Goodbyes

Really not looking forward to saying my goodbyes tomorrow and Wednesday morning. I hate goodbyes, especially if I don't know if I will ever see people again. I've just started getting to know some of the older kids in the orphanage and I wish I had a lot more time with them! I'm glad some of the babies are going home soon because goodbyes will be easier knowing they finally get to go home where they belong, but I'm really sad to leave the ones that will still be here. I just wish they could all go home now because it would be easier to say goodbye. I know that God is in each adoption and His timing is perfect. He'll get me through my goodbyes and maybe someday bring me back here again!

Last week in Taiwan

It's my last week in Taiwan! I can hardly believe that summer is just about over! I've loved being here and will miss the babies and friends I've made here, but I'm ready to go home and start a new school year.

Things I'll miss:
-Baby smiles
-Baby giggles
-Babies snuggling
-Playing with babies
-Late night chats with Bev
-Pineapple, mango, bananas, other fruits
-Eating with chopsticks
-Spending time with the other volunteers
-Showhwa
-Cold showers (and wanting to take them!)
-Rocking babies to sleep
-Babies in general (because I could go on and on with a list of things I'll miss about the babies)
-Bike rides with Abbey
-I'm sure there are more things that I just can't think of right now

Things I won't miss:
-Always smelling like sweat and spit up
-No weekends
-Fish
-Heat and humidity (although I may still have that at home)

Looking forward to seeing family and friends, a new school year, and some good American food!

MATT AND CHRISSY ARE COMING TODAY TO GET MIRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Night time bonding

Our 8:00pm feeding is usually pretty crazy. The babies go over to devotions at 7:15 to be held by the older kids. We usually take the bottles over to them at devotions, so once devotions is over, we technically only have to change diapers and put them to bed. This rarely happens. Usually, there are babies who haven't eaten their whole bottle so we have to re-feed them. We appreciate all the help from the older kids because it takes a much shorter amount of time to feed the babies! All the babies are usually in bed by 8:15, but they are not generally calm, quiet, and asleep. Lately, the babies seem more lively than ever at this time, so we've been spending some quality bonding time with them. Some babies require only that you put their pacifier back in their mouths while others demand another bottle. Some will go to sleep simply be having their back patted for about five minutes, while others are just not ready to go to bed and want to play. This can be tiring at the end of the day and sometimes it's easy to get frustrated. Last night, most of the babies actually went to bed, but there was one little girl who kept crying. She had already been given a second bottle, and still carried on. I pulled her out of her crib and took her to the kitchen to rock her (isn't that where you keep your rocking chair?!) She snuggled against me, stuck her thumb in her mouth, and I thought "Oh good, she'll be out in no time!" Boy was I wrong! For the next half hour, she smiled and talked to me! Hard to be frustrated and crabby when that's the picture you see looking down at her. :-) As exhausting as these evenings can be, they are sometimes the best times to bond with the babies.

Happy Birthday Joel!

Happy birthday Joel!

Wish I could be there to celebrate with you! Love you!