Christmas Break Fun

The day after Christmas, we decided to go to the city to bowl.  Unfortunately, even though we called twice to see if they were open, they were not:(  The restaurant we planned to go to was also not open:(  But we ended up eating at a real neat restaurant on the sea.  And it actually was still a super fun day for us.  We just really enjoyed all the kids that God has placed in our lives for right now.  And enjoyed just getting away.

And on those days that I feel a little overwhelmed...so much to do, the Lord gently reminds me that I always wanted a "full house"...and that is exactly what He has given me:)

Christmas time

If you got to be with your family for Christmas this year, please be thankful...for me.  This is our third Christmas with no family.  Yes, I have my husband and children...but I do so miss the larger family.  Thankfully, my in-laws are coming soon...and that is one of the best gifts for me...to know we will be with family soon.

But this Christmas, I have been continually reminded of God's hand being in the details.  We have five children in our home right now.  But there is always enough.  Its amazing to me, really.  How God has blessed us randomly with food or money for gifts or whatever we have needed.  He has truly taken care of the details.  We even had special candy from home...which the kids have gobbled up.  But how thankful I am as a mom that they have had such treats.

Christmas Eve service was really small this year.  The Mayans had a special dinner back in Maya Mopan and we realized how many of them we missed.  But it still was nice just to focus on Jesus in the midst of wrapping gifts and preparing food.  We came home and opened gifts and it was just a joy, as parents, to see the light in the youngest two's eyes.  The older two are waiting for their big gifts this summer:)  They still enjoyed many gifts as well, too:)

My home is so full right now.  Both girls are sharing their rooms, and so there is some chaos.  It seems that I am cooking, cleaning, or something all day long these days.  But also, there are more kids to help too.  And thankfully everyone knows how much I need help.  Yesterday, I decided we need to get this house in some order and everyone chipped in.  It is hard for me to relax if the house is too dirty...especially the living/kitchen area.  And so at night, we were able to just sit and enjoy a movie together.  Then, today after lunch, we enjoyed playing a game together.  I love having my home filled with joy and laughter...  The girls enjoy it so much.  It is like one big slumber party for them.  Josh is greatly outnumbered, but he enjoys the crazy chaos too, I think:)

We are also enjoying a little break from school.  The kids will need to work a few days before their grandparents come, then get another week off:)  We are looking forward to just visiting and enjoying them coming so much:)

We also have a team here right now.  They got here yesterday.  They are roofing a pretty large house back in Maya Mopan, a family that attends LifeNet.  Then will head to Cayo to help Pastor Caleb.  I am thankful for Jesse, being able to take a greater role in helping with the teams, so my husband is not so stretched.

New Year's Eve, we plan to have some of the young adults over, just to fellowship and play games.  Of course, there will be food prep for that too.  But it will be fun...  After all, although I enjoy times of just my family, it is also so fun to get a group together and just enjoy living life together:)

Giving Back

Right before Christmas, Tori and I joined the girls from the Children's Home to minister at the hospital.  It was such a special time for me, and I actually got teared up, as I saw the girls pray with young children and new mothers.  They baked goods to give to the doctors and nurses and blessed the children with goodie bags.  A while back, a team had brought small quilts that were homemade and the girls blessed all the new moms (and there were so many) with a blanket for their babies.  I love that the housemom teaches the girls that they are given things and that they can give back.  And of course, I love all these girls so much.  I love how they are growing in the Lord.  I love that Tori and I and our whole family gets to pour into them...and how they always end up blessing us so much more.

 All of the girls went somewhere for Christmas.  We were blessed to get one of these sweet girls, that the Lord has put on our heart, to spend Christmas with us.  We are only halfway through Christmas break, but I don't know how I will take her back.  She just fits in so perfectly in our home and we all have fallen in love with her.  I even got the joy of getting to get her ears pierced yesterday.  Something she has wanted so badly.  So, we just called this lady up and she came over.   And my crazy daughter, got a third ear piercing.  She promised it is the last...it better be:)

Waiting for Breakthrough

I think one of the hardest parts about having faith is waiting for the breakthrough.  You really really believe that God is there...and that He just has to intervene soon...but you see nothing in the natural.

Right now, I have about three really big issues that need the Lord's intervention.  Last night, I was just overwhelmed by it all and just went to bed.  Not sure if that was the right decision, but I did wake up feeling refreshed and with new hope.

When I spend time with the Lord, I feel refreshed, that He speaks to me, and ready to go on.  Then, things remain the same.  It gets so discouraging at times.

I know many who read my blog also may have a breakthrough they are waiting on.

Isaiah 45:2–5

eAnd 2make the 3crooked places straight;

fI will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

And hidden riches of secret places,

gThat you may know that I, the Lord,

Who hcall you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.

And Israel My elect,

I have even called you by your name;

I have named you, though you have not known Me.

There is no God besides Me.

lI will gird you, though you have not known Me,

The other night, when I was just spending time with the Lord,
feeling discouraged by the days events, this song came on
my I Touch, randomly.  Just the words I needed.

Come To Me by Jenn Johnson

I am the Lord your God,

I go before you now.

I stand beside you

I’m all around you

And though you feel I’m far away

I’m closer than your breath

I am with you

More than you know

I am the Lord your peace

No evil will conquer you

Steady now your heart and mind

Come into my rest

And oh, let your faith arise

And lift up your weary head

I am with you

Wherever you go

Come to me, I’m all you need

Come to me, I’m everything

Come to me, I’m all you need

Come to me, I’m your everything

I am your anchor, in the wind and the waves

And I am your steadfast, so don’t be afraid

Though your heart and flesh may fail you

I’m your faithful strength

And I am with you

Wherever you go

Don’t look to the right or to the left, keep your eyes on me

You will not be shaken, you will not be moved

Ohhhh

I am the hand to hold, I am the truth, I am the way

Heyyyy

Just come to me, come to me

Cause I’m all that you need

And just in closing, Sunday was a very terrible day that someday I will share the
details, when it is all over.  So difficult, that i could barely even join in the worship, 
my favorite part of the service.  But at the end of worship, this really sweet 
13 year old boy came up to me with a little vase of flowers.  I went and 
thanked his mother, thinking it was from her, and she said he (her son) 
had won a gift certificate and wanted to bless me.  This was the first 
touch of God reminding He is here.  Secondly, after church, a lady who 
recently had been to the states and has to rush back, came over and 
gave me all the (expensive and impossible to get here) fixings for 
dessert for Christmas dinner, candy kisses, etc.  One of the hardest
parts of being far away is not feeling like I can even have our own 
Christmas traditions here because we are not with family, 
and so many of the special Christmas foods are just too expensive. 
 Well, someone blessed us with money for food, the Lord has given
 me some amazing deals, and then now this. 
 Because He knows its important to me.

There are still many things unsolved this morning.  Many areas,
 I am waiting not so patiently for the Lord to breakthrough.

But my hope has to be in the Lord.  In things I cannot see.

I'm waiting for Breakthrough:)

Bethel Music- Come To Me ft. Jenn Johnson

Erika's big surprise

In lieu of a big party for Erika's birthday, we decided to do a fun, new activity instead.  It was totally secretive and she did not know a thing.  I conspired with two of her friends' moms and we kept it a secret until the morning, when we were about to leave.

Not the best picture, but this is when she figured out what was going on.  I wrapped up a horse and gave it to her that morning.

She was so excited about her big stack of gifts from the grandparents and aunt and uncle and mommy and daddy...

The worship team was using our gray van, so we had to use the big one.  Here is Erika when we picked up her two little friends.

Walking around seeing the jaguar and other animals.  Then, finally, we got to ride the horses.

Erika and Ames...was their first ride ever.  They both did great.

Even big sis and bro loved it.  We were so blessed in the midst of all this rain, that the Lord gave us a dry morning.  It was muddy, but we didn't get rained on.

And of course, we talked to the birds before we left.  It is so cool when they talk back.

Erika was thrilled with her birthday, all her gifts, and the two friends that came.  They had so much fun playing with all her new things.  It was definitely a much more stress free birthday for me.