The month of December, also called the "month of gifts", went very fast at Casa Ray. Cleaning, food, cooking, decorations, removing snow, rehearsals, visits, poems, carols, and again removing snow, and cleaning, gifts, food again and ... it was already 31^st of December. We can relive the moments of this month, just through the pictures, now that everything has passed.

          First things first! Our friends in Germany, Georg and Hoegen have managed to visit us this year, making us a beautiful surprise. They did not have much time with us, but we enjoyed the moments spent together. They also made a joy to the children, giving them a blanket and a nice gift. (pictures 1-4)

          With the help of God, we managed to complete the sanitation of the bedrooms with a fresh lime, the main actors in this activity being Ovidiu and Alexandru. Thank you for your involvement! (picture 5)

          For us at Casa Ray, November was like the "Scottish shower," pleasant events woven with sad events.

          For the first time, we received with the goodwill of the friends from Neamt  and Suceava County, cereal for animals, but also for the consumption in our kitchen. Without this kind of donation, it would be very difficult for us to keep the animal farm on our hands, which is why we greatly appreciate this help. God to reward all the loyal donors!! (1-3)

          Unfortunately, in November there was a “reckoning” over Casa Ray, when Mother Tatiana had to go through a rather complicated surgery. Due to some incidents caused by older operations and constantly deposited effort, the colon has been incarcerated, so she had to be hospitalized and operated urgently. We all stood there, not knowing if her heart, which has many problems, will resist this surgery, but thank God, He listened to the prayer of the hundreds of people who cried to Him and did not allow the orphans of Casa Ray to remain once more orphans. Now, more than a month after the surgery, we can breathe easily because we see the mother almost 100% recovered, again among us as in the old days. (4)

          October with its rich fruit has blessed us this year. From our own harvest we managed to gather in this moon a kind of riches as follows: grapes, corn, peppers, potatoes and last but not least APPLES, a very rich apple harvest. We thank the Lord for all the gifts he has given us. (1-6)

          We've picked new apples, we've picked it up, and it looks like it's not over yet ... but to our joy, helpers came in this direction.

          Jim and Esther, two old friends from America, together with Radu Sandu, one of our children whom we split up about 6 years ago and now is settled in Sibiu, they decided to make a visit accompanied by many surprises for children: pizza, juices, chips ... and as I said, they accompanied us and picked apples in the orchard. It was a very pleasant atmosphere when, the little ones and the big ones, with the two "grandparents in America", with Radu, we spent time together, enjoying the rich fruits of the trees.. We are blessed by the friends who visit us and remember that we have a large family spread all over the world..(7-9)

          We kindly greet you from Casa Ray, after a long break. We are now returning with new and pleasant information about the period that passed, namely August and September.

          At the beginning of August, which was also the last month of the big holiday, we received Tom and Pia's visit, two nice young people from Germany. They spent together with us about 10 days, during which we felt very good, doing things of all sorts. Like any breakup, it was a tough one, but we hope to see each other well on another occasion also.(1-3)

          Also in the visits chapter, we mention that the Vacaru family was visited by a few relatives, and the Dodita brothers were to visit their grandmother in their native village, a 89-year-old grandmother, who always thanks God for letting her live, so that she can once again see her grandchildren and she concludes every time with the phrase: "now I can die quietly!” Last but not least, Constantin met for the first time one of his sisters this year, being a very emotional meeting. (4,5,6)

          Last month was a good month for the harvest with enough heat and rains, so at the beginning of July we had vegetables in the garden, the vegetables solarium looks pretty good, the potatoes and the corn, too, a nice view and a start full of hope. Also a part of the grass for animals was easily harvested, the green areas was properly maintained, etc. (pictures 1-5)

          But this beautiful weather lasted only a few days in early July, because then we had a monsoon climate throughout the month. Every day we had heavy rains, sometimes even thunderstorms, in some days raining hour by hour and so kept it all month July except for two- three days. As a result, at the end of the month, our garden does not look so good anymore, being invaded by weeds and drowning with water :) (picture 6-8). We hope to be able to recover some of what we planted with great hopes in spring. Until then, we thank our friends from Suceava for the donation they made (vegetables and cereals). The cucumbers received from them are already preserved and we are thinking about the winter when we enjoy it with lust. (picture 9)

         We want to start by thanking God for having gone half of 2018 without major unpleasant events in peace and joy. His glory!

         And since it is about June, how else could we start than with holidays: the 1^st of June = child's day! We spent a nice and relaxing day, we enjoyed a barbecue and various activities for children. God blesses all children, but especially our children :)    (1-11)

         Yes! In June it was celebration also because school was over. Books and notebooks came to the last tabs, which seemed hard to reach at the beginning of the school. Many of our children and young people have come up with good results at the end of this year, with few exceptions, as in any home with 21 children. (12-14)

         Housework do not suffer delays, so what had to be done, was done: painting, mowing, watering flowers, cleaning green spaces, picking lime, housework etc. (15-19) The boiler room has also been finalized with respect to the floor and walls. The next month we will install the central heating system and the entire heating system. (20)

          The beautiful May has also kept its charm this year! A pleasant and relaxing spring month.

          We started the month with the visit of a dear friend from Germany, Ruben, along with a colleague of his. Even though the time spent together was a short one, one evening and another half a day, we felt good together.(1) The children received a small pipe organ, which they can practice what they have learned lately at music lessons. (2,3)

          We have also been visited by Andrusca, along with her daughter, who is now established in Bacau County, Moinesti, and by Radu and Ciprian, who are settled in Sibiu. It is always a pleasure to meet again with our "children". We pray that God will protect them and accompany them wherever they are.(4)

          Because the feast of death and the resurrection of Christ was the central subject of April, we want to salute you wholeheartedly with "Christ resurrected!” We strongly believe that this greeting is valid any day of the year.

          On this occasion the children prepared a poem that they presented at the Betel Church and the Philadelphia Church. Through their singing they have brought much joy and revival to many souls! (1)

          The crafts of this period, like nature, was marked by the coming of spring. Here's what the children have done. (2,3)

          Certainly this year of Easter, the children were traditionally feasting Romanian food! They did not lack on their table cakes, pasta, bohemian salad, dyed eggs, stuffed eggs, minced meat croquette, schnitzels, meat balls rolled in cabbage leaves etc. We do not mention that, not to make you hungry, but some photos, we'll show you :) (4-7)

          Spring has come!!! Flowers, pastoral bunnies, "colorful" eggs, we all have, just like ... the unique ... snowy models ;) (1-5)

          Even though children could not spend more time outside in March, as they hoped to do with the spring, they found plenty of fun at home. Especially making small ornaments. Satisfied, they offered their colleagues and teachers a small gift, created by their hands. (6-9)

          Unfortunately, the cold temperatures of this winter have cracked a pipe that we did not expect to get frozen. That's why we had a small flood and some repairs were needed. This time also the smoke detection system warned us that something is wrong and so we discovered the flood.(10,11)

          If the weather does not keep its course strictly ... we can also say that the "Thanksgiving" turkey is ready to be sacrificed and fattened; the turkey was a copious meal for children! (12) Also in March we were blessed with a “new” calf. (13)

          The last winter month, February, brought with it another wave of snow long awaited by children. On this occasion, the boys have shown their skill and demonstrated to everyone that they are capable of great things! They built their own house! :) Even though this house has a "short shelf", yet it was their home and just their own, they felt the taste of the property. (1)

          Ionut was the only celebration of February (17 years old), and he was also the "wounded" of the month. In a volleyball game he was injured quite badly at his foot... now he recovers and goes to healing. (2,3,4)

          Starting next year, Ionut will not be the only one celebrated in February, because on the 16th of the month a little miracle appeared in our family: Eva Natalia! Eva is the third child of the Gavril Ovidiu and Delia family. We wish all kinds of joy with their treasures! (5,6)