The Wonder of Childhood!

I don't know how each of you feels about letting kids believe in things like Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy. I must confess that I fall in the middle. I think its good for children to be brought up and taught the truth, but at the same time I want to let kids be kids. I want their imaginations to run. I want them to feel awe and wonder in things small and large. I want them to get caught up in stories and dream. So often our kids miss out on these opportunities. Too often, they are forced to grow up too fast, to lose their inocence and wonder in life. We look for ways to help them build that wonder into their childhoods. We use things like play and stories, crafts and experiments, and trips out of the orphanages to experience new things.

 A couple of years ago, a young boy, Doro, lost a tooth. I started telling him about the tooth fairy. Half-way through my story I realized that I might have made a mistake. Doro is the kind of boy, who, after hearing that story, would put his tooth under his pillow to see what happens. At the orphanage nothing would happen. So, at the end of the story, I said, "but the Tooth Fairy only comes to Americans." I took his tooth home and then next time I saw him, gave him a few lei and he was thrilled. I thought I might have started something, but time passed with no one else telling me they'd lost a tooth. Then, last fall, a little girl, Nicoleta, came to me and asked if I could put her tooth under my pillow. I couldn't believe that close to two years later, she still remembered! I took her tooth and brought her a few lei. Now it has caught on! It is rare to look in my pockets or purse and not find a tooth, but I love the wonder that I see in their eyes. Through moments like these we build love into their lives, and as they learn to trust our love, they become more open to the love of Christ.

Karla Turns 1!!!

I returned to Romania and jumped right back into life! I made it just in time for Karla's first birthday! Princess Karla, had a princess party. It was a great day!

We love you Karla!

Kansas Time!

I spent mid-January through mid-February in Kansas on furlough. It is always great to see my family and friends. My nieces and nephews continue to grow up. My second oldest niece, Shelby, is a senior this year! They wait for me to come home to celebrate Christmas. Bless my parents-they kept the tree up until January 23rd!

These are three of my best friends from college.  We get together every time I'm home for furlough for a girls weekend!

The Holidays are Here!

A few days before Christmas the young men that are in the Boys Transition Program came to spend the Holidays up at the Team House. The staff all pitched in to help host them and prepare for the team. I would not have made it without my amazing staff! Sandel, a BTH grad who is currently going to seminary, volunteered to come stay at the house to help out with the boys. Having him here was an amazing blessing. He was great with the boys, plus it was great to be reminded, through watching Sandel, how God is working among our kids. He is a great example of the Hope that our kids have, only through Christ!  This picture is Sandel, Mihai, Ionut, Jim (a Team member), Alex, and Vali.

Christmas Morning was, as always, a treat!  It never ceases to thrill me, to be a part of experiencing life with kids who have had so little.  For the first time, for most of our Transition Kids, they woke to stockings, full of gifts, gifts under the tree with their name on them, a special Christmas breakfast, etc.  One of the comments that we've heard is "this is what is is like to have a family." 

                                                      The Team arrived on December 27th!  One of the fun parts of the Holiday Team is that we get to pass out gifts to this kids.  

The Team, with our honorary friend!

2015 Came to a Close!  It was time to say goodbye to another year, and welcome in 2016!

Getting ready..........

The month of December, my housemate and assistant, Jenny, was in the US on furlough. That, along with preparing for Christmas had me hopping! Ioana returned to work, after maternity leave, so Daria began to come stay at the team house around 3 days a week. It was a rough adjustment for her, leaving Mommy, but we made it. Though we were all occasionally exhausted!

Decorating the Team house is has become a tradition.  We get a tree and Ruthie puts the star up.  Then we decorate, watch a Christmas movie, and have a slumber party.  Our tree, this year, was an interesting shape!  But it grew on me!

We did a lot of baking, assembling, and packing presents.  With all of our kids, plus the directors and staff in the locations we work in, there is PLENTY to do!

Melissa and Ruthie are baking.  Everyone gets to help out to get everything done!

We also attend Christmas programs at the orphanages.  Romanians love their poems!

Parties, Parties, Parties!

 

Ready or Not Christmas is here!

Time of Thankfulness!

As Most of you know, the H2H Thanksgiving Feast is a huge annual event here at the Team House. I knew, when I moved here, so many years ago, that celebrating Thanksgiving was something that I'd bring with me. What started out 5 people in my apartment living room, has grown to be between 60-80 people here at the team house. I LOVE Thanksgiving. It is a time to reflect and what we have to be thankful for while celebrating the people that make up our lives. I've added some of my favorite pictures of the day, so that you can celebrate with us!
 

We had 4 of the grandkids in one place at one time so we tried to get a picture of them all together, smiling....We were close!

The feast!



Costel, Doro and some of the kids--They always love to be together.

Emi turned 5, and since we were all together we took advantage of the time to celebrate.  

Growing Grandkids!

 I believe one of the best parts of our ministry is that we know the only way to truly disciple our kids is by living life alongside of them.  How else will they ever understand the love of Christ and the importance of trust and family unless it is lived out with them.  Most of you know that one of the most amazing facets of this is the H2H grandbabies that have come along.  August 30th we added baby 8, Abygail, and 9, Daria to our family.  Yes, they were both born on the same day!  We have 3 that live close by and are around often.  We help babysit Ruthie and Karla several times a week and will also help provide child care for Daria when Ioana returns to work.  I'm going to pull the "grandma" card and brag a bit about these 3 in this blog.

 Daria was born on Aug. 30th to Alex and Ioana Oprea.  Romania hospitals are very strict about allowing visitors to see the baby in the hospital, so although we visited Ioana before we left on vacation, we didn't get to meet Daria until we returned.  In the picture above I'm introducing myself to precious Daria!

 

 In mid-September Daria was dedicated at our church.  It was another great milestone for Alex and Ioana and for the H2H family!

 

 Karla is getting big!  She is now 8 month old.  She "talks" alot, smiles often, loves to be on her stomach, but more so standing on her legs.  She dislikes sitting up.  She loves to be sung to.  Her favorite song is The Wheels on the Bus.  When someone she knows comes into the room she moves her arms and legs in excitement.  She is a very sweet baby and is good natured. 

This is our attempt to get that adorable fall picture of a baby sitting in the leaf pile!


She liked being a cute pumpkin much better!

                                                             At Ruthie's Birthday party!

Ruthie has turned 5!  We can hardly believe that she is that big.  The little boy in the picture is Emi, another of our grandkids.  Ruthie is a princess and a frozen party was a must this year.  We had fun helping her parents plan and throw it.  I think that Ruthie smiled the whole day!

Ruthie loves pumpkins and being outside.  She understands English but speaks half Romania half English with Jenny and I. (She of course, speaks fluent Romanian).    We are really working on her saying full English sentences.  She loves going on walks and going to the mall.  She is pretty athletic and will run with me for quite long distances for her age.   She paints, cooks, does nails, writes her name, sings, and dances.  She loves mac and cheese, popcorn, and spicy chips, and is more comfortable on an ipad then most adults!  She is smart and confident and says I love you often.  I'm so proud of the little person that she is!

I hope that you can tell from this blog how much I love these little ones and how blessed we are to have them part of our legacy here in Romania!