Good Morning- from peru with love Oct 5

dearest kids, Mom & special gang& awesome friends;

Just settling into a new week where i am alone with my little boys.. they seem to be out of sorts with two new little rangatangs that have joined the flock.. they have been here almost two weeks now and along with some other curves that government run orphanages throw at them, it is no wonder they have mood swings..

i am bent on making this a good week despite the loss of some fun people in the house who have returned to their respective countries and the big silence that is there since the remaining two.. jacqueline and chris are off rafting for three days . everybody squeezes in trip upon trip just before they leave and chris is off thursday to new york.. jacqueline is working in the community centre project and i think i may try to go there for awhile.. in it the whole family is taken under some wings and taught about hygiene and fed, and clothed and played with.

today though, i am still with my boys and a guitar is on the agenda.. i think i will go and get Guido and one other boy to take and shop with me if they are allowed... Guido knows all the songs that are played over lunch hour and sings them while he paints or when i sit down on the cement to share my fruit and roll at lunch.. he is about 14.. a little moody at times and loving at others..he is soft and while some of the other boys dream of being pickpockets... and smile when they tell about it.. Guido, well he could be a musician... so the guitar is happening.. i will figure out if it is safe to leave there or not.. usually not.. is the right answer.

i´m trying to keep happy so i went out and bought some new lipstick and it seems to be doing the trick most of the time.

i miss you all. wish i was coming home for thanksgiving to celebrate EVERYTHING!! i have had wonderful letters from so many of you and thank you so much. they have certainly cheered me in every way. october will give me time to catch up on my´book´as kate calls it, as i have done all my travelling while the gang was here with them.. always more fun with people you like.. it has been an adventure for sure!!
jacqueline and i are planning a thanksgiving dinner here but when i talked to ¨Mama¨ last night she said the stove is too slow and not hot enough to make a chicken..so we will have to order one.. the making was going to be the fun part.. and i guess the apple pie idea can´t happen til the stove gets fixed.. hhhmmmmmmm..

anyway, everyday there are spectacular moments and for these i wish you were all here.. your heart doesn´t always get sad here, it just gets bigger..

take care of yourselves and everyone that you love.. we are part of a wonderful picture. i love you and miss you.. and for those of you who are especially dear to me thank you for giving me wings. all my love, mom, me...