Another Night At Pizza Hut

Last year, Marc and I decided we would take the children to Pizza Hut to celebrate their birthdays.  We were going to do this four kids at a time.  The first four went off as planned.  Then we  had to take groups two and three two nights in a row right before we left for the States in August.  Well, this last group has just been put off too long.  We finally cashed in our i.o.u.s and took the last six tonight.  There was confusion at the last minute.  Daniela was on my list to go and several of the kids, including Daniela, said she had been.  I was sure she had not been, but I had to look back at the pictures to be 100% sure.  I jumped out of the van and told her to change her clothes.  I did not know Daniela could change clothes that fast.  And, finally we were off to Tegucigalpa.

Some were so excited they went to sleep on the way there.

After arriving at the Pizza Hut, most of the kids went straight to the play area.  Fortunately, Marc was there way ahead of us and had ordered the food.  We were joined by Donnie and Roberto and his family.  Roberto is the caretaker at the farm.  He and his family had never been to Pizza Hut.  They were in awe the whole time.  Disneyland could not have been more impressive.

Roberto's family

A huge amount of soda was consumed.

Appetizers of chicken nuggets appeared and didn't last long.

Then came the pizza.

Antonio said he did not come to play.  He came for one thing only and that was to eat pizza.  At last count, he had eaten seven pieces.

The best is always saved for last.  Roberto's family's eyes were as big as the pizza pans when the ice cream came out.  Our kids attacked as if their lives depended on it.  

Little Any did not have a chance of getting any ice cream the way the bigger kids were eating it.  We scooped some out and put on her plate.  She had no idea how to eat ice cream.  So she licked it.

And Sisi wanted to get every last drop.

Everyone had a ton of fun.  This completes a year of Pizza Hut birthdays.  We will probably still do fun things for the kids, but we are not going to make another promise like we did last year.  We were owing a group their trip all the time.  If we were doing it again this year, we would already be six behind.  But, if the truth be known, Marc and I had as much fun as the kids.

Terri

Praying The Dark Away

I like to walk.  I need to walk.  I try to walk for 30 minutes four days a week.  The best time for me to walk is early morning before I shower and get my day going.  Usually, it is so early that it is still dark outside when I start walking.  But, by the time I am finishing my walk, morning light is breaking.  I walk away the dark.

I normally spend that 30 minutes praying as well.  Some mornings are far more intense than others.  This morning was one of those mornings.  This morning as I was finishing up the walk, and the morning light was breaking, I realized as I walk away the dark, I also pray away the dark.  The dark clouds that hung over soul were gone and sunlight was shining on my day.

I hope you find time to pray away the dark today.

Terri

Doctor's Visit

This morning Karen and Dorian's little Korbin had an appointment with the pediatrician.  Karen was able to make Olman and Josue appointments as well.  At 8:00, Karen, Dorian and Mirian left with Korbin, Josue, and Olman.  One adult per one baby.  I like those ratios.  They arrived at 9:15 and saw the doctor from then until 11:00.  Everyone liked the doctor and thought she was very thorough.

Korbin was born November 21and Josue and Olman were born November 25, all three premature.  Today at four months old, Korbin weighs 13 pounds, Olman weighs 11 pounds, and Josue 9 pounds.  Yay! Everyone is gaining, some just not as rapidly as others.

Olman has a hole in his heart and has to see a cardiologist.  Josue needs to see a neurologist.  Karen was also told we needed to get Josue into Teleton as soon as possible.  Nicole was on her way to Teleton as Karen was returning from the doctor.  She was able to get Josue's records and doctor recommendation to Nicole.  Nicole is starting the process of getting another child in Teleton.  Josue also needed meds for inhalers.

We don't know what is involved, but we probably have a long road ahead with doctor's appointments and Teleton.  Please pray that we will find the doctors we need and that the twins will soon be healthy.

Terri

Reading

I love to read and always have.  I tried to instill that passion in my kids.  I read to them and we always had books to read.  Many of my friends love to read.  We do not see that same love of reading in this country.  And, rarely is a child read to.  Of course, most children are not read to.  Most parents are illiterate.  The children of Casa de Esperanza are no exception.  They have not been read to and, most of them, cannot read well.  We have all said we need to do something about it. 

Nicole is the one person that is doing something about it.  She reads to the kids in the preschool and tries to have a reading time with others throughout the week.  After the chores were done this morning, and with almost everyone having already done their homework, we took the kids outside.  It was a beautiful morning this morning.  Nicole went and got some of the books.  The children who wanted to read or be read to, had to stay in Nicole's sight.  She doesn't want the books to disappear.  Several were interested in this. 

Cindy took a book and got comfortable in a swing.

Sisi and Maryuri stayed near Nicole

Nohemy, the one child, that really loves to read, read long after everyone else quit.

It did my heart good to see Nicole and the kids reading.

Terri

Jobs

A couple of the kids now have jobs.  When we took the twins and Cris, Mirian needed some help and asked Pamela to help her.  Pamela helps feed and bathe the babies.  And she is oh so ready to hold one and love one, even when he is crying.  She also helps bathe the older kids.  She has to sweep and mop the front room.  We pay her a little for this.  She seems to have found something she really enjoys doing.

Pamela (on the right) holding one of the babies.

Last year, I was training Brayan to work in the store here at Casa.  That was not paid job, though.  He loved the groups and was learning well and was a really good helper.  After Byron, opened the coffee shop, he asked Brayan to work for him.  Brayan gladly accepted and we said yes, too.  Brayan knows how to interact with people.  Byron and Anita and others in the coffee shop say he is good help and is polite.  Brayan is the official brownie supreme maker, among other things.  He buses the tables.  The times I have been in the coffee shop, Brayan is always happy and working hard.

Brayan making a brownie supreme

and then serving it.

The kids do not make very much money and homework has to come first.  They both seem to be proud that they have a little money.  Pamela spends hers as soon as she gets it and Brayan is saving for something big.  He won't say what, but something big.

I am glad the kids have this opportunity to earn and learn.

Terri

Marbles Are Banned

Marbles have been banned at Casa de Esperanza.  Not that there is anything wrong with marbles, but the kids have been playing marbles when they are not supposed to.  Sometimes, they play marbles instead of doing chores or homework.  Sometimes, when they are told to stop and do chores, they ignores us and keep playing marbles.  Sometimes, some of the kids get into great big fights with each other while playing marbles.  We were taking away allowance and sending them to the wall.  Nothing worked.  So Karen banned marbles.  All marbles.  If we find marbles, we throw them away.  The kids don't like us throwing marbles away. 

Fernando and Fitto hid some marbles and got up at 10:00 p.m. one night after everyone else was asleep.  They played marbles until 2:00 a.m.  In devo and school they could not stay awake the next day.  Because of that little incident a few more marbles ended up in the trash.

This morning, I was overseeing morning chores.  Whoever is doing that has to stay right with Fernando.  He tries every way possible to get out of his work.  This week he has to sweep and mop the boy's room.  I was standing there insisting he sweep.  Elvia walked into the room and told the boys it was time to change their sheets and began yanking the sheets off the beds.  Marbles were flying everywhere.  Fernando dropped that broom and was scrambling to get to the marbles before I did.  Trust me, I was scrambling to get to them, too.  I got some of them and deposited them into the trash.  I honestly do not know what happened to the rest of them.  I looked under the beds and checked everyone's pockets.  I guess the marbles I did not confiscate will show up again soon.

A word to the wise:  DO NOT BRING MARBLES TO THE CASA KIDS.  They will end up in the trash.

Terri

Haley's Parking Lot

Since Nicole is teaching the Casa de Esperanza preschool four mornings a week and helping with homework in the afternoon, Haley spends more time at Casa than she does at home.  And nearly all of the time she spends at home is at night.  Haley has brought some of her things here so she can enjoy them during the daylight hours.  Grammy's front porch has become Haley's parking lot.  Not that Grammy is complaining or anything.