Christmas in July

Now I know what Christmas in July looks like. I know how Santa feels.

Since we arrived, we've been doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff.

We've been sewing. We've been sorting. We've been cleaning. We've been painting.  

Don't get me wrong, we've been spending a fair bit of time with the kids too, but we've been doing tons of behind the scenes things. We couldn't be here at a more exciting time. SCH is in the process of moving all of the kids into newer, more controlled housing. The housing will be better split by genders and age groups. 

Along with the move the kids are all getting new clothes. That was what the goal of our first project was. We were sorting and sewing labels onto tons and tons of new clothes for the kids. 

We want this move to be as exciting for the kids as it can be, so we're trying to make the rooms as beautiful as the smiling faces that will be living in them. We've been painting murals on the walls of the girls home. There four of us that are, as Megan calls us, "Artsy-Fartsies" in the group, and there are conveniently four apartments in the girls home. We each headed up the design of an apartment. 

I can't tell you how much fun that was.

I got to completely design the layout for my apartment. 

We went with a sky theme :) our room has clouds painted all around, a skyline of the beautiful city outside, tons of stars, and suns, and moons, and scripture praising God. Seriously I love it. The fantastic girls that painted the apartment with me made my week phenomenal. With Macey, Alexis, Becca and Jess I painted, sang to Jesus, sang much missed country music, danced, and laughed. Seriously, I love these girls, and I've loved this project. (I'll post pictures of all of the rooms soon!)

We've also been distributing the clothes that we so carefully sorted and sewed. We went into the apartments before any of the kids moved in, and put they're cute little clothes in the closets waiting for them.

I think this is what Santa feels like. Getting things ready, leaving behind cute little gifts, picked out and waiting for the kids. 

Today I got a first taste of what all this work means. I got to visit one of the first groups of kids to move into their new apartments. Their 'house mothers' have brought them books and toys, and have pictures of their beautiful faces hanging all over their home. That's what it is, a home. 

The kids are wearing new clothes, that fit them well. They are sleeping in beds with soft blankets and cuddly toys. 

Those kids looked so happy. and so loved.

My post for today is short, and will sadly be the only one. For a lot of the day the power was on and off which kept me from posting, and then when it was on, I chose playing with kids over being at the computer. I thought it sounded like a fair trade. :)

I have one more week in this wonderful town with these amazing kids. The countdown makes my heart ache. It aches to see my friends and family at home, but it aches twice as much at the thought of leaving here.