Whit in South Africa: May 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

May Update

Hey Family all over the World,

I Love parenting wins. You find out that the things that you say everyday are actually being heard.
I pick up the toddlers from nap and they say to me “don't pee in your bed, pee in the toilet.”
Yes, my love. Good Job.

The Storm comes with loud thunder. “You do not need to be afraid. you are going to be okay.”
That’s right! I am right here.

But warms my heart even more is when they are able to repeat truths about God to me.

In the middle of dinner N randomly turns around and says “God made the heaven and Earths. God lives in Heaven.
When I start telling a bible story they tell me their version and what they remember before I even get through the beginning of the story.
When I forget the Beginning of this weeks bible verse but they can tell me anyway. Their favourite verse right now is: Lord, there is no one like you. You are great. Your name is great and powerful. Jeremiah 10:6

Our Friends from the Netherlands have gone home. We have missed them this month and it has been so quiet around Refilwe without them. They built strong connections with people from our community in Joe Slovo and I know the work they did here will help Refilwe now and in the future.

We had a double birthday this month. Toddler M and Baby R had birthdays on the 5th. Toddler M was a clown being so charismatic and hyper. Such a big difference from him last birthday. Little Thabi was quiet and observant. She enjoyed licking the frosting off her cupcake :)

Mothers Day was a good day at the house. The Aunties loved their mothers day gifts. We prayed for our kids Birth Mommies, that their hearts would turn to Jesus when they ache for their children. That they would be comforted by their heavenly father. Us as Aunties, as the “in between” mommy. That we would be patient and Kind with the children. That Jesus would give us a deep love for them but, be able to openly release them when our time with them is done. And last but most important we prayed for their forever mommies, that God would bring them soon. Mommies will come that love Jesus and teach these kids to love him too.

I have been learning to do black hair! I started simple and I'm working my way to being a pro! okay.. maybe not a pro lol but I do want to have a selection of things in my back pocket that I will be able to do. AB is patient with me while I learn and figure out how to do certain things. It helps that I let her watch the disney show “Princess Sofia the First” on my phone when she starts getting antsy.

Little S and Little E started taking steps! S is taking about 10 steps and little E only took her first step on her own on Sunday.

Little E

Little S

KJ and I

My Dear friend Kate Jenkins Surprised me! KJ lived with me for 6 months working with the bigger children at Refilwe. We talk about it often: Sometimes I wonder how we are as good of friends as we are due to the fact we are so different but, it just works : ) I am so thankful for her Southern Sass and encouragement while she is here. She leaves on Wednesday : (

We got a NEW BABY! Mr. T came to us at 5 days old. He came from IA and is so sweet. We all love him so much! Please Pray for him however, at 3am this morning he spiked a high fever and Nicole took him to the hospital. He has been admitted with an unknown infection. We are not sure what it is or how long he will have to be in the Hospital for. His now 10 day old little body is working really hard so he can come home to us soon!

My first Mr, T cuddles

our kids are getting so big!

oh kitty

getting some preschool love in!

I have some big news next month! I am excited to be able to share with everyone in My June Blog, keep a look out for it!

Monday, May 9, 2016

April Celebrations

Hey Family all over the world

I forgot to mention last month that we got updates!

Little E's Updates

We got a first update from Tiny T who was adopted in December. She is almost walking and doing so well with her family. It was a very honest update (which I appreciate and Love) and I can tell she is so adored.

We have a second update from Rockstar! It was technically a social worker update/checkin and only three months after he has been with his family (it has now been a year) but news is news and we love updates! Not that I doubted for a moment that he would be so happy and adjust very well and be loved so much however, hearing someone else say “hey, he is doing great” is so good for Aunties Hearts. This update was great too because there were lots of pictures! They say pictures are worth a 1,000 words. The more words the better, I say. : )

A Christmas card came to us! K’s family in Finland sent us a Christmas Card with a picture and well wishes for the Holidays. ABBA only was able to get it to us in March but we appreciate celebrating Christmas all year!

So many Updates in one month, it really did feel like Christmas in march!

In April We got 2 updated from Little E in Sweden too! We got her first update and her latest one : ) It was great to hear from my Little Miss. She still loves her purple blankie and loves spending time with her Grandpa. We got to see pictures from her Doc McStuffins 2nd birthday. She looked super cute.

We started a new curriculum in the house for our toddlers. We have a Sunday School lesson and then educational lessons during the week. We have been doing our own colours and songs etc but now we can all work together. Since our oldest kids do not go to preschool we wanted to add a more structural time during our days. I have been excited to put my preschool teacher skills back to work.

All of the volunteers went on a fun safari together. We went to Kruger, which is a largest game reserve in the north east on South Africa. We had lots of fun and saw lions, rhino, and lots of elephants.

Our Little L turned 2! She loved us singing happy birthday to her and really loved eating cake. She didn't get to be with her family for her Birthday but she had a fun time at her Party. *update: Her papers are caught between two courts. She has been released from the country but all she needs in one signature! Please continue to be praying for this situation. We are so thankful for your prayers around the world.

Happy Birthday to this beautiful little girl! Little L, you are smart, funny and probably the 2nd most stubborn little person in the house. You have a soft heart and a wonderful creative spirit. I love, that your favourite thing to do is to colour with markers and play with the small babies. I pray you get to be with your family soon dear one! Love, Auntie Whitney.

We started another new adventure this month. We are potty training two more of our kiddos! Im not going to lie, potty training three kids, and having 8 more causing trouble at once is quite an adventure. 7 toddlers at once and then one cries “toilet please”… what do you do?! It generally turns into quite a comedic moment of yelling to the other auntie to come watch the other six while I’m running inside with the kid hoping they don't pee on me. They are doing very well and I am so proud of them :)

Just the Other day my oldest (3) sat down next to me and asked “Where is my daddy?” I stared at him for a brief moment while i tried to process. Eventually I told him that his daddy would come for him soon. Then he quickly replied with “me and my daddy are going to drive to California.”
I hope so Buddy I really hope you do.
He is obsessed with California since he could finally understand where Nicole and I go when we go home. So every bridge is California (we showed him the Golden Gate Bridge) and I think in his understanding, that's where “Families” are. It very much breaks my heart to hear him understanding more where he is and that he doesn't have a mommy and daddy. To be honest, I don't know whats going to happen to him. Will he get a family? Will he end up in foster care passed from family to family till he is 18? I don't know. But I cling to the fact that I know that Our Heavenly Father loves him very much. That he sets the lonely into families (Psalm 68:6) and he will be with N always (Isaiah 41:10) That day reminded me to be intentional about telling my kids that they are loved and wanted. They have not been forgotten and, they will always have a heavenly father no matter where they end up.

Please continue to pray for our babies and toddlers! Our kids need forever Mommies and Daddies!