The Byrd's Nest

Mexico City Zoo!

2012-01-25T19:16:00.001-06:00

(sigh) This is how I feel most days!

Emma is the most graceful but yet clumsy child. Her hands and feet are always so poised and we constantly encourage her to take ballet lessons because she loves ballet. Anytime she is in a "funk", Greg pops in Swan Lake or The Nutcracker and she and her Daddy just snuggle and watch them dance. We were told by a dear friend that right near the zoo they actually perform Swan Lake on a lake...outside! We will definitely have to check it out.

The zoo had three large panda bears. Lottie could have stood there for hours just watching them. I have to admit they are rather fascinating. All they do is sit and eat bamboo. What a life! They consume 34 pounds of bamboo a day. Wow...what would that be like to sit around and just eat all day and never worry about your weight! lol

Lottie, Emma, Mylee and Evie

Daddy's girl:)

Some friends came into Mexico City and stayed for a couple of days so we were able to have them over to play and go to the zoo together. We were so grateful for this time with them. We pray they have a safe trip back to their little bitty ole' town of only 200,000 people and hope they had a good time with us big city folks:) Thank you Auntie Ann for taking us to the zoo and we love you Woods family and we are praying for you and your ministry!!!

Family Day!

2012-01-20T20:51:00.001-06:00

Pretty Emma, she is changing so much

Well, she has all of the right "safety gear" on as she calls it but notice her feet? Yep....the girl can't live without her Old Navy flip flops:) Seriously, not that it is cold here but in the mornings it is chilly and other mom's question me constantly as to why she doesn't have on shoes and socks. We are spreading our rebellion around and starting with our little friend Camila, we brought her two pairs of flip flops back with us. Maybe we'll start a new trend here? :)

Emma taking a chocolate chip cookie break!

I don't know why all my pictures are blurry all of the sudden? But this one is really precious....even blurry:)

We saw a Mexican prairie dog today at the park! The most exciting part of our week. I told the girls we would study about it next week in school. We stood there forever watching him/her work. It was hard labor I tell ya! Moving the dirt out was a great physical effort and then once he got all of the dirt up and out of the hole........half of it would slide back down. Poor little guy!

We watched him underground and we could see the soil and grass shaking and then all of the sudden his little head would pop up and he would take a big bite of grass back down with him. I looked up some information on Wikipedia about him when we got home. "Mexican prairie dogs live in excavated colonies, referred to as "towns", which they dig for shelter and protection. A typical town has a funnel-like entrance that slants down into a corridor up to 100 feet long, with side chambers for storage and nesting."

We looked all around the park, actually we were in the "dog park" today. The "people park" was full of....well....as Lottie put it...."People who were falling in love" :) Our children get an "extra" education here. So anyhoo, they rode their bikes and scooter in the dog park and there were these dirt mounds all over! I don't know why this is so fascinating but we really wanted to see what those tunnels and nests were like underneath. Did you know they can run up to 35 miles an hour? They have short legs! (sigh) Now I have no excuse to not exercise:)

We had an awesome Family Day!

Hearing from God

2012-01-17T09:44:00.001-06:00

Oh my....poor Greg is stuck in a place with three females who miss James, Mark and Elisabeth like crazy! I am certain this was the worst "goodbye" ever. They seem to get harder and harder although people tell me they get easier? I've never quite understood how it could ever be easier when they are people we long to be with every single moment. Some people also tell us that it is not "goodbye" but "see you later" but still....no matter how you say it, it ends up being a very long period of time without seeing that person face to face. Hard! Actually, I used to be such a big girl and be strong for the little girls but this one was a doosey! I cried all the way from James' house until we landed in Mexico City...and I am still tearful if you ask me "How are you doing?" or "How was your trip?".

I'm writing all of this out because if someone else is going through this also, I have decided that it's OKAY! It's okay to grieve because this is a loss......this is something huge that we give up. We give up the girls growing up with grandparents, missing their friends and being near James, Elisabeth and Mark. I know all of the positives, no need to remind me. After all, I live here. I know we are supposed to be here and we love the people and we absolutely love sharing a Savior with them but......it's still okay to mourn our losses every now and then. I think it is healthy.

So after week of crying episodes and finally settling into our routine again, I took the girls to the park in our neighborhood today after homeschool. I can sit on a bench and watch them ride their scooters and bikes all around me without having to follow them and they are never far away from me, so it is nice. I was sitting there reflecting on our time in Texas and feeling a little blue when all of the sudden a wave of emotion swept over my body. Tears started flowing and it was as if I heard the Lord speak to me. I didn't hear an audible voice but I am telling you......He spoke to me and this is what He said, "You asked me to take care of James and Elisabeth, especially Elisabeth when you obeyed this call. I have provided her with not only a man who adores her and will love and honor her for the rest of her days but since you left, I have placed other people in her life as well to love her and show My love to her. Although, you have been through some trials, I have provided your little ones with the dearest Christian woman to work with them and you to help with their sensory issues. I have placed specific prayer warriors in your life to pray for you whenever you need them....some new friends....and some that have returned from days long ago....that was My doing. I have provided you with a home where you are comfortable, a backyard with a swing set for the girls and a park in your very neighborhood for you to meet people. All these blessings I have bestowed upon you because you love Me. All these things that you have asked of me, I have given to you."

So I have spent some time reflecting on these thoughts the Lord has given to me. I'm so thankful He didn't let me wallow around in the pool of self-pity but instead He reminded me of all the blessings in my life. He reminded me that He has never left my side nor my children's sides for one minute. As I look back, each step of the way He has provided and placed just the right people in our path. I remembered the day we left Texas to move to Costa Rica and the complete hope and trust I had in Him to provide in every way for our family.

I listened to a sermon by John Piper during my quiet time this morning. As I was listening, he said this phrase and it made me sit up straight! "The deepest root of womanhood is hope in God". We are so many things to so many people......we are wives, cooks, maids, taxi drivers, care takers, hug givers, kissers of boo boo's, teacher's, counselor's and well...there are so many more. But are those things the deepest root of our existence? I don't think so.....it is most certainly who we "are" to our families and friends but our deepest most profound root is our Hope in God. Those who have this hope in the Lord know of the things to come in the future......those who have this hope in the Lord can find comfort in His arms and truly rest.....those who have this hope in the Lord can have a contagious way of giving this Hope to others. May we all give someone a little Hope today...because the Hope we have to offer is the only way to live:)

Wedding!!!!

2012-01-10T21:41:00.001-06:00

Super Heroes!

2012-01-06T09:12:00.001-06:00

Only in Texas can you put on a swimsuit and run around in the grass playing with bubbles and swim in a warm hot tub! Yay for swimming!

Lottie loved her mask and super cape so much for her birthday that I had to get Emma and Allie one too. I absolutely adore this picture. I can feel all of the love and hear all of the giggles bursting from it!

Friends

2012-01-03T19:30:00.010-06:00

Today is Emma Jane's birthday. She is 7 years old! I can't hardly believe our baby is 7 (sniff sniff). We played today at the park with Allie, Jake and Jenna. Oh how we have missed our friends!

There were tall hills to roll down and I couldn't believe that Lottie rolled down them. She had grass all in her hair and all over her clothes but didn't complain until she got in the truck. Usually, she doesn't like to be dirty or especially have grass in her hair:) Oh the things we will suffer through to have fun with good friends!

Jake spelled out Emma's name with the mulch from the playground. He is still such a sweet boy and I didn't get any good pictures of him. I think he is past the age of getting in a silly picture with all of the girls:) Actually, I didn't take very many pictures at all because I was enjoying my friends as well.

What a special afternoon for us and on a very special day that we celebrate Emma too. We took some little cupcakes to the park and made special memories with our old friends. We will celebrate her birthday officially on Friday night with James, Mark and Elisabeth at Chuck E. Cheese....not my choice (lol)....but a favorite place for the birthday girl!

Being a good helper

2011-12-27T13:37:00.000-06:00

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23)

Lottie loves to work with her Daddy.

She will help him do anything he asks her to do, this is the one time she is super obedient.

This time with her Daddy is so special to her. She especially loves it when they use tools! She doesn't mind hard labor and she is always eager to learn. It might be more work for Greg when she helps because she asks hundreds of questions about everything!

What this Mommy loves about it, is that it shows her how to be a good servant. To her, carrying the branches and hauling them over to the curb is just pure joy. When she is finished working, I tell her how proud God is of her and the work she did for her Daddy. I tell her that God is especially proud of her obedience and her faithfulness to finish the task.....with no grumbling. She never complains. Oh how I pray her servant heart grows so that she may serve Him and that He might use her gifts in a mighty way!

What was Emma doing you ask? Well....Emma is so much like her Mommy:) She gave it her best shot and tried to help but she ended up being discouraged that she wasn't having any fun. So we decided our gifts were different and we just made sure they had something cold to drink. I don't think Emma and I were built for manual labor...ha ha!

Tea Party

2011-12-23T19:37:00.000-06:00

We had a Tea Party at Allie's house today. Allie's birthday is in September, Lottie's is in November and Emma's is in January so we celebrated all three girls today.

They each decorated their strawberry Pinkalicious cupcakes

And they all licked more icing off of the little spreaders than they actually put on the cupcakes:)

Even Lottie's new Pooh friend that her Bubba bought her enjoyed the tea party

They ate turkey sandwiches shaped like hearts and Funyuns!

Allie made this banner and they had a birthday parade all through the house!

And they giggled and danced until they all fell down:)

A few sneak peaks! (UPDATED: I added a few more)

2011-12-18T12:30:00.005-06:00

(hee hee) Lottie took her tights and shoes off as soon as she arrived at the reception. She had to put her shoes back on to go outside for the bubbles:)

These are just a few pictures from one of my friends and Mark's brother and sister-in-law. I will write all about this very special day and the rehearsal dinner when I have more pictures!

Graduation!!

2011-12-16T15:17:00.000-06:00

Elisabeth and Mark

Elisabeth and her Daddy (the birthday boy)

Elisabeth and Lisa

Elisabeth, Lisa, Lauren, Lottie and Emma

A future graduate:)

Today was graduation! Any picture taking skills I possessed in Mexico are completely gone. Every picture I took (almost) was just terrible. I know Mark's parents took lots of pictures so hopefully I can add to this post later:) But I did capture the sweet graduate's precious smile and tonight is the rehearsal dinner and the wedding is tomorrow!!!!!!

We're so proud of you Elisabeth!!!!!!

Triplet Day!

2011-12-08T18:13:00.000-06:00

We picked up Allie for the day and the girls had the most wonderful time with their bestest friend in the whole world! They wore their matching clothing and a man at Chickfila actually asked me if they were triplets....they all three put their little hands over their mouths and started giggling. They love it when people ask that question!

We went to one of our favorite parks!

Pretty Emma:)

And one tired little girl. Before I even started the truck, she wanted to move her toddler booster seat over in the middle closer to Emma. She must have known she would need a good pillow:) Booster seats and pick up trucks are not comfortable for sleeping!

Thank you Allie Boo for coming to play with us!

Thank you First Baptist Irving!!!!!

2011-12-08T07:26:00.001-06:00

Lottie and Emma each received this huge thing of bows! And by the looks of both of them in these pictures....they could use them. lol

They both received the sweetest dresses and Lottie's dress came with a tiny matching dress for a doll. Of course, her teddy bear will be wearing that precious dress!

When we left Texas, we left one of our favorite books.....Pinkilicious! So now they have another one to take with us and Silverlicious too!

Greg and I received lots of pretty picture frames and towels!!!! I know towels don't seem like a big deal but they are so expensive in Mexico:) Obviously, they read our blog because look at the Velveeta Cheese and the HUGE GIGANTIC box of Reeses! The precious green box has ribbon and sequins and is just perfect for a little sewing box!

Greg received some amazing gift cards and the sweetest letter from a student at DBU. There was also a large gift bag completely FULL of snack crackers:) I didn't even take my camera with me when we drove out to the church...ugh...I struggle with remembering my camera when we are in Texas. We met Allison James who was the first contact I had with this church when I was looking for missionary housing for stateside. She was precious! The girls took to her right away and I don't know what happened to Lottie but she was so friendly and relaxed and immediately took to Allison. We met Allison's dad, Will, who leads the class music and the choir. We also met the pastor, John Durham, and told him what a blessing his church was to our family.

These people have never met us before but they have been loving on us for months! They have sent us the most encouraging e-mails and I can't tell you what a wonderful feeling that is to know that someone is praying for you.....personally lifting up your individual names to the Father and praying for specific ministry needs and goals. It is really an amazing feeling:) I don't take prayer lightly so when they take the time to let me know they are praying....well....it is so humbling and brings us to tears.

We thank you Will & Janet James, Allison James, David & Regina Bennette, Kerrie Greathouse, Carol Warner, Frank & Linda Goodman, Terry & Holly Willis, Melanie Ericson, Margie O'Dell, Rosemary Lowe, Greg & Mitzi Roach and Jeff Wadsworth!!!! I hope I didn't leave anyone out, one of the cards didn't have a name on it. We love ya'll so much and we thank God for you in our lives!

Thankful for friends

2011-12-06T07:41:00.000-06:00

There are so many blessings going on in our lives right now. I am brought to tears when I think of the special people in our lives.

Not only did my friend Stephanie and her precious Allie bring Lottie a new blankie but they have been shopping for months for Lottie and Emma. The day they brought they blankie they also brought a huge box of clothes for the cold winter days here. Each outfit had a matching clip for their hair that Stephanie made! And more importantly, Allie has each of the outfits also so they can be "triplets" our entire time in Texas. There were pajamas and Christmas dresses also. We are always so blessed with this family and their love for us. We can't wait until after the wedding so we can spend more time with our sweet friends.

I bought my dress for the wedding in Puebla but could not find shoes plus they are so expensive in Mexico. My dear friend Rhonda knew I needed shoes and began furiously searching on the internet. She even came and picked me up one day to go shoe shopping. I am not a shopper. I found some "oh these will do" shoes and bought them. When I got home they didn't match at all. She e-mailed me again and found some at Nordstroms and said she would drive over there to get them, I told her no way! It is pretty far from here.

The next day was the bridal shower. My other good friend Dawn was there and we all began talking about how I still don't have shoes and my dress needs to be altered. Rhonda pulled up the picture of the shoes she found for me and showed them to Dawn. The next morning the shoes were on James' porch. Dawn went and bought them.....and they are perfect!

One more sweet blessing. Dawn has also arranged for me, Elisabeth, Lottie and Emma to have our hair and make-up done before the wedding at a salon. Emma is super excited to have someone style her hair! (Lottie...not so much...lol) What an enormous gift!!!

The women of First Baptist Rockwall gave Elisabeth and Mark a wedding shower. It was perfect and beautiful! They were blessed with so many wonderful gifts and the desserts were amazing! It was a very special day. The part I enjoyed the most was just watching Elisabeth and Mark. Even though the ladies were watching them open their gifts, they seemed to be in their own little love zone:) They were whispering and giggling and I loved every second!

Mark and Elisabeth with all of the women in the church who helped with the shower

The precious couple. She is looking at the gift I made her. I used Shutterfly and gathered recipes and pictures from all of my missionary friends and made her a cookbook. I know she has such a huge heart for missions so she will cherish it always.

Isn't Mark sweet? He has a great sense of humor!

One last HUGE blessing. Yesterday was the day that First Baptist Rockwall collected their Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Who is Lottie Moon you ask? Charlotte Digges "Lottie" Moon was a Southern Baptist missionary from 1873-1912 and served in China. She was a teacher and an evangelist and laid the foundation for supporting missionaries. She was single all her life and devoted her time to the Chinese people. During the war, famine struck her little village where she lived. The mission board had no money to send her to help the people she had grown to love so much. She began using her own money to feed them and provide for them. She gave them any food she had and literally starved herself to death to make sure they had food. She became very ill and died on a boat as she was returning to the states. So each year, Southern Baptist churches collect this Christmas Offering in her name to support missionaries. We are reminded of the sacrifices she made in the name of Jesus. We are very blessed by this offering because we aren't like other missionary sending agencies. We do not have to raise our own support. Each year we see more and more missionary friends who have to end up going back to the states because they don't have the funds to stay where God has called them to serve. Each year, Southern Baptists give joyfully. Yesterday at First Baptist Rockwall, they collected this offering. We were brought to tears at the amount.......$515,000.00!!!! Thank you FBC Rockwall for supporting the International Mission Board, we promise to continue to glorify God in Mexico!!!

Thanksgiving and a family wedding shower

2011-11-29T09:19:00.000-06:00

Greg's family gave Elisabeth and Mark a wedding shower while we were there for Thanksgiving dinner, of which I took NO pictures. Ugh! The food was amazing and we ate LOTS :)

Isn't that the sweetest frame ever? The cake was super delicious and everything was perfect! It was so intimate and special, just the way Elisabeth likes it:)

The handsome groom. Poor Mark couldn't get within 2 feet of the presents or his beautiful bride.

Cousin Sophie, Elisabeth and Emma reading a card.

All the little ones with Mark and Elisabeth,. Elisabeth is like a child magnet!

Now this picture describes something very special that happened on Thanksgiving Day. The girls met their cousin Sophie and at first everyone was shy but before long they were squealing and giggling and you often heard the expression, "She's my best friend". Family is so important and living away from family is so hard because when you look at this picture, you know they are missing out on knowing their sweet little cousin Sophie. I realize there are also great things that happen in Mexico but you can't beat times like this!

On our way to Grammy and Poppa's house and the kids watched a movie in the back. Is it obvious I gave Lottie a dramamine right after I took this picture. Oh dear...she was a little pale:(

We had Thanksgiving again at my mom's and just look how amazing my precious Daddy looks! What a miracle! He has no restrictions and he can do anything, no more dialysis! Thank you Lord!

Grammy and Lottie. My mom ordered Lottie this super cape and mask for her birthday. She rarely took it off! She loves loves loves it!!!

We lost Lottie's blankie "Fluffy" at a restaurant. Well, actually I left it there. Poo! I went to Target and no baby soft baby blankets, just flannel. Yuck. So I found a soft maternity shirt and cut it up for her and that seemed to be okay. She was so big about it and didn't cry. She only sucks her thumb at night and only for a few minutes before she falls asleep but she smells her blankie when she is upset and it comforts her.

I shared this news with our dearest friend Stephanie and she and precious Allie Boo rushed over to James' house with a blankie. Lottie had given Allie Boo a blanket she has always slept with as a baby because she wanted Allie to sleep with something of hers. Allie still sleeps with it but it is a thick blanket with a heavy trim around the outside. Stephanie brought it over and cut the trim off and lo and behold....there were two think blankets laying on top of each other! So now Allie and Lottie each have a part of the special blankie and they will always think of each other while they are loving on their blankies. Lottie named her new blankie "Rosy".

Today we are off to see Elisabeth in her dress for her final fitting. We have lots to do this week and lots of last minute things to take care of. I love ya'll and hope you had the best turkey day ever!!!!!

Last post from Mexico!

2011-11-23T12:41:00.001-06:00

The girls received a box today from the sweetest Sunday School class ever from First Baptist Irving!

You know those birthday cards that play songs when you open them? Lottie LOVES these and there was one inside for her birthday. I have heard the song in it at least 60 times since yesterday:)

I thought I took a picture of all of the things laid out on the floor but I guess I didn't and my camera is packed away now. There were tons of stickers, googly eyes and stick on foam, bandaids, Thanksgiving post its (I swiped these...sorry!), a "Give Thanks" door hanger and a Thanksgiving dish towel! It wasn't long before they made these little reindeer crafts.

Lottie just couldn't get past the fact that someone would send them all of these things and do nice things for them even though they don't "know" them. When the child gets stuck on something, we could be there for awhile. So I finally told her that I'm sure the people here in Mexico wonder the same things about us. Like each time we hand them a baggie with juice and treats in it, they must think, "Why did they do that for me?" Then I asked her if she knew why. She said, "Because Jesus wants us to show people He loves them." Yep....she gets it:)

What a special gift to our girls. This Sunday school class is so involved with our family and the people's needs in Mexico. They are all about praying for us and our ministry. The most exciting thing is that we hope to meet them in person after Christmas. I can't wait to meet them and hug some very special people:)

Birthday , Bicycle, Baby Dedication and Busting a Pinata!

2011-11-20T18:36:00.003-06:00

Lottie's new bike!!! She loves it:) She thought she was big enough to not have training wheels so Greg raised them some and she changed her mind. lol Thank goodness because we don't have a helmet and we had it on our list to buy in Texas!

I tell ya...this child gets prettier by the moment

I took some pictures of the worship team at this church. They are really talented and love the Lord!

This is Carla and she's not smiling because she was listening but she is such a wonderful girl inside and out

They had a baby dedication today!

Laying hands on the baby during the prayer and everyone agreeing to help raise him up in God's love

Greg's grilled chicken and pasta with tomato sauce. There is always some sort of a mild pasta for the children at any place we eat. Emma loves this pasta and the rice. She ate two plates of rice, pasta, chicken and two hot tortillas.

The green salsa looking stuff is their guacamole and it is very hot! Greg loves loves loves it:) The woman who makes it at this church obviously is gifted in this area. The raw looking meat stuff in the bowl was served at my house also but I have no idea what it is and ...I'm sorry...but I have not been courageous enough to try it. They love it here and I have searched the internet for what kind of meat it is because when I ask what is in it they say "carne" which is meat. Meat of what animal? That's what I want to know! lol They say it is a typical meat for tostadas so if someone knows please tell me!!!

Yummy quesadillas! Oh dear...I ate 5 of these...5!!! They were filled with potatoes and cheese and fried. Then you add lettuce, cilantro, onions and guacamole. Not "our" kind of guacamole, the one described above. I'm certain I will pay for this tomorrow but they were so worth it. Gina's dad made them and I must have told him ten times how much I loved them:)

Mexican rice with tomatoes. This is typical at almost every meal.

Corn on the cob. HUGE corn on the cob I might add;) They slather mayonnaise all over it and then sprinkle a powder spice of spicy chile

Pinata time! Smallest babies first:)

This is Santiago. He is precious and always has a smile for everyone. He loves Lottie and Emma:)

Lottie didn't want a turn. She got embarrassed and began to cry. Poor little thing. Everyone was chanting her name and that made it worse...I think. So Max was next. I'm not sure who put Max before all of the girls had a chance to swing because he busted it wide open!

And then Emma wore the head:)

Birthday cake! Flan with chocolate cake on the bottom.

And a trick candle where the flame kept coming back. Ha! So Emma, Santiago and Lottie kept trying to blow it out for good.

All of the people who had November birthdays cut the first piece together. I was super proud of Lottie for doing this after the pinata disaster:) See Emma drooling over the cake. She loves flan and tres leches cake!

And here's the gang. Maya, Emma, Lottie, Max and Santiago.

It was hard to say goodbye to them knowing we wouldn't see everyone until January. They told us they would be praying for Elisabeth's graduation, the wedding, the holidays and then they said they would pray for our travel back and then informed us to be ready to get to work! This church is so excited about reaching the lost. So that's about it....next time you hear from me....we will be in Texas!!!!

Happy Birthday to some Very Special People!!

2011-11-14T07:24:00.007-06:00

Lottie Li will be 7 years old this week! Lottie you bring me so much joy in my life. You have always been my little snuggle bug and for the last six years your favorite place is still in Mommy's lap. You have questions about everyone and everything, you wear me out sister with all of your questions! You love to pretend. You have the most creative mind and you and Emma play for hours pretending to be heroes with your blanket, Fluffy, as your super cape or maybe just exploring the earth for dinosaurs. Everything is sentimental to you! We have lugged around every stuffed animal that someone special gave to you for the last three years. I love this about you sweet girl. You have such a tender heart and your passion and love for the ones you love the most runs deep my sweet girl. Once you love someone....you love them forever:)

James, our first child, will be 28 years old! (sniff sniff) Where does the time go? James, we are so proud of you. You are so special to us. I love how you can always make me laugh....always! I miss you being in the house:) I love how you still call your Momma to check on her and chat with me on Skype during the day...every day it means so much to me just to see you write, "Good morning Momma". You are the most amazing big brother to your three sisters. The little ones think you hung the moon and Elisabeth has always thought you were her hero. I think she's right:) Ever since you were a little boy you have just wanted to make everyone happy. When I am feeling low, I know that all I have to do is talk to you and you have a magic way of making me feel better. It is almost as if some days you tuck away your own feelings so that you can be encouraging to someone else. You love to spoil your sisters rotten and I know one little girl who can't wait to get to Texas to snuggle in your lap and play video games with you:) God has been working on you and your love for Him is deep. I know you often feel like you aren't doing enough for Him but He is using you....I can see it! I love you James.

Oh my precious Elisabeth, I can't believe you will be 24 years old and getting married next month! Words cannot even express how proud I am of you precious girl. You have a true passion and love for people. You are forever shedding tears over any injustice that God's children are having to endure. From the time you were very little, you have been a servant of God. Remember when you were about 7 years old and someone on the school bus was picking on a poor defenseless boy? You threatened (with your fists I might add:) with your life that these children leave him alone. You have always stood up for "the little guy". We have always had to watch any allowance we gave you because you would give it away to anyone who needed it more than you. When someone is having trouble dealing with life, Jesus sends them your way. We have always know that God would use you in a very special way. It is not surprising that you are graduating this December with your major being Psychology. I can't wait to see what He will do with you next and the lives that will be changed in the process! You are marrying the son-in-love of our dreams and I have prayed for him all your life and God has answered that prayer. I love you sweet girl:)

And last but not least, my Mom....Grammy. My Mom turns 68 this week, hope you're not upset with me but these people won't believe it! Doesn't she look fantastic??? I hope I age as well as you my friend:) Lottie loves sharing her birthday with you! I know that you were not pleased when I took your little grandbabies out of the country but you have been nothing but a good friend and have always been a rock for me....thank you Mom. I love you so much and we will be there at your house to eat some yummy chocolate pie very soon:)

(In case I have some new reader friends....James and Elisabeth were both born on November 18th, four years apart. And Lottie was born on my Mom's birthday November 17th. Huge birthday week in the Byrd's Nest!!!)

A Praying Friend

2011-11-06T17:53:00.010-06:00

This is Gina. She is the pastor's wife of a church we are working with, La Iglesia Que Te Ama. The church that loves you:) Ever since the first time I met her a couple of months ago she has made me feel at home with her family and the church members.

Maybe it is my fatigue....or the not knowing of what is going on with my health but for whatever reason I have that feeling like I need a hug...all the time. Living here is hard, we are in a new place with really no friends (yet) and I am a people person. I crave relationships! You're probably thinking, "Go and make some friends for heaven's sakes!" I want to...I really do! I crave it and pray for it all the time. Not just for my Spanish but for companionship. It seemed easier in Puebla because the work schedules were so different, here they leave for work at 6am and come home at 10pm so on the weekends they are all about family. Which is what they should be focusing on:)

I know God knows what He has planned for me even when I constantly ask him "What do you want from me??" There is no place we enter that God is not there, He was there before we even arrived. I know He is in total control of all of our circumstances here and I know we are supposed to be here but I'm not gonna lie...it's hard. I'm not whining, my life is so much better than millions of other people's lives but still....it's different living in a foreign country. No one said it would be easy and I'm certain that most missionaries have felt this at the beginning of their career. I'm not trying to sound pitiful and I'm not asking for sympathy...I knew this about this type of work.

So today.....God sent me someone.

It was a specific message.

He has been listening to my cries.

And He has answered my prayers.

Before church began today, sweet Gina walked up to me and grabbed me and embraced me with every muscle in her body...I could barely breathe. She began praying in my ear and saying the most beautiful words. I began crying. God was speaking through her. God was telling me that no matter what is wrong with my health...even if it is just stress....it is for a reason and He will be glorified. God was telling me that He did send me a friend to share sisterhood with...Gina. He was showing me that my "living situation" has changed and yes we have lived in 5 different places in the last two and a half years....but His Word never changes. He was telling me that I am not here alone that He is my rock and my strength and I am to rest under His wings. God was showing me how much He loved me....through her.

I am so blessed.

Then the service began. I noticed a young man standing in front of me...he was alone. During the sermon I was looking at him and he had a banged up eye like he was hit...really hard. He had many scars all over his arms, face and neck. I could hardly focus on the girls or the sermon...yes I can multi-task! I kept wondering what his life has been like so far, he couldn't have been more than 19 or 20 years old. It has been a hard life for sure. After the sermon, he seemed to have trouble finding the song in the songbook. I helped him find the first song and then the next but still he wasn't singing. I was wondering if he could even read? It is certainly a possibility that he never learned to read. But he seemed uncomfortable....I really wanted to talk with him but I know here...in this country...it would not be appropriate to approach a man by myself. Greg was beside me but he was worshiping in song. All of the sudden, Gina came out of nowhere, put her arm around his back...showed him what song we were singing and kept her finger on the page so he could follow. He seemed to relax and I just closed my eyes and began praying during the rest of the songs for the Holy Spirit to fill his heart so this child of God could feel my Father's love for him. He looked like no one had ever shown him love....he looked hardened but at the same time he looked like a scared little boy.

You see....Gina is a pastor's wife....I had that role for almost eight years. I remember doing that with a young man who had a troubled life in our congregation as well. God showed me more than just a friend in Gina today, He showed me that I still have that role and I must fulfill it without fear. Jesus wasn't afraid to step out of the boundaries of culture and look inappropriate. He just loved them. He met them wherever they were and showed His Father's love.

You see.....I realized today....my role is still the same. I was thinking of this job as being different but it's just the same. I am just supposed to touch their lives with the love of Jesus.

What an amazing day:)

Joyful Emma Jane

2011-10-31T22:02:00.032-05:00

You love jumping up and down on the couch and the bed! You love for Mommy to catch you jumping on the bed and then you laugh super loud and say, "Oh sorry Mom, I didn't know" :)

Your entire face almost disappears into your smile and your laugh is contagious! At night when you and Lottie are supposed to be going to sleep, I can hear you say, "Lottie, tickle me!" Thank goodness you are homeschooled or you would be in trouble constantly for the endless chatter and giggling. I know because Mommy was always in trouble for it in school:)

You make friends so easily everywhere you go. It doesn't matter to you that they speak Spanish, you are not interested in learning Spanish. You just chatter away in English and they talk to you in Spanish and it works....somehow:) It must be your magnetic personality! You absolutely love looking at books. School frustrates you but I know that once you begin reading well, there will be no stopping you! You will be my little bookworm:)

You love water! You don't like to put your head under the water but you are forever putting it in your mouth....still....at the age of (almost) 7! We have to watch you in Mexico because the water is so yucky here, thank goodness we don't have a bathtub:)

Family is very important to you sweet baby.You and Lottie are not just sisters but famous friends! I know that you have had a long journey but you have grown to love all of us. It literally breaks your heart that you live so far away from Bubba and Sissy. You are also discovering your own story about where your life began in South Korea, Mommy is so proud of you.

You love love love carousels! They make you giggle and squeal and you just cannot get enough!

You love to pretend, whether you are a princess in a far away land or the Mommy and Lottie is your baby. You don't really like being the Mommy, you prefer to be the baby....that is your role in our family....Emma Jane you will always be our baby:) You have such an innocence about you that I truly love. We love you Emma Jane!

New Life in Christ

2011-10-31T19:29:00.001-05:00

This is the worship team at La Iglesia Que Te Ama

While most of Mexico is celebrating Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) one of the churches we have been working with had eight baptisms last Sunday! Eight!!! So while Mexico City seems alive with selling flowers, decorations, skulls, bread and food for the festivities in the cemetery with their deceased relatives for the next few days, these precious people have chosen a different path.....a much narrower path. The path won't be easy, especially living here, some have probably risked much. Some parents here will disown their own children for becoming Christ followers. But on Sunday they made a public testimony of their love for Jesus!

But their Heavenly Father has adopted them into His family. He will love them...nurture them...provide for them...teach them...and guide them for the rest of their days on this earth.

"I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you....not to abandon you" (Jeremiah 29:11 The Message)

We have a loving God who is filled with compassion, He hurts when we hurt. We serve a God that embraces us whether we succeed or fail. He is there....He is always there! He is there underneath all of the paperwork on your desk... He is there in the midst of the personal struggle that you deal with every day... He is there for the child that is listening to his parents fight in the next room....He is there when you have lost hope in everything and everyone. This is the God our new friends in Christ have chosen to follow!

If you don't know Him and if you ever have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me! I would love to begin walking along beside you and I would be honored to pray for you.

The next time you hear a baby laugh or see an ocean wave, take note. Pause and listen as His majesty whispers ever so gently, “I’m here.”(Max Lucado)

Una Fiesta!!!

2011-10-29T20:04:00.001-05:00

We went to a birthday party with our leaders the Ortega's. It was in a huge park and we were looking for Cabana 6 which was on the other side of the lake so we decided to rent this nifty little bicycle.

We made it but oh my....it was tiring to peddle. When we arrived all of the other children wanted to ride it with Lottie, Emma and Deidra.

They went down the road a ways and then one of the chains slipped off. So they all ran back!

They began making a fire in the grill and Lottie and Greg were looking for sticks for the fire.

There was a lot of teamwork involved to get the fire started but it finally worked! The little girl below is admiring Jesse the pinata:)

The cutest baby girl. She loves to dance and shakes her tushy and has lots of rhythm! Well, of course she has rhythm, she is Latina!!

Each time she danced for us she asked for applause...soooo precious:)

Lottie leading Simon Says with some kids

I love watching my shy girl come out of her shell.

Pretty Deidra on a horse

The line for the pinata. It always lines up from the smallest child to the largest child.

Emma has some serious strength when hitting a pinata

Everyone diving for the candy. This part is scary for Emma so Lottie gets candy for her too:)

One more game of Simon Says before we go home. What a great day with lots of new friends!!!

Medical update!

2011-10-18T18:26:00.000-05:00

(hee hee) Sounds serious doesn't it? It's not:) We went to the doctor with my lab results today. I made Greg come with me because I knew I wouldn't remember everything he said to me. He has ruled out any serious infections. My thyroid is great, my blood counts are good, liver is great and my hormone levels are good. My cholesterol levels were not so good and now I am taking medicine......must be all of those tortillas, tacos and tamales! What the tests did show was that I have an auto immune disease but he doesn't know which one because there are many and my main symptom is extreme fatigue and that is not enough information to narrow it down.

"An autoimmune disease is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. Normally, the immune system's white blood cells help protect the body from harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and blood or tissues from another person or species. The immune system produces antibodies that destroy these harmful substances.In patients with an autoimmune disorder, the immune system can't tell the difference between healthy body tissue and antigens. The result is an immune response that destroys normal body tissues. What causes the immune system to no longer tell the difference between healthy body tissues and antigens is unknown. "

So in my tests it showed that I had an abnormal amount of antinuclear antibodies and that is not good.
"Antibodies are proteins that are made as part of an immune response. Normally the immune system responds to infection by producing large numbers of antibodies to fight bacteria or viruses. However, when a person has an autoimmune disease, the body's immune system malfunctions, producing large amounts of harmful substances called autoantibodies. Autoantibodies, unlike normal antibodies that fight bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, attack the body's own tissues and cells. Autoantibody-mediated inflammation and cell destruction can affect blood cells, skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and other organs of the body."

So, there you have it! That is our medical lesson for the day:) He has ordered further testing so we will go back to the hospital in the morning for more blood work. He is also testing me for tuberculosis because he said there is a large increase of TB here in Mexico now and since we work with poor people he wanted to test me just to be safe. I don't go back until November 22nd but if he sees something on the lab results when they come back, he will call us and tell us over the phone. The bottom line is that I do have something but it is treatable and I am ready to begin getting treatment which doesn't sound like I will begin until we get back from Texas in January. I was wanting to begin treatment before we left, I will just keep praying.

The girls are excited to be going back to the hospital tomorrow so they can have another banana nut muffin from Starbucks:)

Weekend in Puebla!

2011-10-16T22:47:00.001-05:00

We stayed at a Marriott and it had a heated pool, a trampoline, a playground and a bathtub! We didn't have any extra time to swim but just knowing it is here in case we want to go back is awesome for a future vacation. Just driving in Puebla without all of the extra people, cars and traffic felt like a vacation! lol

We arrived on Friday, checked in and headed downtown for some Christmas presents for friends and family and of course.....to eat Tacos al Pastor! Sorry Mark, James and Elisabeth:) Saturday we headed to our old favorite mall because I wanted to look at dresses for the wedding. I found one for me! It is really beautiful and I hope Elisabeth likes it. Greg let me shop and walk around by myself and he took the girls to their favorite game place with arcade games. There was a new game since we had been there in the Spring and the girl won 1,000 tickets the first time they played it, Wow!

These trampoline pictures are blurry as I am not good at action shots but I can just feel the joy in their hearts. Love it!

We went to Puebla for a celebration of cell churches and so we were able to see lots of friends that we made last year when we lived there. It was really precious while we were picking some families up that needed a ride. Our girls were on one side of the road and all of the other little girls were just looking at them. Then a cute little ladybug brought them all together. They were all giggling and having the best time. The ladybug drove with us in the van to the celebration. She died as we were about to leave the party:(

Is that the sweetest little face with the biggest brown eyes? She wouldn't let me pick her up but she let Greg:)

Our dear friend Manuel, we miss his family so much

I love this woman! She is a pastor's wife and keeps me giggling at all times. I told Greg on the way home after we dropped everyone off that I sure wish I had her for a friend right next door. She has the warmest heart and the most beautiful smile:)

Scott and Sherry! This picture is for you! Guess who is having a baby in November? We told her we needed a picture of her pregnant tummy and Roberto was going to lift her shirt up but she slapped his hand. ha ha They look really happy don't they? I know they miss you both very much!

This was at the end of the celebration. It was a much smaller area than last year and nothing really for the kids to play on so it was (ahem) challenging with my girls, but especially Lottie. I wanted to spend time with so many different people but there wasn't enough time or space. These three older girls wanted their pictures taken with the girls but as you can see, they were "done" with picture taking. I didn't want to be in the picture but there was no other way to get them to participate. lol

On Sunday morning, we went to church with Manuel and his family then we headed to Atlixco to have lunch. This restaurant was nestled in the mountains and the scenery was breathtaking. I can't believe we lived close to this place for a year and never knew about it! They had a running brook that produced water from the volcano Popo, well...his real name is Popocatepetl, they call him Popo for short. There were rides, a playground, cotton candy and horses to ride.

This is Rode! Manuel and Seli had a baby while we were in the state, she is gorgeous! She looks just like her sister Febe. Seli is swinging her in a hammock and she loves it!

Lottie, Febe and Emma Jane

And off they go! They didn't have enough small ponies for Emma to have one so she is riding tall on a pretty black horse. She felt very special;)

This group left after the girls but this little colt was running desperately after it's Mommy. About five minutes later, it came back....alone. Poor thing:(

Another baby getting milk from it's Mommy. It was so tiny because it was a pony and the girls thought it was so sweet. Interesting they saw this and baby Rode getting fed today also. Emma asked, "Does Seli give her baby milk and juice like that or just milk?" lol Gotta love their curiosity! Then it started a whole segment of questions on how they were fed when they were first born. (sigh) This part always makes Lottie sad.

Rode! Beautiful and wonderfully made by our Creator!

Seli, Febe and Rode. I miss them already.

New Recipes, Homeschool and some exciting news!

2011-10-11T08:59:00.001-05:00

Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter
8 whole flour tortillas
3 cups grated monterey jack cheese
3 grilled chicken breasts, chopped (I shredded the chicken)
2 cups grilled pineapple, chopped
1 whole jalapeno, sliced (seeded if you want to cut the heat)
cilantro
1 can corn
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
salt and pepper, to taste
sour cream, pico de gallo, and lime wedges, to serve

1. Warm a griddle over medium heat and add butter. Slightly warm and toast the tortillas on both sides, then remove from griddle and set aside.

2. To assemble, sprinkle four browned tortillas with grated monterey jack cheese. Arrange chicken slices evenly over the surface. Add pineapple slices and jalapeno slices. Sprinkle on cilantro, corn, and beans and drizzle barbecue sauce over the top. Season to taste. Add second browned tortilla on top of each one.3. Warm in the oven or on a skillet until cheese is melted. Cut each quesadilla into six wedges.

Serve with sour cream, pico de gallo and lime wedges.

** I didn’t prepare them this way. To save time, I combined the beans, corn, Jalapeno, cilantro and BBQ sauce in one bowl. I also didn't use the butter. I am trying not to use butter for Greg and I! I found this amazing dish HERE

Black Bean, Avocado, Cucumber and Tomato Salad

*1 seedless cucumber, peeled and diced
*3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
*2 avacados, diced
*1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
*2 tbsp. minced red onion
*2 tbsp. cilantro, minced
*2 limes, juice of

Combine together and chill before serving. Delicious! This tasty salad can be found HERE

Refried Beans without the refry

• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 3 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
• 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (I use 2)
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 5 teaspoons salt
• 1 3/4 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin (I use 1 tsp. because I like cumin)
• 9 cups water

Directions

1. Place the onion, rinsed beans, jalapeno, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin into a slow cooker. Pour in the water and stir to combine. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.

2. Once the beans have cooked, strain them, and reserve the liquid. Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding the reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency. (After I mash them, I use a hand mixer)

**Once you eat these, you will never eat refried beans out of a can again...ever! This recipe was found HERE

What do you do when everyone is restless in the homeschool room? Grab your books...grab your markers....oh and grab the dog too! Go outside to your fort....and listen to a precious child's giggles behind you (Emma!) as you climb up the stairs to the fort with said dog and have an amazing afternoon full of sunshine, laughter and reading.

The girls are doing so amazing in school this year. Lottie is blasting through her readers but still gets her lower case b's and d's mixed up...I can see that:) When I read to them at night she is reading along with me in regular books. She loves books and that makes this Mommy happy because I love to read also! Lottie loves science and wants to know how everything works. Our curriculum doesn't have much in the way of "Science" and so any suggestions would be great for a first grader with great curiosity! She lives on the National Geographic website...just for fun;)

Emma is coming along really well also and seems to enjoy math, especially if she has some fun math manipulatives to play with. She is doing much better with her phonics and is trying to sound out words now, I'm so proud of her! I walked by the homeschool room the other day and the girls were sitting in the floor with a reader and Emma was trying out the words and Lottie was helping her and saying "Good job Emma!". I love these girls:)

Exciting news! Sunday at church the pastor's wife asked me if I wanted to lead a bible study for women each week at someone's home. These are those moments where I think, hmmm.....why do they need me to do this? Their Spanish is perfect and mine...well...is not perfect but I think I am going to do it! I could sure use the practice and the fellowship and I am very excited. I'm just so blessed to be able to be a part of these women's lives. So pray for me, pray for my language and pray that God will use me in a powerful way so that they can begin to become more equipped with God's Word and take over this ministry in their own homes!

Engagement pictures!!!!!

2011-10-08T18:39:00.001-05:00

Lottie said, "Mark has the cutest smile"

Lottie and Emma both squealed when they saw this picture and said, "Oh how cute!" They are past that stage where seeing people kiss is yucky....should I be worried about that?

I love the way she is looking at him

Whispering sweet nothings in her ear....or he could be quoting a funny movie. Lottie thinks he is the funniest person in our family:)

Aren't they just beautiful together?

True love! Mark's parents took some engagement pictures of the kids, don't they just look precious together??? Oh I miss them so much, if only I could reach through these pictures and squeeze them both!!! Thank you Steve and Brenda for doing this for them, you did an awesome job:)

Only 47 more days until I see my big kids!! Not that we are counting...... :)

New Swing Set and other random things

2011-10-07T19:00:00.005-05:00

I love our backyard! We eat outside lots:)

This Mommy is not too pleased with monkey girl doing this over a concrete patio so we may have to put something soft underneath it;)

I love this smile!

We finally have our swing set built! They were here until midnight last night trying to finish it but did not get the slide put on but that's okay because it is even amazing without the slide! The girls are in heaven and I'm so happy for them. Now we just need some friends to share it with:) Who wants to come and play?

I went to the hospital this morning to get all of my tests done. I was really impressed. It was so modern and very organized. While Greg was paying for my tests and geting me on the list to go back to the lab, there were lots of people there waiting, the woman who was handing out numbers and making sure people went to the right windows to pay was totally enchanted with the girls. She asked lots of questions of which I was happy to answer. Then she began telling me about a ballet school that was probably close to our house and an elementary school that Asians go to here. I was thinking....what Asians? I never see Asian people here. Anyway, apparently it is a great school and the children all learn Mandarin, English and Spanish. Lottie began pulling on my jacket and I looked down and she was shaking her head "no". ha ha She understands practically everything people say to me:) Although I would love for both girls to learn their native languages we will just continue homeschooling for now. Besides, they don't teach Korean. Here they call the girls "Japoneses"and they think that Mandarin is the universal Asian language I guess. I have tried to explain the difference but I usually just get that "deer in the headlights" look so now I just let it go. So they told me to sit down and wait for my name to be called and Greg and the girls headed to Starbucks for coffee and muffins. It was already 11:00 and I was starving! Right after they walked away, the same woman came up to me and took my hand and led me to the back....sort of like sneaking me off to the lab. She handed me off to a lab guy and he took all of my blood....for real....I didn't think he was going to leave me any! Then she took me back outside. She gave the girls balloons, cookies and suckers and asked me to come and visit with her when I come back to the doctor. Wasn't she nice? It was like having my own little angel there with watching over me:) So with all of that said.....they will e-mail me and the doctor the results on the 11th. Yes, it is very different here. And I go back to see him on the 18th, so keep praying for some good news!!

In case you don't know this handsome guy, he is Mark....Elisabeth's fiancee:) We all love him so much. He's pretty popular with Lottie and Emma too. Each morning before homeschool, the girls draw pictures of someone or something they want to pray for before we begin our day and then we study the bible. Last week Emma drew a picture of the family. So I asked her who all of the people were, she named Daddy, Mommy, Bubba, Sissy, Lottie and Emma. Lottie told her she left out Mark. Emma preceded to tell her that Mark wasn't in the family until he married Sissy. Oh dear.....the entire morning went South after that, Lottie had huge tears streaming down her face and demanded that Emma draw Mark in her prayer journal. Ever have a bible study go bad like this? (hee hee) Lottie insisted that Mark did NOT have to be married to Sissy to be in our family. Later that day, I found Emma's prayer journal on Lotite's desk and "someone" had drawn Mark into the family photo:) All is well again. Mark's mom took this picture when we were at her house for lunch and it is obvious how much they love him. I'm so thankful that he has joined our family. We are truly blessed:)

Five Little Pumpkins

2011-10-03T15:47:00.004-05:00

A little more time with friends

2011-10-02T14:31:00.005-05:00

Avalyn and Emma Jane enjoying their ice cream cones. Seriously, you should see Emma chomp on an ice cream cone. She has no front teeth, it is hilarious.

Lottie, Emma Jane and Avalyn searching for roly poly bugs. We called them Doodlebugs in my day, this is what the girls call them:) Lottie is holding her eye because dirt flew in it and there was much drama, cold cloths and ice packs.

Is that the most precious thing ever? He looks pretty pleased with himself doesn't he? Each time Greg or I would go in the kitchen, Kenian and Analeigh would follow us. Why? Because we would always give them a cookie! We are going to make awesome grandparents:) ha ha

My precious little friend Analeigh who calls me Memaw. (pronounced Mee Maw) Yep....that is not the grandmother name I would have chosen for myself but she has chosen it for me. I am not a Memaw, I was leaning more towards something more sophisticated like Nana but when it comes out of her precious mouth....oh my....too irresistible! I have a video of her saying Memaw but I am very challenged when downloading videos and putting them on the blog and I can't make it upright but you can still hear her voice:) The video is at the end of this post.

The babies sharing their cookies with their Daddy

Marissa and Analeigh who would only pose with this net over her head

Happy Kenian and his Mommy

Emma and her buddy Avalyn dancing. They play very well together. Lottie was out of sorts most of the day but today she is back to her old self.

Analeigh and Greg playing Peek-a-Boo, she is quite the charmer I tell ya!

Just scored a cookie from Greg:) It pays to be cute and little!

This is the most entertaining child

Ha ha...I made the picture of me black and white to try and avoid my washed out face and all my wrinkles. Every picture I have of me I look totally exhausted, guess what? I am! We have still not been able to get a doctor's appointment. Greg calls constantly! On Thursday he actually spoke to the doctor on the phone and the doctor was disappointed because he told his receptionist to fit us in. He told her again and she said she would call us. No one called. I would be upset but I am too tired:) I am actually quite sick of myself and I feel whiny. To look at me, I do not look sick but I know something is wrong with me. Please pray that they will call this week, I would like to begin finding out what is wrong with me soon!

Thanks for coming to play with us Avalyn, Analeigh and Kenian! Maybe next time you come our swing set will be put together! We hope:)

Happy Birthday to Allie!!!!

2011-09-30T10:19:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to Allie Boo Boo Bear! Happy Birthday to you!!!

We love you and miss you like crazy cakes!

Lottie and Emma

A new friend

2011-09-26T09:34:00.001-05:00

Some missionary friends had to go to a meeting and their daughter stayed with us over the weekend. We had a great time! She had lots of homework and studying because she is a senior in high school and she is getting ready for college in the states. She has lived here in Mexico almost her entire life and gave lots of encouragement to Lottie and Emma. Sometimes for newer missionary kids, I think it helps just to know that you are not the only one who has trouble adjusting. She was such a blessing to us this weekend. We love you Deidra!

Playing with friends and a God story

2011-09-20T12:26:00.002-05:00

Analeigh was too precious walking her dog Zoli. She is so much smaller than the big girls but she can keep up with every single one of them! Seems like yesterday she was born in Costa Rica when we were in language school:) She gives the best open mouth tongue slobbering kisses on the cheek and was actually pretty taken with Greg when we visited. She is super cute!

The girls were so glad to see their friend Avalyn again. Her family lives on the other side of Mexico City from us so we can't see each other as often as we like but Daddy took us for the day and we had so much fun. They played board games, read books and after lunch we had ice cream at the mall. Everything in their neighborhood is really close to their house and no traffic! (Thou shall not covet....thou shall not covet:)

All four girls in the same dress. When we were at the mission meeting, I saw Avalyn and Analeigh in these dresses. We told them that we had the exact same dress at our house so we decided when we saw each other the next time, everyone would wear the blue dress. Aren't they pretty? I put Analeigh's head on Lottie's shoulder, obviously she was not too comfortable (hee hee) plus she was up on a high wall. She was a little scared:) Gorgeous girls!

They all had a great time except for when Avalyn fell on her scooter and got boo boo's on both knees! Poor little thing. Nurse Emma was on the scene as soon as it happened and then the babies came running down the hill to see their big sister. But Avalyn is very brave. Lottie thinks she's brave because she goes to a real school with other children;) Avalyn goes to a school with other Mexican children and it is really a neat place. She was recently in a program for Independence Day and said her lines in the program in Spanish! We are so proud of our friend!

I didn't hardly get any pictures of Kenian. Well, actually most of these pictures were taken by my friend Marissa. Anyway, Kenian is so precious and loves to cuddle. I'm such a sucker for him when he holds his arms up asking me to pick him up.....oh I just can't help myself! He probably would have never learned to walk at my house:)

Great day with good friends. Doug made us a delicious lunch and then they even let us stay three hours past the kids bedtime so that we would miss all of the traffic! Nice:) I felt really bad though because the little babies were running around, especially Analeigh, like they was delirious. They were so tired. Maybe our swing set will be up soon (ahem) and they can come to our house for BBQ next!

We love you guys and are so thankful that God placed us in the same city!

P.S. We had a God story yesterday! Lottie had to go back to the dentist to get more teeth sealed. She normally gets so worked up emotionally she is completely uncooperative and crying, sometimes screaming for over an hour and then she will relax. Wears this Mommy out! So for two weeks we have been studying about trusting God. We have studied David, Moses and Lottie's favorite, Peter walking on water. We talked about how we have to keep our eyes on God and then and only then will we feel His presence. So we walked into the dentist yesterday and I braced myself for the worst, the little stinker walked right in and laid in the chair with super obedience and faith and never moved a muscle. Eliana and her assistant could hardly believe their eyes and kept commenting over and over about how good she was being, with their limited English. Eliana asked me what happened to her and I told her about the stories that we have been studying. I left out Peter, so Lottie tapped my hand and reminded me. Eliana took her hand out of Lottie's mouth and Lottie told me to not forget to tell her how Peter could walk on water only if he had His eyes on God but when he took them away from God, he began to sink. Eliana asked me what she said and I told her in Spanish. They both sort of smiled but had nothing else to say. I have been waiting to point out to Lottie that we all have testimonies and when we begin to collect them we can tell them to others, just like yesterday. That was her very own testimony. She was very excited. I'm not sure Eliana and her assistant believed in a God like that......but I know one little girl that was shown that He was right there....all along and her little light was shining bright!

Loving my neighbor

2011-09-18T20:07:00.003-05:00

I'm just read an amazing book. I know, I always say they are amazing...but they really are! "The Dangerous Act of Loving your Neighbor: Seeing others through the eyes of Jesus" by Mark Labberton.

(Luke 10:27) "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind AND your neighbor as yourself." The author states that "the human heart is crucial to social transformation. Changing our world depends on changing our hearts: How we "perceive", name and act in the world". In other words, our human hearts must be made new so that the world might be made new! "People suffer daily around the world because human hearts are unchanged. The practical and tragic consequences continue endlessly".

We can't say that we "love" God if we do not truly love our neighbor and not just the easy neighbors....ALL of our neighbors. The ones who are hard to get along with,. the ones who are so sad and are reaching out to anyone who will save them from the pit they are falling in, and even those that we are afraid of. Truly loving God must involve loving our neighbor or......we are not loving God. Pure and Simple.

"The inner personal work of the grace of Jesus Christ is meant to show itself in the public lives of those who are Christ's disciples. The test is not just how we respond to those who love us but how we respond to the poor and needy and even beyond that....our enemies!"

Mexico City is the pit of darkness. I am certain that if you are a new believer here, you will be attacked in a way that you are not prepared for. Don't believe in evil spirits? Come here to live. Decisions and actions emerge out of the distortions of their hearts, these things have become not only a part of "who" they are but "what" they are and "where" they came from:

*Alchoholism
*Wife/child abuse
*Violence in the homes
*Molestation of children by family members

And I am not even listing the obvious ones you read about in the paper every day, you can believe what you read. They daily strip the women and children of dignity, hope and innocence.

"Where we live shapes how we live". The author wrote this and this is true for Mexico. I am not preaching to you, I am trying to open your eyes if they are already not opened. Because mine have not always been open. I think sometimes we see so much darkness and need on the news that it is easy to think for that moment, "Oh how terrible" and then hope that there is someone who will intervene. We can "hope" that solutions can be found, circumstances improved and wrongs be righted. We can think, "Well, that's just the way it is there". Injustice is what shows up when love is absent from the heart.

(Isaiah 56:6-9) "God's heart passionately desires justice, starting with the most vulnerable". (emphasis mine)

So I have had to evaluate my sight lately. How do I see the people here? Am I looking with my eyes wide open or with eyes that are closed? "If I am going to see the world in the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and perceive the people and needs of the world in a way that was truthful, then I need to see with the heart of Jesus". These people our culture treats as "invisible".....God sees clearly.

(Micah 6:8) "To do justice and to love kindness and to work humbly with your God"

I used to look at the injustice of the world through different eyes...until it was my child that was bullied by mean girls and harsh insensitive words that were painted on the inside of her heart that turned her sadness into an eating disorder.....until, it was my child that was left in front of a store the very day she was born and screamed for her needs to be met in an orphanage where no one answered her cries, I know my daughter, I know she never stopped screaming and now she is still screaming for her needs to be met....until it was my daughter that once knew of her mother's love, the smell of her body, the touch of her hand and the sound of her voice and then at the age of two felt and exhibited grief that most of us never feel until much later in life. These things slowly began to open my eyes to the culture in different countries and the darkness that they live in and are in bondage to. It opened my eyes for my little ones to the situations their mother's were forced into by culture. Now, I "see" every time I leave our home. I see the hungry, the abused, the violent young people who think they have no other choice. I cannot escape it any longer. The broken lives of others are all around me. It often appears hopeless but don't they deserve hope? Any time we are in the car and you look on the sidewalk while stopped at a light, you can see the brokenness of the hearts. You really can see it.

I can no longer write myself out of their story.

Often we have children approach us for money. We have made a family decision to give them food instead because we are certain they don't get to keep the money and you can figure out where the money goes. When we hand them a bag of food, juice and other yummies, they always turn to look at the adult they are with and desperately look at us again and ask for money. What is the story behind those eyes? Why do they look so fearful? What will happen if they return to that adult, who may or may not be their parent, with no money?

I can no longer see with my eyes closed.

Our job has specific ministry strategies that need to be met. Is that important? Absolutely! But if we don't involve ourselves in their personal lives and find out their needs, not just material needs but find out and counsel any brokenness in their lives than we are just "playing church" with them. We recently encountered a situation with good friends here. Something happened in their family that has broken my heart.

I was angry and devastated but because I am called to love my neighbor as myself, I had to find a way to love them as Jesus loves them. I was even mad at myself because I never really saw "this" coming. I had to forgive....not ignore....only forgive as God has forgive me, the injustice that had occurred and pray about finding a way to restore their hearts. In different ways and to different degrees the person needs to be restored and in many ways was probably a victim himself and now.....he is the Abuser.

This is my plea....we need you! We need your prayers! We are battling a huge spiritual dark force here BUT not bigger than my God! Please pray for:

*God to show us clearly the people we need to minister to and love on.
*God to show us the men and women that desire to reach their own country by spreading the name of Jesus.
*Our Spanish! You can never pray for that enough!
*Our health. My health has not been good since we moved here, pray that we remain healthy servants of the Lord.

And my last plea is this......YOU my sweet friends are in a missionary field also. You have the same people all around you...needing a hug or a kind word. All of the people need to feel God's love through us. The abusers and the abused. Keep your eyes open and I am praying for you also that you will love them with all your heart, soul, strength and mind:)

Viva Mexico!

2011-09-16T16:19:00.002-05:00

Sweet Emma. On Independence Day all of the children and adults wear red, white or green. Emma was very excited to go shopping for her own Mexican dress. Then she saw this "pink" one. Pink is her all time favorite color in the universe! She had to have it, so of course we had to get it for her.

She loved it and twirled and danced around the church in it last night.

Emmie loves to be a princess:)

Doesn't she just make you want to scoop her up and squeeze her tight? Too precious! She looked so precious standing there holding that flag and she was very shy and did not want me to take her picture but how could I resist?

Lottie and Camila

I don't remember her name but the baby's name is Melanie. See I remember all of the children's names! This is her sister's baby (I believe) and they walked over to me when they first got there and set her in my lap and said they needed to run back home for their outfits and some decorations. Emma came over when I was talking to the baby and said," Is that your new baby Mommy?" I told her no, and that I could assure her we were not getting any more babies, "she" is the only baby in our family. She smiled really big and ran off prancing and dancing on her toes:)

Some of the youth in the church. They are involved in every ministry that exists in this church. They lead music, teach the children in Sunday school, meet for discipleship meetings, minister to alcoholics and have a skateboard ministry as well. A new generation in Mexico growing in Christ, a very special group of young people.

Max and Lottie. I really tried to find Lottie and I outfits but could not find anything for adults and Lottie is never into dressing up for occasions. But she did let one of the youth paint red, white and green on her little cheeks. Huge people....that was huge....and I wasn't even standing there when it happened! I'm still working on the whole "flower girl" idea. No worries Elisabeth!!! She'll come through:)

These fireworks were being set off by none other than......Lottie and Max. Yes, my sweet baby girl was taught how to do this with the pastor and his son. Gotta love Mexico. She came running over to me with her hands all black and she was so proud of herself, I suggested that she go and wash her hands and she said, "No way Mommy, I'm having too much fun". This child loathes getting dirty.

I didn't get one picture of my pozole or anyone eating it but they did and they loved it, I think they loved the idea more that a Texas girl cooked it. But it is super easy and I felt like a part of their special celebration.

Prayer request. I apparently exposed Elisabeth to mono when I was there and now she has it! God bless her, I know this will be hard with her school so please pray for her. I am still not feeling well, matter of fact, we left early last night because I had a migraine beyond migraines! I woke up at 8:00 this morning and went back to bed from 10:00-2:00, I just think there must be something else wrong with me? I have been this way for over a year now. A sweet friend gave me the phone number of her doctor she uses here so we will call him on Monday.

New friends and great fellowship

2011-09-11T17:59:00.002-05:00

We have gone to this church twice and the girls have not gone to Sunday school with the other children yet. Well, actually, they have never gone to Sunday school by themselves since we moved here. Today after the service we all had lunch together to celebrate September birthdays. The pastor's son, Max, must have asked the girls to play fifteen times and neither one of them would even answer him. Have I mentioned how painfully shy Lottie is? Emma just copies Lottie's reaction:) So I took out some coloring books and some crayons and asked the children to color with us instead. Not even fifteen minutes later, both girls were running around with the other children....giggling and playing. I was so proud of them, but especially Lottie, because I know how hard situations like this are for her. So this is a picture of Lottie, Emma, Maya, Santiago, Max and....and....oh dear, I forgot this sweet young man's name.

This is Max helping Lottie learn to ride his scooter. She has a scooter but this one is really narrow and turns really quickly. When we left Lottie said, "I have a new friend, Max". She is really working hard on the goal she made for herself to make new friends. This goal is not hard to meet in a church such as this one. The pastor told me that the children are taught in Sunday school to never leave anyone out. Everyone is their brother and sister.

This week is a long celebration of Independence here in Mexico. Everything is decorated! We saw a taxi today with a huge sombrero on top of it and a very large Mexican flag across the back windshield. So on Thursday, in this same church, they are having their own Independence day celebration. After the service they were asking for volunteers to make or bring food.

Pozole is a popular Mexican dish used in celebrations. I love pozole! You can make it with pork or chicken and it has different spices and hominy. You garnish it with radishes, lettuce, limes, sour cream and tostadas. Yummy! They have Pozole Blanco (white) and Pozole Rojo (red and spicy). I prefer Blanco, I'm not a spicy girl but Greg prefers it ALL spicy! So they were asking who would make the pozole and only one woman raised her hand, so up my hand went! (gasp!) I still can't believe I volunteered to make a Mexican dish for them my third time to visit the church! I have made it one time before for some friends in Puebla and they said it was really authentic (ha ha) but then again the people here are very polite:) So, the other woman is making the Pozole Rojo and I am making the Pozole Blanco for about 70 people. Oh dear...I need much prayer!

We were also told we needed to dress very festive so we could only wear red, green or white and the girls hair needed to be styled in a Mexican fashion. Whatever that is, I will have to do a little research. Emma is the little "joiner" so she immediately wanted a tradition Mexican skirt and top so we will go and look for it this week. The party is on Thursday night! Hopefully, we will have lots of fun pictures and satisfied tummies.

Blessed

2011-09-10T13:14:00.000-05:00

We got mail today!!! We received the most wonderful package from England from my precious friend Shawn. I took a picture of the stamp because it says "Royal Mail", I am so fascinated by "Royal" anything....it is going in our scrapbook:)

Just look at that beautiful purse and stickers!!! Oh how did you know we were very low on stickers my sweet friend? And not just any sticker, these are beautiful, they are beaded and so unique! Some of those will go in the scrapbook as well.

And look at the front of the card that she wrote me the most beautiful message on....I just love it! You have blessed me for so long now my friend. I am only strong and able to be where I am because of your prayers. Even though we have never met in person, I feel your hugs and one day we WILL meet and we will rejoice and sing to the Lord forever....together:)

Also, we received two cards and pictures from the girls ministry at First Baptist Irving in Texas! Oh I just cried when I read these cards. What a special heart they have for Jesus. I was going to put them on the blog but realized I better ask permission first:)

We have never attended this church but when I was searching for mission housing when we come home on stateside in 2013, I connected with their missions person, Allison. Even though we decided on a mission house that was closer to our son's home, Allison asked if they could adopt our family. They are a very mission minded church. There is a Sunday school class that prays for us and e-mails with us often. I save every e-mail. We send them our specific prayer requests whether they are personal or for our ministry. The girls and I are working on a scrapbook and gathering up all of our notes that we have received since we left Texas. I cannot even express the joy we feel when we receive an e-mail know that someone is praying for our family and our ministry. We love you Encore Class at FBC Irving, we can't wait to come home this Christmas and fellowship with you and meet you all in person!

Thank you Savannah and Danequa, you have encouraged us today and we will also add you to our prayer journals and pray for you during our prayer time in school. Thank you for taking the time to write us a note and giving us a picture so we can have your beautiful faces in front of us when we pray for you.

Thank you Lord for these very special people in our lives. Thank you for their heart for missions. You always amaze me at how you place people in our lives that we have never met face to face and they always enter our lives in your perfect timing.....just when we need them the most.

Different Children.....Different Needs

2011-09-04T19:19:00.006-05:00

I just read a new book! "Different Children, Different Needs" by Charles F. Boyd. If you haven't noticed I love to read. I don't really enjoy fiction as much as books that help me to be a better mom, wife, friend or Christian. Yes....I am a self-help in progress! lol In all of my (almost) 28 years of parenting, I have not parented children such as Lottie and Emma. They are very different from James and Elisabeth and I am not talking about adoption issues, just personalities. They are also very different from me! So along with learning how to "teach" these different little people in school, I am also learning how to parent these God created unique little personalities. It was so easy with James and Elisabeth, James was like me and Elisabeth was just like Greg. I could relate easily to Elisabeth even though God did not design us in the same way because I was already married to someone just like her:)

So the book begins with a accurate translation of Proverbs 22:6. "Train up the child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it". I am not a theologian but the translation the author provides makes more sense to me than the way others have shared it with me. He says, "Adopt the training of your child so that it is in keeping with his natural design, when he comes to maturity, he will not depart from that pattern of life." He goes on to say, "As parents, we need to discover our children's natural styles and help each one grow up according to his unique, inborn, God-given design. As they experience the collisions of life, they will be more prone to return to who they really ARE, rather than becoming permanently bent out of shape by who you are trying to make them become. Their self esteem will remain in tact. When God made you, He placed within natural strengths and abilities. He wove those into the fabric of your inter being. And those capabilities and potentialities are part of your unique design. They were given to you to be used to accomplish things for Him." So, because He designed you uniquely as a result you feel fulfilled when you are acting according to your design and frustrated when you aren't.

Okay, so this is my situation. Lottie, Emma and I have completely different personalities. We clearly do not understand how the other person ticks. Not necessarily their job to know this but most certainly it is my job. The author said it best when he described it as working against your unique design. "If you try to force a child into a mold she doesn't fit, you risk sending her a message, "I don't love you for who you are, I love you for how close you come to who I want you to be". Well, none of us want our children to ever think we are portraying that message.

So first I had to discover who we really are:)
Lottie: Fast paced, independent, takes risks, assertive, broad focus, goal-oriented, insecure, anxious, determined, courageous, direct, fearful, straight-forward, loves to be in control, impatient, a leader, stubborn,affectionate, blunt, faithful, introvert. They list things in the book as strengths and weaknesses but I am choosing not to look at them that way, to me, some can be turned into a positive. Lottie loves control. I always attributed this to "adoption" because of all other books I have read but after reading this book, I really think it is just how God designed her. Not a bad thing. Actually, none of the traits I will list for the three of us are bad....just different...because God made us differently. It is just who we are. This need for control is not an option, but a driving force in her life. She often feels an overwhelming need to be in control and will loudly and angrily declare her disapproval when things do not go her way. When she was only two years old she knew how to tie a knot. We would often find poor Emmie tied to a bathroom cabinet. I asked our sweet Dr. Becky what is the matter with her? Why does she do this? She said one word, "Control". We limit the amount of things she can "tie" around the house. A couple of weeks ago, I was in the kitchen and heard Greg say, "Lottie, do you want this ball of kite string?" I came flying out of the kitchen and looked at him as if he had lost his mind! lol She is motivated to overcome any obstacle that stands between her and a goal she has set for herself. Hence, the reason we began listing goals because she loves accomplishing something because it instills confidence in herself. To add to this very loud way of expressing herself, whatever she is feeling, she feels it deeply. Anger, hurt, love or happiness she feels it with every muscle in her being. A bad thing? No, she is very passionate and you will never wonder "how she is feeling".

Emma: Slow paced, relaxed, easy-going, indecisive, cooperating, emotionally contained, holds onto her feelings rather than expressing them, not big on affection, compares herself to others, fear of criticism, agreeable, soft-hearted, resists change, easily manipulated, introvert and often unsociable. Most people would not believe the last thing but she really is, she enjoys time alone. My friend Stephanie and I would often worry about Emma and that Allie and Lottie were leaving her out. This last time we visited we noticed when Allie and Lottie were playing, Emma was playing by herself. If she felt like joining the other two girls, she would and they would let her but most often, she prefers to play alone.

Kim: Affectionate, sympathetic, feelings get hurt easily, a follower, does not like to make decisions for myself or others, anxious, love to be with people, avoids conflicts, forgetful, not assertive, dependent, trusting, easy-going, smothering, feeling, loves physical touch, extrovert, overprotective with my children,people pleaser(this is NOT a good quality, trust me) and slow paced.

We are all very different but I would say that Emma and I have very similar characteristics. I read this book for one reason. To find out what in the world I am doing wrong with both girls! There is a barrier with both girls and after reading this book, I have figured it out. With Lottie, we have been in a control struggle for years. Well, that I knew already but how to handle it was a mystery. Because of our different personalities, she likes to have control and I just like to have "peace" in the home. She is blunt with her words and I avoid conflict and would never dream of hurting someone's feelings. We are so very different. The author suggests to give her areas that she "can" control in her life but to make sure she doesn't control me. Be firm, take strong stands, make strong statements and establish my authority. Wow, that is SO not me! I have never been such a permissive mom but my fatigue that I have been experiencing I know is a factor. I am just too tired to deal with everything being a battle. So we have been in the process of changing a few things so we can shape this strong child into a Godly leader and she is responding in a positive way.

With Emma, quite frankly, she is an introvert and I am an extrovert. I often see myself in Emma also, things I always wished were different about me. So, often I would try to make her think for herself and not be a follower but that was going against the grain for Emma....just like it would be for me. In essence, I was trying to make her be someone that I always wanted to be instead of accepting both of us just the way God made us. Since I ceased in doing this, we are famous friends!

Another thing about both girls is their inability to express their feelings....appropriately. For Lottie, she screams her feelings at me. For Emma, well....you never know what she is feeling because she won't tell you. I used to think it was because she didn't know the words to use to express herself but I have come to believe that she is just introverted and very private and does not want people to know how she is feeling. THIS was our main problem. Now, you can ask my big kids, I am a huge "feelings" type of person. If I think something is wrong with one of my children or my husband, I will ask a thousand questions to find out what is wrong. "If" they decide to tell me, I will talk the issue to death....to the point of it having a burial and a funeral! This book suggests that the proper way to handle this for Lottie, after her blow up, is to be silent. Oh dear....super hard for me! Give her time to calm down and then approach the subject later. Obviously, if discipline is necessary that will have to be administered with some quiet time but by all means, do not talk about it until she is feeling calm and ready to talk. After she does share with me, I can then ask her three questions, "What do you think about your attitude?" "Do you need to ask forgiveness of anyone?" and "What can God teach you through this?" This is a great time of learning for her. For Emma, she may need even a day or two to gather her feelings and try to find the right words to express herself. I lose so much sleep wondering what is going on in her head and biting my tongue. Most of the time she will come to me before bed and tell me she wants to talk to me but I have to let it be on her time and there is no dragging information out of Emma Jane. She completely shuts down when she is upset. You can't talk to her, hug her (which I do anyway) or reach her. You can look in her eyes and see that she is "checked out". I am respecting this part of her personality but I still worry that she will not be able to express her feelings as she grows older. So we will keep working "lightly" on this area as to not cause her great stress and maybe as she matures, she will learn how to communicate what is in her heart.

This morning, Lottie came downstairs and was upset. Emma had hurt her feelings. I asked her what happened and she said that she "needed" to snuggle with Emma and Emma told her that her bed was her private space and she didn't want Lottie to lay there. She said, "Emma is mean". I explained that her sister was not mean but that snuggling and hugging are not high on her list of what her body needs. Lottie and I are snugglers and love touch but Emma is just different. I told her this is not a bad thing, this is just who she is and she quite frankly doesn't understand why people like us have to be so touchy feely all the time:) Sometimes she is even awkward about the way we grab her and love on her. Okay, I probably need to work on this also:)

But both of these techniques have proven to be successful with both girls. I loved this book, I wish it wasn't on my kindle and I actually had the physical book in my hands, so I could write in it. The bottom line is, "Children are not things to be molded but people to be unfolded". Everyone in the world was made unique. There are tons of examples in the bible as well. Remember Paul and Barnabas?" In Acts 15: 36-41, they had a very strong disagreement, they even parted ways over John Mark. Barnabas felt that John Mark deserved another chance but Paul was absolute and basically said no way, this work is too important to risk taking someone with a bad track record." Who is right? The author points out that neither Paul nor Barnabas is wrong, they are just different. Me, being people-oriented, would have done with Barnabas did and take John Mark under my wing and mentor him until he was completely restored. Lottie would have handled the situation as Paul did, he was task-oriented not people-oriented but look at his ministry. He had a very fruitful ministry planting churches. He got the job done.

I am driving Greg crazy with this book. After church today he was completely energized by the two hour service, singing, people, the sermon....this is his element. Lottie was withdrawn, quiet and worn out. Greg immediately said, "What's the matter with Lottie?" This type of situation is stressful and an emotional drain for Lottie. Being around lots of people makes her anxious, tense and worn out. She slept all the way home, it took all of her energy to be in that type of uncomfortable situation. For Greg, he was ready to take on the world!

I know I'm not telling you anything you don't already know but maybe I am being transparent with my family as a friendly reminder that we have to understand our children and how God made them. They are unique individuals....they will never fit into a particular mold that you or anyone else tries to fit them in. We have to not only understand them but accept them and their differences. "This will empower us to help them to be the person that God created them to be. Sometimes the qualities that we admire in them the most are the same qualities that frustrate us."

Chuck Swindoll was once asked what would be the greatest gift we could give our child? He said, "To give your child the time it takes to find out how she is put together. Help them to know themselves so that they learn to love and accept themselves as they are. Then, as they move into a society that seems so committed to pounding them into another shape, they will remain true to themselves, secure in their independent walk with their God."

"He also said, and I will conclude (finally...right??? I can't help myself...I'm a "sharer" remember?) with this quote, "I have begun to realize that secure, mature people are best described in fifteen words: They know who they are....They like who they are....They are who they are....They are real."

P.S. I forgot to mention something! Our neighbors next door told us they wanted us to come over for "cafe" this week! Oh we have been praying for friends and God has answered our prayers. Also, the church we attended today was so awesome. They fell in love with the girls and there were lots of children. We were asked to be a part of their fellowship next week and the pastor asked Greg if he wanted to be a part of the Discipleship program on Tuesday nights! Well...Yes, he does!!! That is his special gift! Awesome blessings today.

Thank you!

2011-09-03T20:27:00.003-05:00

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers for sweet Emma. God heard your prayers and answered them!! Today was the first time she would let me take a picture of her. She is back to her twirling...whirling...silly...willy....sparkling self:) Ya'll are the bestest friends ever!

Homeschool is fun this year!

2011-08-29T14:39:00.002-05:00

I realize these types of posts are really boring to those who do not homeschool but you could even do some of these things with your little ones as a fun project. Since Lottie is high energy and wakes up busy, I am always looking for great ideas of things to do with her. So if you have some.....please share!

Our history is really great this year and not boring like it was last year, the girls love it! The history books are filled with stories from the Pioneer days and each story has different children in them and the way the families lived and the crisis they had to endure or the battles they faced. The stories aren’t real but it is not as boring as listening to, “In the year 1492, blah blah blah” (Oh wait...maybe that's me that is bored by that kind of teaching!) So they are on the edge of their seats each day and beg to hear the next day’s story but I always make them wait. There are real pictures at the end of each section that show how they made soap, clothes etc. and it shows them step by step and there is always review questions to compare it to today’s times and crafts after each story. Like Monday, we read how a pioneer family lived behind a great stone wall to keep them safe from the Indians. It showed how the Mother worked out of the home in the corn fields or making soap and the older sister who was 10 years old had to take care of the toddler brother who escaped one day out of the stone gate. It gave explicit details of where he went through the gate, corn fields, past a forest and into a clearing. He was found behind a large oak tree with many acorns and he was sitting in a strawberry patch eating strawberries. To test their listening skills, I read it twice and they had to draw a map beginning from the house to the strawberry patch where little Richard was found. Emma had a little trouble with it but it was super practice for following directions for her. And there is really no "right way" because we all see the scene in our heads with different pictures! In our curriculum, Heart of Dakota, there is a different craft, science or geography lesson to go with what we are learning in history. Also, memory verses for the Bible study are a part of our day and usually go along with what the children in the history books needed to learn from the Lord as well. Such as responsibility, obedience or love. You get the picture? There are many wonderful stories such as a family who traveled from Spain on a big ship and so you learned everything about traveling on a ship in those days, where you slept, what you ate....oh the learning is never ending and I just LOVE it! Here is the link for these history books if you are interested, but the ideas for the crafts etc. are actually in my teachers manual.I have all three of these history books shown on the link.

I also found this book in our missionary resource book room and it is a wonderful companion to our history curriculum!

Lottie is having her first year of spelling "tests". Each week she gets 10 new words and 2 bonus words to spell. Now here is the situation with Lottie....the child loathes writing. I don't care what form of writing it is, she doesn't like to write the letters. I have tried everything from using shaving cream, paint, dry erase boards...you name it...we have tried it. So I just show her the words on Monday and we say them together, on Tuesday I call the word out and she spells it back to me orally. On Friday, she types her answers on the computer. Actually, she knows them all by Wednesday and sometimes we take the test early. I was a little frantic about the fact that she doesn't want to write and didn't know if this was a large or small battle to fight (because believe me when I say this, we don't need any NEW battles!!) but another homeschool mom assured me that this is "okay" and if she can see the word in her head and spell it aloud, that is just awesome! Whew! So I can put place that "worry" at God's feet and move forward! Hallelujah!

Actually, nothing has gone the way "I" had planned for homeschool. See the picture above, that is how I learn best, this is NOT our classroom. I have had to learn over the past year HOW to teach my girls. They learn about everything, it seems, different from the way I learn. I am totally visual. When we were first learning Spanish, Greg would try to help me at night after the girls went to bed and he would tell me something and I would immediately begin to write it down. He would take my pen away from me and just tell me to listen...what??? Well, I never could remember or comprehend what he was telling me because I couldn't see it! It's not wrong....it's just me.

Both Lottie and Emma learn by listening, touching and experiencing. For example, we were trying to learn placement values of numbers. You know...ones, tens, hundreds etc. We were working on them in our math workbooks and also on the computer....nothing but blank faces. So, I put Emma in the middle of the floor and said, "Emma is the number 2, what place is she in?" Lottie answerd, "The ones place", next I put myself in front of Emma and said I was the number 5, what place am I and how many tens does it take to get to 50. And so on and so on. It then became a super fun game and they were begging to play more! I will remind you...I AM NOT CREATIVE! But, with the different ideas my teacher manual has been giving me, I am learning to be more creative:) So, sometimes we do things a little unconventional. I have had to learn the hard way that children who are not visual will nearly pass out if you hand them a worksheet with 20 math problems on it. So instead, I pull out our little trampoline and Lottie will bounce out the answers;

OR Emma will do ballet twirls across the room with her answers. I realize one day this (sitting and working) will need to happen but for right now, they are just starting out and if I haven't learned anything as a Mom....they eventually all catch up with each other. Also, if I give Emma some Legos or magnets to build with while I am reading aloud, she can manage to sit still and pay attention but her hands need to be busy and if I don't give her something she will just break out in a song....which is precious....but a little disrupting or she will grab a picture book to look at and I don't want that either because then I have lost her. So the blocks and things like that are quiet and give her something to do while I am reading.

They are learning all different types of literature this year. For Biographies, we are using Hero Tales to learn about real live missionaries (ummm...besides us) who answered God's call many years ago such as Gladys Aylward and Amy Carmichael. For Adventure, we will be reading The Boxcar Children which should be a great book for both girls. For Historical Fiction, we will read Little House in the Big Woods, we actually have the entire set and I'm glad we didn't begin them last year, they will be perfect! For Fantasy, we will read The Trumpet of the Swan, I remember reading books like this when I was a young girl and love the adventures these animals have, remember Charlotte's Web and that precious pig, Wilbur? For Mystery we will read The Bears on Hemlock Mountain and how a young boy discovers there really ARE bears on Hemlock Mountain. For Non-Fiction, we will read The Courage of Sarah Noble, the true story of a young girl who travels through the wilderness and befriends Indians. There are a few more chapter books I will be reading to them but isn't this exciting???

Thank you so much for your prayers for Emma Jane. Today, she seems a little happier:) Yesterday we had to force liquids into her because she was getting dehydrated. Her little lips are so dry and cracking but she really doesn't want to eat or drink anything. I pray she is back to her self soon. I know it must be so strange to have all of those teeth missing. She still doesn't smile much which is something I miss the most from my Emmie....her beautiful smile and her contagious laugh!

Emma is home from the hospital

2011-08-27T15:38:00.000-05:00

Wow....what a traumatic morning:( First, I would like to say that the staff and the care Emma received in the hospital was unbelievable! There were two dentists, four nurses, the anesthesiologist and his two assistants for one itty bitty princess.

The dentist did a root canal, she needed three crowns and he had to pull 9 teeth. God bless little Emma:) He said her permanent teeth are already on their way in and the roots had not even begun to dissolve. You should see the roots on these baby teeth! So, he took out 6 teeth on the top and 3 on the bottom, she already had three pulled on the bottom because of her two bottom permanent teeth. So when she smiles all you see are her two bottom teeth, just like a sweet baby.

When Dr. Polo was finished he came out to get us and I asked if I could come and he said, "Umm...no only your husband". Well, he must have know that I wouldn't have handled that well! Greg said when he got to her room they were waking her up and she was crying and kicking and hitting anyone that came near her, they made him leave the room so they could calm her down and get her IV out but they only spoke Spanish so our baby girl was terribly frightened. Greg stayed back there for awhile and then after about 30 minutes, he brought her out to me in the waiting room. I was really not expecting her to be like this, she was completely delirious, she couldn't hold her head up and had a wild look in her eyes. I looked over at Lottie and she and I shared the same feelings. I kept looking into her eyes and telling her that Mommy was here but she wasn't coherent and I couldn't reach her. She sobbed and thrashed around in the car until we got to Walmart for her prescription. Greg and Lottie went inside and left us in the car. I was holding her in the backseat (I know....you can all give me a car seat lecture later!) she all of the sudden became very quiet and she looked up at me and said, "I love you Mommy and I need to close my eyes now" and then she fell fast asleep. We brought her home and I made us some lunch and then took something upstairs for her to drink. After she took a drink, she smiled at me and said, "Thanks Mommy for not leaving me". Oh the tears began to flow! I hugged her big and told her that I would never ever leave her, she is stuck with me forever. Unfortunately, she is no stranger to trauma but I am oh so thankful that she does not remember all of this work that was done in her mouth.

Thank you all for your prayers, I know that God had His hand on her and we are thankful that we are home now. She is resting now and Lottie is her private nurse, Daddy bought her a Barbie that is a doctor, and Mommy is camping out on her bed. The tooth fairy will be putting 90 pesos under her pillow tonight while the princess is sleeping.We love you Emma Jane....you are our hero! May we all be as brave as you pretty princess:)

Prayer needed for Emma

2011-08-25T17:33:00.007-05:00

Emma woke up yesterday morning and the entire right side of her face was swollen. We looked in her mouth and one of her molars is coming in and it looks huge! We gave her some Tylenol and gave it another day. Well, this morning she woke up and she could barely speak so we took her to a dentist that a missionary friend recommended. She was terrified. In Puebla, two of her permanent teeth had come in before the baby teeth even became loose so he had to pull three of her baby teeth.

The assistant today was just trying to look at her teeth with a mirror and Emma was in a complete anxiety attack....God bless her little heart. The dentist came in, he showed her that he was putting all of the tools away and he just began to talk to Greg and I. The entire time he was talking to us, he was rubbing Emmie's forehead and brushing her cheeks with his hand and just loving on her, showing her that he was not someone to be afraid of. Of course, that didn't work because she was completely terrified but guess who it DID work on ......Lottie! The biggest scaredy cat of all times climbed up in the chair to demonstrate to Emma what it was like, they looked at her teeth and took several x-rays. Unbelievable! Little stinker:) Emma did end up getting her x-rays done but not without gagging and sobbing. Oh I feel so bad for her, things like this are so traumatic for sweet Emma. After Emma was through with her x-rays, she had little tears running down her cheeks and Lottie went over to her and hugged her and kissed her, the nurses that were standing there said it was obvious how much Lottie and Emma loved each other. They really are such a testimony of love:)

So, the dentist needs to do much work in her mouth. She has a horrible abscessed tooth and some cavities and seven teeth need to be pulled. She has four more permanent teeth that are coming in and the seven baby teeth need to be pulled. (I tell ya, my two girls have had so much dental work already in their short little lives!) He does not want to traumatize her anymore so he will be using anesthesia. I would normally have some hesitation with this and I was praying while Dr. Polo was talking with us and the Lord was just comforting me and I felt as if He just covered me in a warm blanket of peace. He is really unlike any other doctor/dentist we have seen here and has such an amazing staff. They spent three hours with us today and they just worked us in at the last minute, there were patients everywhere. He never made us feel rushed and he said that both girls need some work but he does not want to do anything invasive that would cause them anxiety or trauma. Also, two of his staff spent over 45 minutes with the girls showing them how to brush and floss properly using puppets. They were so great:) When Greg was paying for the visit, the girls and I were outside in the hallway and the dentist came out and was on his way to lunch. He bent down in front of Emma and told her that he would take good care of her and for her not to be afraid, he asked her if he could have a hug.....and she hugged him:) Gotta love that girl's heart!

Emma will be put under in the OR by an anesthesiologist on Saturday morning at 8:00am so your prayers would be cherished! We haven't told her yet about the seven teeth that are being pulled because that was her greatest fear, we are letting her "deal" with the things that happened today and then we will begin to prepare her heart tomorrow:)

Missionary Kid Song

2011-08-25T07:56:00.003-05:00

I have to agree, Lottie and Emma are seeing not only the amazing parts of the world that God has created but the precious different kinds of people He created too:)

Reverse Culture Shock

2011-08-22T15:38:00.001-05:00

These are just a few thoughts I have had on returning back home to Texas and the differences we found:

*You no longer stand out in your new environment. Okay, well this is not a bad thing because it was nice to "blend in" for awhile. In Mexico, people stare at us constantly and it seems hard to even sit in a restaurant and eat without someone staring at you. They are really just looking at Lottie and Emma so being in Texas in this regard caused the girls less anxiety. Now, we have only been in Mexico City for almost a month but already the people here in Mexico City are very different from in Puebla. Very few people stare at us here but just smile at the girls and tell them they are pretty.

*Being at home in Texas was not as challenging and exciting as it is in Mexico where you struggle to make a success of everything from eating, dressing and language. Everything seems to be a challenge in a foreign country, things you took for granted in the states and you often celebrate small victories:) There is a sense of achievement in having to stretch yourself to meet challenges (i.e. driving to Walmart, finding the right direction on the highway, if the road is really 2 or 3 lanes because Mexicans can create a lane out of a small space even though it really isn't marked on the road, getting your work permits, getting your license plates and the right stickers for your car) Not that I missed those challenges, it was just a strange feeling.

*In Mexico City it is often very stressful to just be a passenger in the car. Cars are honking at everyone all.the.time! I think it is just a habit they learn at an early age. If you are at a light and it suddenly turns green, a car that may be ten cars back will begin honking and then everyone else copies them. That was really annoying and stressful in the beginning but now we don't notice the honking as much. But there are millions of people who live here and there is always, always traffic and hundreds of buses. So while we were in Texas, it was really peaceful to drive without feeling rushed.

*Hearing English everywhere you go and understanding everything that everyone says to you. One day I was at Kohl's with the girls and we were trying find Allie Boo a matching outfit like the girls had, we heard a family standing nearby speaking Spanish. It was a strange feeling because it felt like "home" just hearing them talk. I began to talk with them and the Mom smiled at me and I enjoyed our conversation. I think she was surprised that we could speak in her language and that we loved Mexico. She was from Guadalajara and she said she doesn't find very many Texans who speak fondly of her home country. Shame on the Texans who treat them this way!

*I really don't know how to say this politely and trust me, I know how hot the weather is in Texas but I was completely shocked the first time the girls and I went to the grocery store with my mom. There were so many people, women especially, in the store that had very little clothing on. Seriously, my jaw was on the floor! I'm not talking shorts and tank tops here people, I am talking about some serious amounts of flesh showing. And I realize this is nothing new for Texas but for two years I have lived in a place where people dress very modest. The only people that wear shorts here.....are tourists:) I'm not saying it is wrong the way they dress in Texas.....just a little shocking for us to see again.

*Eating in restaurants is also a different experience here in Mexico. The restaurants in Texas that we ate in, were very loud and children were running around and not sitting with their parents. The waiters were non-attentive and pushy for you to take the check and leave. Here......the people do not speak loud in public places, children don't leave their tables and the waiter comes back often for refills and would never dream of just handing you the check....that would be rude.....you have to ask for the check. They don't care if you sit there for three or four hours, that is your choice, they are just happy to serve you.

*It took us several days to stop throwing our toilet paper in the trash can and that it was okay to flush it! This was awesome once we got the hang of it again! Oh AND I didn't have to carry any toilet paper in my purse for any public restrooms we may have needed while we were out, that was awesome too:) Oh AND we didn't have to pay to use the public restrooms...that was awesome too!

*It was nice to drink water right out of the faucet and not have to always worry about it being purified water. But it did take time when cooking because I am used to getting the water out of a large purified water bottle when I boil anything or just need water to cook with. It also took us awhile to actually put our toothbrush in the tap water before we brushed and rinse our mouths with the tap water. It was wonderful also for the girls to be able to take a bath without telling Emma over and over again to stop drinking the water. lol

*Also, when we were at restaurants or in stores, I would often answer people in Spanish. That was so weird! I asked for straws for the girls drinks and called them "popotes (the Spanish word for straws) and the girl at the counter looked at me like she didn't understand. I said it several times before I realized what I was doing. Can you say embarrassing????

*At our Walmart here in Mexico City there are no over the counter medications, you have to get everything from the pharmacy. Now some things are laying out in front of the counter at the pharmacy but most everything is behind it or if it is on a shelf it is in a locked plastic box. Think they have trouble with theft here??? ha ha

*There is no scenery in Texas. In Costa Rica and Mexico you are surrounded by beautiful mountains and volcanoes! Not that flat dry land is bad.....just different. We are used to looking out our window or while driving and view beautiful scenery:)

A lot of things changed from the addition of major highways to little things like new restaurants and stores added to our hometown in Rockwall. I can tell you that I felt like I was in a mental fog the entire time I was there and I can't even explain to you "why". It was just a strange feeling. Only a few places felt like "home" and were comfortable because they had not changed at all. Staying in our old home which is now owned by our son James was particularly odd for me and Emma. I just felt out of place and "in the way", neither James nor Elisabeth caused me to feel this way....in fact...they went out of their way to make us feel like it was home for us. Emma had night terrors every single night we slept at James' house, she didn't have them at my Mom's house. I don't know if this has something to do with this was the home that she came to when she left South Korea or not? But something was "triggered" and she was not herself while we were in Rockwall. She has not had one since we have arrived in Mexico. Lottie seemed right at home and didn't miss a beat. Of course, she was the one who was the most homesick out of all three of us.

We did get lots of rest there though and lots of time to regroup mentally so we could return to Mexico with hearts that were content. It was just what we needed. The time with my Mom was wonderful and she and Lottie became much closer this trip. Lottie has always been so hard to get close to but she was very open with her Grammy and was constantly in her lap. Being there each night when James and Elisabeth came home from work was such a special time for us, what great memories the girls and I have of greeting them after work and school. The girls would hide behind the island in the kitchen and jump out to surprise them just like when they were 3 years old. The time with my friends was precious and there were a few I didn't get to see but I will this Christmas!!! Save those hugs for me!!!!

During the flight on the way back, I asked the girls what they will miss from Texas, their list was only good friends and family and they named them one by one. I asked them what they miss about Mexico and they said "our home". So, I think it was good for all of us....emotionally.....to have our first trip back to the states and to begin thinking of our new country as home. Of course, we can't wait to be back for the wedding.....only a few more months!!!! I love ya'll and appreciate you reading my ramblings:)

Life is an adventure!

2011-08-20T11:36:00.002-05:00

I have read a new book called Holy Sweat by Tim Hansel! I came back from Texas feeling refreshed in the Spirit and this book just added to my excitement for the Lord. I have a spiral notebook that I write in when I read books so I can write down quotes that I need to read and pray over and I wrote down 10 pages worth.....I promise I won't write it all out here:)

As you know last year I had some struggles and was in sort of a rut. You know what really makes me feel good and inspired? Doing things for other people....and I wasn't doing that. I didn't feel like I was living life in an incarnational way. At least not like the life of Jesus mentioned in John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." Yes, I was when we were doing ministry but that was not enough for me. Being incarnational is being the hands, feet, arms and legs of Christ. I was often uncomfortable and after much prayer I figured out why! Life in Christ is not only meant to be spiritual but also as an adventure!

I went through phases of "What am I doing here?" and "God, why are you using me, I am no one". Well, God has always chosen the least qualified to do His work....WHO you are is irrelevant to Him. Major Ian Thomas says, "All you need is what you have and what you have is what He is! He does not give you strength-He IS your strength! He does know give you joy-He IS your joy! Christ is in YOU-nothing less than that. You cannot have more-and you need not have less" Now...THAT is an adventure!

You see, since I have become a Christian I have heard this phrase more than I care to hear it, "I am not worthy". Well, of course we are not worthy of His grace BUT what if began living as if we were! What if we began to believe that with His Almighty strength we could begin to reach the millions of lost people in this world. What if we thought of our spiritual journey as an adventure? For example, for people who have been a Christian since they were a small child...how many bible stories have we heard?
*"He created man in His image, no less....out of dirt"
*"He chose a barren, grumpy old couple named Abraham and Sarah to give birth to a nation that would change human history for all time. Can't you see Sarah laughing in her 90-year old gown?"
*"He chose a teenager who didn't even have his high school diploma yet to nail a 9-foot enemy right between the eyes with a rock. The boy grows up to be a "man after God's own heart"
*"He took a kid's leftover lunch and fed enough people to fill the Hollywood Bowl and still had enough leftover for each disciple to take home"
*"He chose the #1 persecutor of His followers to be His top evangelist!"
*"He gave the keys to the Kingdom to the disciple who failed Him so badly...he denied Him three times in one night!"

Do these stories still amaze you or are they just "stories" in the Bible? The author says, "So if He is by nature astonishing, then He wants us to LIVE a life of wonderment in return He says....Astonish Me! Don't just exist....don't just meet His bottom line...Don't just get by. Don't just go through the motions, acting holy, sleepwalking through life. And yet, He's also given us the choice to do...just...that. We can choose not to be astonished anymore. We have the right to be bored, to miss the adventure. It is our choice."

Those words stung a little. Not only do I, myself, not want to miss the adventure but I desire for my children to share in this adventure and for our adventure to be so contagious that everyone around us will want to come with us! Have you ever been around really hungry Christians? I mean....they are starving for so much more in the bible that you are taken aback by their hunger. We were in China when we were there to adopt Lottie. Greg spoke at a Christian church and after the service about 10 young people ran up to him, "Pastor...Pastor...do you have time for a "short" 2 or 3 hour bible study, we want to hear more!" I find this with Lottie and Emma when we are doing our bible study each day. Want to see excitement and hunger? Try it! Their hunger and expressions of "WOW!" will make you want to be a part of the adventure and show them how they can be a part of the story...that never ends.

I shared with Lottie (because honestly, she is the most emotionally mature to digest this way of thinking right now) what I discovered in this book. "You have to let go of the way you think about yourself" (i.e. "I'm too shy to meet new people" and "I can't get rid of my bad temper") The Christian life is not what it seems. It is not supposed to be tidy, neat and pre-packaged. The truth is that life is unpredictable, untidy, messy and often quite hard. For years I have been keeping her life simple, scheduled and in order to make her feel peaceful. From the moment we adopted her she was an anxious, nervous mess....trusting no one AND she has every right to feel that way. So in many ways, I feel like I have caused her to miss out on the adventures of life in Jesus! "None of us can grow without taking some risks. Struggle is OKAY....so is doubt. If you stop struggling, you stop life. Jump in anyway!"

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet" (Frederick Buechner) "Parents are to help their children 1) Discover their unique gifts God has given to them 2) Find their place in the world where they can use those special gifts and abilities."

So, we have made goals for ourselves. It began when Lottie was feeling very frustrated with everything in her life and...ahem...me too:) I had to find a way to help her organize her thoughts but in a positive way. Now she can see them on paper each day and we also remind her that only God can give her the strength she needs. With Him...All things are possible. Goals should be packed with emotion! Some are personal-others are spiritual. I never suggested "what" goals she should write, she thought of them on her own. We wrote them out (both of us) and we are going to keep each other accountable. Have you ever asked your child their thoughts on things you could improve on in a personal way? Ouch...now that is some toe crunching honesty! She nailed every one of mine:) She already has some crossed off her list because she has met those personal goals. She has stopped wearing pull ups at night and she has ceased in biting her fingernails. To some...those are not really "goals" but for her succeeding in these things has given her a surge of confidence!

In homeschool, we are studying all kind of literature. For the first month we are learning about biographies. So we are using missionary stories of real life heroes. The other day, she asked me what happens to people that do not believe in God and I told her. She was very quiet and said she needed to add a spiritual goal to her list. Under the goal she made for herself of "Meeting new people with a happy heart" she added "To meet children on our street and have them over to play, eat snacks and hear stories about Jesus". What a powerful way to meet a very hard personal goal for yourself......to think of others and just throw yourself out there! Adventurous!!

The biggest goal I want them to achieve is to accept themselves. God loves them from the tops of their precious heads to the tips of their pretty pink painted toenails. He doesn't just love us when we are "good" but instead He loves us because we are special and unique....just like He made us:)

New House!!!

2011-08-18T16:58:00.000-05:00

Homeschool room and playroom. Yes, I realize you should separate the two but we don't have enough space and the bedrooms are small. We are looking for a taller bookshelf because we are already out of space with all of our books. Not complaining.....I'm thankful the girls love books! As you can also see, they are not lacking in "stuff".

Our room. We will eventually have things for the walls to give it more life:)

Remember in the girls room in Puebla how I had these dots over the bed? I couldn't find anymore at Home Depot so I peeled them very carefully off the walls and stuck them to wax paper and it worked perfectly! But they won't work on our walls here they are too rough so I put them on the closet doors.

Lottie and Emma's room

This is a ledge on the staircase. Greg has so much room in the new house for all of his plants....yay!

This is in our entry way. The Woods family took us to an awesome Onyx place in Tecali and Greg bought this gorgeous mirror. I love it!

This is the corner of the... well....I don't know what else to call it except a sitting room. Because I sit there...ha! I am certain they use it for a dining room but we put our kitchen table in the kitchen. This is where I do my quiet time. There are two onyx picture frames also on that top shelf but I need to go to Costco and print some pictures for them.

Remember the long living room that I needed to divide? Well, Greg bought these shelves and put them together before we even got home from Texas. On the side that faces the backyard is his office and on the other side is the living room. The things on the shelves are items we have bought here in Mexico and things we brought from Costa Rica. All of those boxes along the wall are the swing set:)

This hutch is in the kitchen and has all of our Talavera in it, I really wish I could afford to have a complete set of Talavera with plates, bowls and serving pieces....sigh...one day:)

The patio in the back with the grill. Greg thinks this will be the only place to put the swing set so that leaves us putting the table, chairs and the grill somewhere else. Not sure how all of this will turn out but my hubby is the most creative man and he will figure it out!

These are Lottie's tomato plants that she began in Puebla and they are producing tomatoes now! They are super delicious and she loves to check on them each day. She also planted bell peppers for her Mommy but they don't seem to be doing much yet, I hope we have some soon!

This is a tree in the corner that Greg has hung some baskets on and he and the girls added a hummingbird feeder. We were seeing hummingbirds but since we hung the feeder I haven't seen any. Maybe they just eat at odd times.

Anyway, that's pretty much it. There are two bathrooms and they need something for the windows and maybe some pretty towels, that will have to come later. It still needs some "home" added to it, like more picture frames and things on the walls and maybe even paint the inside but we love it and now we just need some people to come and visit us! Who will be first? We love ya'll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Settling In

2011-08-16T20:50:00.001-05:00

Just one week after we arrived back from Texas, we had to pack again to attend the "OGM" which stands for "Occasional General Meeting" with all of the Mexico missionaries that work with the IMB. After traveling so much, we really didn't want to pack again but it was such a blessing to spend the week with such special people. The girls were reunited with their precious little friend Avalyn and were able to be in the same VBS class with her each day.

This is a picture of the girls, Avalyn and sweet Evie.

You might be wondering what kind of sport this is? Well....it is "Burro Polo", no it is not a real sport here in Mexico but all of the participants had lots of fun....of course...not as much fun as we spectators had watching them! It was so hilarious watching the players try to get the burro to go where they wanted him to so they could get the ball. Each of the players had a broom to hit the ball with and the teams were Mexico vs. Puebla. Greg played on the Puebla team and scored two goals!!!

He had just scored a goal here. He actually scored a goal and while he was hitting the ball with all of his might the ball went into the goal and Greg fell off of the burro. I wasn't quick enough with my camera but I know he is probably happy about that:)

The same time the adults and the youth were playing Burro Polo, the younger children were riding a mechanical bull. Lottie watched for a long time and then really wanted to ride it. There was an employee at the hotel who was doing the controls so she asked me at least 50 times to remind him to do it slowly. She kept telling me in Spanish as if I didn't know how to say it:) After she rode it one time she kept jumping in line to ride it some more. The last time she rode it he made it go a little faster and then she began squealing for him to stop. She had lots of fun!

Just look at that precious smile:)

An amazing team of people from the states came and did VBS with all of our kids. At the end of the week, the children did their program with us with the message of salvation and lots of fun songs with of course...movements to go with them. Lottie was a little stressed out that morning because she is so shy and didn't want to be in front of all the parents. As soon as the children filed in, Lottie bolted under a table in front of the group and began crying. Poor little thing. Honestly, our family is full of outgoing extroverts.....I don't think any of us really know what it is like to be so painfully shy. I took her back with me to my seat and she watched Emma and her friends. Of course, since Lottie was out....Emma was just still and never did the hand motions to the song. I think she would have felt better if Lottie was with her. But she did sing AND she did stay for the whole program and we were all very proud of her.

This is Avalyn's sweet baby sister who just couldn't stand it any longer....she needed to be up front with her sister! It was too cute! One of the VBS workers led her back to the parents and I was a little disappointed, I wish she could have stayed because this girl can dance!

This was the last song they sang and as you can tell all of the kids loved it! Even Emma turned to her friends and was smiling and very into the song.

My sweet Emma

These are all of the VBS workers, these people brought so many supplies for Vacation Bible School that I am not sure where they had room for their clothes. They were all such a special blessing to all of the children. As I was watching the program I began to cry because I had been watching all of the youth hanging out together all week. They never even ate meals with their parents, they had all waited so long to see each other and they were finally together again. What a very special week this is and it is all because of you guys who give to the Lottie Moon offering each Christmas. Without your donations, things like this are not possible. Meetings like this are necessary. We left that week feeling very refreshed spiritually and loved hearing stories from seasoned missionary families. When you live this far away from family and some missionaries live in places where there are no other missionaries and their children have no missionary friends....well....you just had to be there....you just had to see the children's faces and all of the hugs and the squealing that went on. They were all so comfortable with each other...they are family....and this was a reunion. We are so blessed to work for a sending agency that takes the time to not just do ministry with nationals but to minister to their own missionaries as well.

We were just connected to the internet today so I was finally able to call my Mom. My Dad came home from the hospital today! He is still having to do dialysis but oh what a miracle that he is home! It turns out that when he had his angiogram a little while back, the cholesterol particles loosened during the procedure and settled in the kidneys. I know my Mom is so thankful that he is finally home. He has lost almost 40 pounds and trust me....he didn't need to lose any weight. So hopefully after some good home cooking, he will get stronger each day. My parents were so touched by all of the praying nurses and doctors that they encountered in this difficult journey. I love how God places His people around you when you need encouragement!

As for us, we are settling into our new home. We love the house! I have never lived in a two story house and with my fatigue find myself leaving little piles of things at the bottom of the stairs to take up...whenever. Soon the girls swingset will be put together and life will be awesome. We have started homeschooling and I already tell there is a different attitude this year. Praise Jesus! Last year was really a struggle and I think by the end of the year none of us wanted to do this anymore. But after a time of rest it seems our attitudes have changed. We really enjoyed our time in Texas with family and friends. I think this time at home was good for us. The girls and I haven't talked about it yet but I think no matter where we went while we were "home" we never felt like it was "our home". It was different....much of the time I was in a mental fog and just couldn't adjust. I think I experienced culture shock and I have lived in Texas all my life. It seemed that everything was so different and I had only been gone two short years. The people, the restaurants, the rushed way of life....that is all so different here in Mexico. Our friends didn't change and we were smothered in love, hugs, kisses and our little Allie Boo spoiled us with popsicles while we swam at her house each day. I will gather my thoughts about it and write a different post but I think this is part of the reason school and life here in Mexico feels a little different now. Don't get me wrong....we are already counting the days we go back for Elisabeth's wedding but God has given us a peace that passes all understanding. We feel content and I know that tough times will still be in our future but we have been reminded that this is where we are supposed to be and God will continue to provide:)

Sisters

2011-07-21T18:41:00.001-05:00

"So now faith, hope and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love" (1Corinthians 13:13)

It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on! (Author Unknown)

"By this we know love , that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (1John 3:16)

"Let all that you do be done in love" (1Corinthian 16:14)

The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend. (Cali Rae Turner)

"If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child"(Linda Sunshine)

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Want to see more precious outfits like these that my sweet friend Robin made for my babies? Go HERE!!

Life doesn't get any better!

2011-07-19T19:14:00.000-05:00

We leave soon and the girls are already fretting about leaving each other. I have sat and watched these three little ones playing for days, oh how we are going to miss Allie!!!! They have such a special love for each other.

Remember how tired I have been for months? Well, my doctor ran lots of tests and the result was.....are you ready???? I have mono. Yep! All of these months I have had mono. In fact, she said I had such a bad case of it that I may have even had it twice;) That explains my neck pain, headache and the extreme fatigue. Thankfully, I seem to be at the end of it so I don't need any medicine. Praise the Lord that no one else caught it from me!

No changes with my Dad, he is still in the hospital and they are looking at one or two more weeks at least. Please continue to pray for him and especially my Mom, this is so hard on her.

Tomorrow I get to go with Elisabeth and some dear friends to see Elisabeth in her dress and to watch her try on veils and shoes. What a complete blessing this is to me!!! God is so faithful:)

Pray for our family as we head into a new adventure, new home, new friends and new ministry. Pray that God will surround us with people that we can pour our lives into and that they will share in this exciting ministry to reach the people of Mexico!

Triplets

2011-07-17T08:14:00.000-05:00

What a special time we have had with our friends. Lottie, Emma and Allie just seemed to pick up right where they left off two years ago. Allie had her Mommy buy all matching outfits so that anywhere we went people would think they were triplets.

Allie also bought the girls every single type of food they love to eat. She has spoiled us rotten.

Allie has a freezer full of popsicles outside in her garage. I loved the rainbow popsicles, I have no idea what brand they are but the flavor just explodes in your mouth! Each day she would swim over to me and whisper, "Kim, do you want a rainbow popsicle?" And when I would yell....yes...yes...yes! She would look at her Mommy and say, "I know how to make Kim happy" and smile the biggest smile. Ohhhhh.....I love this child! She has her Mommy's servant heart....that is for sure!

They are sisters. I have never seen three little girls that come from three different places but yet everything about them is so similar. They love each other so much.

We have been swimming almost every day, playing grocery store, restaurant and they even had a pretend wedding. Won't Emma make a beautiful bride one day?

The only saving grace about having to say goodbye this time is that we will be back for Elisabeth's wedding before you know it! I know Lottie and Emma will talk about the things they have done with Allie for months to come. These are the moments that help you get through the tough times. We love you Allie Boo Boo Bear:)

Fun with Sissy

2011-07-15T07:26:00.000-05:00

Elisabeth took the girls down by the lake and they had a great time. Oh how we miss seeing water and smelling fresh air! And no trip would be complete without Emma pouting. Actually, both girls have been out of sorts a little. Lottie is wearing out her thumb and blanket but we have had a lot of changes so that is to be expected. We have enjoyed all of this time with our family so much. Please continue to pray for my Daddy. His kidneys will just not function on their own. Love ya'll!

More prayers needed

2011-07-06T10:12:00.000-05:00

We are still at my Mom's house. My dad was taken to the hospital the night before the funeral (Friday) because his blood pressure was elevated and he had no energy. His kidneys are failing and he has pneumonia. I believe today that if his cretin levels don't come down, tomorrow he will begin dialysis. We are all positive about this and have heard from many people about their success stories with dialysis. Please continue to pray for my family.

P.S.Thank you for all of your prayers for my Mimi's funeral. It was a wonderful celebration of the 95 years that God placed her on this earth!!!!!

My Mimi

2011-06-11T07:38:00.000-05:00

I wish I had all of my pictures of Mimi on my computer when I was a little girl and when James and Elisabeth were growing up. They are all in albums in James' house. This picture is the first time she met Lottie. We had eaten a big lunch and Lottie fell fast asleep. Being that she was and still is a Mommy velcro baby (hee hee) I handed her to my Mimi so she could hold her. Mimi just stared at her beautiful little face and cried. She could hardly believe she had a great grandbaby from China. She believed in miracles.

It was different when Emma Jane came to live with us. Now Mimi had another great grandbaby by adoption but Emma LOVED Mimi from the moment she met her. You know how most children are afraid of really old people....not my Emmie. Even when Greg was a pastor and we would visit nursing homes, Emma would just crawl up in the lap of a perfect stranger in their wheelchair and give them love. Once, when we were singing Christmas carols at a nursing home outside of someone's room that was very ill in bed, Emma crawled up beside her and just rubbed her arm. She was only three years old.

Also, Emma loved sharing food with her Mimi. I wish Emma would have known Mimi when her great grandmother was much younger....oh she would have loved eating with her! My Mimi made every meal oh so special. I would spend every summer with her when I was a little girl. Each morning she would make us "kid's coffee" in a beautiful china teacup and saucer. Each grandchild had their favorite, there were nine of us...I think. She would put lots of milk and sugar in our coffee and I always felt so grown up. Although I never drank coffee as an adult? lol She would take bagels and cut them in half and put lots of butter....real butter....on them and toast them in the toaster oven and then slather them with cream cheese and of course serve bacon with them. Oh I miss the smell of her home:) For our birthdays, she would make beautiful cakes. My brother and I are four years apart but our birthdays are only one week apart from each other. So each summer when our birthdays rolled around she would make us each our own birthday cake. She loved details and would make a big fuss over our special days. She made us chili dogs which doesn't sound like a big deal but they were! She would get a cookie sheet and put buns all over it, then put the hot dog inside and pour chili inside of them and then sprinkle shredded velveeta cheese over the top and then bake them until everything was gooey and melted. I get my love for food from this woman:)

When I would spend my summers with her I constantly saw the light of Jesus in my Mimi. She was a servant....plain and simple. She cooked, sewed, cleaned and served others every day of her life. When I was a young girl, she made Christmas ornaments out of Styrofoam balls and we would all take colorful pins and all different sorts of fabric and glittery items and decorate these Christmas balls. She also made cloth dolls and when we were all finished we would pile into her station wagon and she would drive us to the Children's Hospital in Houston where we would distribute them among all of the sick children. She always told me that God wanted us to think about others before we thought about ourselves. She took us to the library once a week and I loved to crawl up in her lap while she read books to me. Reading was a very big part of her life and I believe that is why I love to read also. I can still remember the smell of her perfume, Emeraude, on her clothes when I laid in her lap. I loved to watch her get dressed each morning. I would lay on her bed and watch her put her make-up on and she had really long hair down to her waist and she would put it up in a bun each day. I don't know why that was so amazing to me, but it was, well....it still is...I don't know how people do that! I loved sleeping with her (yes, I was like Lottie when I was a little girl) and my grandfather, Pop. They had a big king size bed and my brother and I would sleep between them and we would close our eyes and try to hurry and go to sleep before they started to snore:) My grandparents slept on each side of us with their backs to us and the soles of their feet were touching. They loved each other very much. When she could no longer cook and sew and go out and do things for people, she became very sad over the years. Greg and I used to tell her that God was still using her and to not be discouraged. She could serve Him even though she could never leave her home. Amazingly, God did send people into her life. Nurses and women who would come to help clean her home and monitor her health and she witnessed to everyone who entered her home. Just her phone calls to me encouraging me to keep moving forward as a missionary were so inspiring....I will miss hearing her voice and her words.This must be why "This little light of mine" is one of her favorite songs to sing.

I love this picture of Emma and Mimi holding hands. My mom said that one of her nurses asked what she did, meaning her career. Looking back over her (my mom's) 67 years she remembered a cook, cake baker, seamstress, Girl Scout leader, PTA president, chauffeur, teacher, listener to every friend she had, nurse, and so much more. By the time she died she may not have been able to cook or sew or even read that well anymore, but she had stored the entire bible in her heart and she had every bit of her mind when she left. She told everyone she came in contact with who her Lord and Savior was and God used her.....until the day He took her home.

Please continue to pray for our family. Yesterday was a hard day for our family. Mimi was oh so special to all of us. My Mimi had three daughters and I know they are hurting as well as the many many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren that will never be able to know her. Pray for my mom as Mimi lived next door to Mom and Dad and they took such wonderful care of her. Walking over to her house, talking with her, caring for her and giving her kisses on the forehead have been a normal part of their lives for many years. Pray that God will comfort them and give them peace and fill their lives with things to do to keep them busy. Thanks for bearing with me through this incredibly long post...but as you can see....she was pretty amazing:) I love ya'll!

Fun times with Bubba

2011-06-08T17:02:00.016-05:00

Emma said today, "Mommy, it's no fair that we can only Skype with Sissy and Bubba and pray for them, it is more funner to kiss them and sit in their lap and sleep with them" Well...that just about says it all:)

Eating at Chili's with Bubba

Emma wiping Lottie's mouth. They are so much like twins. Have you ever watched twins with each other? They finish each others thoughts and sentences and they both look out for each other. If I scold Lottie, Emma says, "Mommy, don't use those words with my Lottie" (hee hee) I love their relationship, their love for each other is amazing:)

Emma taking a big bite of a Krispy Kreme doughnut, they are new here in our mall

James and Greg both wore their soccer jersey's out today. lol Oh how I don't want James to leave but we have enjoyed him so much. We miss Elisabeth and Lottie has already written her a letter.

We still haven't signed a lease yet. We are now going to try and sign it with the landlord next week so please keep praying. That is all we can do is give it to the Lord, I know that He will provide.

My grandmother is in hospice and my mom said she is comfortable and that the nurses are just wonderful with her. In the years that Greg was a pastor, he met lots of hospice nurses and they were always very special. It is definitely a special calling to be a hospice nurse and I'm so thankful for this special place my Mimi is in right now. Thank you for your prayers!!!!

Goodbyes

2011-06-05T22:11:00.001-05:00

James brought us goodies! Lottie requested Velveeta cheese so I can make macaroni and cheese...her favorite:) He also brought their favorite crackers and Reeses! My sweet friend Rhonda sent me two bottles of hairspray! All they have here is hairspray in a can so I was desperately missing hairspray in a pump! Thank you Rhonda....I love you!!!!!

A view of Mexico City from our hotel. We had to take Elisabeth to the airport and pick up James so we decided to get a hotel and stay in Mexico City for a couple of days.

Lottie and Emma with their Bubba

The family...well...except me. I kept meaning to ask someone to take our picture but we never did.

A carousel in the middle of the park

It was a two story carousel and the girls loved riding on the top

Well...actually Lottie was afraid and was crying and didn't want to get on it but I made her. Yep...I'm a mean Mommy:) BUT she had a great time once she realized that it went really slow.

Emma completely worn out after swimming

(hee hee) I love this picture! They had robes in the closets in our rooms and house shoes too. James tied the robes up in a way that the girls could wear them and Lottie insisted on wearing those silly big ole shoes all over the place.

Lottie underwater.....always underwater

They both thought it was fun to hold their brother under the water? Emma is holding him down with her hands.

Leaving the nice hotel with the huge bathtub (sniff sniff)

Saying goodbye to Sissy at the airport.

I'm really going to miss my sweet girl in her jeans and her cute little cowboy boots. Poor Elisabeth was a trooper while she was here, we didn't do anything really special with her but we did spend lots of time together and that's what is most important. James will be here for about a week and hopefully sometime this week we will have our lease signed on our new house. We move very soon if it all works out....so help us pray!

Please say an extra prayer for my family this week. My grandmother, Mimi, has pneumonia and is very weak. She is very old and is ready to see her King. Each time I call her she asks me to pray that Jesus will come and get her. She is the most precious woman I have ever known. She has shown Jesus to me all of my life and although I can't imagine living in this life without her, I respect her wishes. Times like these are so hard because we are so far away. I wish I could be there to help my mom but I am thankful that I did "one thing" before I left Texas......I told my grandmother goodbye. I probably won't be able to go home if something happens to her but I know that she is not alone.....and I know that she knows how much I love her.

Bedtime in the Byrd's Nest

2011-06-03T08:56:00.003-05:00

As most of my faithful followers know I have been sleeping with the girls since they joined our family. I still sleep with them because they both still wake up crying in the night, Emma has occasional night terrors still and Lottie is my little velcro baby, even at the age of 6 1/2. I think I am sympathetic to this because I LOVED sleeping with my Mom and would sneak in her room in the middle of the night and lay at the end of her bed. (hee hee)

Any progress our girls have made seems to come very s l o w l y but we HAVE made progress! After Christmas I told the girls that I was not going to lay down with them until they fell asleep but instead I would read them books, pray with them and sing songs and then they would go to sleep on their own. Their faces looked like two little deers in the headlights of a huge mack truck! I told them that after I had my "Mommy time" that I would then come to bed to sleep with them.

Lottie is a girl of details and puts much thought into everything. She is a smart little stinker for sure....too smart! She was not thrilled about this new idea of mine but she has tried very hard and she has succeeded....except...that she gets up about six times before she finally falls asleep. Here are her normal reasons for getting up which are completely logical to her:

*I need a yogurt drink Mommy because I am hungry and that will fill up my tummy so I can sleep and you can have your Mommy time. (always looking out for me...ha ha)

*I need Ella (our dog) to sleep with me because I can't sleep unless I am snuggling with someone and since you won't come and snuggle with me can I have Ella? (guilt trip!)

*I counted all the hugs you gave me today but I need one more. (okay, that one is hard to resist!)

Or she may have questions that need to be answered:

*Does God really know all the names of the stars in heaven?

*How come thunder is so loud?

*Why didn't Adam and Eve obey God?

*How do the stars stay up in the sky and how come they never fall down?

(and so on and so on) So the other night she came in with something new:

Lottie: Mommy, I think you better come in our room, Emma's arm is broken. (insert rolling of the eyes here)

Me: (after walking into their bedroom) Emma, what is the matter with your arm?

Emma: I don't know. Lottie said she thinks it's broken.

(after much examination of her arm, her arm was fine)

Me: Girls, you need to go to sleep, it is after 10:00 and you will be super grumpy tomorrow.

Lottie: (using a frustrated tone) "Mommy, I can't help it if Emma won't get up out of the bed to tell you that her arm is broken. That is not my fault. I always have to talk for Emma. It is always my responsibility to take care of Emma. I am just a little girl, how come it is always my responsibility to speak for Emma?"

See how that mind works? She even had Emma believing her arm was broken! Sometimes it just too hard to keep a straight face around here:)

New beginnings.....again

2011-05-31T06:36:00.002-05:00

The front door

A backyard! Big enough for a swing set.....can you believe this miracle?

A patio beside the yard in the back big enough for patio furniture and our grill! It is heaven I tell ya! So now ya'll need to come and visit so we can show you Mexico, you can help us do ministry and we can eat Greg's famous BBQ ribs!!!

(hee hee) Okay, the cabinets in this picture look great but they are really not BUT I have more than in my other house so Praise God! The kitchen is pretty large and Mexican houses never have pantries so we are thinking of buying a very inexpensive hutch to store food in....any ideas? We are so excited that a kitchen table will fit inside the kitchen instead of having to take our food into the dining room!

The bedrooms are small and the bathrooms are really old but I think we can do something with all of them. No bathtub but in the end we were over the moon with excitement over the backyard that having a bathtub will just continue to be a special treat when we go on vacation. We found other houses that were more modern and had updated cabinets and flooring but the backyard was the most important thing. Oh we are so thankful!

Okay this is a long narrow living room with a step down. What do I do with this? There is also a separate dining area beside the lower part for the dining room table so do people decorate this with two living areas? It is so strange to me. Ideas???

Pretty Emma beside a giant fountain in the backyard

Okay this is to the right when you go in the backyard and you go down these steps to a concrete area that has a sink and then on the other side of sink area there is a room where the washer and dryer go. How wonderful will this be to be able to wash clothes inside, where we live now they are outside...yay!

The lease has not been finalized so pray that it happens this week also!!! The girls are very excited about living in a two story house. None of us have ever lived in a two story house. Maybe I will get that exercise now...lol ! We will be packing and moving very soon so pray for us as change seems to always be so hard on the girls. Each time there is major change like this they both go all the way back to square one with their emotional issues. Please pray especially for Lottie and Emma:)

Adventures with Sissy!

2011-05-26T18:55:00.000-05:00

A new baby!

Did you ever think Mexico would be this beautiful?

He must have just finished his lunch because he was laying there licking his fingers:)

My sweet hubby

All my pretty girls

Lottie loves her new camera she received for Christmas, she is fascinated with photography!

Okay, I will admit it....flamingos are my least favorite at the zoo. For one thing they are boring and very stinky! But these flamingos at the Safari are so beautiful and colorful and full of personality.

Tacos after the Safari at our favorite taco place by our house.

Emma, my little Cokera! She LOVES Coke!

Of course, Coke is the "water of Mexico"

Celebrating the end of the day by sharing an ice cream with her Daddy. What a special day:)

To my husband who I fall more in love with each passing day

2011-05-18T13:20:00.002-05:00

A day full of blessings

2011-05-15T19:43:00.003-05:00

Carmen warming the tortillas

Little Lottie with lots of other people in one pool.

This is Carolina, you have seen her before with my girls. They live in a very poor area of Puebla, this was her first time to swim in a pool and I wish my camera took pictures fast enough because I would have loved to have captured every expression she and her sister Perla had on their sweet faces.

Scott leading the group in a devotion

Everywhere we go, people stare at the girls. Sometimes they smile and look at them, sometimes they tell us they are beautiful but mostly they just stare with no expression. It is obvious they have never seen Asians before and the curiosity is overwhelming to them. When the girls first got into the pool today, most people in the pool just stood still and watched them get in. It was as if time stood still for a few moments and then everyone went back to enjoying their families. You could hear them questioning if they were "Japoneses", they call all Asian people Japanese here. Then Greg and I watched a man come all the way down to the end of the pool where the girls were and just looked at them....no smile...no greeting...just stared for a little while and then went back to his family. Reported what he saw and then his wife headed down there to see for herself. For Lottie, this is especially hard. Sometimes she doesn't even notice, but most of the time she does. It is a little unnerving to have people stare at you all..the..time. It is a little comical because our mission agency for security reasons try to teach us to be "gray"...to blend in...ha ha...we are more like hot pink!!!!

Lottie and Perla were inseparable today!

This picture of Debora is blurry but she was cracking me up. The water was super cold and she was really scared to get any part of her body but her legs wet. So each time she would walk through the water she would hold her breath.....her Mom and I were laughing together and having the best time watching her.

The group praying

A beautiful peacock

Meat and veggies cooking on the grill. I made homemade refried beans for the first time and I can tell that I will never eat canned refried beans again...ever! They were delicious and I found the recipe online. And they were refried beans without the "refry" part so I didn't use lard or oil like people normally use so they were somewhat healthy:)

The men played soccer after lunch. From the looks of this picture, Arturo is trying to foul that poor unsuspecting young man:)

I love this picture of Scott and Javier. They have become such good friends and I know they will miss each other.

Greg grilling meat with the women:)

Today was a retreat with the pastors and church planters in our area. It was also a goodbye party for Scott and Sherry, our leaders, because they are leaving soon to go stateside for a little while before beginning their next term. There were lots of tears and I know it will be so hard for Scott and Sherry to leave the people they have been working with for the last few years but I know that when they return to their next place of ministry, God will have already laid out His plan for them. We love you Scott and Sherry and we hope that you have a wonderful time of rest in the states and that you will return refreshed in body and spirit.

Let the little children come to me.....

2011-05-13T14:47:00.001-05:00

I finished reading the book "Missional Mom" that I had mentioned in a previous post, it is really a great book for those who want to get their children to begin thinking of others before themselves.

You would think this would be a natural thing for our family since we are missionaries living in another country but sometimes the girls get so caught up in being homesick that all they tend to think about is their own feelings. This is normal yet a stronghold I do not desire for Satan to have on our family.(Check out the Captain Crunch in the background that we found at Walmart today! It is so exciting to find random imported things at the store!!!)

When we drive around our big city there are many mom's with their small children standing in the medians all day in the hot sun selling things they have made such as crafts or sometimes it is just Trident gum.

The children always look so hot and tired and it just breaks our hearts when we see them. So we went to the store and bought baggies, Donitas (popular Mexican chips) ,Oreos (a worldwide favorite cookie) and some juice boxes. The girls stuffed the baggies and we wrote Jesus loves you in Spanish on the front of the bag.

Then we placed Matthew 19:14 inside the bag letting them know that Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Our prayer is to touch as many children as we can with this small gesture, refresh their little bodies and their spirits as well. We are also praying that by doing this, Lottie and Emma will see the importance of serving others and to put our friends needs before our own needs.

Emma's new look

2011-05-09T17:58:00.002-05:00

The other day as I was brushing Emma's teeth, I noticed a permanent tooth had just popped through behind her baby teeth on the bottom. We had a bad experience here with a different dentist, so bad that we would probably have to sedate Lottie the next time she goes to see a dentist! So we called our friend Manuel and he assured us that his daughter Febe's dentist would be awesome for our family.

We walked in and there was a play kitchen, a foosball table and a little playground! The girls were in heaven. They called Emma back and Lottie and Greg wanted to stay and play foosball so off we went. It is very interesting here when you go to the doctor. You actually go into the private office of the doctor and the dentist chair or examining table is right there in his office. Different huh? He said the tooth beside it was about to come through also so he pulled two of her little baby teeth.

I was really afraid Lottie was going to be super jealous because she has been dying to lose a tooth. Why? I have no idea but she swears there is a different loose tooth each day and wiggles and wiggles them but she actually doesn't have any loose teeth....yet. Emma was so good and brave and only cried towards the end, she was so frightened. Bless her heart, she couldn't understand anything the dentist was saying and I know sometimes that makes it even scarier. He said "no spicy foods for the rest of the day"...lol...only in Mexico:) We came out and her little mouth had lots of blood in it, of course, and Lottie was ready to begin the questioning. This child can really wear us out with her questions. She said, "Mommy, tell me everything that happened....every single detail okay?" So I did...several times while Emma snuggled in my lap.

I'm pretty sure a couple more will have to be pulled but he spoke so fast that he "may" have told me that and it got lost in translation somewhere in my head. We will call them back tomorrow and check. On the way out of the office, we asked Lottie if she was sad that she didn't lose a tooth and she simply replied, no way! She held Emma's hand and caressed her arm all the way home and kept telling her how brave she was.....she was so proud of Emma.....and so are we:)

A confession and trying to be a Missional Mom

2011-05-07T10:57:00.002-05:00

I am reading a new book, "The Missional Mom: Living with purpose at home & in the world" by Helen Lee. She says, "Missional Moms take their callings as mom's and wives seriously, but they are also dedicated to furthering God's kingdom. They seek to place God first and foremost even when it comes at a cost to their families. They live countercultural lives, lives that may look "foolish" in the eyes of the world but that reflect great wisdom in the eyes of the Lord".

From the outside looking in, this is what I am doing but from the inside looking out, it has not been the case. Life in Costa Rica seemed so different, maybe it was that my mind was so full of language learning and just dealing with moving to a new country that I never really "dealt" with the realities of leaving everything behind. I would like to tell you that I have been "Supermom and Superwife" with all of our changes but that wouldn't be true either. For those who have followed our blog for awhile, you know that I am very transparent and not afraid to reveal my weaknesses. This weakness though has had me paralyzed and I was too ashamed to share it with anyone. (well, I have shared with a few prayer warriors) But God has reminded me over the last two weeks that my weaknesses result in His Glory, they show other people who might be suffering also that He has never left their side and our strength can only come from Him.

O.S. Guiness says, "God's call is often demanding. It will require sacrifice of some kind and possibly some hardship. But it will result in meaning and purpose. You can be sure of that." The sacrifices I made was leaving behind James and Elisabeth, sounds noble to most from the "outside" but it has broken my heart in two. In Costa Rica, I never really had the spare time to dwell on it. Learning a new language at my age was super hard, there was no extra time for contemplating my sacrifices! But since we have moved here, well....I have had more time to decorate the pit I was creating for myself. Beth Moore described it once as being very comfortable, decorated with fine furniture, cozy rooms and comfy pillows....everything that makes you feel "at home". Sometimes I can't even recognize when I am in "this pit"....some call it valleys....it is more fitting for me to describe it as a "pit". Pure and simple. A valley seems so big but a pit is small and comfy:) Yes, my two older children are in their twenties and some people may say things like, "Come on, cut those apron strings and let go, they have their own lives" but for me this has been very hard. Being a mom was the ONLY thing I ever wanted to be, I never desired anything else. Seeing them only once a year has been hard on me.

I want you to know, I am not depressed.....I just couldn't let go. I really convinced myself that I had laid my children at His feet and left them in His hands. But I didn't. Not really. And what's worse....I allowed Lottie and Emma to dwell on the past constantly and not bring their focus into the "now"...the "future" and to show them the reason we are here. Yes, they obviously go with us to church, cell church, celebrations with the people etc. but that to them has just become routine....they are all about routine;) They have been exposed to only things that are visual, not what our true "hope" is for these people.

Lottie is obsessed with cleaning commercials. She loves them! She will come and find me and drag me into her room and show me the product on T.V. If I missed it she will go into complete detail on what the cleaning product looked like and what the woman did with it in her home and how it amazingly removed all of the stains. She will even point it out to me at Walmart when we are shopping. It takes us forever to get down the cleaning aisles! Has she ever seen this stuff in action? Well, just the regular cleaners that I use in our home. But I told her one day that not all of the products really do the things that they say on television and she was shocked. She said to me (shaking her head) "No Mommy, I have seen it....they really work!" Well of course she thinks that....seeing....is believing.

The author of this book says, "Missionaries are not just specifically selected people who spread the gospel in distant lands. YOU are a missionary with whatever gifts He has given you. Your mission is to be His witness and disciple-maker where you live and move and have your being. This mission does not change when you become a mother." How freeing it would be if we could remember that we are not the ones in control of our children's future and that God Himself is the One and Only Author of our child's tomorrows.

We don't always know WHY God allows trials but we do know He wants us to trust Him. My focus of "why" I am here has been taken over by my desire to be with my big kids in Texas. I don't really think that Satan is responsible for this although we are always quick to blame him. I think it is the sin in my life that has brought me to this place. I have been living what my little ones think, that everything they see....must be true. What I have had to begin doing....once again...is believing in the unseen....believing in a future that is unknown....but known to God. (Hebrews 11:1) "Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it."

I cannot live in fear any longer. Helen says, "Living in fear contradicts the Christ followers calling to live by faith. When we try to choose what we will and will not do for God for the purpose of protecting our children or ourselves, we dictate the terms of our faith journey instead of obeying" Ouch.....my confession? I have tried so hard to make things so comfortable for my little ones (and myself) that I have not been teaching them the characteristic most important in my life....FAITH in the unseen!

John Stott says, "In the end, there are only two attitudes Christians can adopt toward the world. One is escape and the other is engagement." As a missional mom, we act as God's warrior of light and love to those who desperately need it, we are to be a Voice to the Voiceless!

Has God taken care of James and Elisabeth like He said He would if we followed Him? Absolutely....and then some! Who would have ever dreamed that we would be in the midst of planning Elisabeth's wedding, a precious struggling child who really never dated? God intentionally used our leaving to bring this child to her knees and draw her closer to Him. Would she have felt God's mighty presence if we stayed in Texas? Maybe...but we represented comfort to her...she always relied on us because we were always there for her. She had no one else when we moved away.....God was slowly and powerfully drawing her to Him....her Father....who never left her side. And you would not believe the man that He sent to be her husband! He is humble, kind, loving, devoted.....the prince charming you all dream of your daughter marrying. That is just one miracle God has performed since we left....there are so many more.

Pray with me my friends, that I will continue to see His will and not my own for my family. After all, there are many people lives here to be touched....remember when Jesus touched the leper in the book of Mark? Can you only imagine how long it had been since that leper had been touched by the hand of someone who loved him? Please pray that I will be not only be the feet of Jesus but more importantly the hands of Jesus.....reaching out and touching everyone I come in contact with and showing my little ones the importance of showing love to everyone we see. The "hope" that Jesus has for these people, they can only see through us, as a sweet friend reminded me the other day....sometimes we are the only Bible they ever read. Pray that I will continue to think with a spiritual heart....the heart of Jesus:) Yes, we do this but we need to being Him at all times and loving on everyone we come in contact with....after all....if I am living a life where I am only living out God's plan for my life....I have no idea how much time we have here....and time is of the essence!

P.S. God also has give me the most amazing husband. Greg just bought tickets for James and Elisabeth to come and see me....a Mother's Day present to beat all presents! Oh how I love this man and after almost 30 years of marriage....he truly knows my heart and my needs.

Never a dull moment

2011-05-04T18:28:00.000-05:00

This morning the girls were playing Indians and Princesses. This is obviously Lottie's idea to get Emma to play with her as long as it involves being a princess. They played so well for almost two hours and then I heard loud uncontrollable giggling from Emma. I decided to investigate.

I walked into their room and Lottie had an arrow (not a real arrow but she called it her arrow) stuck in the middle of Emma's forehead. It actually belongs to a little junk toy we bought downtown in the market, it is a little wooden stick with a suction cup on the end of it. When she pulled the suction cup off Emma's forehead....it left this big red circle. After thirty minutes or so.....it was still there. After examining it even closer, the "arrow in question" seems to have broken a couple of blood vessels in my sweet Emma's head. Of course, I gave a lecture that we should not be doing those types of things to our bodies and then guess what happened not even 30 MINUTES LATER!!! Lottie had one on her head also.....not from Emma though...she did it to herself! (Sigh).....never a dull moment in this house:)

My sweet girls

2011-04-30T08:10:00.000-05:00

I'm ready for a change

2011-04-28T10:22:00.002-05:00

I'm ready for a change

I'm ready for a breakthrough

I'm ready for the rain.....I want the clouds to break loose

I'm ready for the storm to wash away the old and pour in the new

I'm ready for a change

I'm ready for the different

I'm ready for the same.....to be far away and distant

The same old is tired....I want to move higher without resistance

Lord......Lord you know....what I'm ready for

Change.....I'm ready for my time

I'm ready to be what You had meant for me in this life

I'm ready for a change.....I finally want to run home

I'm ready for the day......to hear the voice my heart knows

I'm ready for the moment....I'll hear you say "Daughter...well done"

Oh but You say You're not done with me...."don't get in a hurry"

Lord....oh Lord....you know what I'm ready for

(Lyrics by "Not by Sight)