Tony and Laura Lewry

Some snaps of Clara's birthday in December 

This last weekend Tony and a team from ReVive spent two days revamping a very run down government home for babies and young children. (Laura helped by making brownies and biscuits- obviously)  The Staff do what they can but the government are not very easy to get money from even for essentials like medicine and fixing up houses. These quick videos help to share the before and after of this wonderful work and here is the after..  the kids LOVED their newly painted home

I just wanted to share this photo. The children haven't had their new teacher long but last week I needed to get the kids to write their names for a gift to one of the house mums for her birthday. The photo is of Gabriel (7) who was excited to be able to write his name by himself for the first time without help. Thank you to everyone who  has expressed an interest in supporting the Charity to employ a teacher. You are making a huge difference. Money has started to come in but we are still some way off our target to permanently employ a teacher.  If you would like to help too please contact us.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" Nelson Mandela The children who have just recently entered the With Open Arms shelter have all come from homes where they have been neglected or worse.   They have not had the chance to go to school regularly and are far behind where they should be academically. Some cannot identify numbers or letters.   If we put them into a normal classroom with children their own age they wouldn't be able to join in any of the work. There is no special help for them and they would continue to get further and further behind and spend their days frustrated and sad not being able to understand. We have an opportunity to change their future. We have an opportunity to help them learn to read and write. Can you help? We need £3000 for a 6 month term to hire specialist teacher to educate these precious children. If you would like to give a donation please email us using the email tonyandlauralewry@gma...

It was a little intense. I had planned this wonderful watermelon themed Big Brazilian first Birthday bash for Clara. Then I got the news that my surgery would be a couple of weeks before it. It was wonderful though and we loved seeing friends come and play and celebrate Clara with us! Here are some of our favourite photos.

Tess is very much like her father. Full of life, inquisitive,  outgoing, lots of personality, passionate, determined... which is sometimes quite challenging in   the form of a two year old.   But yesterday I was such a proud mama when I came across this scene. You see, Tess has had to do a lot of learning very quickly in the last few weeks.  Her world, as well as ours, has changed dramatically. Her once very peaceful, tropical, haven of a home has been invaded by 12 very loud, demanding and sometimes unkind, hurt and vulnerable children. She has had to learn how to control her feelings, how to have appropriate physical boundaries (yes even at the tender age of two)   but most of all she’s had to learn how to share . Her toys, her space, the trampoline, and as Tony is working long hours, and we sometimes see him whilst he is on shift with the kids, she’s had to learn how to share her precious daddy. Shes doing really well but...