Magical moments

We have been at Beautiful Gate for 1 month and 2 days (in case anyone is counting). It has taken me about a month to be comfortable here. I don't mind going into town, walking to the river with the kids, going into the baby houses, and I am starting to know who most of the staff are if not by name, at least by sight :) Yes. I am a bit slow with names and always will be! It is feeling more and more like home as the days progress and my comfort level increases.

Yesterday, I had kind of a magical moment with a few kids that probably helped me feel like I am fitting in and becoming part of the Beautiful Gate family. I was doing a walk through of some of the baby homes and there are 2 girls I like to visit who are almost at the walking point, but still need a little encouragement and support. I walking into their living room and one of them was standing on the carpet, and I got down on the floor and asked her to come to me. She walked all the way across the living room and into my arms and then gave me a HUGE grin. It felt very magical to me because this girl is usually very serious around me and rarely smiles, but she was so proud of herself! I felt blessed to be able to be there for her. I then pushed the two girls on the swing for about 45 min and both were grinning from ear to ear.

At play time, there was another boy who is usually kind of quiet around me (probably because I am kind of quiet too) and he walked up to me to show me a special treasure he was holding. He had picked a rose and he was holding it so tenderly in his hands. I asked if I could smell it and he nodded. Then I picked him up and he cuddled in my arms for awhile (which was like holding Elijah because he is one of the bigger kids). I enjoy the kids here with all my heart and am amazed by them each day. I feel so proud of them when they accomplish a milestone and I feel so sad for them when they get hurt. It is like I have added 40+ kids to my family and they are all so different and so special. It is cool to see my kids playing with them all too and making new friends. They don't need to know the same language. They don't need to have the same color skin. They don't need "fancy or new" toys to help them play. They just need the love and compassion of Jesus filling all their hearts and helping them find joy in sharing time together. It truly is beautiful here, in many many ways.
Have a blessed weekend friends,
Anita