Fun & Special Times!

What a day! We got to the center and got to play with the kids but there were lots of things to do to get ready for two parties and the Isaiah Center "family picture." We were baking, cutting meats, and getting things ready, plus got the bounce house blown up and it's larger than large and almost fills the room!

The kids were all dressed in their coordinating outfits. The girls were so excited about their fancy dresses and the boys were just as excited with their outfits too. What a riot to get everybody looking at the camera and smile at the same time, especially with Alex, five years old now with Down's syndrome, because he kept pulling the girls hair bows out! We did a picture with the new employees and the Isaiah family too. We bribed the kids and told them if they did well on their family picture, they would get to see a surprise. They got to go in four at a time and oh what fun they had!

The first family was brought to the center at 1 for their party. They were so excited about celebrating Christmas. Monica did a great job with the kids with a program about the birth of Christ and they sang some songs including Romanian and even English! They had a great time and the parents and families loved watching them. We had some meats and breads, typical Romanian food, and some other snacks and cupcakes that they all loved! Santa made a visit and there was so much excitement in the room. Simona was not so excited to see Santa and hid behind Rachel. She did the same thing last year, but was willing to grab her presents real quick! We also did family portraits which means so much to the families. The second family party was later around 3 and again, too much fun! This was Mariana's family. Last year when we came for Christmas in Romania, Mariana was new to the Isaiah Center, and when she opened up an outfit and socks, and got so excited over socks, she stole our hearts. She couldn't quit smiling. She did the same today with her outfit and her barbie. What was so moving later was to see her hand the barbie to her little sister who already had a gift. Rachel said that her sister wanted it, so Mariana gave it to her. "That's the way Mariana is; she's so loving and giving, and always looks out for the other kids," Rachel said. When they were getting ready to be taken back to the village, Rachel and I walked out with them. They were so thankful for Christmas and appreciated everything so much. I told them that Mariana stole our hearts and that she is a special girl. They went on and on about how loving and kind she was. They told us (Rachel translated) that every night they pray and Mariana always prays for the Isaiah Center family, and also tells her family that "I have two mommies, one in the day and one at night." It was so moving to hear them talk about how FMN and the Isaiah Center has changed their lives; they shared that they had turned their life back over to God. They shared too that they are going to church again, which was so encouraging to Rachel to hear this.

Mihai, one of the FMN employees lost a sister to cancer and the visitation was this afternoon. In the culture here, the lost one is shown at home and people come to pay their respects. We all went for Mihai and it was a different experience. It meant so much to them that we all came.

We are wearing down, early mornings and late nights, and much more to go, but enjoying every moment. We have much more to come and very little time left as we'll be leaving for home on Tuesday.