long race but he did it.

 The next was the softball throw. He loves to play catch and throw. He decided to sit for this rotation but he still threw the softball and then when he was done he came and gave me kisses. Love it.

 Then he did the running long jump which again tiptoes and walking. Of course at the end of this little track is sand. Its like a box of sand. Malachi totally lost interest in doing this again because the sand was much more fun to play with. By the end of this rotation he had started a trend because most of the children were playing in the sand then. Way to be a leader even if its in the sand box.

After all of this there is lunch and some free time where they get to play games like the wii, or get their face painted or blowing bubbles. Malachi did most of these except playing the wii. He would much rather watch someone do it. I was so shocked that he let someone paint his face. Malachi is not about to let someone he doesn't know touch him let alone his face. But for some reason it was a go. He sat there shaking the whole time but he did it. I was very proud and even got my face painted with the same looking smiley face he got.

After all of this and the kids are completely wore out they get a medal. Malachi left his on for about 5 seconds just long enough for me to get a good picture.

For some people they may not realize that something so small as this can be so huge to these kids and their parents. But they are. I think that the people who organize this and volunteer to make these children especially mine feel so special are doing God's work and for this I am truly thankful.