Oh Happy Day! (Carrie)

February 20 post from Carrie:

Our little Flor was adopted

Last week Flor, the baby from House 10, was adopted by a really nice couple from Southern Peru. This sweet little girl was so excited to be starting a new life. Even at 3 years old she knew something big was happening and that she was going to her own new house. As we were waiting to say goodbye to her at the office, she literally ran circles around us and showered us with goodbye hugs. Flor will be missed by the volunteers for her warm smile and way of brightening your day by running to you with open arms. One thing that I was greatly impressed with was how smart she is and how talkative she can be. One time when we were watching her last week she told us lots of different stories in her half real words half mumbling stage she’s in so we couldn’t really understand her but that didn’t faze her! She kept right on going blabbing about this or that. This girl will be missed but we’re all so happy for the opportunities she will now have away from the Aldea. She can grow and become her own person. I know we’re all grateful for the interactions we got to have with her and the interactions we still get to have with the other children at the Aldea. It is through them that we are learning how to become better people and how to truly be happy with the way life is.

my topsy turvy life...

Yes, I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything. Personally, I've been having blogging withdrawals. Although it's a constant pressure that weighs on my shoulders, thinking and writing about the little orphan kids in South America helps me maintain a sense of balance and perspective. It also helps me from becoming totally self-absorbed.

But...I think I need to take a bit more of a blog hiatus. We're remodeling our home (in hopes of bringing one or more of these children from South America into our home - there I said it - it's official) and had to move to another place for a couple of months.

I'm unsettled. In a lot of ways. But I'm also settling.

So please be patient and wait a bit more - I'll introduce you to some more adorable children and tell you some exciting jungle news.

Natalie

Flashback Friday (Natalie)

Next Monday my husband and I as well as about 25 other people are getting together to see two special little people. I've been waiting for this reunion for a long, long time.

There are two boys from an orphanage we worked with in Peru who were lucky enough to be adopted by a loving couple earlier this year. Their mom tells me they are adjusting very well. Apparently they LOVED Halloween. But what kid coming from an impoverished third-world country wouldn't? You dress up and then walk around to people's houses and they give you candy??

In fact, I wonder what else they found fascinating about living in the U.S. Once in a while I try to see my world through the children of Peru's eyes. What would they think about Costco? I'm sure they'd love the free samples as much as I do. But what would they think about the giant packs of food? About the Christmas displays already set up? I'm sure they would stare with eyes wide and mouth open at people pushing enormous shopping carts overflowing with food, snacks and a ton of non-essential, non-important STUFF.

As I watch Christmas advertising, I have to stop myself from judging our commercially-minded society. I have to remember that even though a child may have more toys than they will ever need and still want more, that's just how things are here. It doesn't make us bad people - just amazingly fortunate and blessed.

And given the chance, I know every poor child would do the same if given the chance. I guess that's what I want for Christmas - for every poor child to have more food, more toys and especially more LOVE than they will ever need.