Erika's Party

Friday night we had Erika's Birthday party and IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.  Everything flowed and everything we did, the girls seemed to enjoy...which made this mama happy:)  Erika went to bed with a big smile on her face.

I found these adorable ornaments for the girls to make...what a great take-home gift at Christmas...

We played the "Frozen" soundtrack over and over, but still, it did not snow:(

The "Can you build a Snowman?" Craft was a big hit too...even with Daddy.  Poor guy was surrounded by girls all night...

A couple of her friends couldn't come, which is normal since she is a Christmas baby.  Especially here...a lot of people leave for Christmas.

But we still had a good amount of friends that she knows from church and ballet.

It was a SPA party with a Frozen theme.  The two combined beautifully.  I loved decorating and was so happy to find some things while we were in Mexico, too.  And my sister in law helped by sending face masks, which were a hit.

Tori and Elizabeth made the cutest "Pin the Nose on Olaf".

Yep, they did Daddy's face too...don't worry, we didn't paint his nails...

Tori and Kailey did pedicures for the girls and Elizabeth did Erika's...and she is equal to about five girls...because it is  hard for her to sit still...especially when it is her birthday!

At the end, we did freeze dance, and it was just so much fun.  Eight is a fun age.  And Erika is blessed with such great friends here.  And I am so glad we did an un-slumber party...which means they come in their jammies, but they go home to sleep.  Because I was exhausted on Saturday:/

I especially miss our families when we have birthdays.  I can't really explain it, but always feel like something is missing.  But, now that the girls are older and can help, it seems that God has given me a full family right within my own home:)

And now you are eight...

There once was a mommy who was not finished with her family...she knew there was one more out there...

There once was a precious baby who needed a family...

And thus began the story of our family.

I will always ache a little that I was not there the moment our sweet Erika was born.  I would have willingly sat by her little incubator, fed her, held her, kissed her little head.  But that was not what happened.  Instead...in December 2006, the Lord impressed upon me to pray for this little girl.  I did not know her, know about her, know if it is was even really God...until one day when I looked back through my journals.

We actually did not get to meet Erika until she was about 15 months old.  I will never forget how she toddled over to me, laid her head on my shoulder and let me pick her up.  As if somewhere deep inside of her, she knew that I was the mommy she had been looking for.  I remember when a month later, we finally got to bring her home...and she was immediately at home.  There was no adjusting to a new house, simply contentment.

A week after Erika came to live with us, we went to Disney World.  A trip that had been planned for over a year, as Lee was performing a wedding in Florida.  It was a dream vacation for me for sure.  I remember as we entered Disney World...my three precious children...Josh, 12, Tori, 9 and Erika 16 months...I was overwhelmed and began to cry.  God had answered my deepest prayer.

Now, here we are in Belize, Central America.   Erika had just turned four when we moved here.  So she has now almost lived half her life in the US and half her life in Belize.  It is hard to believe.  When I think back to how little she was when we came.  How much has happened in those years.  So many changes in our lives, our family, our home...

And who misses her big brother most of all (after his mom)????

Happy Birthday to a little girl with big attitude who will change the world for Jesus some day!!!!

Mommy can't imagine her life without you:)

Grandparents

Visits from the grandparents are the best.

Its been a couple weeks now since my mom and dad came and left.  But it has been non-stop busy.

What I love most about my parents visit is the time they spent with the girls.  Time that my girls needed.  Just to be loved on.  It was the first time they met Kailey and there was such a strong connection almost immediately.  I love how God did that for her and them.

We took them a couple of places, but mostly hung out at home.  My parents even had some oppurtunities to minister at LifeNet.  My mom led a Women's breakfast, which the women have all shared how blessed they were.  My dad led a NetGroup (the one I go to).  Also, they were just available as little things came up here and there.  Oh, also my mom did some teaching at the new Pregnancy Help Center...a ministry close to her heart.

ZOO

IQUANAS

It was unusually warm when my parents were here.  That part was hard.  And on the Sunday they were here, we had the Community of Cultures, a very exciting Sunday for them to experience...but no electricity all day long!!!!  So they definitely got a taste of life in Belize.

I was so thankful that they came.  It seemed to go so fast.  But was a refreshing visit in the midst of regular life.

December

Did anyone else feel the pressure when they woke up and saw it was December 1st?  So many things to plan for this month and we have a birthday in there too.

I am in this place.  A place of contentment of living here in Belize.  I feel like I have found myself, figured things out and learned lessons I never could have learned except for coming to this place.

When we went to Mexico last week, it was so much like the states...but not.  We stayed in a place that was a wealthier city.  Clean, smooth roads, stores, familiar restaurants....AC!!!  Yet, as we crossed the border back in Belize, I felt anxious to get home.  Because we were foreigners in Mexico.  Yet, we are residents here.  And here is my familiar.  Even when I come to the states, I love it...every moment...but towards the end, I am just ready to come home, cook my own food, sleep in my own bed.

But in this place of feeling seasoned, I also have some new feelings...that another missionary shared with me yesterday, as well.    Probably feelings that the missionaries felt towards us when we first came.

We have worked so hard in the physical and spiritual realm to establish something.  It has cost us EVERYTHING.  We have walked through things here in Belize that noone could ever understand.  But now, it has gotten easier.  Life has gotten easier.  The church is strong and getting established.  But for those who come after, it is so much easier...or it seems that way to those of us who have been here for  awhile.  This is the third time we have pioneered a new work...and it takes so much, yet, is such a blessing to see it established.

My life has shifted more to my homefront.  The transition in our family is like nothing we have gone through.  Homeschooling three girls, keeping the house decent, cooking...always cooking something...keeps my days so incredibly busy.  So when we throw in birthday celebrations, throwing baby showers and visits from family, this month I feel I have barely kept my head above water.  Yet, I have.  Not everything gets done just as I would like...but it gets done.  Being relieved from leading Children's Church has been such a blessing.  But still there are pressures.  My ministry focus has just changed.   The girls from the children's home asked me when I would come next.  So I wake this morning asking God to give me grace.  Give me ideas of things to do with them....ways to minister to them.

I know my thoughts are all over today, but the other thing is that two of my friends, who used to live here, are visiting this week.  I miss them.  But not like I'm upset for them not being here anymore...but they each were a friend when I needed one...  And so I miss that.  But also, the Lord has drawn new friends into my life.  Women who have actually been here as long or longer than me...yet, slowly I find myself opening up myself and trusting them.  And it is so good for me.  I now attend a family NetGroup instead of the one that meets at my house on Thursdays.  Again, something I wish I would have done from the beginning, yet, everything in God's timing is best.  And the timing of now is Best....

And so these are the ramblings that go through this missionary/pastor's wife/homeschooling mom's mind...

Tori's Sixteenth Bday Trip

In the midst of all the changes we have gone through in the past year, we decided for Tori's Bday to take a little trip across the border...of Mexico.  We don't get too many getaways like this so it was an incredible blessing.  A taste of the states, but with most people only speaking Spanish.  We learned a lot on this first trip there, but it was awesome.  Now to real life and prepping for the holidays.

I made a little video for us to remember the trip by.  By the way, it was the first time Kailey ever left Belize, so many things were new to her:)

Tori and Kailey got money for their birthdays in October and November to spend on this trip, so staying by the mall was a great choice.

Here is the video I made:

Let me know if you can watch it...I think it is blocked here in Belize:)

My Sweet Sixteen year old

 Victoria Joy.   Wow.  It has gone way too fast.  I still remember the excitement I felt when I found out you were a girl.  I remember when you were born, you were feminine in every way, right from the start.  I loved dressing you up in pretty dresses until you decided you didn't want to do that anymore.  I have loved every moment, every age with you.  You are an absolute joy to my heart and my life.

It is amazing to me what a perfect mix of Daddy and I that you are.  You have so many of his personality traits, yet you seem to be my twin as well...

You are truly a beautiful girl...inside and out...

Your big brother was your first and best friend.  I know it has been hard having him gone to college.  And you became the oldest.  I am so thankful for the love you two have always had for each other.

You are the girl with the biggest heart of anyone I know.  I love the way that you have opened your heart to two little sisters.  You have such an opportunity to pour into these girls as they look up to you so much...

You are oh so serious, but give you some coffee and let it be late at night, and your crazy side comes out.  I am thankful for all of your sides...

Each year you get a little older.  A little closer to going to college, getting married and being a mother yourself.  All of these things I know you will do so well.  But I will miss you.  So I want to savor these moments I have before you start a life on your own.

I love our early morning walks, although I know I don't take enough of them.  I love our friendship.  I always prayed my daughter would also be my friend.  I love your beautiful blue eyes...more so when they are smiling.

Life can be hard.  It will beat you up.  Especially when you serve the Lord.  But our Hope is in Him.  He wants to pour out blessings on us.  So, stay close to Him.  Know that He knows every thing you go through and is there.  And let the things of this life that are hard, difficult...let them build you.  Let them teach you to lean on Jesus.  He is the only constant you will ever have.

And remember, too, that your Dad and I love you SOOO much.  We are always here for you.  We want only good things for you.  And we are so blessed to have you as our daughter.

Happy Sweet Sixteen to our amazing Tori:)