Lemonade stand

Katherine really surprised us the end of school.  Her teacher, Mrs. Lee, read the class a story about a little girl named Alex that was diagnosed with cancer.  Alex bravely fought cancer for 3 years and started a lemonade stand to raise money for children's cancer research.  Alex eventually lost her battle with cancer, but left a legacy that resonated in Katherine's heart.

On the way home from school, June 4th, Katherine asked if she could have a lemonade stand.  She had asked before but I always found a reason why she shouldn't.  We've got plans this weekend.  Daddy's working this weekend.  It'll be raining or it's too cold or even the shameful excuse of, "I don't think you understand how much work goes into one of those."

Well, this time, she was prepared for my resistance.  I started to find a reason why she shouldn't pursue it, once more, but before I could really find a reason to say no she said, "I want to raise money for children with cancer."

Ouch.  Ok.  She had my attention.

I asked her to explain where her idea came from and she described the book Mrs. Lee read to the class.  She explained how it would be awful to have cancer and that she wanted to help raise money to help stop cancer happening to kids.

Just breath, I had to tell myself.

"OK.  When do you want to have it?"

"This weekend is the National Lemonade Stand weekend for Alex.  Here's the bookmark that tells you all about it."

She handed me a bookmark that described Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, and sure enough, it stated that the weekend of June 8th & 9th was the designated time for the National fundraising event.

Well, that started the ball rolling and my little party-planner-in-training hit her stride.

She helped create lists of things to buy, things to set up and things to prepare ahead of time.  She picked out the yellow and pink lemonade mixes.  She chose the yellow and aqua colored cups and napkins and balloons and tablecloths.  She helped wrap cookies.  She mixed 8 gallons of lemonade.  She picked out which flyers to print off the website and she helped me create the paragraph describing who she was and why she wanted to raise money.

We decided to have it after church.  So when we got home, she helped set up the table and brought out all the cookies, napkins, pitchers, cups, balloons and flyers.  She carefully set up the table with all its items and waited patiently on her first customer, who just happened to be Mrs. Lee. :)

She did a spectacular job of tending to all her guests when they arrived by asking them if they'd rather have pink or yellow lemonade, handing them their cup with a napkin and asking them if they'd like a cookie also.  She even stopped playing with her friends and cousins when a guest arrived, would help them, then go back to playing.

She helped clean up.  She counted the money and learned about deposit slips and checkbooks and how to write out a check.

She was the best little girl EVER!  I know, I'm biased, but she really showed when she wants to put her mind to something, that she has the ability and know-how and stamina to complete the task at hand.

Katherine raised almost $300 that day and proved herself to be a caring, intelligent and kind-hearted little girl!

Daddy and I are so proud of you Katherine.  You ROCK!