Little Blessings

The internet continues to be somewhat finicky here, so I started a post on Thursday morning, but am just now finishing it...

 It is a quiet Thursday morning. I am on early morning duty today, so I've been sitting outside the babies' room since 6:30am. Caleb got up at about 7:15am for a bottle, but now everyone is silently sleeping. AMAZING!

I have been a little bit under the weather for the past few days. A flu bug seems to be going around. Although I didn't feel too great, it actually allowed me to sleep for almost an entire day and have some alone time reading (I'm to the middle of Exodus!) and talking to some friends via skype, which was much needed and greatly appreciated!

Angela Jones and her friend Melissa came to visit me on Sunday. They both work at Bethany, a Chrisitan boarding school in Taiwan, Angela teaching special education at the Taipei campus and Melissa working as a dorm assisstant (kind of like a residential/student advisor) at the Taichung campus. It was really great to spend four days with them, and just to have a familiar face and someone to talk to.

Timothy's parent's flight got in really late Tuesday night, and they left this (Friday) morning. He did really well adjusting to them. Full of smiles as usual for the most part. He did have a huge boil form right before his parents got here, and it was really hurting him and had to be drained a couple of painful times. We wish him and his family the best, but were very sad to see him go.

We are down to seven babies. Please be praying that if there are babies in Taiwan that need us, God would provide the means of getting them to the Home. It seems a little backwards to be praying for more babies to come to the orphanage since we would hope that their biological parents would love and provide a caring home for them, but we know that is not always the case. Ted and Bev have so many wonderful families waiting to love and call a baby their own!

Jen Jen and Renee came down from Taipei and gave us a day off on Wednesday! Us four girls, along with the Colorado group, Angela, and Melissa went to the National Center for Traditional Arts in Yilan County, which is the same county we live in. It was about a twenty minute car ride away. The center is filled with cute little shops and exhibits showcasing Taiwanese culture and history and a food court all set alongside a beautiful lake surrounded by little pathways, making for a peaceful walking area. Everyone enjoyed the day of shopping.

Ted, Bev and Anna came back from their retreat and the Colorado group also left this morning, making things settle back down into the normal routine. But not for long as they plan to leave for China on the 14th for a week.

Extra blessings from this week:
- I now know all the babies by their cries. Don't even have to look to know who is upset, but of course we still do!
- Great food this week. (But I am starting to really miss American food!)
- Celebrating Kendra's (girl from Colorado) birthday with cake and icecream
- Taking Caleb's nap with him. I fell asleep with him on my chest on thecouch! :)
- Having a late girls' night talk with Gabrielle, Jennifer, and Rebecca
- Kwen and Cade's courtdates are coming soon!
- Tonight is Scarecrow and Mrs.King night with Anna and Bev

I will post more pictures of everything soon.

Love,
Jillian