One week, tens of hands!

The school I volunteer to, will host the campaign "Soul to smile" for one week. It is enough for the few children that go to this school to contribute with their little something. These are kids that don't have too much either but give out of their little to make others happy.
What bigger joy than that!
What a lesson of life!
I'll keep up a diary to let you know daily how things are going in a small village with wonderful little souls!
Have a wonderful prosperous week!

Humanitarian Campaign "Soul to smile" . Please give a hand!

Email written by a dearest friend of mine, Adriana Szasz but it so beautifully blends all the info needed in case you are interested to donate.

I am sending this email to you hoping to collect funds or diapers, clothes, hygiene and cleaning products, clothing in the humanitarian campaign organized by The Romanian Orthodox Youth Association Orthograffiti. The campaign is called "Soul to smile".

This campaign lasts from May the 1st to June the 1st (The Children's International Day) all across Romania and also worldwide if you're willing to give a hand. The campaign addresses people who care about the everyday needs of the kids of Pro Vita Association from Valea Plopului - Valea Screzii, Romania.

The story of the camp where 350 orphan kids live is overwhelming!

 Here you could find more info:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD0MS29Bk74&feature=related

These kids, not only do they survive (are born) but they live and are educated in decent circumstances mainly out of donations and the contribution of the local people. No funds from the government, no noisy sponsorships, no European funds' projects.

 That is why I kindly ask you to contribute in every way:

• donating food, clothes, diapers (there is a BIG need of those!!!) , hygiene and cleaning products, toys, notebooks, pens, pencils and books (for preschoolers, schoolers and teenagers)

• donating money to the following bank accounts:

 EUR

Account holder	Asociatia Pro Vita pentru născuți și nenăscuți   tax code 7250 977
No. bank account	2511.A01.0.1184771.0211.EUR.3 BCR  Sucursala Vălenii de Munte
IBAN Code	RO85 RNCB 0211 0118 4390 0003
Bank code	53940
Swift code	RNCBROBU
Bank name	Banca Comercială Română
Bank address	Str. Berevoieşti nr. 6 – Vălenii de Munte,  Prahova, Romania, Europe

USD

Account Holder	Asociatia Pro Vita pentru născuți și nenăscuți tax code 7250 977
Bank Account no.	2511.A01.0.1184771.0211.USD.2 BCR  Sucursala Vălenii de Munte
IBAN code	RO15  RNCB 0211 0118 4390 0002
Bank code	53940
Swift code	RNCBROBU
Bank name	Banca Comercială Română
Bank address	Str. Berevoieşti nr. 6 – Vălenii de Munte,  Prahova, Romania, Europe

• promoting this campaign if you can and want, of course;
• posting the poster to your fb profile for a definite period of time;
• telling others about this campaign.

More info, you find here, if in need of more, please contact me via email:adri_guiu@yahoo.co.uk or fadingstone@gmail.com or by a comment here on the blog or by skype: adri.barcean

http://www.asociatiaprovita.org/despre-noi/
http://www.facebook.com/update_security_info.php?wizard=1#!/event.php?eid=183733691675138
http://asociatiaorthograffiti.wordpress.com/

Thank you!

Adriana Szasz,
Contact person
Humanitarian Campaign "Soul to smile",
The Romanian Orthodox Youth Association Orthograffiti

I also thank you in the name of all my colleagues who want to bring happiness on the Valea Plopului Children's faces.

WE DO THANK OUR PARTNERS: Orthograffiti Magazine, ProVita Valea Plopului, English for kids, Do re mi pentru copii, Babel Center, Pragu' de Sus and to all volunteers who understood that more hands can build bridges...

Spring is here, I am here!

Forgive me, please for my poor contribution to the blog, I hav ebeen through all kinds of moods lately and was so much into trying to be the best mother and wife ever that I ended up collapsing as that was not what I was supposed to do.

Sometimes I spend so much time into trying to be the best wherever I am that I get to the end all wound up and tired to death. Where the point then?

There should always be a measure in everything we do. Know ourselves and know how much we cam stretch ourselves without bursting or breaking.

Am again involved in so many projects at school here in the countryside and have started feeling useful again which is the best condition for me to function - feeling useful! Otherwise I fall into depression and can't cope with things anymore.

Good news! We have been approved to be part of The RHS Gardening Campaign For Schools that takes place in the UK. Though we won't have the facilities British schools do like receiving a starter pack, we will manage on our own funds and support. The father of one of our kindergarten girls promised to help us with the frame for the improvised garden. We decide we have one frame for kindergarten and one frame for school. I'm so waiting forward for the project to start visibly.

Today was Mother's Day  at school and it's Mother's Day in Romania. Parents attended a beautiful show the kids performed under the great guidance of the two teachers. It was so awesome! Ioana (my littlest) decided she would spend all the show in my lap, not allowing me to move in any way. I couldn't even clap as she had already filled my lap.

The children prepared presents for their moms and they were so beautiful!
Though these days I found myself so hard to handle today it seems that I'm better. Children did make my day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful mothers out there that always bring spring with their smiles!

Find pics here.

Again and again, mere notes

For how many times we repeat to ourselves the same promises we'd made at the beginning... We promised to never give up no matter how hard the trials would be and how powerless and useless we would happen to feel. I was told never to say to myself :"I can't" but I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me...
And I kept on saying "I can't" more times a day even because that was the way I felt... and my spiritual father has been telling me for over 8 years that I can and I could... I wouldn't have been here otherwise.

Am waiting to have my head scanned in one week, have been having those kind of migrenes that scratch off your brain and all you want to do is press your head against your pillow and forget about the things around.

Have been through loads lately and I wonder how it would be "after" as I am now at the stage of "before".


Waiting for my husband to get home from work, fed the sheep, fed the fires... and my head starts aching again. The kids stopped screaming, they just whisper in the parents' room (the way they themselves call it) and draw... It took me a whole day to get them to this point of quiet...
Bread baked, home in disorder, thoughts invading my mind and beyond...

Back to business

Been off and on the last days but finally decided to write just to let you know things are just flowing. Many things! Too many things!
We have at least 3 events coming this week and there's a lot of preparation going on.

Toy Swap on Wednesday, when kids bring a toy to school and kindergarten and they leave with another one, from someone else... Caroling on Thursdays to old people that can hardly walk and the opening of the English section for kids at the local library.
It is indeed a lot of work for almost two people: the kindergarten teacher and myself...
Also, Santa's letters should be written until Wednesday too...

Too many things going on but kids deserve the best we can do, isn't it?

I feel a bit tired thinking all in details but God will just fill me with extrapower not to collapse during all these events. Hopefully Christmas will come and will have time to just rest!!! Will I?

Family business...

Took some time off as you have probably noticed... The kids got ill so it was time for me to say "Pause!" and I did. Postponed the activities from last Thursday as my kids needed me more than ever... I guess that is a big plus when one is a stay at home mum that one can say "Stop!" whenever needed. It would have been harder if I was working... Still, it is not easy to stay at home, but that's another issue I will develop soon...
This week will do for teh library activities The Wizard of Oz in part 1 and carrols in part 2, just not to change too much the curriculum.
Until the 3 rd of December have to sew the dolls for the Nativity scene. I will make cotton dolls filled up with cotton: Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. Still, I have to make 3 traditional shirts for the kids as they will have a show at the end of the school semester and they will dance a special Christmas dance.
We are getting closer to the opening of the English section of the library in the village. Books are coming and have to also organize the opening session and the shelves so that they are appealing to the kids.
Plan to do a digital library too for the English section and also a film section with good films that can be watched by kids too. A Religion section is in plan too...

May God give us health to us and our families to be able to do everything the right way!

Our own...

Giving too much to others and depriving our own of our presence, love, caress and all that goes with these feeble and yet so fundamental feelings, can't go too far... God just draws us back to where we belong.
It's nothing wrong in dedicating oneself to others and work for their best but it's wrong to neglect yours just for the sake of others. It is just a fragile line in between and it is more a lesson for me than for others.
One could do all these if one were also in prayer for the loved ones they left at home...