My daughters are white with beautiful blue eys. One has blonde hair, the other has light brown hair. They look 100% American, but they live here. Haley speaks perfect Spanish (as perfectly as any three year old speaks any language) and Emma also will learn both languages from birth. Everywhere we go, people want to see them, talk to them, even take pictures with them (yes complete strangers ask us if they can take pictures with one/both of my daughters along with their children). While it used to wierd me out a bit, I laugh at it now.
Haley is the little jewel of Ojojona. Every student in her school (pre-K - 8th grade) know her and talk to her. She is friends with all of them. Anywhere we go in Santa Ana or Ojojona, people call out to her. She just smiles and says "HOLA." Since the time we lived in Costa Rica she has always gotten free things -suckers, candy, ice cream, chips, fruit- just because she is cute. Here, Lupe, our neighbor, wants to give her chips several times a week. She does not ask for the food; we do not raise a beggar. People just get so excited about meeting her that they offer her treats.
Emma is also famous. It does not matter where we are, people know her. They love the blue-eyed Honduran. The other day, I was telling my family how everyone that goes to Teleton, both patients and employees, know her by name. They love her and dote on her. As I was telling them this, someone walked by and said, LOOK THIS IS THE LITTLE WHITE BABY THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT I SEE AT TELETON ALL THE TIME. When they walked away, we all errupted in laughter. Various times we have been at the hospital, and employees (nurses, doctors, cleaning ladies, and administration) that had nothing to do with mine or Emma's care have come to talk to her and exclaimed that they either saw her or knew of her when she was born.
I love that my two little girls allow us to meet so many people. Frequently, I'm given sweet opportunities to explain why I am here doing what I do because people come over wanting to see the blonde-haired blue-eyed girls. It is amazing that God uses the two of them in a way to affect our ministry and to build relationships with so many people.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
One block short
Today, I rode the bus to Tegucigalpa. This is absolutely no big deal to every Honduran, but I always go in the car; therefore, it was a new experience with me. First I must tell you how I arrived at the point where I was needing to ride the city bus...
I was going to Teleton ALL THE TIME. Currently we have 6 children that need special attention. This organization provides classes and therapy for various types of special needs. We have several in speach therapy, special education, and physical therapy. Some weeks there were up to eight appointments. I was spending so much time at Teleton that everyone knew Emma, and they asked why I hadn't gotten an office yet. Poor Emma could not get on a real routine because every day was so different.
A combination of looking to the future of opening the new campus of CdE and knowing that my baby needed more of a routine to her life, we hired a lady to be responsible for the Teleton responsibilities. I interviewed Deborah; immediately, I liked her. In fact, she may be over-qualified for the job, but she is going to be great with the kids. I spent one week driving to Teleton with her and the children for their prespective appointments, so that the kids could have a transition time and get to know her before they started going solo with her. Also, I wanted to get to know her better as to not send our kids with someone we didn't know at all. During the observation week, I was more than pleased with her interactions with the children. She is both loving and firm with them. She was creative when there was waiting time in coming up with games to play. Also, when we thought Maryuri was sick, she was caring, but not overprotective.
The only problem with Debby is that she just moved back after living in Spain for 12 years and is unfamiliar with the bus route. We decided to learn the route to Teleton together. We planned on allowing 3 hours for our first trip. As usual, she got to CdE on time, and I ran late. We left Casa at 8:30, only permitting 2.5 hours for our trip. We loaded the bus and had an easy ride into the city, only getting off for the next bus one block early. A taxi driver offered to show us where we should have gotten of and then on to Teleton for a low rate of L50. He was really trying to rip us off, so we walked the one block to the place where we needed to get on the next bus.
We arrived to Teleton one hour early. We bought some delicious fruit bowls (which EK loved sharing with me by the way) and asked a few people about the best route home. After several varrying opinions, we thought we had it figured out. When Fernando's class ended, we set out for home trying to follow the bad directions we had received. We took one bus extra because someone told is it was "very far" (2 blocks away but we didn't know) only to find that we were in the wrong spot. We walked to where we knew we could get on a bus to take us in the direction we wanted to go. We ended up across the street from Teleton one block away. This is when I knew that Hondurans don't just tell Gringos bad directions to screw with them, they just tell bad directions because they really don't know. Debby and I got a good laugh out of this.
We caught the bus and walked down the hill where we knew a bus to Santa Ana would pass. We waited for a few minutes, and when the Santa Ana bus neared, we waived for him to stopp as he was passing, but he passed. We realized we needed to go down the road another block (notice the theme of always being short a block). We started walking fast because the Santa Ana bus stopped. We were sure he wouldn't wait, but we wanted to be there when another one passed. Then the miracle occured: THE BUS SAW US AND WAITED!!!
The guy that collects the money yelled at someone to give me a seat since I had EK, and no one budged, so he yelled again. Two people got up and Fernando and I sat down. Fernando was sitting next to someone he learned to be a grandmother of a classmate, and told her all the bad things he knew about the kid. That kid will probably beat Fernando up tomorrow if he gets in a lot of trouble tonight.
At one point the bus was so crowded that the people were 2 or 3 wide in the isle of the bus. I was almost in the lap of the poor, old guy next to me because the lady standing next to me was on top of me and Emma. I started lauging at the ridiculousness of my situation; until I realized it was not ridiculous to anyone but me. Emma Kate was asleep through all of the craziness.
When we got to Santa Ana, I saw my neighbor who couldn't believe that I was on the bus. When I got down, he just laughed at me.
At least on my first Honduran bus ride, my baby did not rob an old lady's money and passport out of her bra as Haley did the first time we rode a bus in Costa Rica. Now tomorrow, Debby will make the trip with Maryuri.
I was going to Teleton ALL THE TIME. Currently we have 6 children that need special attention. This organization provides classes and therapy for various types of special needs. We have several in speach therapy, special education, and physical therapy. Some weeks there were up to eight appointments. I was spending so much time at Teleton that everyone knew Emma, and they asked why I hadn't gotten an office yet. Poor Emma could not get on a real routine because every day was so different.
A combination of looking to the future of opening the new campus of CdE and knowing that my baby needed more of a routine to her life, we hired a lady to be responsible for the Teleton responsibilities. I interviewed Deborah; immediately, I liked her. In fact, she may be over-qualified for the job, but she is going to be great with the kids. I spent one week driving to Teleton with her and the children for their prespective appointments, so that the kids could have a transition time and get to know her before they started going solo with her. Also, I wanted to get to know her better as to not send our kids with someone we didn't know at all. During the observation week, I was more than pleased with her interactions with the children. She is both loving and firm with them. She was creative when there was waiting time in coming up with games to play. Also, when we thought Maryuri was sick, she was caring, but not overprotective.
The only problem with Debby is that she just moved back after living in Spain for 12 years and is unfamiliar with the bus route. We decided to learn the route to Teleton together. We planned on allowing 3 hours for our first trip. As usual, she got to CdE on time, and I ran late. We left Casa at 8:30, only permitting 2.5 hours for our trip. We loaded the bus and had an easy ride into the city, only getting off for the next bus one block early. A taxi driver offered to show us where we should have gotten of and then on to Teleton for a low rate of L50. He was really trying to rip us off, so we walked the one block to the place where we needed to get on the next bus.
We arrived to Teleton one hour early. We bought some delicious fruit bowls (which EK loved sharing with me by the way) and asked a few people about the best route home. After several varrying opinions, we thought we had it figured out. When Fernando's class ended, we set out for home trying to follow the bad directions we had received. We took one bus extra because someone told is it was "very far" (2 blocks away but we didn't know) only to find that we were in the wrong spot. We walked to where we knew we could get on a bus to take us in the direction we wanted to go. We ended up across the street from Teleton one block away. This is when I knew that Hondurans don't just tell Gringos bad directions to screw with them, they just tell bad directions because they really don't know. Debby and I got a good laugh out of this.
We caught the bus and walked down the hill where we knew a bus to Santa Ana would pass. We waited for a few minutes, and when the Santa Ana bus neared, we waived for him to stopp as he was passing, but he passed. We realized we needed to go down the road another block (notice the theme of always being short a block). We started walking fast because the Santa Ana bus stopped. We were sure he wouldn't wait, but we wanted to be there when another one passed. Then the miracle occured: THE BUS SAW US AND WAITED!!!
The guy that collects the money yelled at someone to give me a seat since I had EK, and no one budged, so he yelled again. Two people got up and Fernando and I sat down. Fernando was sitting next to someone he learned to be a grandmother of a classmate, and told her all the bad things he knew about the kid. That kid will probably beat Fernando up tomorrow if he gets in a lot of trouble tonight.
At one point the bus was so crowded that the people were 2 or 3 wide in the isle of the bus. I was almost in the lap of the poor, old guy next to me because the lady standing next to me was on top of me and Emma. I started lauging at the ridiculousness of my situation; until I realized it was not ridiculous to anyone but me. Emma Kate was asleep through all of the craziness.
When we got to Santa Ana, I saw my neighbor who couldn't believe that I was on the bus. When I got down, he just laughed at me.
At least on my first Honduran bus ride, my baby did not rob an old lady's money and passport out of her bra as Haley did the first time we rode a bus in Costa Rica. Now tomorrow, Debby will make the trip with Maryuri.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Sticker Chart
Back in January, Haley reached a point of whining that we could no longer tolerate. Everything had become a big deal with her. She is three, that is not uncommon. In a last ditch effort we decided to make a good behavior chart for her. Every day that she listened, obeyed and did not throw a tantrum, she was able to receive a sticker on a simple piece of notebook paper. We decided that every 10 stickers she would be able to get an ice cream and with 50 stickers, she would receive a toy.
Stickers became a very big deal to Haley. If we told her she lost her sticker for the day, it really upset her. It took about 100 days, but Haley finally got her 50 stickers. A couple weeks ago, her school had a picnic, and up on finishing the picnic, we had promised Haley that we would take her to get a toy. Haley could get any toy she wanted $25 and under. We assumed that she would choose a doll or princess toy, but instead she picked a BLUE TONKA TRUCK that lights up. She has been so proud of this toy. I think she likes it so much because she had to earn it.
So far, the best thing about the sticker chart is not the ice cream outings, nor is it the blue truck. Haley has had an overall transformation in her behavior. I have been very surprised with how she has changed and been more willing to obey on the first time rather than fighting with us. It is very important for her to know if she gets her sticker or not, and on the days that she does not get it, she usually apologizes as she goes to bed.
I think a reward system is a very good thing, and I am greatful for how it has worked with Haley.
Stickers became a very big deal to Haley. If we told her she lost her sticker for the day, it really upset her. It took about 100 days, but Haley finally got her 50 stickers. A couple weeks ago, her school had a picnic, and up on finishing the picnic, we had promised Haley that we would take her to get a toy. Haley could get any toy she wanted $25 and under. We assumed that she would choose a doll or princess toy, but instead she picked a BLUE TONKA TRUCK that lights up. She has been so proud of this toy. I think she likes it so much because she had to earn it.
So far, the best thing about the sticker chart is not the ice cream outings, nor is it the blue truck. Haley has had an overall transformation in her behavior. I have been very surprised with how she has changed and been more willing to obey on the first time rather than fighting with us. It is very important for her to know if she gets her sticker or not, and on the days that she does not get it, she usually apologizes as she goes to bed.
I think a reward system is a very good thing, and I am greatful for how it has worked with Haley.
Friday, April 5, 2013
A Trip to the Doctor
It has been a long time since I have blogged. Our internet chip broke a couple months ago, and I have only been able to get on away from my house. I could write a couple hundred experiences, but I will start with this week...
EK and baby Josue have to have regular check-ups. To save on gas, I scheduled both of them to have an appointment Tuesday. I have taken two kids for check-ups before, so that wasn't that big of a problem. My mom told me she would help with the kids. Haley came along too because she needed a vaccine, and since she is not Honduran like Emma she does not get free vaccines.
We got to the doctor an hour early. We always allow two hours from Santa Ana to allow for extra time for traffic and parking. The traffic was clear, so we were there a very long time before our 3:00 appointment, and the doctor didn't show up until 3:20.
Emma went first. Overall she is healthy, but very short. She is 27 inches and 18 pounds. Short is ok, I'm just thankful she is well. The only changes for her are some extra vitamins and daily use of an inhaler to help with the constant cold she has had for over a month.
Next came Haley. I always make a big deal when she gets shots and tell her she will get a candy bar if she is a good girl at the doctor. She was such a big girl getting her shot. She didn't even flinch, much less cry. Then she sat down at a little table in the dr's office and started saying she was very sleepy. I assured her that we would be done in a few minutes. About 30 seconds later, she started screaming and crying. I impatiently turned around to remind her that we were almost done, only to discover that she had thrown up EVERYWHERE. My mom scooped her up to try to clean her up as best as she could and got to the bathroom to find that she did much more than throw up. Because Haley has been potty trained for about 18 months, I don't ever have extra clothes with me any more; therefore, cleaned up was not very clean.
Upon my mom's leaving to take care of Haley, I was left with Emma and Josue, and Josue still needed his check up. Even Dr. Castillo was a bit perplexed as to how I was going to manage this. I said, "Emma can just play in the floor." She wiggled and crawled all over the dr.'s office and was very happy. After examining Josue, the doctor said, he is still behind, but is steadily improving - PRAISE GOD FOR THAT!
As we were finishing up, and Dr. Castillo was explaining the different perscriptions and or vitamins for each of the three children, Haley fell asleep in the floor using a Toy Story chair as her pillow. She was so sick, and I felt so sad for her. We finished up, I told my mom if she could get Josue to the care, I could get my two downstairs. In saying this, I thought Haley would wake up enough to walk to the elevator, but I was wrong.
Haley did wake up enough for me to drag her to the receptionist and pay for all of the services we received, then I had to carry both of my girls to the elevator puke, diharea and all. The girl's doctor is on the seventh floor, and the elevator generally stops on every floor on the way down. On the fourth floor the elevator kept saying FULL, so a family kept entering, exiting and roatating trying to all get down at the same time. In the amount of time they wasted doing this, they could have walked down to the first floor twice. All the time I was toting a sleeping 3.5 year old and a restless 9 month old and smelling the stench that was now covering me, Haley, and Emma. I don't know if they didn't notice my predicament or if they simply didn't care, but it took great self-control on my part not to yell at all of them.
We got down and I sat down with the two of them hoping my mom would get there soon. Emma was tired and fussy and Haley was getting heavier by the second. We finally got loaded in the car, got to the pharmacy and filled most of the perscriptions. I grabbed Wendy's for me and Matt and 2.5 long hours of fighting traffic later, we were in Santa Ana with a very tired baby that only dozed for a couple minutes in the car and a very tired little girl that slept the entire time in the car.
Now it is Friday, and Haley is feeling better, but is still more tired than usual. She has not thrown up anymore, and her daddy stayed home with her on Wednesday and Thursday while I was taking the kids to Teleton. Today we are all relaxing at home instead of going to the beach as planned as her last fun thing while she has had two weeks out of school.
EK and baby Josue have to have regular check-ups. To save on gas, I scheduled both of them to have an appointment Tuesday. I have taken two kids for check-ups before, so that wasn't that big of a problem. My mom told me she would help with the kids. Haley came along too because she needed a vaccine, and since she is not Honduran like Emma she does not get free vaccines.
We got to the doctor an hour early. We always allow two hours from Santa Ana to allow for extra time for traffic and parking. The traffic was clear, so we were there a very long time before our 3:00 appointment, and the doctor didn't show up until 3:20.
Emma went first. Overall she is healthy, but very short. She is 27 inches and 18 pounds. Short is ok, I'm just thankful she is well. The only changes for her are some extra vitamins and daily use of an inhaler to help with the constant cold she has had for over a month.
Next came Haley. I always make a big deal when she gets shots and tell her she will get a candy bar if she is a good girl at the doctor. She was such a big girl getting her shot. She didn't even flinch, much less cry. Then she sat down at a little table in the dr's office and started saying she was very sleepy. I assured her that we would be done in a few minutes. About 30 seconds later, she started screaming and crying. I impatiently turned around to remind her that we were almost done, only to discover that she had thrown up EVERYWHERE. My mom scooped her up to try to clean her up as best as she could and got to the bathroom to find that she did much more than throw up. Because Haley has been potty trained for about 18 months, I don't ever have extra clothes with me any more; therefore, cleaned up was not very clean.
Upon my mom's leaving to take care of Haley, I was left with Emma and Josue, and Josue still needed his check up. Even Dr. Castillo was a bit perplexed as to how I was going to manage this. I said, "Emma can just play in the floor." She wiggled and crawled all over the dr.'s office and was very happy. After examining Josue, the doctor said, he is still behind, but is steadily improving - PRAISE GOD FOR THAT!
As we were finishing up, and Dr. Castillo was explaining the different perscriptions and or vitamins for each of the three children, Haley fell asleep in the floor using a Toy Story chair as her pillow. She was so sick, and I felt so sad for her. We finished up, I told my mom if she could get Josue to the care, I could get my two downstairs. In saying this, I thought Haley would wake up enough to walk to the elevator, but I was wrong.
Haley did wake up enough for me to drag her to the receptionist and pay for all of the services we received, then I had to carry both of my girls to the elevator puke, diharea and all. The girl's doctor is on the seventh floor, and the elevator generally stops on every floor on the way down. On the fourth floor the elevator kept saying FULL, so a family kept entering, exiting and roatating trying to all get down at the same time. In the amount of time they wasted doing this, they could have walked down to the first floor twice. All the time I was toting a sleeping 3.5 year old and a restless 9 month old and smelling the stench that was now covering me, Haley, and Emma. I don't know if they didn't notice my predicament or if they simply didn't care, but it took great self-control on my part not to yell at all of them.
We got down and I sat down with the two of them hoping my mom would get there soon. Emma was tired and fussy and Haley was getting heavier by the second. We finally got loaded in the car, got to the pharmacy and filled most of the perscriptions. I grabbed Wendy's for me and Matt and 2.5 long hours of fighting traffic later, we were in Santa Ana with a very tired baby that only dozed for a couple minutes in the car and a very tired little girl that slept the entire time in the car.
Now it is Friday, and Haley is feeling better, but is still more tired than usual. She has not thrown up anymore, and her daddy stayed home with her on Wednesday and Thursday while I was taking the kids to Teleton. Today we are all relaxing at home instead of going to the beach as planned as her last fun thing while she has had two weeks out of school.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The Difference of a Year
Last year on Thanksgiving day, I met Heidy. She was the younger sister of my friend Melissa. I didn't know a lot about her, and I thought I would not see her much in the future. Over the next couple weeks before Christmas, Heidy became a constant part of my life.
About a week after Christmas, she asked if she could live with us. We agreed, and it was all downhill from there...for a while. Heidy went on "walks" for many hours at a time. She did not really want to be a part of our family, or better yet, she did long for family, but didn't know how to express someone wanting her to be a part of family. After our suspections of drugs were confirmed, we kicked her out. Fortunately, she agreed to live with her sisters.
My dad had promised her before we let her live with us that he would not give up on her as so many have in her life, and he stuck to that promise. That caused a lot of tension between me and my dad and between me and Heidy. Regardless, he didn't give up on her.
Heidy agreed to get some counseling, and she also got of drugs. Somehow, through the messy muck that we call life, she and I became friends. She learned that we really do love her, and we learned that she really does long for acceptance in our family.
I have told Matt many times that it is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are all friends, for human nature does not draw us toward someone that we have resented or has resented us.
Heidy just turned 18 last month. She has gone from a shy, angry teenager to a very beautiful young lady with a very pretty smile. Today, as we were both sitting in my parents living room and she was loving on Emma and playing games with Haley, I sat back and smiled at the work God has done in both of us to make us be friends and to genuinely care for each other.
Praising God today for unlikely friendships.
About a week after Christmas, she asked if she could live with us. We agreed, and it was all downhill from there...for a while. Heidy went on "walks" for many hours at a time. She did not really want to be a part of our family, or better yet, she did long for family, but didn't know how to express someone wanting her to be a part of family. After our suspections of drugs were confirmed, we kicked her out. Fortunately, she agreed to live with her sisters.
My dad had promised her before we let her live with us that he would not give up on her as so many have in her life, and he stuck to that promise. That caused a lot of tension between me and my dad and between me and Heidy. Regardless, he didn't give up on her.
Heidy agreed to get some counseling, and she also got of drugs. Somehow, through the messy muck that we call life, she and I became friends. She learned that we really do love her, and we learned that she really does long for acceptance in our family.
I have told Matt many times that it is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are all friends, for human nature does not draw us toward someone that we have resented or has resented us.
Heidy just turned 18 last month. She has gone from a shy, angry teenager to a very beautiful young lady with a very pretty smile. Today, as we were both sitting in my parents living room and she was loving on Emma and playing games with Haley, I sat back and smiled at the work God has done in both of us to make us be friends and to genuinely care for each other.
Praising God today for unlikely friendships.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Proud of the Twins
Last year when Karen was in the States after having Korbin (who turns one tomorrow), twins Olman and Josue came to live with us at CdE. There was adjustments to be made all around for everyone, especially Mirian. The twins were premature; we assume by two months, but we are not sure. We also believe their mom was on drugs during the pregnancy.
These two guys have had quite a bit of health issues, but slowly, they are starting to make some real progress. I have made it my mission to work with them a couple hours a day. I also started giving them daily fruits and vegies. Mirian has been fearful of feeding them thinking that various foods may make them sick, so they have just been having milk or formula. I have been teaching her how to make baby foods in the blender, and she and I each take one baby and feed them.
Olman hates me, but he loves food, and he loves Mirian. She always feeds him. I feed Josue. Josue is much smaller than Olman. In fact, before long, Josue will be smaller than Emma. They already weigh about the same, but Emma is shorter and fatter.
Josue is much further behind in his physical development. He cannot bring himself to a sitting postion, but if I sit him up, he is starting to stablize a little more each day. He started crawling about a day before I got home, and is making great progress with this. He moves all over the house now. I do daily exercises with his arms and legs. I know he is getting stronger. Today, he even tried to pull himself up from a crawling position to a standing position. He was unable to do it, but he came very close.
Both boys are doing new things every day, and I am very proud to see their progress. They are each eating a little more each day, and I am sure in the next couple months, they will have huge amouts of growth.
Josue has an appointment at the Neurologist next week as well as physical therapy at Teleton. Please join me in prayer that both of these go well.
These two guys have had quite a bit of health issues, but slowly, they are starting to make some real progress. I have made it my mission to work with them a couple hours a day. I also started giving them daily fruits and vegies. Mirian has been fearful of feeding them thinking that various foods may make them sick, so they have just been having milk or formula. I have been teaching her how to make baby foods in the blender, and she and I each take one baby and feed them.
Olman hates me, but he loves food, and he loves Mirian. She always feeds him. I feed Josue. Josue is much smaller than Olman. In fact, before long, Josue will be smaller than Emma. They already weigh about the same, but Emma is shorter and fatter.
Josue is much further behind in his physical development. He cannot bring himself to a sitting postion, but if I sit him up, he is starting to stablize a little more each day. He started crawling about a day before I got home, and is making great progress with this. He moves all over the house now. I do daily exercises with his arms and legs. I know he is getting stronger. Today, he even tried to pull himself up from a crawling position to a standing position. He was unable to do it, but he came very close.
Both boys are doing new things every day, and I am very proud to see their progress. They are each eating a little more each day, and I am sure in the next couple months, they will have huge amouts of growth.
Josue has an appointment at the Neurologist next week as well as physical therapy at Teleton. Please join me in prayer that both of these go well.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
A Tender Heart
And Jesus said, "And let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
I never cease to be amazed at the tender heart of my little Haley. She has a big heart and cares so much for the good of others. In talking about returning home to Honduras, one of the things she has been most excited about is feeding people.
It makes me proud that she loves to help others that have less than her. For a long time, I didn't really think she understood why we feed people, but recently, I asked her. She said, "They are poor and it makes God happy to help them." I suppose in other things we have said in our life, she gathered that, but I don't remember specificly teaching her that.
I love to see her desire to help others, whether it is filling Harvest bags with Cheryl so people here in Baton Rouge, passing out carrots and cucumbers in communities like Buen Samaritano, or smiling as she helps give plates at the Jesus Banquet.
It also amazes me how she loves the kids at Casa de Esperanza so deeply. She even refers to them as her kids. She amazingly doesn't have big fights with them. There are days when she gets a little jealous of them, but mostly, she just loves them. Many days, while we have been here in Baton Rouge, she has cried over how badly she missed them.
There are many things I learn from how Haley lives. She has an innocense and purity that only a child can have. She loves deeply and powerfully. She does not care if a person is a millionare or someone working in the dump; she veiws them in the same light. She speaks a simple truth, and she thanks God for everything she can think of.
Maybe we can all take some lessons from my three year old.
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I never cease to be amazed at the tender heart of my little Haley. She has a big heart and cares so much for the good of others. In talking about returning home to Honduras, one of the things she has been most excited about is feeding people.
It makes me proud that she loves to help others that have less than her. For a long time, I didn't really think she understood why we feed people, but recently, I asked her. She said, "They are poor and it makes God happy to help them." I suppose in other things we have said in our life, she gathered that, but I don't remember specificly teaching her that.
I love to see her desire to help others, whether it is filling Harvest bags with Cheryl so people here in Baton Rouge, passing out carrots and cucumbers in communities like Buen Samaritano, or smiling as she helps give plates at the Jesus Banquet.
It also amazes me how she loves the kids at Casa de Esperanza so deeply. She even refers to them as her kids. She amazingly doesn't have big fights with them. There are days when she gets a little jealous of them, but mostly, she just loves them. Many days, while we have been here in Baton Rouge, she has cried over how badly she missed them.
There are many things I learn from how Haley lives. She has an innocense and purity that only a child can have. She loves deeply and powerfully. She does not care if a person is a millionare or someone working in the dump; she veiws them in the same light. She speaks a simple truth, and she thanks God for everything she can think of.
Maybe we can all take some lessons from my three year old.
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