cooking painting working living loving

Watercolor with my Nurture Group girls

Monday a couple weeks ago, I had to run into town to pick up some bread for a cookout. And guess who I ran into? This handsome young man. It was so good to see Mani again. He got a nice haircut since the last time I saw him. We had a nice chat while I waited for my bread order. I can't believe he's already 11 years old!

A week or so ago, the church administrators located this large machine shed/barn in downtown Magdalena. The owners were willing to lend it to us for church services in exchange for us cleaning it up. Here Cassidy, Marce, and Issa, sweep water from the power washer. It got power washed from top to bottom and Sunday we had our first service there. We are so thankful to be shielded from the hot sun and for all the space! This is still a temporary arrangement, but we are thankful for God's provision.

I've been trying to cook more balanced meals this month. Here's a photo of parmesan chicken with rice, broccoli, and sliced tomato.

And ribs with salad and a small baked potato.

It's been fun. Basically, I've been trying to have more vegetables.

The Lemans are back for three weeks before their big move. Tadeo came to the comedor this afternoon and hung out with me while I worked on cleaning the sergers. We enjoyed our juice boxes that got donated from the Midwest Food Bank! It's neat to see the new things he's picked up from the last month while he was gone to Indiana. I'm going to miss this kid, but I'm starting to get used to the idea. Thanks for all your prayers!

All the fuzz...

Thankfully, all seven sewing machines I was working on and the two sergers I cleaned today should be up and running soon. I'm only missing one screw for a presser foot on one of the machines and it should be in the mail. Then all the sewing machines will be working!

I cleaned around a number of these "broken" machines for three years and plotted how I could get rid of them. Finally I decided I had the time and I should stop being lazy and tackle the project. It's been interesting and I've definitely learned a lot about cleaning out fuzz, adjusting tension, different brands and foot pedals, screws and screwdrivers (multiple trips to the shop to try to find one that would fit!), and so much more. 

It's a good reminder to me to not shy away from new and seemingly difficult tasks! 

Miguel and I would appreciate prayers for a trip that his mom and siblings (including Pedro from California) hope to make to visit us over Mother's Day. 

It's been a bit since I added a poem, so let's end this post with this little poem about contentment and satisfaction. I wrote this in 2011. I was 16 and I had no idea what God would lead me toward! I pray that even now that I've found "my place in life," that I would continue with the same patience and contentment in the daily tasks. I still don't know what may be ahead!

Satisfied with Jesus Way

Content to grow and learn in Thee

Content to watch and wait

Content to do the daily tasks 

For God is never late

Content to pray and read God’s word

To encourage those I meet

To sing and praise God’s wondrous works

To look to heaven’s gate

Content to seek a home above 

Content to please the Lord

Satisfied with Jesus way

And all He leads me toward.

Visitors from Illinois!

We were so blessed and thankful to enjoy a visit from my mom and younger brother, Tim, last week.

Friday evening after work, I drove up to Tucson. Tim and Mom arrived around 9:30 PM. I was excited to stay the night with them in a hotel! Saturday morning we went shopping and headed back across the border. They were patient as I unloaded purchases and packages at CVE and then we enjoyed some steak tacos after Miguel got off work.

Sunday they went with us to church at Denver and Katie's and we celebrated Miguel's and my birthdays in the evening with a tres leches cake and hamburgers! Monday, Tim and Mom went with me to work and helped me work on some sewing machines I'm trying to get up and running. They also helped me water our garden. 

When we arrived at the CVE kitchen in the morning, a couple birds had gotten trapped inside. Before we could get the door open, one of them slammed into the glass and got a little stunned. We opened the door and managed to coax it out. Then it latched onto my shoe. We put it on a window sill outside and a little later another bird showed up. It was cute watching it encourage its friend. Finally, the new bird just pushed his friend off the ledge and they both flew away.

Tuesday, I took the day off and we had a relaxing morning, took a walk, and were home during Miguel's lunch break. In the evening we went to Café Sed during Miguel's Bible study time.

We finally snapped a few pictures!

One thing I'm especially thankful that we got accomplished during our time together was writing some books! Tim and I wrote a short comic together and had a lot of fun. And mom spent a large chunk of time writing her perspective for a book I've been writing.  It's about the two years that my dad was struggling with cancer.

Wednesday and Thursday, Mom and Tim accompanied me to work as well and Thursday evening, Mom and I got to watch the Woman's Outreach Meeting together. Katy Miller talked about spiritual gifts.

Friday morning we were up bright and early and sped back up to Tucson for Mom and Tim's flight that afternoon.

Anyone notice something wrong with this speedometer? 

 Tim and I enjoyed sending this picture to the family chat.

The temp has really gone up around here over the last week and Balto is shedding like crazy. On Saturday I combed out what I could.

We're thankful for spring, for family, for work, for rest. We enjoyed a beautiful Easter weekend. I'm reading through the Psalms and it was special for me that Psalm 22 happened to fall on Good Friday. As I began to read I didn't realize it was a Psalm containing prophecies about Jesus crucifixion. Sometimes it is so special when God touches our lives in little ways like that. As we think about Christ's sacrifice and his victory over sin and death, we have so much to be thankful for!

Also on Friday while in Tucson I decided to take a scenic route back to Nogales which had been promoted to me by Duane Wulf. It was beautiful! It wound up through the hills and there were lots of trees, yellow grass, and cute cowboy towns. I realized that it had been awhile since I had seen something new like that. I enjoyed coming around each bend and seeing more new, beautiful scenery.

Once again, thanks for your support and prayers!