Fantastic Faith

"Though she be but little, she is fierce!" - William Shakespeare

Lisa has had these words inscribed on a sign she is putting in Faith's new room.  Truer words were never spoken when it comes to describing our little power-house, Faith, who is just four, but has a spirit so dynamic that she sets off fireworks wherever she goes.  Equal parts imp, snuggler, motorcycle chick, lover of animals, daredevil and singing dynamo, our "Faithy" always has us laughing over her antics.

Faith had her first dance recital this December.  I can clearly remember her mother at the same age, delicately tiptoeing with her ballet slippers barely touching the floor, and shyly posing for the camera.  Not so Faith, more like her adult Marathon-Running-Mama than 4 year-old Lisa ever was, she is positively combustible!  Even onstage, Faith's exuberance spills over:

Shortly before the recital, Faith had decided that she didn't want to take dance anymore.  She wants to take karate, like her brother, and ride motorcycles.  All she kept asking for for Christmas was a "red motorcycle," and it is a good thing that the tutus for the evening weren't pink, or it is likely that Faith would have completely refused to show up altogether.  "I hate pink!" she shouts.  Give her camo pants, and a good pair of running shoes, and she is off!  The only time she is OK with mentioning "girly stuff," is when she shouts - at the top of her lungs - the lyrics to the Beyonce song: "Who rules the world?! - GIRLS!!" (only with Faith's 4-year-old lisp, it comes out "GRILS!")

Thankfully, Faith is always eager to bestow hugs and "snuggles" to all of her loved ones, which includes her Daddy and me, below:

Trust me, you've never been properly "snuggled" till you've been hugged by Faith!  She loves as "fiercely" as she plays:

Camera-shy Lisa didn't see me snap the following picture.  If she had, I'd be in trouble.  I was given strict instructions that no pictures were allowed.  This is Lisa ONE WEEK after her open-heart surgery.  Talk about willpower! Faith comes by it quite naturally.  Her mother is a heroine of the first degree.  Her doctors are in awe of her, and say that "she is a testament to willpower," as she does what none of their patients have ever done before, and sets her own standard for post-op care.  One doctor came in while Lisa was still in Intensive Care, and said "Get the idea of running out of your head."  But, a doctor who knows better followed shortly thereafter and said that Lisa "does not fit the norm," and  that the doctors learn as Lisa shows what a person with fierce willpower can do.  She is a marvel, and a wonderful example to our Faith of what a strong woman can be and do. All of her life, I've said of Lisa: "I want to be just like HER!"