Home at last

A welcome mat woven with love awaited Mama and Papa when they arrived at Mombasa airport on Saturday.
Each strand, an excited Happy House child, or member of staff.
Our kids, bright and shiny as polished ebony, let out a huge cheer of delight when they caught sight of their Mama and Papa stepping out through the arrivals gate,
What a colourful spectacle our family made… kids, house mums, teachers,  Masai security man in full regalia, gardeners, and , of course, Uncle Billy, our social worker, and Uncle Isaac, our book keeper.
I doubt Mombasa Airport has ever seen anything quite like it, our children singing and dancing, everyone kissing and shaking hands and welcoming  their Mama, Papa and Auntie Libby back home to  them at last.

Six months is a long time in a child’s life, and how they have grown. Babies have become little boys and girls and are chattering away, some are excited to show off their new “big’’ teeth whilst others, still waiting for them to grow, are trying to hide the gaps!
From the arrivals, through the car park, to the waiting transport  the  Happy House family was a joyful procession - everyone singing and dancing.
The happiness was infectious. Everyone we passed broke into a smile. 

For Mama, Papa, and Auntie Libby too, to know that they are so loved is both emotional and humbling.
Mama and Papa have created this wonderful family, putting hope where once there was only despair. Their reward is total and unconditional love.

From  the airport we started out two hour journey back home, stopping off to the delight of the kids at a café where Papa ordered sodas for everyone.
Mama and Papa don’t have a moment’s concern about taking 50 + kids into a café, everyone is so well behaved and so well mannered.  The older ones helping the little ones. 
Whether it was pineapple, blackcurrant or cola, everyone was happy .. nobody moaned they wanted something different and toddlers, like Harry, who had never seen a drinking straw before, soon got the hang of it when they realised what rewards it could bring!
The kids were such welcome guests the manager came to thank Mama and Papa for bringing them!
Then it was back aboard the bus, hired from Malindi High School, to finish the journey with singing all the way.
The Happy House gates were adorned with flowers and  those who had stayed at home to prepare lunch and to look after the babies too small  to make the journey, gathered to greet us.
David,  who a year ago was giving us great concern because he was just such a floppy listless one-year-old, was standing up in the banda - as bright and eager as all his brothers and sisters to say hi to Mama and Papa.
Tables were laid for a special occasion and a delicious pilau and salad was served to everyone. The kids, hungry after such a long trip, polished it off in no time, and then Uncle Josphat  produced a Welcome Home cake with Mama taking the honour of cutting it into portions for everyone.
There was so much laughter, so many smiles, as each and everyone wanted to tell Mama and Papa their news.
They are back, for now, where they belong and all is well.
Today is the day
Our kids want to welcome Mama and Papa home, Happy House style … with a party.
Parties are something kids in Europe take for granted, but for our children they are something so special.
Mama, talking to her kids from the UK via Skype, told them that it was fine by her if they put on a party, but that the kids should organise it for themselves.
And they have. It’s happening today and it’s top secret. Mama and Papa have been allowed to buy the sausages for hotdogs (something our kids haven’t tasted before) but apart from that we know nothing.
The staff have been told to prepare for a traditional dance competition versus the kids, but the rest of the programme is top secret. All rehearsals have been done in secret.
 Nobody will spill the beans. Mama, Papa and Auntie Libby have all tried to get some inside information but  have all met with a brick wall.
Parties mean so much to our family. Everyone of our kids has come to us with so much emotional baggage, we can’t erase those memories but we can hope to outweigh the bad with  the good - by creating memories of happy occasions and family celebrations Putting fun where once there was only fear.
When we left yesterday they were busy putting up the decorations.
It’s going to be an exciting day. Anything can happen so, please, watch this space!

Movember Mission

James is pictured on a visit to the
Happy House Mwende and Freddie.

James Donovan has set himself a hair-raising challenge.

James,  from Oxford is growing a moustache this month - dubbed Movember for all moustache-loving fundraisers - with money he raises in sponsorship coming to the Happy House.

James, who works for OgilvyAction in London, has been  regular visitor to Watamu for the last 10 years and discovered the Happy house through a friend who sponsors one of our kids.

James said: " I gowing a moustache during November, raising money through donations at work.  I will be visiting Watamu at Christmas and would like to be able to bring some Christmas presents for the children. "

You can support James' effort by making a donation via his JustGiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/James-Donovan

Sweet thoughts and sweet fruits

Jedida with Salama and Jane

Jedida is this week's guest blogger and she wants to tell you all about the fruits growing in the Happy House garden.

How sweet of Jeddy to save the best fruits until this weekend for her Mama and Papa.

Jedida writes: "About the ripe oranges, they are growing so big.

"If you eat oranges you feel fresh and good.

"When Mama and Papa and Auntie come back I will keep for them good oranges.

"I love them all."

Jedida this week's guest blogger

 * Jedida is pictured amongst the oranges, and also with Salama and Jane.

Save the date

Our 2013 Happy House Charity Night and Third Birthday Party has been booked for Saturday, March 16, in Blackpool. Please save the date in your diary for next year. Tickets will be on sale next month. We hope to make it  bigger and better than ever!

Babies on board

We  have a very effective Kidz Council made up of elected representatives from our older children. But now it looks as though are babies are muscling in. In This picture, by Uncle Billy, he's captured a board meeting in progress - with our David chairing the animated proceedings.

Go for it kids, you are never too small to jump on the bandwagon and to air your opinions. You know at the Happy House you will always be heard.

Just a shame Google translate doesn't have a baby babble category!

 

A timely reminder

Sponsors who would like to send something for their child's savings account this Christmas can either send a cheque (made out to the Happy House) with their child's name on the back to Elizabeth Gomm, 6 Burwood Drive, Blackpool, FY3 8NS or can pay it in directly to the Happy House account (email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net for account details if you need them), but if you do make a payment for your child's nest egg please tell Elizabeth or Sue so that it can be transferred to their Kenya shillings account. Our kids get 14% interest once their account has been open for a year, and £5 or £10

 

When I'm cleaning windows....

Everyone is so excited about our new primary school that it's all hands on deck to get it ready for Mama and Papa arriving home today and for the opening in January.

Our teachers are quite happy to roll up their sleeves (or their trousers) to helpout. Here  Mr Athuman
and Mr Mdachi using their short break time to clean the screens for the windows!

Travel companions

Sometimes something as simple as opening an envelope can fill the world with love and sparkles!

And a cascade of glitter tumbled out of a letter in a parcel sent for our Happy House kids from Little Owls and Next Steps Child Care Centre in Somerset.

The cards, made by the children, are covered in sparkles have photographs of the Somerset kids and a letter telling them about Barney the Owl and Lamu the Turtle they are sending to stay with our family.They say: "We look after their cousins Timmy Turtle and Owlie Owl who love travelling and having fun. They have recorded their travels on a gallery which you can see on our website.

"We have sent you some photographs and a small collection from a raffle, as the children won first and second prizes making scarecrows at the local gardening show."

Well done, to all you creative kids!

And a very big thank you everyone at  Little Owls and Next Steps for your lovely parcel which brightened Auntie Libby's day, and for your cheques totalling £120.

Lamu and Barney are very safe, have checked their passport and are ready to set off on their travels to Kenya with Mama, Papa and Auntie Libby today.

Fikiri leads Kidz Club

Excitement builds...
The Happy House family is just bubbling over with excitement because their Mama Sue and Papa Dave will be arriving home tomorrow.

Packed and a-weigh, Papa!

 It's a flying visit, three weeks, because Mama, Papa and Auntie Libby have so much planned here  to help get the Happy House on a sound financial footing, but every minute promises to be action packed.

Fikiri, who was kid in charge of this weeks Kidz Club, gives us a glimpse of what is in store: "We are missing Mama and Papa. When you come we shall have a big party and cake and pilau that we like.

"The kids plan the party and have been shopping in the village.

"Then on graduation day we will have visitors. Graduation is when Kg 3 go to Class 1. They will sing a song and we will be happy."
As well as making plans for Mama ands Papa's arrival, the kids followed the weekly programme -  taking turns in sharing an interesting book they've borrowed and read from our Library in course of the week.

Uncle Bill reports: "Evans set the ball rolling by giving a detailed account on King Donald's secret . Margaret spoke eloquently about Tara's party.. wonder whether it has been inspired by past & coming parties.... no matter the case our lovely party monsters are super prepared. Each speaker got a loud applause for a job well done."

 

 

All action kids

Swinging on an old tyre, playing chase, dancing, or having a game of football, our Happy House kids and their school playmates are always on the go.They never miss an opportunity to be on the move and when , for the little ones, it all becomes to much to catch a few zzzzzs with an afternoon nod!  All that activity takes good food an d plenty of sleep to keep it fueled. Our Happy House children, who have experienced the pain and hardship of living in abject poverty, are now blessed with a safe home, nourishing food and the knowledge that they will, as Mama always wanted, "go to sleep in a  bed and wake up to a breakfast."  It's taken Mama focus and determination to turn her dream into reality. For her, and all those who support her, the reward is bright, healthy, happy kids.

 

Mr President sets their sights

Sifa

As Barack Obama prepares for a second term of office as President of the USA, our children are celebrating his Kenyan heritage.
President Obama’s paternal roots lie in Kenya and his rise to leadership of one of the most powerful countries in the world, shows our Happy House kids just what can be achieved.

Margaret

Evans

They, like him from difficult beginnings.The marriage between his father, a Kenyan,  and his Amedrican wife was shortlived and the young Barack was brought up in by his mother in the USA. His father returned to Kenya and he saw him only once more.

But being mixed race, from a lone-parent family,  helped to shape the boy who went on to become a civil rights lawyer before entering the political arena and making history as America's first black president.

For our Happy House kids he is a role model they can identify with.

Mercy

They, like he, can aspire to greatness and achieve it.

 Mama Sue says:fa " I asked Uncle Billy to make sure they make see Obama on the
news, he is the best incentive ever for us!

"I asked Billy to tell our family:‘It’s not where you start it’s where you finish.

Uncle Billy gathered together  our older kids to mark the victory by taking it in turns to make presidential speeches.

Samson

Uncle Billy comments:" Obama's victory is an inspiration without borders! Our kids know about his triumphatic win and are amazed about his recent achievements.Our children are equally empowered and encouraged not to be weighed down by  non-pleasant past experiences and to forge ahead. Believing in themselves is their fundamental underpinning.

Shakila

They hold a conviction that with determination they can beat all odds and get actively involved in achieving not Only individual but also global acclaimation as agents of change.

Well done Obama, well done our wonderful future presidents."

And maybe, just maybe, Uncle Billy will be right and  a Happy House kid will become the President of Kenya. They are certainly getting the upbringing and education to to make anything possible and to go out and make a difference to their own world.

On a visit to relatives in Kenya, Obama made an emotional visit to the graves of his biological father and paternal grandfather.

 "For a long time I sat between the two graves and wept," Obama said.

 "I saw that my life in America—the black life, the  white life, the sense of abandonment I felt as a boy, the frustration and hope I'd witnessed in Chicago—all of it was connected with this small plot of earth an ocean away."