Update and UNICEF donation

Today was the 4th rabies vaccination for my girls and they are SO thankful that they only have one left. So am I because watching their fear for 24 hours before each shot is not something my mom heart can handle well. On a very positive note (for my kids' sake) the vet was able to acquire a vaccine for the cats so we have not had to put them to sleep. My children are so relieved about that and are happy. They are still pretty sad about Gatsby, the cat who had rabies, and are making plans to make a little memorial for their cat. This is really their first "pet" to have died so this is a bit of a new experience for them.


At Beautiful Gate, we just got a shipment of new toys and therapy supplies donated through UNICEF. I am super excited about some of the items and look forward to the progress some of our special needs kids will make with more specialized therapy items. Thanks to the Haven team who replaced the floor in our therapy room (thanks Art, Keith and Tyler) and to some donated funds from our friends Meghan and Brent, we are able to paint the floor this week and have a new fully functional therapy room by next week. We also have 2 volunteers who are interested in helping Lindiwe with therapy so the room will be used often.

We also got some new playground equipment for the playgroup children. We have 2 water tables, a tiny climber for 1 year olds and 2 new bigger play sets. Our Chaplain, Ron, is going to help put the play sets together, but it will take a week or so because it has been raining for 2 days and is suppose to rain for 3 more days. One of my favorite purchases are the triangles with mirrors. They are like 3-D pads that can be laid on the floor and the babies can see themselves. I have never seen so many smiles (or so much drool from kissing the mirrors) before giving the babies mirrors to look at. I loved watching them and seeing how they pushed up on their arms so they could see themselves better. Amazing how such little things can really add so much to the development of babies.