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.