so much fun. . .

Ahhh!  The freedom to be a boy!

A few shots of Ethan on our trip.

Ethan likes the Honduras looks. . .

the greased spike look. . .

the cowboy farmer look. . .

 and after a lot of hard work. . .

the dirty look!

I'm not so sure that he likes this look, but I guess you would call it the "swollen red ears because you are so sweet the bugs ate your ears up" look!

Gracias. . .

. . .por todos!

After a trip south, it is never hard to be thankful for "things".  The problem is that some of the "things" that are so easy for us to be thankful for can also give us a nauseous feeling when we start thinking about our abundance of "things" that we have that we don't need.  This makes us dig deeper and give thanks to God for all of our spiritual blessings.

. . . . .

146 - memory verses

147 - Bible translations in many languages

148 - letters from my dear husband

149 - empathy

150 - voices praising God in song

151 - believers sharing time in audible prayer

152 - requests for prayer that our relationship with God would be stronger

153 - the love of Jesus to bind hearts together

154 - sound minds to hear the TRUTH

155 - inspiring sermons to remind us of God's ways

. . . . .

Practicing His Presence = Spending Time in The Word

I want to always be reminded of this and have a true hunger for it.

feliz cumpleaños!

!Birthday Number Four!

Can't believe that my little girl is 4 already.  She seems so little and sweet and she is growing up so fast.  I want to remember to hold on to every precious moment as it slips through my hands into eternity.  This year we had the priviledge of celebrating in our Home Away From Home.  How sad for our "here family" to not be with us, and how fun for our "there family" to be with us. :)

Before we left I told Ethan that Elisa was having her birthday while we were gone.  He said, "I don't really like that."  When I wondered why, he said, "they don't have the same kind of frosting there."

How funny!  But how true.  We didn't have a birthday cake this year. . .but a WONDERFUL pineapple pie made with love by Rosita.  How fun and how yummy.  I think that it tops our frosting by a long shot!

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Your friends are all singing.

May the year that is opening,

Bring gladness to you.

May it help you to be cheerful,

Kindhearted and loving.

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to You!

home again?

I'm not sure if we went home or came home.  It is the oddest feeling to have your heart in two places at once.  And even more odd is the knowledge that this world is NOT OUR HOME!  :)  Maybe this is why the Lord lets me feel this way, so that I never truly feel "at home".  Every time we go, it gets harder to come back.  All the good-byes that bring tears. . .and yet I know that if we called that place home, I would cry every time I left here.  I love all our friends and family here and all those that feel like family there.  How bittersweet no matter what direction we are flying!

After all the emotions, we had a WONDERFUL trip.  There were those who came that we already knew. There were those that came that we knew a little.  There were those that came that we didn't really know.  We enjoyed every minute with each one.  How fun to renew old friendships and make new ones.  The Lord was with us and protected us all.  There is a new house on the hill in a small village in the middle of God's wonderful creation.  We are praying that God is getting ALL the glory and that the people will see His love through the labors of those who strive to be His hands and feet here on earth.

Oh Praise Him!

    week one                                            week two

          

Tino - A happy new homeowner

we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus

how thankful we were for the villagers who were always ready to share

we enjoy having good neighbors

sweet togetherness and rest on the plane ride home

Happy Family Day!!!

In some ways I can't believe that it has been 3 years already and in other ways it seems that she has always been a part of our life!  Today was a special day as we remembered. . .

Three years ago we were holding this precious bundle and breathing thanks to God that she is ours forever!

How excited we were to get to know this little girl!

 

So much has happened.  So much has changed.  Our love for her will never change.  What fond memories!

Happy Family Day!!!

For if our heart condemn us,

God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

- 1 John 3:20-21

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Yesterday I was reminded of how much God loves me.  He loves me ALWAYS, whether I like it or not, spit in his face, ignore him, or whatever.  He still loves me.  No matter what I have done, he loves me.  No matter what I do he loves me.  Just like the father loved the prodigal son.  Even after the son insulted him by asking for his inheritance.  Even after he wasted it all.  Even after he ate pig slop.  The father never even acknowledged the fact that the son wanted to come back as a servant.  Instead he came back as the son.  PRAISE THE LORD!

136 - 11 years with the dearest man ever

137 - a boy that says he wishes he could have mommy forever

138 - a girl that says she want to be just like mommy

(i.e.  This food is good, when I am a mommy I will cook this for my baby.  I like your dress, will you make me one?  I want a cap like mommy.  Can I have a bun in my hair?  Looking in the mirror and proclaiming, I am going to be a mommy soon.  Can I wear slippers like mommy?  You're my favorite mommy.)

139 - cold wind that makes us huddle in tight hugs.

140 - a husband that plans a wonderful anniversary getaway

141 - 3D imax and outdoor market

 

142 - safe travels

 

143 - visiting friends from afar

 

144 - spontaneous creativity and paper whales

145 - God's grace & patience

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waiting. . .

Today as I took time to read and think about HIM, I came across something that stilled my heart.  Ann reminded me of how to wait for Christmas. 

At our house we are waiting.  We are savoring the Christmas story a few words per day.  We love to hear the littles start to say it from memory as we repeat it each day.  What a special treat to watch our empty stable slowly fill as we add a few new words to the story each day.

We are anticipating family times and memories in the making, but we need reminders to not forget the KING!  How many memories do I have of self, sin, drudgery, darkness, hatred, fightings within, lust, greed, malice, envy, flesh, etc?  I REJOICE that my SAVIOR has taken these all away and washed me white as the snow that has been falling outside today.  As I watch the flakes pile up and make the barren, cold, dead world outside pure white and silent, I am reminded that this is how I am with my SAVIOR.  Without HIM, I AM the barren, cold, dead wasteland that was visible before the flakes started floating down.

And why would he have done all this for ME?  Me who is NOT worthy of it all?  Is it so I can luxuriate in my warm house and care only for the pleasure and comfort of my family and myself?  When we have discussed as a family how cold the floors in our house are, and we have donned the coziest slippers to warm ourselves. . .then we hear husband's prayer for those that have no home and are out in this bitter weather.  I hope that I never cease to shed tears for those people and to be open to every opportunity that the LORD has to show me how to comfort them.  Might I be willing to sacrifice to save another?  Not only do they need physical warmth, but also the warmth that comes with knowing that they have a SAVIOR!

This is my prayer today as I ponder his will for my life.

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