Christmas Trip 2017

Sorry for a very late post, hence the uninteresting title.

Coffee Steamer, Forrest, IL

McDonald’s family restaurant, Fairbury, catching up with Uncle Kevin, Aunt Sarah and my grandma.

I always try to plan some quality time with each of my siblings when I visit. This time, I took Justin to the Caterpillar visitor’s center.

Very cool!

Ice skating with Matt in downtown Peoria.

Watching Timi’s school Christmas program. (That was not our quality time. We played with legos but I didn’t get a photo.)

Philip took off a couple extra days from work, so he could arrive in Peoria in time to see me. We set up my new computer together. When he found out I hadn’t even taken it out of the box since it arrived, he asked me to wait until he got there. :) Technology is his speciality, but definitely not mine. I told him if he ever needed help setting up house, now that would be a lot of fun!

Brother time in the back seat.

Twinning with Megan at the trampoline park.

I arrived back in Tucson on December 23rd, not the best time to go to Walmart, but nevertheless I had to get a few things.

Crossed the border under a beautiful sunset and then...

...got stuck in a traffic jam going an average of 10 mph.

Thankfully, I made it safely home after a wonderful trip! I spent one week in Forrest and one in Peoria. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see and talk to so many people. Thanks to all of you who helped make my trip a success! 

Moments to be Thankful

Sometimes they are the best of friends and sometimes not...😃 just like any boys...

The fun of having a hood.

Zoom peeling some carrots for Saturday supper for the work team.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers for our thanksgiving week. Throughout the week I kept reminding myself that the moments would be enough and God would be enough. And they were! 

On the Monday of that week (the 20th), Mexico celebrated Revolution Day and there was a parade in town. I needed to buy pepperoni for lunch for the team. So I drove to town, parked and walked toward the grocery store. When I reached the street where the parade was marching, I was surprised and excited to see Whiz right in front of me with his soccer team! That was the one thing I had been disappointed about missing. I got to wave to him and then continue on to the store. What a special moment to remember God cares. Every unspoken wish is known to Him!

After I bought the pepperoni, I realized I was trapped...inside the parade. 😒 They were marching around me. I worried that the moments would not be enough, that I wouldn’t get back in time, that no one would know where I was. I drove around looking for an exit, but then since I couldn’t do anything about it, I went and sat at the Café. Maybe God needed me to stop. When traffic started moving, I got out of the first exit and made it back to CVE just in time to prep lunch. The moments were enough! 

God is never late, but sometimes He needs to remind me that my planning, working ahead, getting done early, so that I can pat myself on the back and say, “Well Done!” ...that’s just not the point or the way to live. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 

Let’s be ready for the adventure...the story He wants to write in our lives!

I’m thankful for all the wonderful cooks and helpers who came and worked to provide us a Thanksgiving dinner. On Thursday night we served about 300 to 350 guests including team members and CVE. The others invited were community members who support CVE in various ways and services.

Mashed potato production 

Cake frosting corner

Zoom’s turn to give Speedie a ride. Love these boys!

Marce arrived back from Illinois and received a dramatic welcome from...a mouse. 🐭 Since I am head of the mouse removal department, I was commissioned to set traps. Three mice down, ? to go...😃

Marce brought Wooly Willy boards back for the boys. After she arrived we decorated for Christmas...

“The Shepherd on the Search” was placed on the piano and the shepherd has since been journeying through our house on the way to the manger. Zoom loves finding the new hiding spot each morning.

This policeman oversaw affairs for the decorating project. He was also helpful setting up the nativity...

And placing the star on top of the tree.

I couldn’t find my picture frame ornament, but I did find this one tucked away in a tote while I was searching. 

I decided to train another helper for Speedie’s riding sessions. And the plan is for these two amazing cowgirls to take him riding while I am on vacation. I’m thankful to see the teenagers here stepping up, filling roles, growing in their interests, and maturing into men and women. I pray that they will find Jesus. He is the answer to all their needs.

I am SO thankful that this past Saturday, we were able to take Whiz and Tag on an outing to the park and to eat hotdogs. We made it kind of a Christmas celebration! It has been quite a journey and continues to be, learning to let go and yet hold on, to hope, to love, to trust them to God and  pray that He would lead them and their family to the truth. We are so blessed to have a good relationship with their father! Today was Tag’s 5th birthday. I called and wished him a happy one. That means so much!

Lord willing, tomorrow I fly to Illinois. Thank You Jesus for the blessing of travel. And we’ll just see what adventure it brings...

Fall Festivities in Flip-Flops

We finally switched a button-down shirt from church to work clothes. Zoom was pleased.

We keep working at it! My goal is for him to be able to walk with a belt or some other small support.

Noche de Chili y Pay 2017... still not chilly for this fall festival. I made pumpkin pecan pie.

And tied for third place.

Marce made an apple cream cheese with almonds and won 1st place!

I took Zoom to a friend’s birthday party. It was paw patrol themed and we had a lot of fun! Me, chatting with all the moms, and him, dancing and meeting all the kids. (In Mexico, you do not drop your kids off at birthday parties, the moms or parents go too.) As you can see, sleeveless weather continued.

Enjoying barbecue ribs by Dr. Duane Wulf. (Still wearing short sleeves.)

I took Zoom to an eye doctor appointment in Hermosillo to get a second opinion on his prescription. He and Miss G are pretending these books are iPads. “Don’t distract me or I’ll crash.”

Sam’s club in Hermosillo

Weather was still rather warm at our evacuation drill on October 26th. Zoom was happy to be one of the injured and ride in the ambulance.

He’s a scrape-out-the-pan kind of guy.

I had fun making a play dough replica of our neighborhood with Zoom for homework.

If only all the kids were such willing helpers...as Speedie who is sad to sit on the porch during Saturday cleaning. 

 

This policeman sings really well and his microphone is a glue bottle.

Speedie loves the trains.

A man stopped by to trim the palm trees 🌴. It is quite interesting to watch. He has spikes strapped to his shoes and a rope that goes around his waist and the tree trunk. He moves the rope up, then takes two steps up, jamming the spikes into the trunk. Then he moves the rope up again.

Café Sed’s 7th anniversary party was a success. The piñata was definitely a highlight for the kids, but they also enjoyed tossing bean bags, mini golf, bingo, and a fortune wheel. The adults did too! The nights are getting cooler.

Little girls...Golden hour

On Monday Kendra and I brought a van load of food and supplies down for Thanksgiving. It was a long (8:30 am-11:30 pm), but successful day! We made lots of friends as I bagged up what I thought was eighty pounds of sweet potatoes (turned out to be 120 lbs. - 😬) and checked out three loaded carts.

Tuesday was picture day and I wish I could share our pictures, but they are not social media approved. Here the kids kick a ball around during family photos, waiting for the all-CVE photo.

We walked out the door and Speedie’s younger brother was wearing the same flannel button-down as our two boys! We didn’t even plan it. But he and Zoom enjoyed being “twins.”

They were probably sweating in that flannel. But I am thankful to report that I wore boots last night and today I am wearing long sleeves.

Marce leaves next Wednesday and then my days will be full with coordinating meals for the Thanksgiving team and caring for the boys. Please keep us in your prayers!

I have plane tickets to be in Central Illinois from December 9th-23rd.

Just Life

This month I made my first states trip for groceries and Marce went along. We made time for some fun too!!

Zoom reading his Bible with me one morning.

We finally got some flourishing flowers in our little plot.

Last week Speedie was able to sit completely Indian style, first time I’ve seen since his surgery a year and a half ago.

Tracing...hmm...I promise this is progress. 

Thanks for the prayers!

This Friday is our chili and pie night, so maybe next week I’ll have some more pictures.