Instead of Pictures

I woke up really early this morning.  I just couldn't go back to sleep.  I am feeling really homesick.  Rachel is just bored.  Thankfully, I was able to message with John, William, and Julia for a little bit.  Can you believe I haven't heard the kids' voices since we first left.  They will be music to my ears. . . for at least a while.

Since I am not able to post pictures, I thought that a video would be nice.  It is very short, and I certainly don't like how my mind goes blank once the camera's rolling, but at least Alex and Dennis will see their Mama and new brothers.
 
This video was taken a week ago, but I forgot about it.  Nolan is such a cutie!


Since it is Saturday here, the baby house was quiet.  There were hardly any kids outside when we got there.  We decided to go to the music room for a change.   Nolan colored and played with some ride on trucks while Oliver enjoyed a new treat we brought.  He ate at least half a dozen "palchikees" which are sweet melt in your mouth puffs that resemble fingers.    He even army crawled a few inches to get one in his mouth.

When it was time for Oliver to eat, I was happy to see that the nice caretakers were there.  Here was my chance.  I decided to pull out the cute baby bibs that I promised to pass out to the babies.  I explained the best I could and pulled out my camera.  As I tied the bibs on, Rachel was able to get lots of pictures!  This is perfect since there are 3 babies that I want to see get a family.  Of course I would love to see all of them find homes, but at this time only very few children are able to be adopted at such a young age and I am pretty sure they would qualify with their special needs.  Sorry I can't post the pictures now, but I will once we are back home.

On our way out, we saw Nolan again.  He was riding around on a little car.  Seeing him got me thinking.  For the most part, the kids here have nearly everything my kids back home have.  They have toys to play with.  They swim.  They take baths regularly.  They get to play outside.  They paint.  They color.  They have clean clothes.  They participate in children's programs.  They get plenty of food.  They get pushed around in strollers.  I can go one, but you get the point.  They are very well taken care of especially when I compare them to all of our other kids' orphanages.

And yet they are missing something.  Something that no one at the orphanage can provide for them.

A family.  A Mama and a Papa.  Brothers and sisters.

And it shows.  These kids still yearn for attention.  They reach out for us.  They run to us.    They wave and they yell hi.  And many of them rock back and forth despite the wonderful care they receive.  Why?  Because deep down they yearn for the closeness and intimacy that comes from being in a Mama's arms.  They need that.  They crave it.

And that is just something that an orphanage and it's caretakers cannot provide. . . and it shows.

Yes, we are blessed to have our boys. . . to see them everyday. . . and to know that in just a few days they will be leaving this place forever.  But that day cannot come soon enough.

Hoping and praying that this Wednesday is the day we get to bust them out forever!

P.S.  Rachel got to sweep and mop the stairwell on our floor.  We did it as a favor to our friends who are still away at camp.  For a while, she actually wasn't bored. :)