Well it has been a few weeks now–things are going much better. Both kiddos are over the initial illness for the most part and are sleeping through most of the night! We are hopefully getting our car back tomorrow and will be able to move and get settled in at the home in Crizbav around thursday of this week!
Meanwhile, here’s how we have been keeping the little’s busy in a house with little to no baby/children “stuff”
You do what you can. ;)
Hello all! Well after looking at the previous post it has been a while since we have updated this blog, obviously! BabyO number two arrived September 18th, you know him as Elias Daniel! He is seven months now and a precious, chubby boy.
And not only that, but we are in Romania as of three days ago, for the next 5 and a half months! We will be working on the Gateway Kidz Home, hopefully bringing it near completion. We will also begin volunteering with another organization in Brasov that specializes in ministering to abandoned babies in the Hospital. in fact, go here to read about all of our trip goals/prayer needs if you want!
All of that to say, we are here in romania, and if you want to know what NOT to do when traveling with an infant and toddler, just ask me because i probably did it. Despite my lack of packing/traveling foresight and wisdom the kids did great and were troopers. We left Dallas at 7 pm and arrived the next evening at 11:50, then drove 3 hours to arrive at our destination around 4 am. Now we just need to switch their days and nights back to normal…they say kids need about a day to adjust for every hour of time difference. That would be 8 days. Bless them.
Do be praying for them though, they are both sickly with some congestion mess and I am hoping it doesn’t turn into bronchitis. We may have to venture to the doctor here (gulp) if little man’s cough doesn’t get better! Oh and it is definitely springtime here :)
Elvis’ mom’s garden
Cherry Blossoms 
All of this information can be found under “current projects” at the gateway kidz blog, but in case it gets lost in translation, here it is for you to read. :)
“Gonna Be a Honey-life.”
This year Elvis’ Dad has been preparing to begin a Bee farm on part of our land with the goal of supporting the home. When we arrived the beehives had already been built and were stored at the home. (They are super pretty and painted green) The first week in Romania Elvis’ dad was overseeing 14 acres to be fertilized and plowed in preparation for planting several fields of flowers for the spring. The bee colonies will be purchased then (who knew you had to buy bees!). Things are going to be sweet around here pretty soon!!
“Kitchen Cabinets”
The main project this fall in the house is finishing out the kitchen cabinets. We have a good friend from Yell County, Arkansas who has graciously volunteered three weeks of his time to come and build custom cabinets for us. This is currently under construction. And due to minor setbacks in tools and materials we will only be able to finish half of the kitchen this trip. We are praying for the Lord’s provision in the way of appliances and countertops, and rejoicing that He has provided the cabinetmaker! We have been so blessed to have Mr. Bean with us, he is a true artisan and has had to be so flexible not having the comforts of a true woodshop to work with!
“Clothes, Clothes, and More Clothes!”
In the past two weeks I have sorted through about an 18 wheeler truckload of donated clothing and home goods. So for anyone wondering what needs we have, clothing is (praise the Lord) NOT one of them! J We have had such an abundance that we are able to keep what we need for future children and bless the neighboring Gypsy village with the remainder! Elvis’ dad has been getting truckloads this past year and each time he has given things out there has been over 100 needy families who have shown up to get clothing. I am done with this past load just in time as a new truckload is supposed to come in this week!
Future Projects
Appliances
As funds allow we will be either purchasing appliances here (washers, dryers, refrigerator, one large or two small stoves, and possibly a dishwasher) or purchasing them in the states and shipping them over in a container with other furniture for Elvis and my room and the living area. This all depends on what will be the most economical and beneficial. Appliances here aren’t as well made as in the states, and it might be better to ship them if we would want to send a container anyway (We got a quote on a 20 foot container that will cost from $3,500- $6,000).
Washroom
One of the requirements for the organization will be having a separate washroom off the kitchen with several sinks. At a similar home near us they have four sinks one for meat, one for vegetables, one for dishes, and one for bottles. As of right now we have the room ready for sinks but we will need to plan this room for the installation as well as purchase the sinks and shelving we might want in the room.
Furniture
We are somewhat limited on buying furniture for the children’s rooms as there are new laws that require us to purchase European Union approved furniture for the kids bedrooms. We have five unfurnished bedrooms upstairs and would need at the minimum beds and some sort of wardrobe/armoire, as there are no closets in the bedrooms. If they will allow us to build furniture we could have it built in the states possibly and then shipped in a container (if we end up shipping one). With that said there seem to be no regulations for furniture in the living room or furniture in mine and Elvis’ bedroom—so if we end up shipping a container we can send any furniture from our house that we would need here.
Schooling
The issue of schooling is a huge concern for us. Our vision for the Gateway Home includes schooling the children there in order to provide them with a biblical education as well as integrating English into their schooling which will be a great advantage to them when they approach college and career age. However, Homeschooling is illegal for Romanians as of now. It may be that we can get certified as teachers and become a “Private School,” or possibly be under the umbrella of a Private school in the States and be a satellite school here. We know that in 20 years a lot of things will change and we pray that many doors to make homeschooling a thriving reality here will be opened in the next few years. Please remember this need and join with us in praying to that end.
The Lord certainly knows how to juxtapose color and contrast.
One thing that has impressed me is just how beautiful the skies are here. I guess the Lord knew that they would need to be if it would fill the Texas size skies that are home in my heart.
And they are just that. 
Sunrise looking from our back porch.
To the right of our front yard
On the road to Crisbav–one of the prettiest drives you will ever make.
Back yard.
Back 26 acres, 14 of which are freshly plowed in preparation for flowers next spring!
to the front left of our yard
Sunset from our front porch.
Familia Opriş 