Hello all,

            I can’t believe another week has come and gone. Sometimes, time moves so quickly here. This past week, I have been doing something outside of my normal. I helped paint the innards of the little house. The little house was never fully finished. Walls were half painted and the ones that were, were an awful frothy mint green colour. Not the colour scheme Nanay is going for. So manang Ai Ai, a few of the boys and I have been painting it a refreshing white. I am truly amazed at how a simple thing like paint can make such an impact. Rooms that were dark and tiny now seem light and breezy. Slowly the little house is being readied to be used as a dairy, yay!!!

            The week was a blessing being that manang Ai Ai and I got to know each much better. We talked of our upbringing, education, likes and dislikes. Of her time in America. How the Philippines and America are basically two different words. Things that are better and worse in both countries. We laughed a lot, goofed off a little bit and made sure we always had enough snacks J There were a few times when we almost had a paint war, her with the roller, me with brush. She would laugh every time I screamed when I found yet another spider. It was a great time of bonding and painting J

            During one of the lunches, one of the little girls noticed a lot of spots on my arm (freckles). Her words “ai belay, a lot spot spots” translation “oh wow, lots of freckles”. Over the next few minutes, she counted all the freckles on my arms then looked at my face and said “too many” and giggled to herself. Haha such funniness.

            After dinner yesterday, I was sitting with the newest Rosmarino. We were going over the names of everyone around us. She is very curious about everything. When I had paint on my arms, she stared at it, touching all the white spots, saying paint over and over. When we do worship, even though she understands few English words, she lifts her arms heavenward and claps along. She has fit in wonderfully with the rest of us. It is amazing to watch her, to see her joy and playfulness.

            The book that I am reading with my momma ‘Choosing Joy’ has been such a great read. The more I read it, the more I realize, I am not truly grateful for all the I have nor all that He has done for me. In the third chapter, she outlines a few main reasons that trip up or hinder our gratitude. Forgetfulness is one of those reasons. On a simple level, we forget to tell those that help us out a genuine and honest thank you. But a deeper level, if I forget what God has done for me from giving me the gift of my salvation to seeing me through all the hard, difficult moments of my life, I forget to give him my thanks, my praise, my gratitude. One thing leads to another, if I have no thanks or praise, I lack true, honest, genuine faith. Gratitude means having the readiness to show appreciation for and to return the kindness. When I look at my own life, that readiness is lacking. I pray God teaches me how to have a truly grateful heart.

            Love you all and God bless,

            Always, Kels