it's the same in any language.

every morning, when i wake up at 6:40 [yes, you read that correctly] in the a.m., i climb sleepily out of the top bunk and peek through the slit in the curtains to greet the day.

and every morning, when i wake up, i feel so much gratitude for the opportunity, the privilege, i have to be here.

it's kind of hard to believe. sometimes, in the van on the way to the orphanages or walking out of our house to town, i look at the beautiful view and say, "we're in ecuador. can you believe it?"

it all feels like a dream. one of those dreams that has the bad timing of entering your mind minutes before waking, causing the harsh beeping of the alarm to jolt you awake and shut your eyes as quick as you can to grasp onto the wispy ends of your beautiful, sleepy vision.

the work is hard, the poopy [cloth]diapers are gross, the kids scream and cry and hit each other, but every cloud has a silver lining and every day has enough good to eliminate the bad.

and that is what i've learned thus far.

ps: expect some funny stories in my next post [teaser = it pays to know a little spanish].

pps: tomorrow is beach day! pictures will follow!