Category Archives: Hosting

Hosting: Real Talk

June 28, 2015 Molly Leave a comment

We’re almost 2 weeks into hosting… and how are things going?

Before I answer that, did I tell you that when we first met N, just after she’d arrived, I asked her how she was, and she said “нормальна”. “Normal!” You just stepped off an airplane in a foreign country, you’re hugging a complete stranger who you’ll be staying with for the next 10 weeks… and you’re normal? Of course.

Things are very high energy around here, but they are fairly normal.

Summer means a lot more energy in our house with Reed and Lena home. N adds even more energy and things can be a bit crazy around here. Kids bouncing off walls.

Probably the biggest challenge is that I’m in high demand. N is very clingy with me, and this has pushed my other kids to be as well. During their waking hours, I almost always have someone near me or touching me.

I am an introvert, so this wears on me fairly quickly. I can only take so much time with children wrapped around my limbs before I need a quiet moment to myself. I’ve found myself pretty worn out most days! Physically and emotionally. It reminds me of the days when each of my kids were newly home. N joked that I love the toilet… ummm, because that door locks!

N is a character, and everything is new and exciting to her. She is even amused that the toilet flushes! To which I joked that she’s the one who loves the toilet!

One of our biggest challenges with Big L last summer was keeping her busy. That’s a challenge again this summer. For quiet activities, rainbow loom bracelets are a hit and games on computer or phone are as well. I have a ton of language games for her for this reason. But, apart from these activities, N has a short attention span and spends a lot of time running from one thing to another. N also loves anything active– swimming, bike riding, etc.

That’s the scoop on how things are going here. Questions about hosting? I always love to answer them!

Everyday Life, Hosting, Orphan Care

S’mores, Swimming and Sweet Dreams

June 21, 2015 Molly Leave a comment

Yesterday, we pulled out our rarely used firepit the other night and made hotdogs and s’mores. And it was an activity AND dinner. Yay for that.

There was watermelon, too.

Today, we headed to the state park we camped at several weeks ago and went to the beach.

These 4 had a lot of fun.

Each night, I tell N “Я тебя люблю. На Добраніч і солодких снів.” In English, “I love you. Goodnight and sweet dreams.” “Sweet dreams” is something that my mom always says. N loves that part so much and always says it with me. This is another one of those little things that I think nothing of, but she’s probably never had anyone to tuck her in before and tell her “sweet dreams.”

Everyday Life, Hosting, Orphan Care

Shampoo?

June 20, 2015 Molly 2 Comments

Today, while I was working, N asked, “will you shampoo my hair?” “Later,” I told her.

While I was frantically cleaning for our dinner company, “will you shampoo my hair?” “Later,” I told her again.

While our friends were over for dinner, “will you shampoo my hair?” “Not right now, later,” I said once again, truly feeling a bit exasperated by this point.

All day, I knew that I needed to be a person of integrity for her. Not one who says “later” and then never finds the time. But, someone who sticks to her word. I didn’t quite get the big deal with washing her hair, but it clearly was important to her. So, as everyone was brushing teeth and putting on pajamas, I said, “do you want to shampoo your hair now?” “YES!!!”

So, I pulled the chair up to the sink, grabbed the shampoo and forced a smile on my face, despite how ready I was for bedtime.

As I began to pour the water over the head, I saw her squeeze her eyes closed and I asked, “is the water too hot?” “No.” And then, I saw her smile. The kind that says “I am treasuring this moment.” I gently lathered the soap into her hair and rubbed her scalp. When I was done, I brushed her hair, then cupped her face in my hands and kissed her forehead. A huge smile crossed her face that said more than all of our broken language has.

For me, it was another thing on today’s checklist. For N, it was a moment that she may have never had before: a mother to gently wash her hair, to take care of her and pamper her. That is what hosting needs to be for most of the kids– smoothing out the rough edges of forced independence and giving them experiences of nourishing and nurturing that they haven’t had before. A shower and a bottle of shampoo? Yes, she could have done it herself. But, she wasn’t looking for clean hair. She was looking for someone to take the time to focus on and care for her.

These photos have nothing to do with the shampoo story, but I can’t share a blog post without photos. 🙂

Helping me make pizza for “піца п’ятницю” as I call it– Pizza Friday. That one got a laugh from her.

A friend gave us this awesome little sprinkler. It was a big hit!

Gus got a scraped knee, made better by Olaf. Gus did the best rendition of “Do you want to build a snowman?” the other day while Lena was in the bathroom, complete with knocking, sliding down the door and clucking his tongue. I only wish I had it on video.

Catching fireflies.

Hosting, Orphan Care

N is Here

June 18, 2015 Molly 3 Comments

N’s flight was supposed to arrive in Denver in late afternoon. But, her flight was delayed over 7 hours. Super late for our Central-Time adjusted selves.

We saw two rainbows on our weekend trip to Colorado. This one just as we were leaving for the airport.

As we got to the airport, I realized I’d only been to DIA one other time– when I flew in for AmeriCorps. Where I met my future husband. 🙂

The airport involves a lot of waiting. I chatted with another P143 volunteer and Aaron walked the kids around on escalator rides and such. Here Gus and Lena are playing with N’s gift, a doggie that looks like ours.

After we had waited for about two hours, the word was that they were near!

This girl came out, waving and smiling. She walked right up to Lena, holding her welcome poster and said, “hi!”

I leaned over to introduce myself and she wrapped her arms around me, tight. I imagine anyone watching this scene from afar would think we already knew each other.

She stayed like that for a couple of minutes, soaking up a hug.

We made introductions.

Everyone was pretty much instant-friends, but as we navigated the airport, elevators and the parking garage, it seemed like we’d jumped to ten kids instead of 4. So much energy!

That was 48 hours ago, so we’ve been getting to know N since then.

I expected her to be more quiet, shy, uncertain? Turns out she’s quite the monkey, a little bit wild, and mostly just a normal kid.

I’m excited to see what our summer holds!

Hosting

3 Weeks

May 27, 2015 Molly Leave a comment

N, our summer host daughter, will be here in 3 weeks. 3 weeks!

We are officially DONE with fundraising. Huge thank you to everyone who helped make that happen.

The reality of N’s arrival is slowly starting to hit me. The past several weeks have been a flurry of emails and phone calls to find all of the kids host families and we’re almost there. We have one boy who needs a seriously adoption-minded host family ASAP, so if that might be you, check out the Project One Forty Three Facebook page. 🙂

We still have a lot to do before N gets here:

Welcome poster
Affirmations/scripture chain-link
Change out some photos in Lena’s room/add a photo of N
Pick up a couple of outfits and a set of pajamas for her
Pick out a small gift or two for her
Schedule dental appt and eye exam
Gather items for a family “ice breaker” a couple of days in if needed — squirt guns? silly string

Anything I’m missing?

Reed, Lena and I are also practicing our language skills. The language that N (and Big L) prefer is different than the one that I learned a bit of for our adoptions. I started learning it over our winter hosting and now hosting an even younger child, who has no experience with English, I feel it’s even more important. At least to be able to introduce our family, ask her how she is, if she’s hungry, etc. I roped Reed and Lena in on it because they need something stimulating for summer break and it’s the language of their birth country. We’ll see how well we’ve been doing when we meet N at the airport!

So excited.