Known

My heart melted when I walked into the dining area and all their little sleeping bodies were curled up on mattresses early Christmas morning.  I snuggled up next to Tonio, Raul and Chamba.  Daniel woke up crying in his sleep a little later so I pulled him close to join the Twister game of gentle souls waiting to celebrate the biggest birthday of the year.  When Tonio woke up, he whispered, "Santa came!" and we smiled and hugged as months of anticipation finally came to rest.  One by one, the others started to wake up and lots of excited hugs and kisses were exchanged and I quickly realized there is a place within me that has been touched and forever changed because I "know" and have been "known" by them.

One special greeting came from a little gal who returned to the home after having been gone for several years.  I heard this voice, "Hi Kelly Moore."  I turned to look over the sea of blankets and it took me a few seconds to figure out whose little mouth it came from.  It was Lissette.  I hadn't seen her in 3+ years!  How did she remember me and my last name?  Wow.  She knew me and I knew her.

Christmas Day was quite a celebration, the kids packed onto the bus with gifts they wrapped up from their own belongings to distribute to other kids throughout the neighborhood.  It's a great tradition to get our hearts in the right place before opening up gifts waiting at the home.  It was my first Christmas under palm trees and sunshine and I had to chuckle when there was a stocking hanging on the terrace for me but the chocolate inside had melted from being in the sun!  haha. 

Watching Tonio open his gifts sent from awaiting grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins made the day seem just perfect.  Nearing the evening, Tonio kept asking if we were going to do the list of things that he we had been planning.  I told him to be patient because we didn't have to do everything in one day.  Just then I realized that when I told him I was coming for Christmas, he had been thinking that I would visit just that day - and that I would leave by night.  Awwhhh.  What a relief that we would share 10 more just like this one!

Every minute was a blessing.  Every day was well spent.  I felt joy as I put on a "mom" hat (instead of the director hat I had worn for 2 years) and eased into the role of just going with the flow and helping to meet the everyday needs as they came.  I also focused on developing a deeper relationship with Tonio.  We were able to get to "know" each other in a new way.  For once, I didn't have to split my time between responsibilities.  He was all mine and I was all his! 

Of course that made leaving heart-breaking. I didn't think I could take it, not so much for me - because I know what is to come - but for him because his little heart and head doesn't quite comprehend all that is happening, only sadness of me leaving...again. Saying goodbye for now is only temporary. But there will be a day when I get to tell him what God has planned for us and I can't imagine the joy we will feel when forever happens. My cup runneth over.