It STILL never gets easier.

I haven't blogged for a while...sorry folks! I'm trying to keep you all more in the loop about things...

So, our little Buddy only stayed with us for about five days before he had to leave. =( 

He was just a temporary placement, mainly due to some paperwork we have to sort out before we can accept any more longer-term kiddos. I'm not allowed to share the babies' stories in any detail, but I'm really sad about him having to be shuffled around in the system, and hope he finds a forever family soon. =(

It's so hard to watch babies leave and go to places that you don't think are anywhere near the best for them. Of course, God is in control, but as part of the whole "do justly and love mercy" thing, my tendency is to want to fight tooth and nail for these little ones. And then, so often, it's all taken entirely out of your hands and there's nothing you can do.

Nothing but love them well in the short time you have. Somehow that never feels like enough.

She picked him up on the day he had to leave and asked him, "Buddy, do you know you are loved?"

(I think he did.)

He was so sweet. Ok, no toddler is an angel...but he just wanted to be loved. 

So sorry, Buddy. I wish I could have been your forever. I pray you will find it soon.

P.S. There is an important meeting on Monday at the department to talk about screening our manager as the foster mom that we have to have on property. There have been some concerns expressed about screening a non-South African. Please pray it all goes well!

Unexpected delivery

Life has been pretty slow since Princess left on Wednesday - we have only had four babies and there has been a lot more time off. I'm not one to sit still very well...I like to be DOING THINGS. There are plenty of babies waiting  for us, but due to turnover of people working here within the last year, we are waiting for paperwork to go through before we officially accept any more babies. PLEASE pray it goes through very soon! Everything on our end is done - we are just waiting on government officials to do their jobs. It drives me crazy to know there are babies out there waiting! So yes, please pray.

That being said, we were surprised to come home from church late this afternoon and find this unexpected delivery on our doorstep waiting for us to "sign" for him! It's a short-term placement, so it had already been cleared by the proper authorities.

He's almost certainly only going to be here for one or two nights. I would love to keep him longer. 

For the time being, we'll call him "Buddy." He's pretty cute and really curious. He is almost a year and a half old and isn't walking yet. He is making sounds but we don't know what language he understands/is trying to speak.

He did great up until bedtime and then he was all, "Uh, no. Not putting myself to sleep in a strange crib in a strange place." So the other Abi decided he would probably like this better. Yes, definitely an African baby. =) Look at the smile. He visibly relaxed and got all happy as soon as I tied him on me.

He does the African "floppy baby" thing when you put him on your back - that thing our baby home babies never learn to do because we only carry them till the next small one comes along - they just kind of flop on your back and go limp until you've tied them on snugly. It's quite handy, much easier than Princess's unwieldy squirming!

He fell asleep in five or ten minutes. Guess we will see what tomorrow holds for you, little guy.

Dear Princess

Dear Princess,

I love you!

I'm so grateful I had the privilege of caring for you the last seven months. You came almost when I did, you know. You arrived four days after me - so I've known you almost as long as I've been in South Africa.

I've watched you grow up from a little baby to a great big girl who is scooting all over the living room.

I've stayed up with you many nights when you were grumpy or crabby or just didn't feel like sleeping.

You were (fairly) patient with me while I learned how to wear babies African style.

Many nights when I fed you, you lay sleeping in my arms while I prayed for all the babies who didn't come to our baby home, who went somewhere worse.

We loved to dress you and your "sister" in matching jammies.

You love to play with your elephant that I made you.

You are naughty and like to snatch toys, sit on your siblings, and pull on the curtains. 

You LOVE going upside down and if we start the game, you keep pulling back so we will do it again and again.

You make goofy faces and silly donkey noises. 

You are loud! When you were little, your cry sounded kind of like a squeegee!

Recently, you were the only one with hair long enough to braid...

 and somehow I managed to get you to let me do it...

You love your Mama Jeanne.

(Your Mama Megan loves you too!)

Two weeks ago, we got wonderful news! We hung a picture on the wall of a beautiful couple. I took you into the room and pointed to the picture. "Mama. Daddy." You reached out and patted their faces.

Two nights ago was your very last night in a baby home. We dressed you in warm jammies and I took you in your cozy, dark room to give you your bottle. I snuggled you in the dark, thinking about how your life was going to change in the next 24 hours. You had no idea.

They will be there when you learn to walk. They will hear your first words. They will get up with you in the middle of the night when you're fussy. (Ha ha!) They'll be there on your first day of kindergarten, your last day of matric, every milestone. You'll have a Daddy to walk you down the aisle. They will always be there for you and they already love you. I hope and pray they will teach you about how Jesus loves you, too.

I love you, baby girl!

Love,

Auntie Abbie