Meet Francine Williams, one of 11 girls in a very special family in California.
Hi! My name is Francine Lynn Williams, and I am 12 years old.
I was born handicapped, but I am doing quite well for my handicap. I was born mentally handicapped, which means I am slow to learn things. I am mildly mentally handicapped, which means it is hard for me to learn some things, but I AM learning, with help. My teachers at school, and also my mama, Kendra, help me.
I go to a regular school, where I am "mainstreamed". That means even though I AM handicapped, I go to regular classes, with regular kids, but if I need help, I have an aide who helps me if I have trouble.
I live in Soulsbyville, California, which is really close to Truckee, California. Where I live has lots of hills and lots of mountains, and it is really pretty country. I live there with my mama, Kendra, and my ten sisters. My ten sisters are named Keisha, Wendy, Mia, Mariah, Sally, Sarah, Linda, Kim, Kelly, and Mary. Keisha, Wendy, Mia, Mariah, Sally, Sarah, Kelly, and Kim are younger than me, but Mary and Linda are older than me.
I like to read (I read the Bible most of all, that is my favorite book), and I like to watch tv. I like "Diagnosis: Murder" and "Doc", and also "It's A Miracle". I also love going to church (we go to Living Waters Church every Sunday, and also every Wednesday), and I love learning about my Saviour, Jesus Christ. I also love to play with my sisters and go to school, where I am in the seventh grade. Now, as I said before, I go to a regular school, but if I need help, there is another lady in the class, besides my teacher, Miss Keene, who helps me if I have trouble since some things are hard for me.
I was adopted into my family, and I love all my sisters very much. Mama is handicapped herself, but she does a very good job at raising us kids. She has water head, and she recently had surgery on her head, and she is doing better. She gets headaches sometimes when the thing inside her head gets plugged up, and this is what causes her to get headaches. Sometimes they were so bad she'd faint, scaring us all halfway to death, but she got her head fixed, and she is now doing a lot better. She still has the bandages on her head, but they will come off the next time she sees her doctor, and then she will come home and look like herself again. She was in bed for a while, but she is now up part of the day, and she helps us as best as she can, but if she gets tired, or she has a headache, she will lie down and sleep, and then Mary, I, or Kim will help with the kids, so mama can sleep and get her rest.
Well, I hope you liked reading about me. I enjoyed writing, and I will write again soon. I have to go; Mia threw up, and I have to clean up her nasty before someone else steps in it! UCH!
'Bye!
~Love, Francie (Francine) L. Williams, aged 12.
Oops! I forgot to say that we are getting another girl into our family soon! She is from Africa, and her name is Abayomi Chipo, but we are going to call her Anna. She is from a country called Kenya.
Karen you have such a wonderful compassionate heart
for championing those whom others forget. Thanks for
reminding us, and giving them a voice. God bless you!
This exceptional book, Celebrating the Gift of Being Alive, has the perfect thoughts and words for birthdays, graduations, engagements, marriages, and any life celebration or family tradition.
