What a week it has been.  The emotional roller coaster ended on a high note last night. Taupe was able to get checked by an eye specialist yesterday afternoon. I am patiently awaiting the estimate on price and timing via translator. Nothing is instant here so my patience is slowly having to become acclimated. We decided to celebrate Jacey's last day at the orphanage with a dance party. These children have no Friday night movies, video games or even regular games. They all have two legs and a whole lot of rhythm and absolutely LOVE to dance. We went to the market and bought 26 pounds of pork (their favorite luxury food),  115 pounds of vegetables, and 10 pounds of bananas. We also bought whipped cream, little pre-packaged cakes, sprinkles and chocolate sauce. I thought they were going to spontaneously combust when they saw the two cans of whipped cream....it was even more climatic than the pillows. The older girls cooked up an amazing dinner of pork, vegetables and rice. They were all able to have seconds and thirds, this never happens. They all went and put on their new outfits for dinner, so adorable. We also bought jump ropes, a volleyball net and ball and face paint....things that really get a party started. After dinner we whipped up our banana splits, minus the ice cream (they are all lactose intolerant) and they screamed, cheered and wiggled around with excitement. They started up the music mid-dessert so they were warming up and twirling around with their bowls. We painted their faces, they couldn't get enough. First they all wanted to be cats or rabbits, then they wanted to be cats and rabbits with mustaches. The facial hair trend progressed to goatees and ended with full beards. I just couldn't help myself, it was super funny. One of the older boys put on some dance music and they place went crazy. This kids love to dance and do so with such enthusiasm it becomes contagious. We did the robot, running man, rodger rabbit and every other dance trend from the eighties. I totally took advantage of the fact that they don't have TV and they thought that I was the genius who invented these moves. After raising the roof so long that I sweated out the 90% of water that my body holds, it was time to call it a night. Getting out of there was the toughest part. They hold on so long, so tight. Sometimes there are 10 kids at a time hugging you, I have gotten used to this and will expect the same from my friends when I get home. There were a few kids crying  when we left, it was dark so no sunglasses were necessary.

The way these kids live so simply is a great example of what we truly need to be happy. They never need the distractions that we all rely so heavily on. I have noticed how developed their creative sides are as a result of this, they are always inventing things out of common things we throw away.  I am at the end of my third week and have learned more about survival and love than I have learned over the course of my entire life. Thank you all for believing in us and everything we have been able to accomplish here. Now, go put some music on.

xo,
LM


P.S- The third and final pig has arrived! His name is Michael. Thanks MF for completing the trifecta of pork.