Some encouraging comments

WOW!!!!.....WHO BETTER TO GO LOVE ON KIDS THAN YOU!!!....Mark

Rebirth . . .

Here is my long awaited update! Sorry about the delay for all of you who are still faithful in checking in on me. God continues to stretch and mold me. I have been getting back into the routine that is my life. I'm happy to be home, though a part of my heart definitely stayed in Romania. Now for an update.
I have always disliked the silly notion stamped on plaques seen at every art fair. "Babies are God's reminder that the world should go on." Oh yeah? Who came up with that one? Ugh! Yet, when I finished this blog post, I hated that it really reminded me of the plaques. I really did fight it, but as you read the following, it may even start a shift in your thinking as it did mine. Don't get me wrong. I still think the plaques are goofy, but . . . Recently, a friend challenged me with a quote that I know spoke to me in a totally different way than it would have before the amazing experience of the children at Tutova clinic. Basically it says that all is worse than you think it is and you are freer than you think you are. Things are raging beyond your control. But now for the good news! They are already overcome in Christ. The division is an uncrossable spiritual chasm and yet, it has been crossed. Anyone who understands salvation and knows Christ, knows this. What we forget is that it also applies to our circumstances. We do know it, but we forget.
I feel as if I'm on the brink of a major shift or transformation. God speaks to me in the oddest ways and through amazing people who don't even know their being used by Him. As I cared for the beautiful children of Tutova, I became aware of what it must have been like for all of us, moments before birth. Darkness, pressure, and uncertainty. The children of Tutova were born into that darkness. Most of us who live in America are not.
I want to fight the darkness, pressure and uncertainty in my own life circumstances. I want to believe that my "labor" is not in vain. I want to believe that what God has "stretched and delivered" me into, will be seen and understood for my future, that there will be refinement "born" of the stretching. Is a breakdown of our emotions, spirit and life necessary to have a breakthrough?
I feel like there is finally an opening, a light shining through. I want to trust in right timing. I want to feel calm and safe. I want to understand God's amazing gift of rebirth in my life.
If nothing else in the world affirms this rebirth, children do. If anything shows us the simplicity and complexity of God, children do. If anything can be so innocent, yet inspiring, indignant, but unconditional, infuriating and engaging, it is a child.
Sooooo, conclusion? Children will be God's reminder to me, that His refining fire, my journey, my growth, my world should and will go on. (But, please don't buy me the plaque!)
Thanks for your love and support during the miles you walked with me on this journey. You will never know what your emails meant to me while I was in another world so far from all that I know to be familiar. I feel as if I'm leaving behind a good friend to end this way of communicating, but this will probably be my last "Romania post". Those of you who know me well, will know how to find more of "me"on my own personal blog. God's blessings to all of you, wherever, whoever you are. :)

Finally . . .

I am home! I will be updating you all soon...keep reading!

With a throne . . .

With a throne under you, anyone can be a queen!

This is in a palace in Iasa. (pronounced Yosh)













This is Lena, because she leans? We made friends while I was there. She was sorry to see me go, but I told her I just had to go take care of babies.

It's the hardest thing . . .

Saying goodbye to these little ones is the hardest thing. I want to pack their sweet, cute, miniature faces (and all their other parts too!) into my suitcase and just run as fast as I can to where I can "fix" them and pack lot's of love into their little lives. I knew this would happen. It's no surprise. But the knowledge that they would fall into my heart doesn't make it any easier to leave them behind. If you look closely, and imagine their coo's, their smiles, and their way of "holding on" when you pick them up, I think maybe, just maybe, you'll begin to understand why it's the hardest thing.

What Nonny misses....sooooooo......

This is Alexandru! This is Christmas! This is Alexandru's new toy. This is one of two toys that my very own babies, Will and Isaac bought for "Nonny" to take to the babies in Romania.

I am missing these little faces more than even I expected. Isaac and Will brought in the gifts, carefully wrapped by them, to our Christmas party. Then very carefully, and with a very helpful spirit, proceeded to unwrap them for me too. Two toys (this is one of them) were nestled inside the pretty paper. Isaac was just a little confused. He kept carrying the toys around asking, shrugging his little shoulders, "Nonny, where is your babies?" I think he wanted to give the toys to them personally. I tried to tell him they were in Romania waiting for Nonny to get there and give them their presents, but I don't think he knew where Romania was then, though I'm sure he does by now. I am expecting to see that they've grown tremendously in the few weeks I've been away. I hear that they've even begun talking in complete sentences. I want to hear them tell me they missed me even more than I missed them. Maybe you guys can have them start working on that complete sentence! I'm mostly afraid they won't remember me at all, and i'll have to start over reminding them how much fun I can be. I'm coming Will and Isaac! Soon! Be ready, please don't grow another inch "til I get home, and save all the cute stuff for me too...k?

Romania: in a word.....or 2 or 3.

Chicken: Always.

The Music: One volume, LOUD, always playing. During Breakfast, on the bus, in the clinic, all day long, all night long.

Toilet Paper: Rarely soft, not in abundance.

Laundry: By hand, some washing machines, no dryers!

The Clinic Staff: Warmer each day, too busy, doing their best.

The Hospital, Clinic and Grounds: Very minimal equipment, 100 years old, desperately in need of repair, paint, carpet, (there is no pad under it and you can't get it here.) it needs so much. Like a donation to rebuild. They make do with so little.

Christmas: 12 days, just like the song says.

New Years Eve: 10 p.m. til 5 am. Not many work the next day. Lot's of music and dancing. Fireworks at the "piata" where everyone has their drink of choice. At midnight, they break all the bottles in the street. Firecrackers are a practical joke. They are thrown at your feet and put in your pocket so they can watch you freak out, which I did.

The People: Curious about us, friendly, love to speak and practice english with us.

The Houses: Small, again in need of repair. Humbling to see how others live in this country, comparatively, I live in Disney World.

The Motel: New, with leaky showers in every room.

Barlad: Where the hotel is. Poor, small, 75,000 people. Interesting street markets.

Tutova: Smaller, 50,000 people, poorer, where the clinic/hospital is.

Peanut Butter: NONE IN ALL OF ROMANIA!

Coffee: Put in the grounds, add water, boil, let sit for awhile to settle grounds, pour. Spoon should stand in coffee by itself. One sip, your good for the day. I'm not drinking any.

The Soup: Not bad considering you start with dishwater. It even has a potato or 2.

The Dogs: Everywhere! Loose, making more dogs.