One of the toughest things about living with 19 children is how emotionally draining it is. I feel like I give and give all day long and some days I get nothing back but dirty stares and bite marks on my arm. Sometimes I think that if I hear one more mean comment and don't get at least one "please" or thank you" that I won't ever want to come back again. But then that feeling vanishes when I receive something like this:
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Jennifer wrote me this letter on a particularly rough day for me, and boy, did it turn my day around!
Maybe it was just a perfect coincidence but I like to think that she noticed I needed a little something extra that day.
Last Saturday when we went to the beach with the kids, I had another warm, fuzzy feeling day because of a simple conversation between some Haitians and Erline, Jennifer, and Samantha. The Haitian girls asked me if I knew how to braid hair. Before I could say one word my girls blurted out that I could indeed braid hair! They were very defensive and were adamant to make sure these other girls understood that I knew what I was doing. They boasted that I did their hair "lots" of times (when in reality, they never let me touch their hair..) These comments were coming from MY girls who have never once complimented me on my hair braiding ability. I only receive criticism from these girls when it comes to hair. It made me feel so good to hear those girls saying nice things about me, even if it was just about something silly.
Other things that fill me back up when I'm drained is when Juilette runs up to me, tightly throws her arms around my waist and yells "BIG HUG!"
When Jackson or Noah can only be comforted by me, and me alone.
When Scheelanda and Betchina run up to me with the artwork they've been doing all afternoon and say that they made it just for me.
When we go to the beach and Francesca gets scared and runs to me for safety.
When I'm reading a book to someone else and Peter stands behind me so close to listen and then starts reading along.
When Erline rushes in the gate after school and rushes over to me to tell me that she got a perfect score on that days homework.
When baby SonSon yells my name from his highchair every day when I go in to get my lunch and won't stop yelling till I go over to give him a kiss on the head.
When Michaelle can't stop smiling because I told her I am proud of her and think she's smart.
When Samantha stops eating and offers to help me with the babies when they're fussy during a meal time.
When Dianna grabs my face between her hands and gives me a big smooch.
When Jean cuddles with me and wants me all to himself.
When Claudeson gets excited for me to teach him school on the rare day that Miss Sue or Katie was away.
When Mislanda asks me to do her French homework with her and is happy for me to just sit with her because we both know I don't understand a word of French.
When Bebej gets in her cuddly moods and just wants to be held and loved by me.
When Josha calls my name from across the room and flirts with his precious little smile.
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| Noah and Jackson |
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| Best of buds. Ignore the bald spots! |
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| Jackson, almost 8 months old!! |
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| Noah, almost 8 months old too!! |
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| Right before bedtime |
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| Erline and I |
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| Jean doesn't especially like hair cut day |
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| But afterwords he thought the mowhawk was the best idea ever! But Grandma Sue made us cut it off. |
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| Giggly Betchina |
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| Singing songs with our visitors |
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| The coast near Saint Marc |
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| Lighthouse |
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| Um, I don't know who cares but this is an very baby cow I found crossing the road and I loved her. |
This was the most beautiful lovely post ever. I cried. haha. I'm glad you have some great things happening to make you feel appreciated! ~amy
ReplyDeleteI love how they sneak up and doing wonderful things when you need! Those are some great kids you are spending time with... I guess now I can share them! :)
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