today was a hysterical day though. hysterical for several reasons. hysterically funny because our quilters always laugh alot when we are together -- but also hysterical because even though my alarm was set to go off at 7 am this morning there was a major "charging error" which was left unreported to me until i heard the very faint and distant words being spoken from the bathroom by my husband, "honey, do you know that it is nine o'clock???"
talk about a jolt from my deep slumber . . . . i literally flew out from under my covers staring unbelieveably at my phone -- who ever heard of a "charging error???" i kept thinking as i threw on the first clothes i could find . . . . i was going to do this, and this, and then this, and now here i am running out the door to the car behind my husband who had a full armload of 25 quilts tucked between both arms ready to deliver to the orphanage!! i quickly grabbed two big, blue IKEA bags to organize the quilts once i got to the car (something i had planned to do at 7 am in a calm and quiet house). me and the stack of 25 quilts in the back seat and the plastic blue IKEA bags in the front next to thomas:) what a sight!! it took me the whole 1/2 hour ride to the orphanage to get all the quilts folded and in the bags. thomas threw me out at the bus stop next to the orphanage and i tried to smile and look like i had everything under control when i saw my girls walking toward me to meet their fearless leader!! HA! talk about disorientation. first of all i am not a morning person and without breakfast i just don't function. luckily my girls are fluent greek speakers so i didn't have to say much and really don't know for sure what they did say to the directors!! hahahaha.
all i know is that we were warmly received and got a full tour of the orphanage Άγιος Στυλιανός. to protect the identity of the orphans i can only post the photos of the rooms generally but we found the orphanage to be very clean, the children well cared for, clean, and happy, and the staff very professional, loving, and receptive to us. this orphanage also conducts a private pre-school that is open to the public and is combined with the pre-school program for the orphan children living in the home. these children were all performing a christmas program when we arrived. it was so precious to see all of their happy, smiling faces:)
the staff was thrilled to receive our precious cargo and we were invited to take part in their volunteer program to help play with the children on a regular basis . . . something to think about for next year:) the orphanage in eva's village also greeted her with a warm welcome and we donated 7 quilts to their infant/toddler aged children. the red cross got the extra ones and the salvation army will pick up their 10 quilts on christmas eve at our open house.
enjoy the pictures and let me say once more, merry christmas and happy new year to you and those you love. let Jesus be the true reason for this season. until next year . . . .