Autumn 2025…September, October and November.

          The first days of September were the last days of summer vacation. The children enjoyed a few outings and meetings, where they played and socialized (pictures 1-5), but school started immediately, so we prepared them all with new, clean clothes and flowers. (pictures 6-8)

          This autumn our house welcomed two more sisters, Narcisa (12 years old) and Andreea (13 years old). We strive to cover all their needs that they have accumulated over time and to give them a proper education, but it will be a rather difficult process because the gaps are large, Andreea has not gone to school at all until now. (picture 9)

          Our visitors this autumn were Andreas, Liviu, Dan and Claudia from Germany. As always, we enjoyed their presence and the conversations we had. (photos 10,11)

          With the arrival of July, the children really entered the summer vacation. Even though the financial situation is difficult, we still wanted our children to have at least one camp this year. We gave up on the mountain camp and chose the seaside camp, and this one was done on a reduced budget, with food taken from home and prepared in the room on some days. Also, visits to the objectives were removed from the list, leaving only the visit to the Constanta Casino, a newly renovated historical building. However, we had a big surprise here too when, following the request we made to receive a discount on the tickets, we were refused, but one of the employees could not accept this refusal, so he decided together with his mother to pay for our tickets in full and on top of that, he was also our tour guide, presenting everything to us with passion and detail. Wonderful! The children had a great time at the beach, as they do every year. (photos 1-10)

          This year the weather was more delayed, the heat came more slowly, so all the agricultural work was done with some delay compared to previous years. Both the solarium and the vegetable garden, the raspberry plantation, were all worked in May, compared to March-April. We hope to have a long and warm autumn, so that we can also enjoy the harvest. (photos 1,2)

          The bushes purchased this year did not take the weather into account, they developed very nicely, so at the end of June, we already started cutting. (photo 3) The laying hens and ducklings also developed very nicely, (photo 4) and the sheep “sent us” from the sheepfold fresh and fluffy. (photo 5)

          As for the grass on the field, thank God, we had enough to supply the hayloft for the winter, the spring was rainy so the “harvest” was rich. With little or no effort, everyone contributed what they could to the maintenance of the green spaces. (photos 6-8)

          Below we present you some highlights from the activities of March and April 2025.

          We started spring in full force, tired of a winter that wasn't really winter, we missed the snow a bit.

          We started with the orchard: digging, cleaning, painting the trunks (photo 1), but also with the small vegetable garden, the one next to the fireplace (photos 2, 3). We also renovated the spaces for this year's new batch of chickens, so that they would feel welcome with us. (photos 4,5) We also renovated a space for piglets, the old one being quite affected by the pigs' stay over several years. (photos 6,7,8) We also purchased food for the little animals, so that they would grow big and beautiful. (photos 9, 10)

          And when we were about to start planting in the large garden, the weather turned bad, even in April (photo 11), fortunately the little snow didn't last long (photo 12), but the low temperatures continued to surprise us until June.

          Here we are in the year 2025. A year that should have shown the evolution of the world over the centuries, but unfortunately we see degradation at every step. Romania is going through turbulent times, so we invite you with all our love to support us and our country with prayer.

          In our little universe, at Casa Ray and Casa Tatiana, we try to keep things in balance and in continuous evolution, our helper being God.

          We started January by decorating the tree and the house, a reason to work together again. (photo 1)

          Because winter is still in full swing, we also purchased a wood car. (photo 2)

          December 1 is Romania's day, the day it was united in its current form, so I went with the children to the city center and participated in the parade organized for this purpose. (pictures 1,2)

          December 5th followed immediately, the day when children receive gifts from "Mos Nicolae". They also received ours, but from other grandparents :) (pictures 3-6)

          Then I went into action, without a break until December 24: butchered pork, turkeys, whitewashed, collected food from Lidl through the "Food Bank" program, with the help of friends from America I drilled a well in the hope of finding good water at greater depth, unfortunately in the area there is only salt water from 50 m down, we scrapped old cars, tried new haircuts, played games, sorted the goods received donations, received visitors from Germany, from Bacau, from the Adventist Church, from Italy, we had about 4 celebrations, we went with carols, etc.... then we stopped a little from this alert rhythm. (pictures 7 – 44)

           School being full, the laptops received from friends in America fit the children's needs like a glove. (pictures 1-3) At school they did various projects and at home drawing competitions in the most organized way, with project presentation jury, prizes, etc. (pictures 4-7)

          The Brai brothers were visited by their other brothers who are with foster care families, an emotional reunion. (photo 8)

          Together with the over 14s and the young people from the Pentecostal church, we went out to a volleyball evening (picture 9) and in the same way we also visited the Marelbo shoe factory in Suceava county (picture 10). We were also visited at Piatra Neamt by a beloved singer, Teofil Palincas. (picture 11)

          The children enjoyed the perfect autumn temperatures, the beautifully colored leaves and we, the adults, the food and fruits of the field received as a donation, which will feed our animals and children. (pictures 12-29)

          August, summer, big vacation, holidays, so we could enjoy the visit of several groups, which brightened our days and enriched our hearts:

- The group of Romanians settled in Italy, in Padua, led by pastor Nicu Vaida, (pictures 1-4)

- The group of friends from Germany from the association Kinder und BehindreHilfe, (pictures 5-7)

- The group of friends from Ireland, (pictures 8,9)

- Dear friend Clauddine from Germany, who volunteered with us for 2 weeks, (picture 10)

          For all of them, in addition to the existing accommodation spaces, we have arranged 2 bedrooms with two toilets. (pictures 11, 12)

          The Brai brothers visited their grandmother and aunt (picture 13).

          In the following, we present to you a glimpse of our life from the months of June and July, the end of the school year and the beginning of HOLLLLYYYYDDDAAYY!!!!

- June 1, Children's Day: Meeting at Izvoare with the children from the Elim Pentecostal church, visit of Mrs. Stoian with the group from Iasi, outing in the city, (pictures 1 - 4)

- birthdays: Ramona, Iulian, Rares, Gheorghe, Petronel and Alex, (pictures 5 – 6)

- household and recreational activities, (pictures 7 – 15)

- barbecue together with the Elim Pentecostal Church, (picture 16)

- end of the school year, graduations, freedom for vacation, (picture 17 - 19)

- 3-day trip to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, the first time for all children:

          Good to see you again! We hope you are well and healthy.

          At Casa Ray and Casa Tatiana, things do not stand still, even if it seems that way due to the breaks between communications. We bring you news from the months of April and May and we hope to be able to run with time and get up to date with the information.

          We will be short and schematic, as we have been used to lately:

- Excursion with children and employees to Red Lake and Izvorul Muntelui Lake (pictures 1 – 5),

- Worked in the garden, planted flowers, planted raspberries, purchased chickens for eggs and meat, slaughtered a pig, new member of the cattle (pictures 6 - 12),

- household activities (pictures 13 – 19),

- Easter celebration (pictures 20 – 33),