Three Years Ago...

I wasn't planning on blogging today... I have been thinking about it but actually planning on doing it. Yeah right. But here I am writing out this blog post. Mostly because I happen to finish my homework early tonight and instead of going to bed I checked my e-mail. I had a message from Rachael Stoner. It said...

Remember this. I am so thankful for you :)

Attached was the first e-mail I had ever sent to the Stoner's introducing myself. It will be exactly three years on December 10th that I sent that message and it was on December 20th that I started the application process of joining ABWE. 

Reading over that first e-mail I had sent to the Stoner's, I am kinda impress how well it was written. It was definitely a God-thing. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around how much my life has changed in the last three years from moving to France, getting kicked out, going back, moving to Romania, and ending up with my current job as a nanny. 

As I am getting ready to fly across the country to help out my cousin next week, I have really been thinking about decisions and life choices lately. This e-mail was a great reminder that God is in control of everything and he has a much better plan for me then I ever imagined. 

A Year to This Day

This weekend a year ago, I had gotten a message from the Stoner's through a friend saying that Dan's was having health problems and they wanted me to contact them as soon as possible. That call was pretty much life changing. We were in the middle of the last month of camp. I was wore out and tired looking forward to flying back to France in only a couple weeks to see my adorable kids. 

Little did I know that call was going to lead to many more calls via skype with bad internet connections over Starbucks drinks in a Cluj mall. Those calls consisted of the Stoner's explaining Dan's cancer to me and my possible future plans. Over the next month, I made the decision to apply for my Romania visa and see were God would lead me. 

God lead me to stay right there in Romania. It's crazy to think of everything that has happened in just the past year and I am excited to see what else God has planned for life. Even though some days it feels like I am going to be in the same place forever. It's nice to be reminded how far I have came along in the past year. 

God is Able

This morning started out rough for me. I had planned to wake up early and go work out but I couldn't get the car out of the garage and blah, blah, blah.... It was rough but I did make it to the gym. 

On my way to the fitness room I ran into Beth. She is a regular at the y she has been going there for as long as I can remember, she knew I had went to France to help the Stoner's. So she asked me about my time in Europe. I told her how I ended up in Romania working in the orphanages. Beth is adoption from China, so as I told her about my time working in the orphanages. She completely understands but not from my perspective but from a perspective as a little kid. 

Beth was adopted when she was eight. She remembers what it likes to live in the orphanage and hopelessness a child must feel. But Beth was lucky enough to get adopted unlike many others. Beth understood when I told her of my wish to adopt all the kids and to give them hope for a better future. 

Talking to Beth this morning, reminded me of how much I still miss Romania two months later and how God does work miracles. I am sure as a kid growing up in a orphanage, she never imagine that she would be blessed by such an amazing family here in the U.S. So instead of putting God in a box I am going to pray for all the kids I work with for God to move in their lives because 

He can do anything!

Nannying

I started my nannying job, so I get to spend my day with these boys. They are pretty cute plus I get awesome benefits like free Thai food everyday at lunch, frozen yogurt starting in June at their new shop, and 50% off on my nails at the salon. My toes will be looking pretty this summer :) I am grateful for a job working with kids and all the time I spent in  in Romania has helped me prepare for this job with the triplets like handing three crying babies all at once, mastering the technic of feeding them all at the same time, and changing diapers super fast to avoid any extra stray. 

Feeling Fancy

I did my hair yesterday. It is sorta a big deal, unless I wear my hair in braids it is usually down. Mercy gave me that black hair band for my birthday in France and I have had it for over a year now unsure of how I was going to wear it. Then I remember all the girls at camp this summer in Romania had their hair pulled back all cute with a hair band and I thought Let's try it. So yesterday morning I asked mama to help me perfect my hair-do for church. I would say it came out pretty good, it might be a popular hair-do for me this summer if I can master it by myself. 

Sarmale

I think I have mentioned a few times how much I love Sarmale. The last five weekends I was in Romania I made sure I ate Sarmale at least once every weekend. That and Papanasi. And that might be the reason why I gained a few pounds before I headed home. Truth be told.

My grandma likes cabbage, I like sarmale. It's a good fit. So last week I convinced my grandma that we should make some sarmale. 

She brought the ingredients and I slaved away in the kitchen for two hours cooking that cabbage. And let me tell you it didn't end up looking this like...

Or tasting as good as this. I was a bit disappointed my sarmale seem to lack some spices. Or maybe it was just missing some mamaliga. Haha. I doubt that was it but you never know. It might be a few weeks before I get the courage to try this recipe out again. 

But here is to trying new things and blogging more often. Cheers!

My Return Home

Leaving Romania for me wasn't that hard. My kids didn't know I was leaving and my schedule was a little hectic the last couple of weeks. So I think that made it easier when it was time for me to leave and I knew I was stopping in Holland to visit Rachel which was something for me to look forward too. 

I got to spend some extra time with my roommates before I left. We visited Peles and Bran Castle. It was pretty awesome and it was on my bucket list of things to do. 

While in Amsterdam with Rachel, I visited the Anne Frank House and got to spend some time with her family. Which was nice and relaxing transition on my way back.

I am not going to lie was a little disappointed with Anne Frank's house. It was just a whole bunch of quotes on the wall. My recommendation is to just read the book.

My transition back home has been a little rough. Not starting my job as soon as planned, not having a car, and lack of money. Has left me at home with not much to do these past few days/weeks except think about Romania and all my kids. But I promise to blog about the little things like new recipes, cute kids, and exciting new movies? And if I get any news on my kids in Romania I wont hesitate to inform you too. 

Hope your week is more exciting then mine!

Break my Heart for What Breaks Yours.

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hillsong United - Hosanna

This was my prayer this morning as I did my morning devotions. Living here in Romania has opened my eyes to so many things. I pray that as I head back to the States, I won't close my eyes just because I am in a comfortable place. That I will continue to see through Christ eyes. 

This became so real for me today when we were at the orphanage. We were informed that one of our orphan boys has HIV. This is one of the boys I spend a good amount of time with. I always joke that the kids on drugs are the ones that speak to me the most because they are too high to realize I don't really know Romanian. But the reason he is high on drugs is not necessarily that he chooses to but that's the only way those people know how to treat it. It broke my heart to hear about this but what disgusted me the most was the way we were informed, Watch out. He has HIV, you have to be careful around him. As if we were being informed of a street dog that might bite us.  

I pray that I never sound like that when describing one of God's children that way and that I always have respect and patience to care for His people no matter the time or place. 

Spitalul de Copii

I try to make it to the hospital every Tuesday no matter how busy my week may be. I love my kids. I don't know if I have mentioned this enough. 

There is Andrei, who is by far the biggest kid even if he is only 8 months. His smile can make the whole room light up. He is leaving for his new foster home this week. 

Then there is Stefan, who always seems to be sick with something which somehow also ends up with him spitting up all over me. But I still find him adorable. 

And the last picture is of Mihai Stefan? I am not hundred percent sure on the name, it seems to change from week to week. He has a lot of family names people like to call him by. But I am pretty sure he is the cutest baby I have ever seen and I have seen some pretty cute babies. And he always has a smile to give.

Every kid has a story to tell it even though might not be as tragic on the next kid's. One of the boy's who was at the baby hospital the first time I visited this summer was back again today. I wouldn't have recognized him. He is almost three. Ana started to tell me how his dad came to pick him up in the fall and how the police found him on the streets this past week. I couldn't get the thought out of my head, how this little boy was surviving on the streets and how a parent could forget there kid like that. It breaks my heart. And I can only pray that God takes care of every single one of these kids and gives them a better life. 

I'm not Ready.

I am not ready to go to bed. I am not ready to finish my Romanian homework. I am not ready to leave and say good-bye to all my kids yet. I brought my ticket home this week. And I am looking forward to seeing my family and cuddling with my dog and cat. Spending time with my friends. 

But I am not ready to say good-bye. 

La Multi Ani?

La Multi Ani can be used for many celebrations in Romanian from New Year to Anniversaries to Birthday's. 

Which can be confusing for someone like me. In Romania, you always wish someone happy new year when it's your first time seeing them in the new year. It doesn't matter if the new year started yesterday or if it was four months ago. If it's your first time seeing them you wish my "La Multi Ani". 

My birthday was this past week and my church family here in Romania is great. They are very encouraging and welcoming. So naturally they announced my birthday to the church this week so for the past few days I have had people coming up to me wishing me "La Multi Ani" and I am confused pretty much all the time when people are speaking Romanian to me but the awkwardness of not knowing if they are wishing me Happy New Year or Happy Birthday is a whole new level of confusing. I just don't know how to respond. So I think I am mastering the reassuring head nod gesture. "Da.. (always say it will a little head nodding action and a smile)" 

Reunion-ed

I have had to much to blog about but just haven't had the time over the holidays but something I had to find time to blog about is my visit with Rachel. She flew all the way in the Holland to come visit me on Christmas day. We spent a week together before she had to fly out on New Year's morning. 

Our week was filled with ice skating, walking the streets of Bucharest, and watching tons of movies. It's a bit hard to describe Romania to a Western European but we had a good time touring the city together. 

As the Romanians say it, 

"La Multi Ani"

Caroling in Budesti and Curcani

As I write this I am feeling a little sick. It could be from not getting more then six hours a sleep a night or the fact I was sick on vacation and haven't had time to recover or that I have been eating sugar and sausage since vacation or it might cause my heart hurts for all my people in the village. 

We woke up bright and early yesterday to carol at the village. It was great. Our village kids loved seeing us sing carols to them and we got to hand out Christmas shoe boxes in Curcani.

This girl was so excited to get her box.  She is smiling with her big "Romanian" smile. She was so happy Kim wanted to take of picture of her.

I wanted to share the picture below. I was secretly laughing to myself. All the ladies were handing out food bags to some of the families and they told Kim and I to stay behind to sing with the boys. So here is Kim and I in the middle of village, two white girls singing gypsy music. You might think me singing Romanian was a big deal but singing Romanian gypsy music is a whole new level of singing. 

One of the families they took a bag of food too was my little girl's family. Her grandma was so sweet. Like many of our people in the village. She only lives in a two room shack taking care of her six grand kids. They have a dirt floor covered with a tiny rug in the room they sleep in and the other room is used to cook and store wood. Jenny said when they arrived the grandma started to cry and said, "Today I prayed for bread because I had nothing for the kids to eat, and look how He responded. He not only provided us food, but a visit from my friends as well. What a wonderful God we have." 

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. But this year it's a little hard. Knowing I am blessed with so much but my little girl in the village might not have anything to eat on Christmas. It kinda makes my heart hurt a lot today. 

Merry Christmas!

Crăciun fericit!

As I write this I am still singing. Today I had a full out Romanian day. Starting with church, followed by the village Christmas service and ending with six hours of Christmas caroling in Romanian. 

Romanian Christmas Caroling 101

1) You are suppose to invite the carolers in verbally, you should never assume that they would know you have been waiting for them with cookies and hot chocolate. 

2) When you are the caroler and someone hands you money. You take it. It's rude not to.

3) You eat at every house you stop at whether it's five in the evening or going on midnight. 

4) Romanian Christmas Caroling is serious stuff. It can last up to three days. 

With that all being said I will share some of our pictures from the village. 

My favorite little girl hasn't been in awhile, her grandma says they have a new baby in the family and she has been staying home to visit it. I am sad I don't get to see her every Sunday. But I get to see this guy! He is definitively one of my favorites. Always trying to sneak a wink at me. This boy cracks me up. 

Mihaela is another regular who comes every week. She is so faithful in trying to learn my name. She is so close, "Shan-nee"

And with Christmas being right around the corner, I think every kid in the village was trying to come today. 

Now I am ready to head out to a different village in the morning and continuing my Christmas Caroling all day long.  

Tuesday's

Today's Tuesday so I get to see this little man.

Stefan and Brianna (Sarah's daughter)

Stefan has a special place in my heart even if he has gotten sick on me more then once. Right now we don't have many babies. Woody was put in a foster home, Ghe-ghe wants to move around so he got moved up to the toddlers room. Leaving me to take care Stefan and the twins. 

Rebecca and Samuel are the names of the twins, their mother is only 16. She told the nurses she would come pick them up in six months. She comes to visit them every week but the poor girl has no idea how to take care of babies and probably has no money to take care of either. Please keep this family in your prayers. This girl truly is a loving mother. 

Special Guest

I don't think I have mentioned this on my blog yet but Ana is back! She went home and her dad tried to marry her off but she told him no.... We didn't get many details but we are happy she is back. She came to church with Jenny and I today, followed by a visit to the village to see some of my favorite people. 

We only choose to eat the best for lunch. But it was a taste of home. Yum..

Christmas Cheer!

I just survived three hours at the baby hospital by myself with all Romanians who only speak Romanian. This is a big accomplishment in my life whether I actually understand what the nurses were saying to me or not. Nobody got hurt and everyone was happy. So I decided I will celebrate by spending some Christmas cheer with a picture of our Christmas tree. 

Merry Christmas!

The Revolution Lives

It's not a secret, I am a huge Hunger Games Fan. So I was so excited when my roommates agreed to see it in the theaters with me and not just any theater, the IMAX theater.

It was amazing movie, it reminded me of how much I loved the book and seeing it on the big screen was awesome but what made it even more great was seeing it here in Romania. Throughout the movie people would start cheering and clapping, bringing out the true revolutionist in many. For Romanians this wasn't just a movie this was something they could relate with. As Lavi said the other day, "The best gift Romanians ever got was when Nicolae Ceasusescu was killed on Christmas". Romanians know what it feels like to live with someone controlling their lives. 

I can't wait till the third movie comes out, it will be my goal to make it back to Romania to watch the final movie here. 

While you live, the revolution lives. 

Game Night.

We had game night with the orphan kids last night. 

We served them sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies. 

And they played tons of games. 

All in all it was a good night. And the kids were on their best behavior. 

Friends Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving last night with a whole bunch of Romanian friends. It was a lot of fun. It didn't seem awkward which apparently says a lot coming from me since I was the only one in the room who couldn't speak fluent Romanian. 

This is what happens when Boing takes a picture. We will know this for next time. 

I think my Thanksgiving belly will continue to next week from all our leftovers till the team celebrates real thanksgiving together. I still have some of the pumpkin bread I made left over for breakfast this morning. yum.

p.s. And I know your all dying to know. Romania lost to Greece last night. So they aren't qualified for the World Cup. Poor Romania.