art classes – Casting A Stone

Front row seat to a miracle

Posted on December 2, 2017December 2, 2017 by Tammy

Who are we to be a part of this miraculous story?

We are beyond humbled and in absolute awe as we see how God is providing for Benjamin to join our family. What seemed impossible is possible. $20,000 came in to pay for this adoption in two short weeks. It is miraculous and we have a front row seat in watching this miracle unfold! Gifts from family who are being so supportive, friends who aren’t calling us crazy (but blessed!) and even gifts from strangers – God has planted the desire on so many hearts to help this teenager find family.

Thank you. I wish I had more eloquent words, because these two small words in no way can convey the deep gratitude of my heart. Your gifts….they have encouraged us. They are making the way possible. They are placing a boy in a family. One less orphan. They are blessing our family with the treasure of another soul, and they mean the difference between us being able to do this or not. Huge. Thank you.

The paperwork is going at lightning speed and the invoices are rolling in – every need has been met and every deadline crushed. All of our paperwork to adopt Benjamin is being authenticated this week and we hope to have it sent to China next week. (In adoption lingo: our dossier will be sent to the CCCWA and we hope to have a letter of approval soon after.) Everything is on track for our family to grow by one at the beginning of the year. 5 ~~short~~ long weeks.

In between mounds of paperwork and grant writing, we are preparing as much as possible. We swapped bedrooms. The girls are now in the smaller room and the boys are in a room that will hold two sets of bunk beds. (That is a reality I never dreamt for my family!) Little Man feels all grown up in the top bunk with Mo sleeping up under him. I look at the empty space under the other bunk and long for the day to have it filled by the newest Williams. I thought this journey – because it is going so fast – would be easier. The waiting has always been the hardest part for me. This adoption is being expedited – the wait is nothing in comparison, but there is just something about knowing your child is sleeping in an orphanage. I can’t wait for those days to be done.

We would appreciate your continued prayers over this next month. Pray that each step of this adoption is expedited and that we will have Benjamin home by mid-January. Pray for us as we continue to prepare…not just our home but our hearts. A big transition is ahead of us, and we know we will need all the grace and mercy God can provide . Benjamin also is facing unspeakable grief as he leaves one world behind and enters this new one. Pray for his heart – for comfort, healing, and peace.

I hesitate to even write this next part, because you have all been soooo generous, but a few people are still asking how to give and how to help us on this journey. We have been given a matching grant through Brittany’s Hope. They will match dollar to dollar every gift given towards our adoption up to $5,000 which means we will end up with $10,000. 100% of the gifts will go to our adoption as they have generous donors who cover all of their overhead expenses. So if you are still feeling led to financially help us bring Benjamin home, then a gift towards this matching grant would be greatly appreciated. You can give your tax deductible gift here。 You can also share about this opportunity by giving folks this link http://www.brittanyshope.org/seedling/williams With this grant we will be very close to being fully funded. Amazing!

Thanks again for following us on this journey. I hope our next update will be telling you that we have all of our paperwork approved and that we were able to tell Benjamin that he will be joining our family.

Our Big Surprise….5+1=6

Posted on November 1, 2017November 3, 2017 by Tammy

If the news we are about to share with you in this post shocks you, well, I can guarantee it shocked us more. We were blown away to receive a phone call from our adoption agency last month. It was all so surreal that I really couldn’t make sense of the words our social worker was saying. The agency that oversees all adoption affairs in China had called our adoption agency and asked us to consider adopting a child from the orphanage where I teach. What? Our adoption agency went on to explain they have never had anything like this happen before.

A million thoughts rushed through my mind as it tried to register the news. We don’t qualify to adopt. Hubby and I had said our family was complete with the five blessings already in our care. Why did they call us?

Wait! I asked questions rapid fire-trying to gain clarity. My mind was still trying to register the miraculous open door that was being given to us. Who do they want us to adopt? The boy who I have taught and loved for 7 years? The same boy whose photo has been on our fridge for three years? The child we have prayed would miraculously have the chance at a family? The now 13 year old who only has until February to be adopted before, according to Chinese law, he can no longer be eligible for adoption? That child? They did his paperwork this summer? They are asking us to adopt him? Seriously?

I wept.

We prayed.

A second shocking phone call came a couple weeks later. China surprisingly agreed to grant us the special permission we need to adopt this precious boy, if we were willing for him to join our family.

We sat down with our kids and prayed as a family. The words of Little Man summed up the feelings of all of our children, “Why wouldn’t we adopt him? How cool we get to be the chance he has at a family and not to live all his life in that institution.”

Sometimes God uses us to answer our own prayers.

If they had called us and asked us to adopt any other child, we would have said no. But, it just “happens” that they asked us to adopt the now 13 year old who has been on our hearts for years. We said yes. As a family, this is who God has called us to be. We didn’t go looking to adopt again. We thought we were done. God had a different idea.

Who is this child that is changing our plans? He is “Benjamin.” Benjamin is super smart and loving. He likes legos, playing with bouncy balls from his wheelchair, and listening to music. He is also an absolute ham in my art class, making me and others laugh. For all these reasons and more, he will thrive in our family. He will make the most of joining our family and the opportunity for an education. We have consulted the Western doctors here in our city, and they can help him get the additional medical attention he needs, which has not been possible while living in the orphanage. To us, he is worth the leap of faith on our part.

We would really appreciate you being a part of his miraculous story. We have to complete his adoption before his 14th birthday. The adoption process usually takes 11 months. When you consider both American and Chinese holidays, we are working against a 10 week deadline.

We have about 10 weeks to raise the funds and complete all the paperwork to finalize his adoption. It is going to be a crazy ride with many miracles needed along the way.

May I be so bold to ask if you might be a part of this journey with us.

Would you consider praying with us that all will be able to be completed in time? Pray all the paperwork would move smoothly and quickly through the process. I assure you, this will require miracles.

Would you also consider being part of the financial miracle that will bring “Benjamin” home? Would you consider giving towards his adoption fund? If being part of his provision story resonates with you, you can give a tax deductible donation here. We are simply trusting that what is needed will be provided every step of the way. If God is in this, He’ll make a way.

We weren’t looking to adopt again. We have no idea how the agency that oversees Chinese adoptions knows about us, or why they care if this 13 year old boy is adopted. It’s a crazy miracle- God has plans. He moved mountains to make this adoption even a possibility, so we are trusting Him to continue to provide all that is needed to make it happen. Oh man, is this going to be an amazing God sized story that will bring him Glory. We feel deeply humbled and blessed to be a part of this story and I know you will be blessed for your part in it too.

She squats

Posted on November 20, 2016November 20, 2016 by Tammy

Once upon a time, a crazy American art teacher was super thirsty and downed a whole bottle of water before class began. Half way through the class she had the desperate need to use the bathroom. Usually she does not leave her dear art students in the middle of a messy paint project, but nature called.

At the orphanage the bathrooms are not private. There are four squatty stalls with no doors. On the first floor you can find an adult bathroom with more privacy, but the art teacher was on the 4th floor. She wanted to be quick. Other teachers have done it before. So, she took her cue from those local teachers and slipped into the public bathroom, locking the outer door.

She heard the lock click. All was good, until she heard a different class in the hallway.

She tried to hurry not wanting the kiddos to wait. That should have been the least of her worries as the door began to rattle – then open.

“Someone is in here!”

The joy of teaching this group of special kids comes due to their innocence and curiosity. That was not in Art Teacher’s favor when trying to keep the kids out of the bathroom. Before she knew it, there was a mixed audience of 8 children as she struggled to finish with dignity.

They stood there and watched like good, curious, Chinese children. One of the more observant fellows mentioned to the others, “Foreigners pee too!” To which his friend replied, “Did you know Teacher could squat?” Thankfully none of the other teachers came in to witness the grand event of foreign teacher squatting.

Just a day in the life of an art teacher at an orphanage. The children learned how to paint leaves on fall trees, and they learned that even their foreign teacher squats.

The end.

Broken Hearted

Posted on June 26, 2016June 26, 2016 by Tammy

It comes every year. I try to prepare my heart – but frankly the pain and injustice, I just can’t get used to it.

Due to our summer travel plans, this week marks my last art class of the semester. Children who live at an orphanage….well summer vacation has a whole different meaning for them. They live where they go to school and since it is often better to keep the kiddos busy and on a schedule, they don’t take long breaks from classes. I explained to my kiddos that I needed to travel with my family so there would be no art classes for July and August….but I would be back to start art classes again in September. The kids often will ask me over and over again….”Are you really coming back?” One little guy who was in a near panic over missing art, just couldn’t drop it. Finally I asked him, “Friend, will you be here in September?” After thinking a moment he said, “Yes, I am always here.” My reply, “Then I will find you when I come back.”

But, that isn’t always the case.

When a teen turns 17 years old – they must leave the orphanage and are sent to a social welfare institute. It is not a nice place. This week I said goodbye to a student I have had since the beginning of my days at the Children’s Home. He cried as we hugged. He wasn’t upset about the idea of missing art class for two months. He was crying because he knew this was the end. He will not be living at the orphanage when I come back.

I cried too.

I cried because I will miss him. I cried because he has no hope for the future. I cried because if he had been adopted his life would have been so different.

These boys who were never chosen….Lord have mercy.

Kids need families.

Let’s make a difference. Foster. Adopt. Give. Tell their stories. Cry for the orphan. Pray.

Twists and turns along the road

Posted on April 2, 2016April 2, 2016 by Tammy

Pizza and catching up with an old friend – two rare treats that came my way last week. This friend, although absent from my daily life for years, has made significant impact on my life. Just been pondering where I would have been. Just been walking down memory lane.

7 years ago (Could it have really been that long?) we were in the throws of adoption paperwork for our little Monkey. The process was taking so very long. We watched other families get approval and travel to their sweet babies while we waited…and waited…and waited. At the same time, a natural disaster had struck in the part of China where little Monkey was living. It was heart breaking, excruciating, mind numbing…and then some.

I remember venting all my woes to my dear friend over dinner in our home. She was the special education director at the orphanage in our city. She challenged me. “Do something while you wait. It will make it easier.” That is where it started.

As I waited for little Monkey, I taught one art class once a week. One class of 8 students. I thought it would keep me busy and give me something to do rather than check my email like a crazy woman, hoping for news about our adoption. Instead, the children in my class helped heal my broken heart; they taught me to serve and to love in a way I didn’t know was possible. It amazes me.

Our journey to adopt had begun as a seed in my heart as a college student. Hubby and I knew it would be a part of our family story from the beginning. What we didn’t know – that adoption would take us on a heart journey that didn’t end with our youngest two children. Our hearts and eyes were open to the world of orphans, children with special needs and we would be forever changed.

I shake my head and laugh as I look back on those times, 7 long short years ago. I thought it was about waiting for our daughter, Little Monkey, to join our family. It wasn’t about the wait at all. I was learning about the Father’s heart.

This was a pretty big twist in my life story. I had no idea the joy my heart would glean from painting with a child suffering with Cerebral Palsy. The surprise was mine when I learned to communicate with a non-verbal pre-schooler with Downs Syndrome. I didn’t know the peace that would wash over me while holding the hand of a child with Autism. I have learned that every life has value and my life is deeper when I see God’s image in each one of His children. Pretty big stuff. It has shaped me.

The twists and turns that my journey with Jesus has taken – they take my breath away. It is easy to see how He was leading my heart as I look back. It gives me courage for the future. I am so sure that there are more bends in the road. He is leading us down a path and we can’t see the end. I want to trust Him. The lessons He has for me to learn…they are good. The road He is taking me down…will make me better. Even when I don’t understand the bends in the path, He is good. He is leading.

Recently, I was asked to share at a conference about how and why I work and live where I do. I laughed at the request. Seriously, I am the last person that should be inspiring others on knowing where God is calling them. As I prepped that talk with honest words of ending up in a place that I didn’t expect, I was reminded again that my story with its bends twists and turns probably isn’t that unique. When we make our own plan…it is just that…ours. He has so much more for us than we ever could hope or dream for. I am living His dream.

I was so desperate 7 years ago. I wanted my waiting to be over, to hold my precious daughter in my arms. What joy to look back and see how God used that time of waiting for so much more. In this season, I wonder again. What will I see with such clarity 7 years from now.

Trusting Him in the journey. Taking one bend in the road at a time.

My Crazy Life – December edition

Posted on December 28, 2015December 28, 2015 by Tammy

December is just one of those months. Every year I get so homesick for my extended family and Christmas traditions that I could burst into tears at any given moment. But, every year we have the privilege of celebrating Christmas cross-culturally, I am filled with joy at the opportunities to experience the true meaning of Advent. I could explode over the wonder of it all. My crazy life.

This year was like the others, busy with open houses for students, story telling, cookie baking, Christmas art projects, frosting and sprinkles. It has been breath taking…and so very fun. I really think that this month will go down in the books as one of the best Christmas seasons ever. It wasn’t perfect. I burnt cookies, got overwhelmed by the number of guests that came through our home, and Little Man picked his nose through his debut in the Christmas play. (Friend, that could be a post on its own. My son dressed as a wiseman digging for treasure up his nose. Yes, he saw me give him the “momma stink eye.” Then says to me FROM STAGE, “Just a second, I almost have it!” He then pulled it out and flung it. True story. Sigh.)

So it wasn’t perfect, but there were moments that I will treasure for years to come. I was able to be the first one to share the Christmas story with a student. How perfect is that? Decorating sugar cookies with all of my art students who called the frosting paint and couldn’t keep themselves from licking everything…Okay, a little gross, but oh so priceless. My children hosting and helping. I think that treasure is the one I will ponder the most. Soccer Dude pushing a wheel chair and breaking off bits of cookies to put in the lips of children who are paralyzed. That is a gift.

There are many days that I long for Christmas of the past when I was at home with my parents and eating western food and attending a Christmas eve service. But honestly, if next Christmas would find us back in the States, I would miss what I have here. My crazy life. True story.

They are not faceless.

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Tammy

So many sweet moments at the orphanage these past weeks.

I love seeing a child sprawled out on the floor coloring on newsprint. It might seem small, but when the child struggles with autism, pushed through her anxiety to lay on the floor to be traced, and then stayed on task to color — It is miraculous.

I love hearing the responses of my students when I pull something unexpected out of “the big art bag.” I carry all of my supplies back and forth from our apartment to the orphanage. I must admit, the anticipation of seeing what will come out of the bag can cause some of my dear friends to come unglued! This week, when I pulled out modeling foam, several children gasped out loud. Pure joy. I want to be more like my students.

I love seeing that children in the orphanage are normal kiddos. We used a spray bottle to blend washable markers on a coffee filter. Sounds random, but actually the process is simple for everyone and the results are amazing. One of the kids turned that spray bottle on me and gave it a big squirt. At my surprise the whole class roared in laughter. Yes, a little water fight broke out. We were damp by the end but feeling good after some belly laughs. All kids are tempted by water mischief.

Many moments are filled with laughter, joy and victory, but there are moments of tears and deep grief as well.

I love talking with my students. One class found out that a 13 year old boy has been chosen for adoption by an expat family who lives in our city. They were full of questions for me about this whole adoption thing. “Teacher, will he go to America?” “Does the family speak Chinese?” “Do you know them? Are they your friends? Do you have more friends who might adopt us?” The conversation kept getting harder and harder. Just when I thought my heart might break the conversation turned and they almost forgot about me. “Why do you think they chose him?” One teen asked another. “Oh, he is smart, short and can run fast. That must be why.” Tears came to my eyes as I saw the wheels turning in their minds. They didn’t say the words but the silence in the air was thick. They all wished they were smart and could run fast.

My students….they are normal kids who love to color while laying on the floor, enjoy a good water fight and get excited by something new to play with. The difference between them and most children – People don’t see them. So they are left to ask questions like….why do I get left behind. Why doesn’t anyone choose me? What is wrong with me?

Yup, I know this has gone from a sweet blog post to a downer. Welcome to my life – joy and sorrow mingle in my heart as I look into the faces of each of these children. Thousands of Chinese children are waiting, hoping and wishing for a family of their own. They are not a statistic. They are not faceless. They are my students. Let’s make sure they are not voiceless.

Virtual Gallery

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Tammy

When you pour your heart and creativity into a group of precious children it is so hard to see a semester come to an end. I dearly love each of my students and I seriously hate to say goodbye to them, even for a summer break.

This is my last week of art class for the semester, so we are ending on a high note of puffy glitter paint. I forget how much they love this stuff. The autistic kids love squeezing the tubes of paint, the sensory challenged crew love smearing the paint around the foam canvas, my special down syndrome friends express utter joy at the gift of a paint set to themselves, the CP kiddos are proud to manage the project all on their own…you get the point. Fun for all!

My sweet students were happy to end the semester with puffy paints, but for me…well,I am seeking a bit more closure. I am proud of my students and their art work. We have done some super fun projects, the kids have pumped out some amazing art, and I am thrilled that they have learned a few new skills along the way. I want to share the joy of all of that with you. Wish I had a gallery where I could proudly usher you around and tell you about each masterpiece and the amazing child behind it. Since I lack that – how about you pretend and indulge me by peeking through this virtual gallery.

Project: Oil pastel on black paper

Artist: a CP superstar who has mastered holding crayons and paint brushes this year!

Love doing this project with our kiddos who thrive in the abstract! It might look like scribbles, but this really is a masterpiece of a child who struggles to use his arms due to CP. There is victory in this finished product! He was so proud of his color choices and doing this all by himself.

Project: coffee filter butterflies

Artist: a creative thinking teen

Washable markers, coffee filters and a spritz bottle helped us to create butterflies after reading the “Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. I am thankful that I found a bookstore that offers some of the classic children’s books I am familiar with in Chinese! We have been reading the books together and using them to inspire our art. During this project the kids felt like they were making magic as they watched the colors of the markers blend together as we sprayed the creations. The teachers loved the cute finished projects which they used to hang from the ceilings to decorate the classrooms.

Sometimes a blank page and a tray of paint can seem overwhelming, but with a stencil and a fun painting tool my special students feel free to dig in. I love watching them choose colors and ask for more and more and more paper!

Project: Stencil sponge painting

Artist: autistic sweetie who loves texture

The kids have been loving the Crayola watercolor trays that were donated for our classes. Usually, I print off some “coloring sheets” for the kids to paint. Then once they are “warmed up” I give them white paper and see what happens. This student came up with the idea for this painting on his own. He called it “Birds Flying on a Summer Day” It is such a happy painting. It makes my heart soar!

Project: Watercolor

Artist: A 13 year old creative thinker

You can tell watercolor is one of my favorites too. Here is another watercolor project – Crayon resist paintings. This project was so super fun! We drew on white paper with white crayons then painted over the drawings with watercolor paint. The paint makes the crayons creations pop! This was like magic for some of the kids! I can still hear the oohs and ahhs! I also was excited to see how clever some of my kiddos are as they tilted their papers to better see where the crayon marks were!

Project: Crayon resist painting

Artist: A special DS sweetie who LOVES color!

If painting is a favorite why not take it outside? We enjoyed a warm sunny day outside with our paint brushes and some cups of water. The teachers enjoyed the simple no mess nature of this project. The kids were thrilled with the endless canvas of the pavement. I LOVE, LOVE these Melissa and Doug paintbrushes with super sized handles – all kinds of fingers can get a grip on them!

Project: Outdoor water painting

Artist: A joy filled superstar with CP

We do scratch art about once a semester, but we could do it even more. The kids love tracing hands, coming up with their own designs, or just spending a whole class period removing the black and making a clean colorful paper! Each creation ends up so unique.

Project: Scratch Art

Artist: 10 year old buddy with a muscular disorder. He might walk slow, but his art work sure soars!

These are just a few of my favorites! Thanks for taking a peek at our gallery. I hope you see the heart of some special children in each of these creations. Pretty amazing to be doing art with these little people. I am truly blessed.

Introducing….

Posted on March 31, 2015March 31, 2015 by Tammy

As I was handing out high-fives and saying goodbye to my Thursday art class, one of my favorite students, a 13 year old boy, handed me a note. It was a torn corner from a piece of notebook paper. “Does your son read Chinese? Please give this to him.” So sweet, right?! When I delivered it to Soccer Dude at the dinner table, I had no idea what the words on that paper would do to my heart.

“May I come to your house to play and visit your family?” was the request scrawled across that torn paper. As Hubby read the words out loud to our family, I began to ~~cry~~ sob. My kids looked at me in dismay as I was loosing it over a playdate request. But, it seemed like so much more.

By law in this country when you turn 14 you are no longer able to be adopted. I thought of this sweet 13 year old boy who wants to “visit” our family and it hit me so hard that visiting is all he would ever do. To him a family is something you visit, not something you have. That my friends is something to weep over. Something we need to fight against.

For the boy who handed me the note, it is to late. But for many others there is still time. Please pray with me for miracles. The miracle of a family for Manning and for the two waiting boys I will share with you today. “Jenning” an amazingly smart 10 year old boy who has overcome so many obstacles and 4 year old “Kipling” who seeps joy from his pores!

These children are able to be adopted through Children’s House International and the following information comes from CHI’s Waiting Children website.

Jenning’s current obstacle is finding a family before it is to late and I tell you what, he will be amazing in a family. There truly is something special about this boy! He is a kind, polite, strong and eager boy who has stayed with his foster family for 10 years now. He is doing very well in school. His special need is post-operative CHI, hyperdactyly of hands and feet. After four surgeries on his legs he can walk normally now, but his protective foster mother says that he should not walk too long! She said that his legs grow tired and can be painful. However, Children’s House International’s own caseworker, lives in Jenning’s city, has seen him a few times and notes that he seems to be able to climb, walk, run, and carry on normally without complaint. He is healthy and seldom catches any illness; even colds are rare with this hearty boy! He likes to eat noodles, and he especially likes spicy food, but is very unique in that he doesn’t really like rice. His favorite fruits are watermelon, pineapple.

When the CHI team observed him playing with the other kids at the orphanage, he was very outgoing and willing to help the younger ones. He was eager to get people’s attention and showed a bit of a sensitive side. His foster mother said he feels a little nervous when he visits the orphanage because he doesn’t like where he comes from and doesn’t want others to know, especially those at school. He wants to be just like the other kids, and he feels pained that he is not. After the surgeries that at long last enabled him to walk, his confidence level grew greatly. But he hasn’t forgotten the days when he could not walk. When he comes to activities at the orphanage, he has been seen taking special care of the younger children in wheelchairs, pushing them into the sunshine and trying to make them smile. I can just imagine how much joy and compassion will be added to a family when Jenning becomes a son! His birthday is in April. What a birthday gift to have a family committed to him when he turns 11!

Kipling, is described by the Children’s House International social worker as “JOY in a 4 year old body!” Kipling has been fostered since he was 4 months old. Kipling was born in May 2011 with a recessive cleft lip, brain scan difference and undescended testicle. His file doesn’t mention it, but he also seems to have low vision. Although these minor needs put together might seem daunting, don’t let them put you off. He is a laughing, smiling, singing, dancing bundle of lovable boy! He has lots of energy and seems to very much enjoy being in the spotlight. This is part of the exuberant exchange between the CHI team and Kipling. He came in to the room, greeted us warmly with a smile and a giggle, then set to work playing with blocks. When the team spoke with him to ask him questions, he would tread excitedly in one place, his little feet coming up and down in such joy that it was apparent he could hardly contain it! He was happy playing and liked to throw things on the floor to make noise, and he loves music. One of the orphanage staff played a very popular Chinese pop song, “You are my little apple” and Kipling was thrilled. He danced and sang the words of the song, missing very few. When cued by his foster mom he would shake his backside, and put his hands up in the air waiving them around in glee. He has two little cute dimples. When he was done performing he giggled and said, “Okay?” Our laughter only encouraged more dancing, singing and laughter. The CHI team was smitten!

If you would like more information about adopting these boys or other children who wait, contact me and I will gladly put you in touch with the right person at CHI to answer any questions you might have.

No one Reads Them Books

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Tammy

They thought I had lost my marbles. I guess that isn’t anything new. Many of the things I ask of my sweet students and the now trusting Chinese teachers make them shake their heads. Did she really say…..? They wonder if it is my bad Chinese or one of my crazy ideas.

“Yes, yes I did just tell the children they could use car wash mitts and loofahs to paint…but first let’s have a bit of sensory fun!”

Once little hands were coxed inside the wash mitts that seemed to dwarf their tiny arms the giggles did not stop. Who knew a wash mitt could tickle so much. Some were thrilled to then thrust their new toys into the paint, others were’t as sure. The teachers themselves had their doubts and reminded me there would be a huge mess to clean up. I had prepared for their doubts over our unconventional paint brushes.

What I hadn’t prepared for…the blank stares when I pulled out a children’s book that had inspired our art lesson for the day. I forget. It isn’t as common for a Chinese parent to sit and read books to their children and for sure the children living at the Children’s Home were unaware there might be the luxury of a care-giver having the time and space to draw them into a lap for a story.

“They won’t listen.” one of the teacher’s told me.

“Then let them look” I defended.

“They can’t understand.”

“Then let us teach them”, I whined back.

I had similar conversations all week as I pulled out my book for each group of children.

There are moments that I forget the children in my classes are orphans. Seriously. I know that sounds almost as crazy as using a car mitt for a paint brush, but it is true. They are kids. They are like normal kids that you might have in any classroom.

Then it will hit me.

I will pull out a book and their stark reality will hit me in the face again.

No one reads them books.

Little Man’s favorite book at the moment is one of those “find the plane hidden in the picture” type books. I have read it so many times since my mom bought it for him in September (Yes, that would have been 5 months ago. Uhh, Thanks mom! Thanks a whole bunch.) I read it on auto pilot. I have gotten so sick of it. “Honey,” I try to reason with him, “you already know where all the planes are on the page!! It’s not even a great story and you know the ending!” See I am kinda crazy. I try to reason with a four year old. He will have nothing to do with it. His fat little finger flies over the page pointing out each hidden image (in order I might add) as I read the words…again.

His big sister offered to read the book to him this afternoon letting me off the hook, but somehow the book isn’t so bad anymore. I get to be the one who reads him a book. How cool is that?

No one reads them books. How sad is that?