Mayra Graduates and Victor turns 6!

Two big events in the Passanita household lately have been the graduation of our Mexican daughter, Mayra, from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and Victors 6th birthday.
Mayra has worked very hard and very diligently the past 4 years to earn her bachelors degree in Government. When she came to America as a foreign exchange student 6 years ago we had no idea how much she would impact our lives. We had only made a 3 month commit to house her as Travis's Spanish teacher hadn't found anyone to house 2 of the girls. We hadn't thought about doing it because we had a teenage boy so having a teenage girl in the house hadn't crossed our mind as being feasible. Well to make a long story short our 3 month commitment has turned into 6 wonderful years of so many blessings I count count them all. Mayra is just as much one our children as the others are; we just have to share her with her other family in Mexico. It was a great blessing for her mom to be able to join us to go to her graduation. The ceremony was just like any graduation and had all the fanfare of it all. It has been amazing the spiritual journey she has made though. She was catholic when she came here but made a decision to accept Jesus into her heart and be water baptized after the first year here and learning through church and youth group. God has shown up in so many ways for her as a result of that through finances and opportunities that could have only been Him because we never thought there was a chance that she would be able to attend and pay for college after the first year. But through it all she has a very strong faith and is on fire for the Lord and has a desire to live her life in accordance with whatever plan He has for her. Amen and Hallelujah!!!! What a blessing to us and to the boys she has been and continues to be. She has a job right here in Williamsburg and so we will get to enjoy having her home and watching the next phase of her life unfold. We are truly the lucky ones to have her in our life.

Victor (Veecha) Turns 6 Years old!

He is still such a peanut but he has such a big personality. He wanted to be superman on his birthday so I thought about it for a minute and decided that would be OK. We went about making a costume out of the pajamas we got him and he marched off to school as the happiest little superhero in the world. Words could not describe the excitement he had for his birthday. He had been looking forward to it for quite sometime and particularly after he got to attend Vanyas little party at school. Soooo we did the whole cake and ice cream thing in his class and also had a game of "put the S sticker on the superman" as well as had some bubbles to blow outside and the infamous balloon pop race. He was totally exhausted by the end of recess that day and wanted to come home when I left but I made him stick it out. He got some wonderful presents from the grandparents and I think the highlight of the day was the police and superman outfits he could don.

Rob and I got to take him out by himself for his special birthday dinner. He wanted to go where he could get sushi (of all things for a kids to like) so we went to the sushi bar at the Japanese steakhouse we have here. He got to watch the sushi chefs make his sushi and we ordered what is called a "love boat" which has a combination of different types of sushi on it. I am not a fan of raw fish so my selections were limited but Victor liked EVERYTHING! He was so excited he fell off his chair and landed on the floor. He rubbed his head and got up and then laughed! Most of the people around us did as well.

Afterwards we took him for ice cream at Maggie Moo's (local fancy ice cream parlor). He is pretty simple with his tastes and wanted a 2 scoop cone with chocolate and vanilla. He enjoyed every bite all over himself and the table etc etc. You only get to turn 6 once so we let him enjoy himself and just cleaned up after. There was a water fountain outside and he asked to throw in a penny. We told him he could make a wish and then throw it in. He didn't care much about hte wish part he just wanted to chuck the coin in and see ifhe could get it into the top part. I think it acutallt went all the way over the fountain. We didn't hear anyone scream so we assume he didn't hit anyone. He always love to smile for pictures so he posed by the fountain for as many pictures as we would take. Good thing for a digital camera!

Once we got home he was so tired but when I offered to rock him in the rocking chair for a little bit he immediately took me up on that offer. He isn't usually one to cuddle for too long so I was excited he wanted to do that. We sang "Jesus loves me" and I got to add how special he was and that Jesus must have loved us too in order to give us such a wonderful son. To that he simply said," Well of course He does, He loves everyone. I'm sleepy, can you put me in bed now." And that was that. His smile really paints the whole picture and he will be a man of few words but I think he knows how much he is loved and wanted and for that I am grateful.

Mama mama mama

Mothers Day

What an awesome day for me! The first Mother's Day with the boys was sooo special. Just seeing their little faces as they raced up the aisle at church to give me their flower brought tears to my eyes (and half the congregation as well). They were so proud to have a mama to give it to. They also participated in giving out the others flowers to the other mothers whose children weren't there to do it.
They each made special things for me at school. They had such a hard time not telling me ahead of time or giving things to me ahead of time. They are all very giving.
Vanyas class had a little mothers day tea where the kids got to serve us some food and show us their specials treasures they had made. A potpourri sashe with a cute poem and a painted clay dish that was crafted with his own hands. It is red with hints of yellow in it; perfect for holding paper clips and other small bits of things. All of these in a bag with painted pink hearts made with a sponge and the words," Happy Mothers Day Love, Vanya". He said," Hey look, everybody has a mama here" with a very surprised voice inflection. I think he was a confused by that but quickly moved on to showing me how he could dress up to be a doctor. He proceeded to go around and check everyone ears with the play doctors kit. You never know, he might just be a doctor one day.
Veecha made a card with a poem in it that described things about me (some of which were true and others I think he copied from someone else). He also gave a coupon for Vacuum cleaning so it should be interesting to see how that will work. He grew a plant at school and made a picture to go around the pot that had a sun and flowers and clouds. All red and blue crayons but very cute. He was so excited to give his things to me that he wanted to open them himself since I was clearly taking too much time to get into the bag. His smiles and kisses warmed my heart.
Yuri also had made a book with my attributes in it like "She always makes cookies and sometimes she washes clothes but mostly she likes to play computer." Interesting perspectives they have about things. Yuri had colored a paper teapot very nicely and all within the lines and colored with typical colors for the eyes, mouth etc.. On the inside it had a tea bag and said: "Whenever I stress you out just sit back, relax and have a cup of tea". He really thinks and puts extra effort into things he gives to other people and particularly things for me. He makes sure to add that he will do things for papa on his day but today is just for mama. He also gave me a coupon but his was good for grocery shopping. I wonder what he would come back with if I sent him in to grocery shop? Hhmmm. He also made a pendant out of a large safety pin with small safety pins that he had strung beads on to look like a heart. He really likes to draw and make hearts of all kinds and loves to give them to me. I treasure every one and have worn my pin twice already and make sure to tell people he made it for me. He just beams when I do that. That's what it is all about.
So here is how the day went (I knew you would want the whole scoop babushka!) In the morning I got up and had to be at church early so Yuri went with me as he was already up and dressed. He helped me put thing on the bulletin board at church for the orphan ministry we lead. After that we shared a dreamsicle smoothy from the cafe there we have there since he was a good helper. Rob got the other boys ready and fed them and brought them with him. I got lots of hugs and Happy Mothers Day greeting from so many people who knew this was my first mothers day with the boys. At the beginning of the service they had all the mothers stand and receive a flower which you heard about above. Toward the end of the service Rob got up and said he would text me with further instructions. I was a little caught off guard since that was little vague and was during the ending prayer. Of course my phone rings with my message so everyone heard it go off since I forgot to put it on silent. It read "Meet me and the boys at Peking, Afterward go home and relax and we will have a special homemade dinner tonight". Sounded good to me! He had picked the boys up form their classes at church and we met at Peking for the Chinese buffet (one of my favorite places). And a nice surprise was that Travis showed up just as they were arriving as well. He had gotten up early to come home and celebrate with me. I was feeling pretty special and even shed a few tears of joy on the way to the restaurant. They came bearing more gifts! Woohoo. I even got to go first to the buffet and actually got to eat my food while it was still hot. Rob and Travis took care of the boys' needs and everyone behaved fairly well (we are making progress!). After we all ate I got to see what was in the bag! I got a wonderful card from my wonderful husband who wrote that I was the light of his life (yep, he's Italian and flattery will get him everywhere) and the boys card said that I wasn't just their mama I was the one who held their hearts. Wow! I got a digital picture frame to put all the pictures on so I could see all their cute expressions all the time. They each also got me a really good kind of chocolate. Then to top it off I got to go home and not have to do anything! And then after a fabulous meal that Rob made of pasta alfredo with chicken and mushrooms, Travis did all the dishes and I got to go take a bubble bath BY MYSELF. Rob gave the boys a bath and got them all ready for bed and then sent them in one at a time to kiss me goodnight. How handsome they looked with their hair all brushed and because I had a candle lit bath (yep, my man knows how to spoil me) their faces just glowed as they said Happy Mothers Day and I love you, mama followed by multiple kisses and smiles. I can still see each of their faces as they came in and can't help but think what wonderful kids God has blessed me with. Mayra had gotten home in the mean time and we watched a little TV together as we often do and then it was off to dream land full of special memories of a great day. Even though they each present their own challenges, I couldn't ask for more loving kids and a great husband to call my very own.
A very happy mama mama mama