Feliz Navidad...and Gracias

Okay, did that just to be funny.  Everyone thinks Belize is a Spanish speaking country, when the national language is actually English.  We hear more Creole than we do Spanish.  I heard more Spanish when I lived in Katy than I do here.

Merry Christmas from Belize

and

THANK YOU

Normally, each year, we get a Christmas photo taken and distribute it to our entire congregation, friends and family.  Normally I am busy getting addresses and mailing off those pictures.  With no Walmart in Belize, this year, there is no photo.  I am hoping to maybe pull it off by the time we go to the states next summer...so I can use the Walmart there:)

Christmas is very different this year, but I want to let you know...that is okay.  We have been blessed...and have been able to bless those around us.  The Lord has surrounded us with people we love and who love us.

I also want to thank you.  Those of you who support us financially...we could not be here without you.  We could not be impacting Belmopan without your support.  And that is huge.  

Every time I go to the grocery store or fill our van with gas so we can pick up people.  Every time we pay our electric bill or feed extra people around our table.  Every time we do anything, it is because you are helping us to do it.  Those of you who support us through prayer...that is important too.  The spiritual battle is intense here.  We deal with the demonic and witchcraft all the time.  We deal with deep grudges and unforgiveness, deep sin issues...we need to be covered in prayer constantly.  Don't ever let up.

And those of you who have visited us...Thank You.  You have no idea what that does for our spirits...to have visitors from home and to get to share with you what is going on here in Belize.  Please keep the visits coming, bring teams from your church.  We will always have work/ministry for you to do.  And can show you the cheapest places to eat:)  And take you to the Blue Hole.

Merry Christmas, once again.  Be blessed.  We hope to see all of you next summer on our whirlwind trip to Texas.  

Have a Blessed 2012

Our family has changed so much this past year...yet, we are still the same Brockintons:)

Courageous

It has been a very busy day.  I will not bore you with the details of my life, but I was going strong from 7 this morning til around 7 tonight, when we sat down to watch "Courageous" as a family.  We started the morning with market, and several errands, laundry, homeschool, and that was all before 10 am...and my day just never slowed down.

Our life has been extremely over-the-top, can't-think-straight-busy the past couple of months.

But tonight, we all sat down, as a family, and watched a movie.  Honestly, cannot remember the last time that all six of us did that.  It was great.

And I highly recommend this movie.  It is, simply put, a reminder of the importance of godly fathers.

I am one of the blessed ones that was raised by a godly father, and who married a godly man who fathers our children well.  There were many tears tonight as the movie struck on so many things.  And the reminder of who we are ministering to.  We decided this would be a great movie to show in our Thursday night NetGroup, but I began to think about the different kids who do not have have fathers, or do not have fathers that are there for them.  I can see that it will be a night of deep ministry.

It is hard to believe it is almost Christmas, especially since we are all still wearing shorts.  The early mornings and evenings get cool, but it is definitely not cold.  Sunday, we are looking forward to a special service.  When we asked how many would be in town and come to church, about half of the people said they will be here.  Then, we will join one of our families' extended family for Christmas dinner.  I am looking forward to a special day, enjoying my husband and children and the special Spiritual family that God has brought into our lives.

We have been blessed recently beyond what we could imagine.  The fun part has been "spreading the blessings" with others.  Without sharing details, it has been awesome to get to surprise a few families and help make their Christmas a little more special.  It is not about the gifts, but gifts are fun.  I have struggled a little, feeling that I cannot get things here, for my children, that I can in the states.  But family and friends have brought things and are sending things that my children will be so excited about.

Erika is my smallest, my baby, the one I want to feel especially excited Christmas morning.  I have found some small things...but nothing that would be really that exciting.  Well, yesterday, I was so excited to walk into a local store that sells items from the US.  I never know what will be there, but they had just gotten in a fresh stock and immediately when I walked in, I saw a pink, plastic Radio Flyer scooter...for cheap!  I quick grabbed it and asked them to hold it for me while I looked some more.  I cannot wait to see Erika's face Christmas morning...  there is a friend here that has one...that she adores everytime we go to her house.  Now, Erika will have one of her own.  God is good and blesses us.  And when my baby is blessed, I am blessed too.  SHHHH, dont tell Erika our little secret.

And, I have not blogged since Sunday...our biggest day so far.  We had 91 in the house!!  It was so awesome...and God stretched the food.  It was after our big night at Legacy Got Talent, so an especially busy couple of days...here are a couple of photos of our weekend:)

After her performance...she did amazing...

Sunday morning...not a place even to put any more chairs...

"LifeNet" performed for our service

Our children "froze up", but they were adorable anyway

Carolyn and Tirzah danced together...it was beautiful...

Monday night was the Christmas parade and Christian night at the park...Look at these two beauties...

Life has been busy, but good

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of fun and busyness...complete with Wini's friends stopping by to Christmas carol for us...

going to Wini's Christmas program, where she sang as a beautiful angel, 

We celebrated Erika turning five with a a very PINK princess party.

We took a quick trip to the Blue Hole with mom and dad.

Lee and I got away ALONE overnight to San Ignacio...while mom and dad watched the kiddoes...it was nice, but too short:(

Mom and Dad came to LIFE NET with us for two Sundays.

They got to watch Erika in her ballet class.  Unfortunately, it was the last for a while.  Their teachers are all moving on to other things.  But it was nice for the couple months she was in.

We went back to the Blue Hole yesterday with the Elliots, who also came and visited us here in Belize.  Don't you love Josh giving Erika her a beauty treatment of mud for her birthday?

and another cake, also celebrating Tom and Sue's birthdays...

And today, I took dinner to the family of our weeist member.  Please keep Chloe in your prayers.  She is 3 lbs and home from the hospital in a sort of "quarantine".  I dropped off dinner and said a quick prayer and took a quick photo.  She is precious.   Please pray for the Lord to protect her from illness as she grows stronger each day.

Its been a great two weeks.  Very busy, but we have been very blessed.  We are thankful for all of the gifts our parents and the Elliots brought our family.  We are blessed and overflowing...

This weekend, we have a special Sunday at church, which includes lots of preparation on our part.  We are praying for a great turnout and lots of food for our dinner:)

Now, to get a good night's sleep.

Erika, Now you are Five

My almost 4 year old at our last family pictures last fall.

Your 4 year old birthday...the last in the US for a while.  Surrounded by friends at Chick Fil A.

And recently, on my birthday, you woke up early, dressed yourself and asked to listen to my ITouch.


Happy 5th Birthday Erika.  It is hard to believe you have almost been with us for four years now.  It has flown by.  You have taught me so much about life, faith, and love.  You are an itty bitty girl, with a big personality.  You light up the room when you walk in.  Being raised with teenagers, you think you are one of them, even though you are just now five.  You are smart as can be and halfway through Kindergarten, (often telling me the work is too easy for you:)  I am so thankful that the Lord brought you into our lives.
As I gathered pictures for this post, I realize that I have taken WAYYYYYY more pictures of you than Josh and Tori.  And yours are mostly digital.  I am so thankful to be able and be reminded of how cute and tiny you were when you first came to our house.  And even then, you always thought you were too big to be held.  But I would still get lots of holding time in anyway.  I am thankful that I have been able to be home with you...with the exception of your two day a week preschool.  I am thankful that I get to enjoy watching you grow and learn.

Your first Birthday.  We did not know you yet, but I was already praying for you:)

Love this picture.  It truly captures your personality, even from the beginning.

Your 3rd Birthday at Pump it Up.  You were surrounded by family and friends who loved you...and lots of gifts!

3 years old and modeling like a pro

Our first family pictures with you.  You had just turned two and were absolutely precious.

Sister love...answered prayers.

Around the second week after you came to our house, we got to do a wedding on the beach in Florida.  You loved it...I realized how much energy your little body had...running up and down the beach:)

You went to Convention with just daddy and me in Houston this year.  You had just come to live with us and I wanted everyone to see this precious girl the Lord had given us...after years of prayer.

We very quickly discovered your personality.  Your face says it all:)

You were so tiny even at around 18 months here...I could wash you down in the sink after a messy meal:)

Happy Birthday to my sweet Erika.  My baby.  My last child.

They say enjoy every day cause they grow up fast.  Five is so big to me...  you can no longer even barely be considered a baby.  You are in the school years.  You are joy to my heart and I am so very thankful for your life.  As I prayed over you at your birthday party, I got choked up, because of my love for you.  I feel my age and you tire me out every day of your little life...but you are worth it all.  Love you, Mommy.