Christmas at the Hogar...

Last week was amazing. It was a total whirlwind of Christmas parties and much longer than normal hours at the hogar, but it is probably something I will never forget.

On Friday we had our big Christmas party at the hogar. It was a big lunch with all of the kids, the tias and a few of the women from the church who are always there. We set up a huge table on the patio and all ate together with all of the food on the table passing it around. It was the first moment that had really felt like Christmas to me. Then they gave our prizes to all of the girls for various things... best grades(because it is the end of the school year here right now), best helper around the hogar, girl of the year. It was so cute! The girls got presents and we all just sat around and relaxed. All week there had been people visiting, bringing gifts, bringing presents and now it was just us. It was perfect and just like a giant family on Christmas.

Christmas lunch on Friday at the hogar

It was an amazing day, but also a sad day because 4 of the girls were leaving the hogar that day. One girl was going to live with her godfather and the 3 others (all sisters) were finally going to get to live with their mother again. So after we wrapped up lunch it was time to say goodbye to the girls. There were a few speeches made, by some of the tias and a few of the girls. Everyone was crying, even  the 3 girls mother. It was happy because they were going to be with family, but these girls had lived there for 2-3 years, made best friends and were all truly sisters. The Director gave a speech that really brought everyone to tears. She said the hogar would always be their home and they were truly all sisters here forever and that the doors would always be open. I was balling my eyes out and I had only known these amazing girls for 4 months. I can't imagine what some of the other girls were feeling, but we all tried to be happy for them. It's an amazing thing that they were actually able to repair these relationships and send the kids back to someone in their family.

At the end of the day we were all exhausted and Jamie (another volunteer) and I headed out to do some Christmas shopping for the girls and get ready for Christmas with the ones who weren't going home.

Jamie and I came back Saturday morning to make brunch with the girls who were staying in the hogar for Christmas. Most of the girls left for the weekend to spend the holiday with someone in their family, so that left 8 girls there who weren't going anywhere for the holidays. We came in early and made choclate chip pancakes, eggs, and Chilean fruit cake. Again, it was just another amazing day. Just the 8 girls, Jamie and I and one of the tias. We ate outside on the patio, played, and then made some Christmas cookies. All together as a family then ate and played some more! The night before Jamie and I had picked out a new purse/tote bag for each of the girls so we gave them their presents and they were a big hit. Simple, but we had really picked different purses for each girl. Then.... guess what.... we ate again! It was really starting to feel like Christmas with all of the food at all hours! We headed out around 4, the girls wanted us to come back for dinner and then on Sunday as well, but we couldn't. They had other vistors coming to do parties so we were happy we had our time with them.

Making pancakes with the girls.

The best part of the whole Christmas experience..... the girls told us we were not visitors, we were party of the family, part of the hogar. It even makes me cry typing it! I was sad to be away from home for the holidays, but I really do feel part of the family and we had a great family Christmas this year!