It's almost EXPO!

Which for us means projects, mess, borrowing ingredients, ironing out last minute details, looking over the schedule, and an underlying buzz of activity and excitement!

Our wagon is out of commission (perhaps permanently), so Speedie's stroller comes in handy when going for the ice! Tag was certain he wanted to sit on the seat even if that meant having the cooler on his lap.

It's been fun having Tori over to play occasionally this summer vacation. Play dough was a hit!

Colored pencil drawings for Expo...with some friends. The boys worked really hard on these, at least 3 hours of drawing and coloring.

The Ramirez family gifted us some outdoor boys toys including this little work table which the boys have been enjoying. (Endi and Alisha moved to Barra Vieja this last month with their two kids, Juana and Timi. Prayers for them as they adjust to a different home, community, and culture.)

Three of the four got hair trims on the porch during a downpour. Once they had their hair cut, we told them to go out in the rain to rinse off.

Along with the rain, the huge toads are back for another season! 

Heading off to the school with Whiz for his demonstration on how to prepare a watermelon! He did great. (Because of time, the demonstrations are judged before Expo and only the winners demonstrate on the big day.)

I got to go to Speedie's horse class last week and found out he was going to participate in the barrels, walking. Watching him riding confidently, I thought, "I wonder if we could trot a bit." I was worried he would freak out, but we trotted little stretches with me holding onto him and he kept asking to trot again! When we got back to the stable afterwards, he emphatically applauded himself. What a kid!

More hours of coloring...

And some painting... There were some tears from the perfectionist kid, but they all had fun and hopefully learned a thing or two.

Practice sheep show for the advanced class.

Just playing after supper...these summer days.....

Send a prayer up for a non-worrying, moment at a time, God-honoring Expo Esperanza 2017! I'm so thankful we have this opportunity and for all the help God has provided over the summer. 

Cheers to all the interns and volunteers!

Braving it with the Boys

Best pirate parrot I've seen yet!

I thought I would water the plants, but Speedie decided to water himself! He pulled on the hose til it he could dose himself.

The boys' expo chickens arrived home on Saturday July 8th and we've been enjoying them ever since.

Sometimes they are so kind and helpful to each other. Instantly enemies...instantly friends...

This little guy is just too cute sometimes!

It is officially rainy season...glorious wind and pounding rain blowing up every couple days.

The boys with their Joy Camp buddies, Mitchell Lanz, Scott Kieser and Brecken Beyer.

Pizza is a great bucket filler!

Play at golden hour!

The dedicated police man who patrolled my house yesterday.

Well, Marce arrived home last night and we were all very excited to see her. Thank you to all who prayed for my two weeks without her. Please continue to pray that we will have a smooth transition back to "normal" life.

I am very thankful for God's faithfulness these past two weeks. There was a lot of ugly (stress, disrespect, weariness, tantrums) and a lot of beautiful (moments of connection, joy, delight, peace in the midst of difficulty). And there is hope even for the ugly because God makes all things beautiful in his time! 

"Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Off to Joy Camp

 

Yesterday was the first day of Joy Camp for Zoom (on left) and Whiz (second from right). Speedie has Joy Camp with the older group, so his first day was Monday and Tag is still too young, so we have "class" at home. 

They all got new Joy Camp T-shirts. On the front they read, 

JOY nm: I am happy to be with you

And on the back, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Joy in the Lord does give amazing strength! 

Pray that we can all truly believe that God is delighted to be with us and through that find the deepest joy.

First Summer Rain

I am sitting on my porch in the dark listening to the wind gusting through the trees, the drops of rain, and the cars passing on the highway. Tonight we had our first downpour of the season. The air is fresh and cool. 

After our normal Sunday supper at the CVE dining room, all the kids raced outside to dance under the downspout and splash in the puddles. One of my boys scraped his foot which required ten minutes of cuddling or so. Around seven-thirty, we headed home. Then I was running (literally 😬) around the house getting them showered and snacked and in bed. But they are all sleeping peacefully now...

However, my real reason for posting is to thank all those who have been praying for me while Marce is traveling. (She is on vacation until July 14th.) We are three days in and I have been amazed at God's thankfulness! Prayer changes things. Please keep praying!!

May God bless each of you!

And enjoy a few pictures...

Arm-wrestling at the volleyball court this afternoon. At least one of my boys is obsessed with biceps... 😜

Zoom (age 7) lost his third tooth yesterday and today in my Sunday School class (ages 6-7) there were two other students missing the same front tooth. 

The rainbow from last weeks sprinkle.

P.S. I discovered the blogger app. So hopefully there will be more posts.

And Can it Be?

Last Sunday was our last choir performance before summer vacation. Our first song, "And Can it Be?" states,

I do not understand, How can it be?

Amazing love, how can it be?

That I should gain an interest in the Saviour's blood

Died he for me who caused his pain?

For me who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love, how can it be?

That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left his Father's throne above

So free, so infinite his grace

Emptied himself of all but love

And bled for Adam's helpless race

Tis mercy all, immense and free

For, oh my God, it found out me.

How can it be?

Amazing love, how can it be?

How can it be? Verse 1

How can it be? Verse 2

Our last song, "Fear Not" states, "Fear not, be strong and brave, God goes with you; every day he is true. He doesn't desert us; do not be afraid, He doesn't desert us; do not be afraid. 

In the midst of trouble, He will go with you. And in every moment, He will protect you. He doesn't desert us; do not be afraid. He doesn't desert us; do not be afraid."

Fear Not

Praise the Lord for how He is working in the hearts of these young people. Last night was graduation, and a young lady graduating 9th grade (last year of Junior High in Mexico) broke down in tears as she shared how in the past year she gave her heart to Jesus. She expressed the thankfulness she feels for that and to all those who have supported her. Praise the Lord!

Please pray for the upcoming two weeks. Marce will be traveling to Ixtlan area to visit her family, leaving June 30th and returning July 14th. I am thankful that I have not been anxious about her absence yet, but I anticipate a tiring two weeks. This will be her first two weeks away since last August when Whiz and Tag arrived. Pray she can be refreshed and that I can feel God with me and the boys here at CVE. 

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.

We are perplexed, but not in despair.

Persecuted, but not forsaken.

Cast down, but not destroyed."

Praying I can remember to live by these verses and when I feel perplexed and cast down, to know that I am not forsaken nor destroyed.

El Cerro De la Ventana

I discovered after our hike that the mountain is actually nameless, but I will always think of it as El Cerro de la Ventana. The first time I hiked it was probably in 2006 with my dad, Emily and a friend of my fathers, Carlos, with his two sons. 

Each summer for the last two summers I have made an attempt to climb it. The first time I overslept and the second time we broke a key. That is the short, short version. 

So when my sister Emily and her husband Mitchel made plans to come the end of June I decided to try again. This time it was a success! 

We left around 4 am and drove about 20 min. on back roads to get closer to the mountain. These are the lights of Magdalena as seen from the foot of the mountain.

Coming up to the cliff, the path grew steeper.

Looking at the distant mountains through the brush.

We clambered and slipped and fell and laughed and laughed some more. 

The other side of the mountain. It's a new view, a new world to explore...more wilderness...

Sitting on top, with Magdalena in the valley behind us.

CVE from the summit.

We "rode" our walking sticks partway down the mountain it was so steep.

Riding in the jeep was part of the experience.

Good-bye til next time Mountain of the Window!