Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Christmas was like none other this year. I spent it with 28 beautiful children (3 kids went to visit their families or foster homes)! On Christmas eve we had 3 couples come and help out with the kids and lead a church service just for the day. Laura and I woke up and started cooking and baking at 6:30. We made cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, special K bars, and rice crispy bars. Ms. Joy (the cook) baked 2 hams, which looked and tasted delicious and I don't even like ham! We then had our church service with all the staff and kids at 3 and everyone at supper at 5ish. Then after supper we set up a big screen in the garage and all of us watched “The Nativity Story”. The kids loved it! Then on Christmas day, Laura and I woke up early and made scrambled eggs and we heated up cinnamon rolls for all the kids. They fully enjoyed their breakfast! Then a Jamaican couple brought their kids and gave gifts to our kids at 7. They were kind of like our “Santa” even though we don't celebrate “Santa”. The kids played with their toys from the couple and watched “The Polar Express” then we handed out the presents Michelle had for the kids around 10. We wrote all the kids names on paper and had each of them sit on the sheet so they could have their own space to open their present. The kids played all day with the toys they got! Each girl got a doll and they all received a tea party set to share with chairs and a table. All the boys got some sort of truck, boat, or helicopter. The best part is: the kids are still playing with their toys!

For New Year's Eve, Laura, Andy, and I tried staying up to watch the ball drop, but Laura and I were down at Jake's House getting ready for bed at midnight. We are WAY to exciting for the States to handle! 2009 has already begun, so I decided to make a list (more for myself) of all the crazy and exciting changes that God has made in my life since the beginning of 2008:
- I student taught in one of the most amazing classrooms. Chuck's classroom had 22 students, in which I taught them ALL math class. Talk about God preparing me to help handle the 31 children at the Nest. Those kids helped me to be much more compassionate, understanding and patient.
- God called me to be a Bible study leader to some of the most wonderful girls I've ever met. I know God used them to teach me many things about life and myself. Their wisdom and childlike faith pushed me to want to know God in a more personal way.
- I graduated from college with a special education degree. WILD!! I've already been through 4 years of college. I had wonderful roommates (yes, there were arguments, but I wouldn't have had it ANY other way!), amazing friends, and a great job with the most adorable kids and best co-workers. Who could ask for more?
- Traveling to China for a month and a half on my own showed me I am supposed to go places and meet people (I feel like I'm a “people” person). I really like traveling and seeing the world, but most of all meeting all the people I encounter when I travel. So many families with kids from other countries speaking so many languages! It was wonderful! I also got to see the Great Wall of China and go on vacation to Sanya with the Quigley's. Visiting the Quigley's taught me how to turn to God with little to none community of believers. It was hard and I felt as if I was far away from Him. I knew I was because I was leaning on my friends and others for my faith.
- Watching my best friend walk down the isle to marry the man that God made for her was one the happiest days of my life! After watching Alyssa and Jake date and pull a wedding together in less than a year, I could not have asked God for a better man for Alyssa. God not only worked on their hearts, but He showed me that He does make perfect matches for each of His children – whether it's a person here on earth or Jesus.
- Now that I have been in Jamaica for the last 3 months of the year, I know I am a changed person. I know God has been working on my stubborn, prideful, and exhausted heart. I barely have time to pee here let alone talk to God (so I think), but God is still by my side all the time. I see Jesus every time I look at each of the children. The suffering and hatred Jesus felt His whole life on earth leading up to His death is the same suffering our children have gone through. God has made my heart be so full of mercy and compassion for these children, every drop of my soul wants to love and make sure these kids have the best – not “earthly things”, but love, hope, and faith. After watching each child grow and watching them learn to fully trust someone changes a person, especially if you're the person they trust. I really do feel as if I am a mother to 31 children. I know all of their personalities, what foods they like and what they don't like, how each child will respond in each situation, and what kid of attention each kid needs. It's easy to do that for 1 child, manageable for 3, but for 31....???? CRAZY, but God has taught me how to manage it all and He give me the strength to get to each child every day and give them at least a few minutes of attention. I love interacting with all the kids and watching them grow. I've seen so many babies start to walk, get teeth and start talking. I've seen 2 kids who have been scared to DEATH of the water in the pool and at the beach now jumping in the pool and dunking themselves under the water and allowing themselves to float to the deep end with a tube around their waist. I've watched 3 boys start to learn the ABC's. I've seen a boy go from refusing to dress and feed himself to showering and brushing his own teeth. I've seen a little girl go from not smiling or laughing when I would try and play with her to running around the house with a smile pasted to her face. I've watch 3 teenage girls go from refusing to listen to anything anyone says to agree to help put the younger girls to bed. I've seen 9 boys and 5 girls go from having no respect for me, not listening to me, and not caring whether I was in a room or not to me having to give a “look” and all the kids will obey, not being able to sit in a room without a child NOT on my lap, and reassuring the children every time I leave I will be back to give them hugs and kisses. All of the things I just explained is just my “side” job. I'm really here to teach 4 wonderful children, but on top of teaching I get to feel like a “mom”. I can't wait...

Well, enough of my blabbing. I'm so tired! We spent the first day of the new year at the beach and we all got a little sun. The kids were all sleeping WAY before their bed-time, which tells me how hard they were playing at the beach. It was a perfect day to ring in the new year.

I can't wait to see all of you. I miss you and love you dearly!

Dana