It's cold here but not at cold as you are....

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Haven't had wifi access since we left Roanoke on Wednesday.  Spent the first night at WallyWorld.  Our very first Walmart overnight.  Not bad at all except for a couple of over RVer's who contrary to RV Wallymart parking etiquette ran generators into the night.  Not very pleasant.  Anyway we both survived,.  Our bodies stopped vibrating sometimes the next morning.  We drove a few hundred more miles and stayed in a Florida rest area that gives notice with a very sign "Overnight camping Prohibited".  We asked the very nice, professional armed security guard and he said we could overnight.  Glad we asked.  I'd hate to answer the door to a gun wielding fellow late in the night in our jammies.  Friday we arrived at our first project, just north of Tampa, Hope House international.  Today, I'd like to tell you a little about them. The children live at Hope House. Some are from one family, two, three and even four children.  It is a permanent living place for most of the children.  The families could not or would not take care of them.  They range in age from 2 through high school.  This is their home and they are part of a big family.  They are not adopted out.  They are not troubled youth, but neglected and left behind. Between 70 and 90 children live hear, ages 2 to high school graduates.  There are siblings, even 3, 4 and 5 family members.  They are neglected children.  Many left by a mom who can't care for she children.  They grow up here as part of a loving family.  A big family. I am working in the "Birthday Building" with one other lady.  Margaret and I are sorting through piles and piles of leftover Christmas gifts.  We are organizing them in boys, girls, young and older, games, sports, crafts and a few other categories.  It's a little building, I think an older one room camp cabin.  There are so many gifts it will take us all three weeks to finish the project. Dale is working on remodelling an apartment for house parents.  They live with the children, but seem to have a bit of their own space. It's chilly here, in the 50's, but from what I hear we are hot compared to anyone north of here.