Girls' Brigade - 'The Explorers'

Last night Lillie attended her first Girls' Brigade session. I was allowed to stay which gave me the opportunity to see first hand the type of activities the girls are encouraged to be involved in. To start with the girls played amongst themselves with basketballs and frisbys in the main hall before the Captain divided them into two groups. Each one worked as a team passing a ball behind them or bouncing it on the spot as well as having to run to the front/back of their line as quickly as they could. After they played 'Honey Bear' - a game where they sat in a circle while one of the girls sat in the centre, eyes closed with a bean bag placed next to her. Another girl was selected by the Captain to sneak up as quietly as possible to take the bean bag. The rest of the girls had to shout out "Honey Bear" in order for the the girl in the centre to 'wake up' and catch the girl with the bean bag. She then had to sit in the centre and the game went on until each girl had taken a turn. Lillie picked up these competitive games very quickly and hearing her giggles were a welcome relief to me.

The next activity saw them all sat on a large gym mat, where they practised some Christmas Carols in preparation for a Carol Service at a nearby residential home for the elderly next month. I got quite tearful hearing the girls singing, but hid it well. It also took me back in time to when Louis took part in such festive activities at primary school, it doesnt seem like that was over 10 years ago now!

Once the singing was over, they moved into an adjacent room to work on a christmas project. Lovely christmas tree decorations and colouring in specific parts of a nativity themed picture were busily created and placed in their folders, ready to take home at the end of term. Before returning to the hall, refreshments were handed out which Lillie welcomed with a beaming smile. More carol singing practice took place after, with my all time school favourite 'Away in a Manger' being sung. Then it was time for a Bible story before home time.

Lillie enjoyed her evening so much that she is eager to go back next week. I shall also be organising a uniform for her which she is excited about. We were made to feel very welcome and the atmosphere was wonderfully active with plenty of laughter and smiley faces. Ive spoken to her about my not being able to stay next week, but that I shall be close by in the library studying. Lillie seems comfortable with this at the moment, but I think until next week she will need regular reassurance that I will return to collect her at home time. However, Lillie went to bed last night a very happy little lady and Mum here went to bed a very proud Mummy.