Snow Birds

Silas face pretty much looks like how I feel when winter arrives.

It looks like he's thinking...."Remind me why we live here again"

I'm glad I pulled out the snow gear yesterday, because this is what we woke up to this morning.

Some of us are more thrilled than others.  Cece thought it was wonderful and Roman is just happy he has something to dig.  He and his shovel are having a fantastic time together.  Thank God for heavy work.

Speaking of Roman, he got glasses last week and I'm happy to report they are still in one piece.  He insists that they make a big difference (even though his prescription isn't very strong) so I'm hoping that it helps with his frustration level when doing book work.  He has done an awful lot of eye rubbing and complaining of head aches lately. 

In other news..

our little guy in a far away land received the care package we sent to him. 

Here he is winding a tiny little transparent music box. 

Looking at some pictures of his new family members and our every day life. 

Some Robeez shoes, socks, treats, animal crackers, a John Deere tractor, a book, a music box and a couple little toys the kids snuck in.  It was a small package but it feels amazing to see something that we held in our own hands in his.   

Oh my heart I can't wait to get my hands on this boy.  We're still hoping for a January trip.  We're currently waiting on our "LOA" or otherwise known as "letter seeking confirmation" which is one of the final steps other than our travel invitation.  We're at about day 48 and in we've been watching other people's LOA come anywhere between about 40 and 120 days.  There's really no rhyme or reason as far as I can tell.  It seems the typical wait is around 65 days.  Once we have our letter we could travel in about a month I think...or on the next month our agency does a trip which in our case would be Jan.  We should have everything done by then, that is unless we got in the wrong check out line for the LOA and it takes 120 days instead of 60.  I'm confident it will all work out in His timing.

This weekend I was given the opportunity to serve lunch at a trade show to raise money for our adoption.  I spent quite a few days last week cooking and baking up a storm (and recruiting my mom to bake as well).  It was actually quite fun, in a totally exhausting way...and at the end of the day we have $275 more for our adoption fund!  

and because life just wasn't interesting enough....

We are headed to Mexico in a week!!

I don't really have time to explain right now how God opened this door for us to go after months of seeking and praying about it (honestly we didn't expect it would happen this year for obvious reasons) but we're super happy to go.  I'll save the story for another post. 

I've been busy sorting donations,  doing the great season exchange of clothing, and packing for a 4 day road trip and a month in Baja Mexico.  

I'm feeling about as scattered as my house looks at the moment.  I'll give you fair warning...if you stop by my house unannounced it pretty much looks like chaos on steroids.  I may even forget your name, or my own...or just stare at you blankly.  My brain is filled to the brim with mental lists and because of of cold and flu season I'm quite sleep deprived.   

Don't judge me too harshly....this chaos has a purpose.  I must admit it's been hard to stay focused on home school lessons when we're only a couple weeks away from smooching these little cheeks.  

We're looking forward to surprising our "Special Seven"...the kids that call me Tia.  

We're super excited to hang out with and serve Amber and Saul and our other friends at EFF!  We're also super duper excited to gorge ourselves on tacos and tamales.   It will be a bit of a whirl wind fast trip down and back.  Because it's such a last minute spontaneous trip we don't have a lot of firm plans as far as "projects" but we're going to rent a house in town again and make ourselves available to whatever (or whoever) the Lord has for us.


The thought of being gone while finishing up two adoptions and then possibly leaving again in January kind of makes me want to breath into a paper bag!...and thinking about all that needs to be done makes me want to take a nap.   If you don't hear from me for a bit it's fair to assume I'm neck deep in a pile of mess somewhere, attempting to teach a home school lesson, dissociating from my to-do list by wasting time on Facebook, tending to my neglected children, or trying to scrape up something for dinner.

I'll do my best to take my blog friends along with us again this year...so stay tuned for another Burlando family adventure.


Soli Deo Gloria,

Ice Cream for Orphans project

I thought I'd do a quick update before we leave on our road trip to Mexico.  A while back I posted pictures of my kids collecting cans and bottles and told you about their idea to raise money.  The original goal was to save up $100 to take each of the kids at a particular orphanage out for ice cream over the course of the month we are in Mexico plus buy some other things to take to them.   


They began saving, collecting and working really hard.   Our plans changed a little and we found out we won't be working as staff at the orphanage, and because of that we won't be able to take the kids out for treats.  It was disappointing for my kids but they didn't let that set back derail their hope.  We changed the project to "Burlando kids compassion fund".   We prayed and talked about other ways we could use the money.  There is no limit to the possibilities. 
The kids effort was matched with generosity from many unexpected places.   Friends and family chipped in. Our new church family has been incredibly encouraging and generous.  

The grand total of our kids compassion fund is over $700!!   When Aili and Roman first had the idea $100 seemed like a really big goal!  


I decided to revert back to "Ice cream for Orphans" on this post  just to thoroughly confuse you all   because to me it paints a bigger pictures.  At first, when our trip plans changed, it didn't seem to cover all of what we hoped to do with the money...it was too specific.   The more I think about it the more I like it.   


We were all orphans in a sense, separated and alone, far from the Father who longs for us.  In His great love he has not only come to us and adopted us into fullness of relationship, he has not only provided what we need....he gives us ice cream.  He delights in giving his children good gifts and smiles as he watches us bask in his love.  He is the giver of all things good...and sweet and lovely.  Maybe I'm stretching it...but I still like the concept of Ice cream for Orphans.   


We want to show that kind of love to others...whether they are technically "orphans" or not.   We will be living in an area that is loaded with physical, emotional and spiritual desperation and need.  We want to give people a sweet taste of how much they are loved.  We want to paint a picture of the joy and affection that a Daddy has for his child when he sits and eats ice cream with him.  


I know this is going to be a very growing experience for my 3 oldest children. I know it is going to be a stretching experience for all of us.   It has sparked a lot of family conversations about compassion, generosity, humility, stewarding God's money wisely, and  prayerfully following the Holy Spirits lead.   What started as fun little side project for our kids has turned into a whole family mission.   We have some ideas of how we can use some of the money, but for the most part we are trusting that God will show us what needs he would have us meet when we come face to face with them.   


We are looking forward to keeping you updated on this project while we're away.  


Besides the donations of money and cans/ bottles,  we have a car top carrier loaded full of warm blankets that have been donated.


We feel the weight of responsibility and the privilege we have in stewarding these gifts well.   I'm looking forward to documenting and photographing the kids at work...and reporting back to all those who have joined us in this.  


I'm praying that this will be an amazing, life altering experience for our kids.  


Lord, my children are yours.  
Help me to raise them with hearts that have been transformed and filled with you.
Give me your strength and wisdom every day. 
May my little ones truly know, to the depth of their spirits, the you are faithful,
even if that means you take them through experiences that strips everything else away.  
Lord I don't aspire that they be successful in the worlds eyes, 
perform to impress, or that they live safe and happy lives.
Make them strong in your strength.
Make them wise in your wisdom.
Create in them men and woman after your heart. 
Use them for you glory.
You hands, voice, and heart in a hurting world. 
Bless them with real blessings.  
The greater joy that can only be found
in the places few people are willing to look. 

Other than the things I was whining about yesterday (like our broken down car and sicky baby) I have a prayer request as we prepare to go.   Could you please pray for our youngest son to be able to process and cope with this 6 wk change in location and routine.   He does not handle change, or perceived instability well at all.  We're still trying to figure this little guy out and why he reacts to life the way he does, but we are learning that some things really do set him off in a tail spin.  He's been so much improved the last couple months, it's been so encouraging to see, maybe just our schedule slowing down and Daddy being home more...but I am a little worried about what the uprooting will do to him (and what he'll do to us).   Please pray that we'll have the wisdom to know how to help calm his anxiety, and maybe even head off the turmoil before it starts.  As of this morning (as we begin to load up our car), he is already showing signs of apprehension.  It's mostly coming out as extreme emotions over very small things,  ridiculous obsessions, and a very sudden neediness/ insecurity....it's makes me a little nervous.   It is SO hard to have patience when he gets like this (it makes me crazy),  but I know that the only thing that will help is a whole lot of extra time, reassurance, snuggles and consistency from mom and dad (things that I selfishly don't feel like making time for right now).