This morning, we got up and had breakfast, got dressed and went out to the garden to play soccer. It was Mary and Nicolas against Kevin and I. I think we spent more time chasing the ball down the hill than we did playing soccer, but we had fun!! We told the kids they had to wait until after 8AM to go in the pool to prevent waking the other guests. So, once that time passed, they were in the pool and having a blast - see below:
This is Mary doing a flip off of Kevin's shoulders.
And Nicolas doing the same :)
Can you see my tan??? :)
Look harder.....it's there!
Once Nicolas and Mary had frozen themselves in the pool, they went up and hopped in a hot bath. Then they played cars and baseball until Bev came to pick Mary up. Our first sleepover was a success (except that Mary's little sister Amy Rose kept Bev up half the night because she was devastated that Mary was gone - sorry Bev!!!)!!!
We had lunch and lounged around for a couple hours and then headed to the store to get a few things for dinner. Then it was back out to the pool! More flips and laps and throwing Nicolas into the pool. He loves it when Kevin and I grab his arms and legs and swing him into the pool. I am always afraid that he is going to do a belly flop and come up in tears, but it's a big grin every time! In between jumps, he lays on the tiles along the pool to warm up. Today he told us he wanted to be "toasted like a chicken". :)
Woolworths (grocery store) made our dinner tonight - lasagna and tomato and pesto flatbread. Since we have moved to the loft suite at our guest house, our fridge is about 1/3 the size of downstairs, so I am quite a bit more limited on what I can cook based on what I can store. After dinner, we got back in our homework routine (since we haven't been for a couple days) and Nicolas and Kevin built the wooden helicopter he received as a gift from Jacky who used to help him with his studies.
Tomorrow after church we are attending a Coming to the Table event at Bev's house. If you haven't seen my previous posts on Facebook about coming to the table, you can learn more about it here: http://www.oasishaven.org/sites/default/files/downloads/social_initiatives_cttt_overview2_us.pdf It is such a great way to get together with friends to raise both funds and awareness! It's not about making a ridiculous donation or a lifelong commitment, it's about making a choice - one time - to choose someone else over yourself. I'm not sure I can put into words how meeting the Oasis team and the children they care for has impacted our lives. We knew it would, but wow!! It is one thing to read about it, to see pictures and hear stories, but it is so much more powerful to experience it first-hand. The houseparents in these 2 houses have given their lives - quite literally - to raising these children. They pour their hearts, their energy, and all that they into these kids. It is a beautiful thing to see. They endure the chaos, the stress, the laughs, the joy, and the sorrow of bringing them in, raising the up, and saying goodbye when God calls them into families. It is a job I don't believe I would have the emotional strength to do. Love them, sure!!! Care for them, yes! But to have to say goodbye time and time again, ouch!! They are supported by an equally amazing team of support staff who share the burden of the day-to-day needs of caring for 10 children - cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. Coupled with the most amazing administrative staff you could imagine, Oasis Haven is the culmination of what happens when a group of people listen and respond to God's call on their lives to do more than just pray about the orphan crisis in our world today. I am so inspired by this team of Believers. I pray that you will be as well.
The Longstreets
The lady, Mrs. Tang, who had Hannah in her home from 2 months until we received her at 11 months said she would probably never do it again. Her heart was breaking that day, but we are so grateful for her.
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