Playing on the Streets of Heaven

Sweet Emma

These sweet girls lost a sister this week. Precious Emma is now running and playing on the streets of heaven.  As much as our hearts rejoice that she is healed and with her savior, we are also overcome with sadness that she is no longer here. We were privileged to get to love on Emma while she was here. Our lives are richer by knowing her.  We hugged her sisters a little tighter this week!  Our hope is in Christ so that is where we will focus!! Please pray for her mama and the other girls to find comfort, peace and healing in the Lord !

Created with a Purpose

This week we had the privilege of caring for the 10 sweet girls at one of the children’s homes we serve in while the nannies were treated to a Christmas lunch out with the director of the home.  Molly, Kaylee and Arabella joined us (Noah cared for Willy at home). It was such a blessing to see our three girls serving these girls with all their hearts. We could not have spent the 3 hours there without their help!  I didn’t get any pictures during snack time as we were …. A bit busy!!  But oh, to see my sweet Molly lovingly and carefully feeding 2 of the girls who are not able to feed themselves was such a delight. Taking the time to make sure they were ready for the next bite, gently prodding them to open their mouth, Molly definitely was following God’s commandment to love your neighbor!

Our girls engage the other girls, making sure everyone has a chance to play and feels invited to join in. As I sat with a little sweetie in my arms that just needed to feel that someone was close, I marveled at how God created us all with such purpose. These girls at the children’s homes are teaching our 3 girls things that they won’t learn in any textbook! And I am so proud of all that they are learning!

Toward the end of the afternoon, after all the jumping on the trampoline, wagon rides, playing dress up and board games were done, Carl treated the girls to watching music videos on his phone. Frozen and Moana are their favorites! Kaylee found a toy that brought a smile to sweet L's face!

Kaylee taking a break from pulling the wagon!

Bella had the best time playing with V. I watched as she copied what she has seen us do, and carefully opened V's tight little fingers and lovingly put the rattle in her hand and helped her to shake it.  They both were all smiles!

And seeing as how Molly was busy with the girls and also served as our photographer, I didn't get any pictures of her.  So this last picture is from a different day and a different children's home, but I had to include a picture of Molly loving on the babies! 

A Season of Learning

Wow! I am overwhelmed with all we have been learning these last few months.  While we are visiting children’s homes and loving on these sweet kids, Jesus is teaching us so much about orphan care in Guatemala, about special needs, about therapies needed and therapies available.  Last week I had the opportunity to assist an occupational therapist in one of the homes we serve in.  The field of therapy is amazing to me! The techniques, the tools, the love that this therapist showed these precious children was nothing short of awesome. And to see how the girls responded was such a blessing. After each of their sessions, they were more relaxed, more focused. One took a short nap in her chair while the other sat quietly and played, obviously relaxed.

 

The Splendor of a Rainfall

Last week we were serving in a children's home that is in a village about 45 minutes from our home.  It is a delightful family-style home with 16 precious children, all with moderate to severe special needs.  It fills my heart to get to go and love on these sweet ones.  These two boys pictured especially love Carl.  Their faces light up and they get the biggest smiles when he walks in the room.  God is teaching us with every visit how we can come alongside this home to share His love. And sometimes that looks like standing by the window, being held and watching the splendor of an afternoon rainfall!

This is the same little guy that Carl was holding. Here we are working on arm strength/coordination by hammering the ball into the hole.

Willy

Willy - 2 and a half years old

Just thought I'd write an update on Willy.  Many of you joined us in praying for him a couple of weeks ago when he had his hearing test done that he needed anesthesia for.  Thank you so much for your prayers.  The test went very well. He wasn't even too grumpy that he didn't get his breakfast.  The test concluded that he has moderate hearing loss in one ear and normal hearing in the other.  The ENT does not think that his speaking delays have anything to do with this amount of hearing loss. 

We just passed the 9 month mark of having Willy with us.  Seems like he has been with us forever and none of us can imagine what life was like before him!  He has grown both in height and weight.  He came to us wearing size 12 month and is now outgrowing all his 18 month clothes.  He is crawling everywhere and getting into everything! He has a few words that he says: mama, all done,  up, bye bye, dada. Of course, like any 2 year old, he only says things when he wants to!  He also says something for Mickey Mouse, Noah, Molly and Elmo. He likes imitating animal sounds: meow, quack, moo. He signs the words for: eat, more, shoes, all done, please, thank you, drink.

He's practicing walking in his therapy; still has trouble with balance.

His favorite toys are his cars that he pushes all over and makes car noises.

 His favorite food is pizza!

He loves giving and getting fist bumps!

He loves climbing!

And he makes lots of new friends in the orphanages that we visit!

A Hope and a Future

There is something worshipful about feeding a baby.  I can remember sitting with each of my children that I nursed, thanking God for the privilege to be their mama. When Willy first came to us, I was the only one to give him his bottle because I wanted that special bond with him, that precious time when his needs were being met and he would lay contently in my arms and look into my eyes.

The other day I had the honor of giving Baby A his bottle.  Although his cleft lip makes it difficult for him, he slowly sucks down his bottle and relaxes in my arms.  I pray to God as I look into his little eyes and I’m assured that God will always take care of him. We don’t know his future but God does. God even knows how many hairs are on his head. He has plans for this baby and a promise to give him a hope and a future!

Treasured Moments

Play-dough! It’s one of those things we all love! Whether boy or girl, young or old, American or Guatemalan (or…) 

It’s squishy, it's soft, it’s fun! 

We took some homemade play-dough to the children’s home today.  The girls loved it.  I squished it between the fingers of a little one and she smiled.  It's little things like play-dough that can build relationships. It’s a shared giggle of a lopsided snowman made from little hands with pink play-dough. Some could manipulate it by themselves, others needed help to feel the spongy substance in their tight little hands.  And of course, there were a couple, who wanted to nothing more than to taste this new delightful material! 

We also took a maraca and gave it to the girls to hold and shake. As one little sweetie held it in her hand and I gently shook her arm, a smile crept across her face.  Soon laughter erupted at the realization that she was the one making the music!  We sang Jesus Loves Me and shook the maraca. Treasured moments!

Divine Appointments

Yesterday I had the privilege of holding, loving and praying for this sweet baby boy!  Singing softly to this precious baby, I was definitely in the presence of God.  The miracle of life almost overwhelmed me.  I was honored to be asked to spend time with him. I slowly raised his arms above his head and for a brief instant our eyes met. I smiled and assured him of how loved he was by Jesus and so many others.  Although his mouth didn't show it, his eyes seemed to light up, if only for a moment.

I am so thankful for these divine appointments from God. We are also thankful for the love and care he and many others receive at http://www.villageofhopeguatemala.com/ one of the children's homes that we are working with.  

Musings from the beach....

An excitement fills my soul - as only you can do, Lord.

 An expectancy of great things, hard things, 

heart - breaking things.

This is a new season and I am ready. 

Ready to serve you with all my heart,

 ready to love with all my heart, 

ready to face the ugly truths that are of this world. 

You are sending us to love 

and shine your light in those dark places. 

You are calling us to be vulnerable, to be willing. 

Yes, Lord, we will go. Yes, Lord, we will follow. 

Yes, Lord, we will praise you always!

July 2018

February 2018

Story time!

And we finally have a kitchen!!

All the PFH kids love Willy, too!

Fun in the grocery store.

At the ruins in Antigua.

At an amusement park in Guatemala City.

Lots of family fun!

The kids got a Wii for Christmas.

Christmas dinner

Christmas Eve

Who doesn't love to play with balls in a wash basket?

Willy's homecoming!!

December 2017