What the kids learn...

Torin started to read my blog. I kind of forgot that he can read now ;) So he wanted me to type a post of what he really learned. Guess I didn't capture it correctly. My critical 6 year old...

Torin's comments:

Always appreciate what you have because there are some people that don't have that stuff....

You should never complain or be upset about anything that you have....

Some people don't have things like us so you should always appreciate what you have....

Vaughn's comments:

It's hard to be hungry....

How to say excuse me when I burp...

I pray for people that don't have food or houses....

And that I want a hot dog, burrito and candy

Day #5 -- Almost DONE

It has been such a long week. The boys have had a tough time the past few days. Especially for Torin. There have been tears, arguments that I just finally said "Go ahead and eat." I couldn't take his whining any more I was just too tired that I was done. He went and ate a sucker. Then I think that he felt bad and didn't end up eating dinner. Literally, he fought us on the temperature of the oatmeal that was prepared and was so stubborn that he went to bed without dinner. The will power that this kid has is amazing. I pray that he uses it some day for a good cause and not just to try and give his mother gray hair :)

Here are some of the things that occurred this week:

- $25 grocery bill that we didn't eat all of the food.

- Kids being sad about not getting food versus not wanting to eat what was made for dinner.

- Going to bed hungry

- Bjorn is down 10 pounds from this week

- The kids are probably down as well. Vaughn literally looks thinner. It's sad.

- Realizing how blessed we are.

- Having a new sadness in my heart for mother's that cannot provide food for their children.

- Having a desire to help people who have less.

- Two children who are praying for children who don't have food or don't know when their next meal is.

- Many, many more things!!!

I'm hoping to video the boys later today and will be sure to post it.

Day #4

We are almost there. The boys this morning made their oatmeal again but only did a small serving knowing that is what is expected from them. One observation that I have had over the past few days is the amount of patience that has come with this. I thought that being hungry I would be super crabby and yelling all the time. Not that I haven't raised my voices at the boys but I know it's been much less. When there are tears about anything I have seen myself get down to their level and try to talk through the situation versus just loosing it with them. Again, FAR from perfect trust me but a small step in the right direction. I've had some enlightenment of how blessed that I have things. Not just the material things in life but the people that I am surrounded by and the miracles that God performs every day. It's been an interesting week and I'm excited for what else I may come to see or appreciate over the next two days.

End of Day 3

It was an amazing night at our Encounter service at church. I'm always impressed with the way that they do these encounter services. They reach your soul and challenge your mind and heart. When we got home I was still feeling a bit light headed and was met with tears from the boys who wanted a snack before bed. I am so proud of them for sticking with it even though I think that they are ready to be done. Torin's prayer last night was for all the hungry children that don't have food. Bjorn commented that it really is sad which Torin's response was "No Dad, it's really, really sad". Vaughn is now asking so politely for food that you would think that he has gone through an etiquette class of some sort. They know that there is only two days left and they are talking about all the things that they are going to eat. While I respond to it as remember these kids don't get a "Saturday" to eat whatever they want. I think that they are getting sick of hearing it. I went out with a friend last night, got water and did have a few chips with a few bits of chicken and some salsa. I did try and limit myself as I could have gobbled up the entire thing in a matter of seconds. It made me sad that I did this as I was really trying to last the entire week. I think that the nursing is not helpful with this as I am the only food source for Bercan and it obviously is taking something from me. I went to bed last night thinking how blessed that we really are and also thinking about the hungry children that we have here in the U.S. and trying to think of ways to get my children to realize that it really isn't just in Africa but it's in our own backyard too. Definitely some thinking going on through these days.

Start of Day #3

I have to say that today has been the hardest yet for me. I waited as long as I could before having my oatmeal and felt a little full after having it. It's now 11am and I so hungry. Seriously I feel a little light headed. So I've started eating some of the cornbread that I brought for lunch. I'm going to try and eat my rice and beans throughout the day along with the small piece of chicken I have as well. I feel like it's hard to concentrate some. Definitely having more affects from it today then Monday or Tuesday. More to come...

Video from today

Here is a little video of why they shared their bowl of oatmeal this morning. This was done without my prompting.

Day #2

Honestly, today was a little harder than yesterday for me personally. I'm sure not sleeping well last night didn't help but I'm here at 9:22pm so pretty much at the end of the day. One story that I forgot to mention in my post from yesterday was the conversation that I had with Torin during dinner last night. In finally talking me into making them black beans versus the red beans as he was eating them he asked me if the people in Africa had chickens. I said yes that they did but they only get chicken once in awhile and it is only the size of one chicken nugget. Not sure where he was going with this he said "Well if they have chicken's then they must get eggs from the chicken's. So can you make me some eggs and put the black beans in that." I thought it was pretty clever but I had to say no. He may have talked me into the black beans but I wasn't going to cave into the eggs :)

Today, was harder for Vaughn as he is definitely used to having more snacks during the day than Torin does. There were a few more tears and bedtime tonight was again pleading for snacks. I feel bad always saying no to them that I find myself letting them do things that we don't typically do like renting a movie last night or watching more TV than usual. I'm not sure if this is totally related or not but poor little Vaughn is constipated. He was literally crying today to go poop. Not just whinning but literally had tears. He got through it and was better. One would think with beans and oatmel this wouldn't be a problem.

The food list for us today was the following:

Vaughn = 8 ozs oatmel with a little brown sugar and milk, pb and j sandwich (crust were even eaten today) with a few crackers, chicken the size of a chicken nugget diced and put into a tortilla shell.

Torin = 8 ozs oatmel with a little brown sugar and milk, crackers, chocolate milk, 2 chicken tenders, fruit salad and beans, chicken the size of a chicken nugget diced and put into a tortilla shell and a slice of cornbread.

Me = 1/4 cup of steel cut oats with a little brown sugar and milk, 8 ozs rice and beans in a tortilla shell, a thin slice of cornbread, another 8 ozs rice and beans and a thin slice of cornbread. I did have Vaughn's cornbread tonight as he didn't want it. I figured a mother in Africa wouldn't leave behind scraps so neither did I.

The boys are definitely getting this and are not liking the fact that they have to wait until Saturday to eat regular food again. It's also interesting that they are upset that I have given Bercan a few puffed cereal things. They are hungry enough to be asking for those.

A few insights from today is that my pants were looser today than normal. I sort of expected that would happen but also notice that I don't have as much energy as normal although not sure if that is due to lack of sleep last night. Two days down and 3 more to go.

I do have to give our nanny credit as she told the boys that if they could make it that she would do it with them as well. I thought that was pretty awesome as this is her first week with us. Maybe we can get her to come to Eagle Brook with us soon :) Till tomorrow...