Wini is 18

Yesterday was Wini's 18th birthday.  So, as soon as she left for school, the girls and I decorated her room.

We went and picked up her cake from the bakery.  They did an amazing job.  I asked them to put purple stars (her favorites) and I was so impressed with how it came out.

It was fun this morning, downloading my pictures, because I didn't take any of them.  They are from all different exposures.  Different people.  

It was very dark, but beautiful to have the baptisms at night in a very COLD pool.  We are in a colder time and it has been raining for about two weeks...soo...

Here are Alina and Yanzi, who I baptized.   Alina baptized Wini.

I want to give credit to Alina, the first girl being baptized...these are the pictures she took and they turned out so much better than mine with the darkness...

Kelston, then baptizing his wife, Samantha, then their nephew, Keithan...

Then Abner, Freddy and Trey.

Then, we headed home, changed into dry clothes, and headed to Bull Frog, for those who wanted, to celebrate Wini's birthday.  It was great to have a party and just celebrate with all our young people.  We have such a great group of kids.

Remember, I am seeing these pictures for the first time today, too.  Love when the teens pass around my camera because I get all perspectives.

Alina...actually here spending the night with Wini...

Lee and Trey

Lee and Astrid

Josh and Ree

Nairy, Wini and Bryan

Jesse showing them how it is done

Abner

that million dollar smile

Selini and I  (Ree's mom)  Thankful she helped tote around some of the kids for us:)

Earlyn and Alina...love these two

More pictures from Alina's camera...they are so good...

It was a great night.  The house is quiet as everyone is sleeping but I woke up early.  Its okay.  I have lots to do.  On my third load of laundry, made orange juice, fixing to get things ready for children's church tomorrow.

My kids provide the best pictures and stuff for me to write about, but I definitely get the most done...when a certain kid is recharging her batteries.

We are doing some chores around the house this morning, then heading about an hour away to pick up our Christmas gifts from Lee's family and some people in their church...  Fun day ahead for us.

Remember the baby shower I had a couple of weeks ago?  She had the baby this morning at 3 am in Belize City.  She is 6 1/2 lbs.  Grandma is here taking care of big sister.  Can't wait to see her.  Don't worry, you know I will show you pictures...

Have a great Saturday.

100 Day

Today, we celebrated 100 day.  It was really fun and I think I will do it next year for First Grade.  There were some things that were still a little challenging for Erika this year.  And it was a nice break from the routine of the regular curricullum.

She had fun making crafts, and counting, over and over.  We practiced counting by 2's, 5's and 10's.  She did exercises in 10's until she got to 100.  Josh and Tori helped a little too and were a little jealous that they had to take tests and do their regular work while Erika had fun at school.  But they had their day to be in kindergarten and have 100 day...  Josh's was 10 years ago.  Okay, that makes me tear up a little.

We had a late night last night and will have another one tonight with Wini getting baptized, then celebrating her bday afterward.  So Lee and Erika are napping now.   100 day was actually much more exhausting for her than her regular school.

Thought I would show a few of the fun things we did...

100 stars on "100" sunglasses

counting 100 mini marshmallows (and yes, eating them too:))

100 butterfly and heart sequins to make a pretty cross

100 paper clip necklace that is MUCH taller than Erika

a rainbow of fruit loops...she did amazing on this...unfortunately the Crazy Ants thought so too so we cannot keep this one...

100 toothpicks makes a nice pointy hat like a porcupine

So, it was a fun day.  Feel free to copy or add to any of these ideas.  I will actually try to incorporate more manipulatives into our regular Math, because she loved it.  And loving school makes it a lot more fun:)

Raining for about two weeks now...

There is this love/hate relationship with the rain going on here in Belize.

When it rains, you don't want to get out of bed in the morning...

When it rains, it is peaceful and soothing...

When it rains, the temps are beautiful...  Its been in the 70s all day!!!

But then, there are some negatives....

Like my house is clean right now...but it will not stay that way, with muddy feet, 40 pairs of them, coming over tonight.

Like the four loads of laundry that I washed and hung this morning...dripping.

(I am blessed because I have a dryer...but don't want to go in the muddy yard to retrieve them...)

Like trying to run errands for our residency today...in the rain.  And everything is not nice and paved here...so you trompse through huge mud-holes to get where you are going.  Fun for Erika, but not so much for me.

Yesterday we had a pretty intense rainstorm.  So after it was finished, I had the bright idea for the girls and I to take a walk.   It was nice and cool, although there were lots of mud puddles that Erika caught every single one of them:)

Can you see Stormi?  Of course not, she is hiding in her house in the shed...to stay dry.  Maybe we will see her when she gets hungry:)

No sitting out on the front porch watching the kids walk by today...even our chairs on both porches are drenched...cause it is raining HARD today!!!

Thought you might enjoy the random floating little pink Croc...

No swinging or playing with the bunnies today.  Its okay, they are nice and snuggled together out there and Tori has fed and watered them before the rain started...

it was not raining when I put these out today...but since it has for the last 392 days...I should have known better...

Happy 1st Year Anniversary in Belize to Us....I think its gonna be a wet one....

A Year on the Mission Field

It is honestly so hard for my mind to conceive that we have lived in Belize for a year now!!

I just reread my post from the night before we came here. You can read it here.

So many unknowns.  No car, no home, no furniture...  And within a week, God  provided.  He is so faithful to us.  

It has been such a full year.  In one sense, it has flown by and I can't believe it has been a year.  But in another sense, it feels like we have been here longer.  It is hard for my mind to conceive how quickly God has adapted our family to living in a foreign land.  And how quickly and strong the church already is.  This is our fourth church to pastor, third to plant.  Each one so unique.  Each one, we learn and have to adapt.

I feel that God is growing me in so many ways.  Constantly stepping outside my comfort zone.  Constantly learning new things.

We are applying for Residency this week.  It will be a huge financial cost in the beginning, but will allow us to not have to deal with the monthly or yearly costs and hassles.  Please pray for favor as we go to apply.  I believe it will last for five years.

We are in the process of preparing for a team to come and build a house in Maya Mopan.

Here is what they have already done...  Erika is at the top of the mountain with all the village children:)

I'm still learning new things all the time.  Like I just learned recently that I should put a little bleach in the water when I wash dishes since we only have cold water....  Oops, sorry to all who have already visited us.  Didn't know.  Still learning how to make certain foods...its a daily thing.  Searching for recipes, then trying to make them.

Loving the people that God has brought into our life.  Who would have known we would already feel so close to our little congregation?  God is so good.  Even one of the ladies brought Erika GOLDFISH this morning...seriously, never seen them here once.  But she got them from the city.  What a special treat and that she thought of my girl.  I had just recently asked a friend to send some with her husband next month because we miss them...and it is like God said He heard me:)

In a year, I have learned that my Everything is Jesus.  I thought I already knew that, but this has grown in me so much.  Sometimes it is only Him that I can run to.  And isn't that the way it should be?  I have learned more about the spiritual realm than ever before.  I have learned that the enemy is out to bring deception to people's minds, divide Christians, destroy families.  I have watched it in a more real way than ever before ( on this scale).  But I have also learned that, yes, Jesus is bigger, stronger and what people are looking for.  I have learned that God does not allow or cause tragedy, but that He is there when it happens, to comfort and guide people to Him.  I have witnessed that He does the work, we just work with Him.   We are simply His hands here on earth.   He provides the hungry, we just feed them His Word and Truth.  My faith has grown so tremendously and have felt that God is for us, loves us, blesses us and protects us.  He provides, whether it be financial support, prayer support or emotional support exactly when we need it.

Before coming on the Mission Field full time, I had many ideas of what it would be like...they were mostly wrong.  My life is not at all what I pictured it would be a year ago.  God never ceases to surprise me, bless me, make me in awe of His blessings.  I do miss our family and friends, many things about living in the states, but I am also amazingly well-adjusted to this very different life.

I don't know, can't imagine what feelings will be in my heart a year from now.  

So much can happen in a year.

This morning's sermon was about being like a rubberband, that in those times when we are stretched, that is when God can fully use us.  It is so true.  If you are too comfortable, and not being stretched at all, well, I just encourage you to get uncomfortable...

Need Comments....

Twenty years ago, this August 8th, Lee and I walked into marriage.  Very young, lots of life lessons yet to be learned.  We have literally grown up together.  This photo has been floating around Facebook again...getting all sorts of comments.

On our 10th anniversary, we were amazingly blessed with a trip to Cancun with another couple in the church we had just planted in Katy.  It was beautiful and romantic and just so awesome.

Usually for our anniversary, we get to go away overnight and so we have been very blessed.

Last year, we were new to Belize and had decided on just a nice dinner out at a restaurant.  It was our first day of homeschool.  A great day, and then, Erika sliced her foot open on our front door.  So this was what we were doing on our last anniversary.

When my parents came in December, we were blessed to get away one night at this beautiful place on a river.  One of our friends got us quite a deal.

When we come to the states this summer, we will be extremely busy visiting churches, friends, and family.

But I feel it is very important that Lee and I get away, just the two of us, for a few days, to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

So, I am writing to ask for suggestions of where we should go for our 20th... Something amazing, something memorable.

We only have a about 4 days, 3 nights, so we had thought about a cruise, but the cruises out of Galveston...come here or Mexico...I would rather do something different than where I already live.  So my thoughts are flying somewhere amazing in the US, that would also be romantic, memorable...

Now it is your turn.  Please leave me a comment.  I expect my email to be lighting up with suggestions of where you would go or have gone.

Thank you guys:)