One Month

Hokey toots, friends. It's already been a month. It seems so odd to say because the time has gone by so quickly. So I'm just gonna let this post be a reflection of that time. I will do my best. This could be a book.

The daily schedule, more or less...

I wake up at 6 to be in my house at 7. I have 14 kids: 2 infants, 2 crawlers, 2 toddlers, 3 pre-k, 3 preschoolers, and 2 kindergarteners. I have 9 boys and 5 girls, and there are 2 sibling sets, one of which is twins. After greeting them all and getting my morning dose of wet kisses, I dish up breakfast for both my house and the house we are connected to, feed my crawlers and toddlers, then clean up for both houses. Laundry gets hung outside after that (and there is a LOT) and then we go to playgroup. The older but not ready for school kids have singing, learning, and play time and I go with the crawlers to our soft room. There we work with kids to get them crawling, standing, walking, etc, and the room normally has 10-15 babies from all the houses. At 10, the kids have a snack and I help feed the underweight kids with some power porridge. (I don't think it's ever been called that before...but that's what it is) Tea time is from 10:30-11 and I go home for a little snack and time to relax, then back to playgroup where the kids get to play outside. Lunch comes next, and I dish up another 21 dishes and help feed the youngins and clean up. While the kids nap, I get a break until 3. Sometimes that means napping, sometimes it's reading, sometimes it's sitting at the picnic table and just talking with the other volunteers. At 3 the kids go back outside to play where I join them, and around 4 they get a snack and head home for baths. This is the BEST part of the day. Naked baby time. They finish their snacks and then strip down to get all clean, and I don't know what it is about it, but it is my absolute favorite. They run to the bath, get scrubbed down, and then they come running to me all happy and free to get rubbed with Vaseline. SO cute. After naked baby time comes another 21 plates, feeding youngins, cleaning up, and then I head home for the day.

There are days when it feels like so much and is so exhausting. Other days, however, go so quickly and the work seems like play. 

Some days I feel utterly defeated, inadequate, and unhelpful, while others are so fulfilling and full of joy and hope.

God can feel miles away one moment and right by my side the next.

In short, it's a roller coaster.

Silly things I miss...

My shower. Tortilla shells. Tacos. Anything mexican. 

More legitimate things I miss...

My friends and family. The ability to speak English to whoever I want (this may seem silly, but it's really true). The freedom to go somewhere by myself, on a bike ride, for a drive, etc. Complete alone time.  

God is really working in my heart. Slowly but surely, He is leading me and guiding me. There are a plethora of unknowns, but He is teaching me things about myself and putting desires deep within me.

This month has been good. This month has been fast. I have seen the beauty of the mountains, the simplicity life can bring, the indescribable joy of a child, the power of an Almighty God.

I would cherish your prayers for clarity and wisdom, opportunities to minister, and for protection from Satan's lies. There is so much more I would love to tell you, but we will leave it at this for now (: Thanks friends. Your support is so meaningful to me!