So it has been like forever since I've updated our blog. Life has been going about a mile a minute here. We've been able to start the upstairs, major renovations needing to be done. The house we live in is broken up into 2 apartments, however, we are going to be able to get the entire house. IT will be WONDERFUL as it will add 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, a study area (formerly the upstairs kitchen) and an attic for storage. In case you missed it we have been living in a 1 and half rooms with a small kitchen and living room right now. I feel somedays like my head is going to explode for lack of room, organization, order, room, room, and did I say room. The clouds are thinning and we're heading in the right direction. In order to get the upstairs though, we needed to build an entry way onto the side of the house. That is taking place right now, Kenneth's dad has been hard at work for the last couple of days and it is coming along quite well.
We've also had our first encounter of "battling the system" you could say. You read about families around the world trying to stand up for what is right, moral and correct behavior. I always read these accounts with an attitude of "good for them", nice to hear, a real feel good story. It wasn't until recently having gone through it ourselves I realize behind every story are many prayers, discussion, fasting, prayer, and more prayer.
If this seems a little vague here is the situation we found ourselves in. After PE classes in school here the children are to shower. Community showers from grade 3 on, I don't think so. So we had to put our foot down and have a few pow wows with adminstration but we were able to keep our stand that our children will not be showering at school, they shower at home. The children were happy with this, but it wasn't over quite yet. Sabrina had a bit of a tough time, not wanting to be different, not wanting to stand out. She worried over this and it all came to a head last night when she was getting ready for bed. She cried and cried about school in general, especially PE class, thinking the girls in her class might think she was weird for not showering, the boys who tease etc etc. Not knowing what else I could say to make it easier for her, we had exhausted the topic of standing up for what is right. We did the only thing I knew was left to do. We knelt down in prayer and asked for guidance, assurance, and the spirit to make Thursday a good day at school for Sabrina, that she would be able to explain herself without meeting any opposition. So like any mother I waiting in suspense until she walked through the door at 2:30pm. She had had a great day, no problem whatsoever. She later sat down by me on the couch and said "I don't know why I made such a big deal about today last night." and I said "Why do you think you had such a good day at school today?" It was one of those times when you couldn't have scripted it any better for teaching your child about how Heavenly Father really does hear and answer our prayers. Even though it has been really rough for her, I am thankful that we had this experience. She was able to see and feel first hand the love of a father in heaven, and I hope and prayer she'll never forget it.
Sometimes I forget how tough this has been on the children. They not only had to switch schools, they had to switch languages, cultures, a complete turn around in their lives. When you think of the pharse "Saving the best for last!" think of this generation that we are now raising. The heavens really did
Save the Best for Last! They are and will be an amazing generation to watch grow and learn. What a honor to be the parents of these maginificent children!
