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.

My parents are here...

...so there has not been much time for blogging lately.

But it has been wonderful...

It has felt like the holidays for sure...as we haven't had Christmas yet, but already were blessed with a suitcase plus of special snacks, books, games, don't know what else.  Lots of cooking, but lots of eating out too!!!  That has been nice.  Lots of Memaw and Pawpaw taking care of Erika...what a dream and nice break for me.  Lots of games being played with all the kids.  Dad has even taught Erika some new games.  We are busy planning Erika's party for Saturday...I am pretty excited how that all goes.  We are expecting 7 little princesses dressed up and ready for fun...

Mom and Dad arrived safely on Saturday night...and we came home and just had a relaxing evening of eating dinner and catching up.  Sunday, they got to experience LifeNet and one of our local eating spots.  Unfortunately, it was not the best experience because the owner had just advertised on the radio that week and was overun with business.  But my parents were understanding and the food was still good even though we had to wait a little longer than usual.

Monday started our busy as normal week.  We went to Spanish Lookout and they really enjoyed that.  Our van needed some work so we have had to stick close to home, but still have had fun.  Today, we all went to the Art Box, which is just a cool Christian store/souvenir shop...had lots of fun.  The kids said even going to the bathroom there was fun.  We enjoyed coke floats and all were happy.

People have asked what we are doing with my parents.  It is hard to do a lot of sightseeing because we have to stay close to home with Wini in school, and simply the fact that Lee still has a lot of work to do.  But it is nice to just take my parents where we run our errands, and enjoy relaxing with them at the house, taking them to our discipleship meetings...just living life with them here in Belize.  It actually seems a little surreal that they are really here!!!  Mom has gone and prayed over a lady with me who just had a baby...and she enjoyed seeing the hospital and meeting all the nice people in our church here.

Tori happily modeling one of her bday presents sent from Lee's mom:)  She had to wait but it was worth it to her...

Can you tell how happy Erika is that her grandparents have arrived???

First stop Monday morning...Pizza and Ice cream in Spanish Lookout...MMM...

Erika keeping close to Papaw

Dad teaching Erika Chicken Foot...this is a serious moment...

Enjoying coke floats at Art Box...nice...

Even the bathroom is super cool here...

And now, we have just returned from the Blue Hole.  We didnt take swim suits and should have.   Josh and Erika swam anyway:)  Mom is enjoying the beautiful scenery and her grandbabies...

Now to rest a little before a busy evening.

My to do list

It seems that everyday I have this to-do list...that never gets done...

Really, I should not be blogging, because I have a million things to do...

But, remember the lady whose water broke?  The next morning, she delivered a healthy 3 lb baby girl.  Tori and I just took her banana muffins.  I haven't got to see the baby yet, but she showed me a video.  That girl is fiery and strong.

As I was waiting to see her today, I reflected on how different it is to have a baby here.  You bring all your own pampers, wipes, supplies from home to the hospital.  You are only allowed to nurse...it is non-negotiable...there are signs everywhere...and I have  heard they take your baby to the orphanage if you don't nurse!!!  Can you imagine?  There are about 10 beds lined in the recovery room and you share with all the other moms...no privacy.  I was so spoiled when I had my babies!!!  I had my own room and bathroom...and it was a beautiful room...  Of course, it cost us dearly, but still.

Also, we went and visited the girl who had a stroke.  It is her eighth stroke and she is only 16 years old.  Lee had a vision while praying of her to speaking to a group.  Josh had a dream of her walking and fully healed.  We are believing  both are from the Lord.  That night, knowing she cannot see, and was headed to Mexico, we ran and bought an MP3 player, came home and loaded it with Worship and the Word and went back and gave it to her.  If she is confined to a bed, then let God minister to her during that time.  She texted us the next day that she had already listened to it all!!  Oh, and I had just had the privelege of praying with her for Salvation about a week and a half before her stroke.

We are dealing with many more prayer needs...probably just because there are more people in our lives now.  But we are also seeing God intervene and we have to trust Him more here!!

Tomorrow my parents come.  I woke up so excited this morning.  So much to do to get ready for them...tomorrow will be busy for us.  I cannot wait for them to see our home, etc.  Just to get to catch up with them...and they are going to watch the kids for us to get away one night...that will be good too.

Well, I must chip away at my list...

Tonight

Life has been busy, tonight has slowed down a little...

I'm enjoying doing some crafts with the girls, watching a movie, listening to the rain...

Praying...

I prayed with a girl to receive Christ two weeks ago...after we watched "To Save a Life".  She then came to church and I also met her mom at a funeral last week.  Then Lee told me she had MS.  Now, this weekend, she had a stroke and lays in a bed in a hospital in Belize City with half her body paralyzed.  My heart breaks for her.

Last night I went to a shower.  Today, the mom's water broke...way too early.  She is 27-29 weeks.  We are covering this little girl in prayer.  It is not like the states here...technology/medically wise...but God is here and in both these situations, He can heal.  He can bring this baby into the world healthy and ready to live strongly.

I am enjoying my night with my family, but still my heart is heavy.  But there is nothing I can do...but all that HE can do....so I have to trust in Him on behalf of these three lives....

I thought I would post some of the crafts the girls have been doing...just in case you wanted some simple, cheap ideas to do with your children...

Thanksgiving Family Day

Friday night, we had a larger gathering for Thanksgiving dinner with fellow missionaries and some Belizeans...the food was all so delicious and the fellowship was sweet.

We had a great time and were thankful to be invited.  When you don't get American food all the time, you really appreciate it when you do:)

Then, Saturday, people began dropping off cookies.  At 3, a couple of families came to help assemble the mix of cookies we would pass out on Sunday.  It took us a good two hours, so I was thankful for the help we had.

this is Belizean fudge...no words...MMMMM
we had two little girls that also brought some later.  This morning, she told me that she saved her own money that she gets from cleaning to buy the ingredients for the fudge.   Seriously, I almost cried.  They come alone, but live in a tiny house with 11 people.

This morning, we had a willing crew join us at the church building nice and early to set up, then some that stayed after to tear down.  We had 76 people.  The cookies were a true blessing and stretching of our people (those who baked).  God is doing neat things and we are really seeing servants within the body emerging.

We had fun blessing people with the cookies, had a nice lunch out with one of the families in our church, and now are relaxing this afternoon.  What a busy weekend.  Next weekend will be too.  We need our weeks to rest!!!

I'll end with some cuteness...Baby Tristan...and happy Erika getting ice cream.