Problem solved!

In Mexico and most Latin American countries, people are fairly concerned about getting cold because you might get sick. They feel especially strong about this with kids; therefore, their babies and kids are dressed from head to toe many times including tights, hats, gloves, coats, and always, always, shoes. Well, we don't fit that mold very well. Often times the girls are without jackets (because they're not cold) and at home shoes are optional. I'm especially not a big fan of shoes for babies, because they fall off and I have to keep track of them and I don't really see the practical need for them. Well, this weekend, I found the perfect solution to this problem -- tights that look like shoes!!!! They are so, so cute and it looks like Isabella is wearing shoes (so no one is concerned about her health) and I don't have to keep track of shoes that fall off. I love it! They have socks like these, but I couldn't find any. So, if you know where I can find them, let me know!









We ate lunch at Chili's (not unusual for us), and on Sunday's they have a lady that does face painting. Sofia always gets her face painted, except today because she is sick and up to much of anything. Olivia always wants to get her face painted, but at the moment of actually letting the lady do it, she backs down. Today, however, she let the lady do it and she looked so cute. You can see the end result here.

Norman Rockwell Saturday Afternoon

Yesterday afternoon was a rare occasion...For starters, we didn't have any activities planned, so we enjoyed a family day at home. It was very nice. Actually, our time together started the evening before with a fun walk/ride around the neighborhood. Then, on Saturday afternoon, the girls did some crafts they had wanted to do, and I didn't find any excuses for not doing them. After lunch at home we enjoyed an afternoon of music and fun. The girls each played their instruments and Sam helped them. They are each doing a great job and enjoying guitar and violin. Sam sang them the song that he wrote for me at camp way back when. They thought it was pretty funny. He even wrote a new song for our family today. We wrapped up the evening with playing with the neighbors and watching a new movie. Everyone seemed to have a good time. These are times when I am especially grateful for the family God has given me and reminds me that we need to be deliberate about making more times like these.




Olivia doing a little cooking during the family fun






Victoria and Sofia having a good time!




Sam and the girls playing guitar

Weekend in San Antonio

Last week I had the blessing of getting away to San Antonio, TX for an extended weekend. Sam held down the fort with the three oldest and Isabella and I headed north. Oak Hills Church hosted a Children's Pastor's Conference in Spanish. I had known about it for a while, but hadn't really contemplated going until I realized that it might actually be a doable thing. It was a tremendous blessing for me. Isabella and I stayed with our good friends David and Janie Padilla. They have known Sam for a long, long time, and I have known them since I was in school at ACU. I used to babysit their girls and my claim to fame is that I taught them to eat cookie dough! Their mom was petrified, but they have grown up to be well adjusted young adults, and no stomach trouble. Amazing!!!
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. The conference was so good. It was just the breath of fresh air that I needed. I met some really neat people from all over the USA and Latin America. I think that a big part of it was to see quality materials, resources and very talented people in Spanish. It was good. I was renewed in the vision for what we want the children of this church to be about. I also really enjoyed to see how Oak Hills is doing some of their bilingual ministry in San Antonio. It was very cool to see how the worship flowed from English to Spanish and back. Something Sam and I have dreamed about for churches in the USA. Of course, the opportunity to have to keep track of only one kid and not have the usual responsibilities was a breath of fresh air also.
Sam did an amazing job at taking care of things on the home front. They had a great time, did homework and made it to school everyday. So, all is good. The fact that he was so encouraging in having me go and taking care of the girls made the time all the more enjoyable. Isabella did get a little clingy, to say the least, so it felt like I held her for most of the time we were gone. She did well on her first plane ride. She cried a little, but mostly slept and ate. It put her in a great mood as we went through customs, so they were all enjoying her and not terribly concerned with giving us a hard time. As we buckled in for the plane ride home and the plane started to move, she started the action in her diaper. It was not pretty!!! By the time we made it to the bathroom it was quite a mess and she needed a whole new set of clothes. Let me tell you, those airplane bathrooms are small enough as is, but when you have to change a diaper in them...they're really, really small. Never a dull moment!
In spite of all of that, it is great to be home!



The Padilla Family -- David and Janie, Cassandra, Adriana, Joshua and Jon Austyn






Isabella hanging out with her new friends -- David and Jon Austyn






Isabella looking cute (this was after she had to have a full change of wardrobe due to an explosive diaper!)

The joys of motherhood...

Have you ever had that moment when you are holding your baby and you are just brought to tears at the amazement of this little life? I have had that moment. I know, I could blame it on hormones, sleep deprivation or something in my eye, but it wasn't any of that. It was simply being in awe at Isabella and her life. She's so beautiful and has such a beautiful smile and she smells so sweet (most of the time, anyway). I was brought to tears. It's a sweet moment in time.
Probably in the very same day, I had moments of being brought to tears for other reasons...like being in the middle of cleaning up one mess, when another is created and at that very same moment Olivia has decided that potty training isn't all it's cracked up to be, so what the heck, the floor is just a good a place! I find myself breathing deeply often, and occasionally growling. I only figured out about the growling until I heard Olivia growling at something and wondered where she picked that up.
It is a fun ride, but I am ohhh so grateful for the people around us that help in amazing ways, especially on Sundays. There have been a couple of Sundays when I have literally been holding Olivia down with my legs while juggling Isabella and the other two on the sides. It's quite a site, I'm sure.

Enjoy the pictures!




Isabella looking lovely (courtesy of Marilyn Holland)




Victoria taking good care of her sister, and Olivia with her "I'm scared" face




Sofia showing off her violin. She is taking violin classes and enjoying it quite a bit.

It's time for Sara to leave.

The last of "Team Mexico" -- Sam and I, Isabella (under covers), Sara, Summer and Phyllis



We knew that this time was coming, but we kept thinking it was far off in the future or that maybe it wouldn't happen at all, but indeed, the time has come, and our teammate Sara has packed up and returned to the States. This has been an intense and emotional week for all of us. Sara's mom came up a couple of weeks ago to help her pack and sell most of her things, and this weekend, her dad along with Don Box arrived in their minivan to load up all of her things. Phyllis has been here also for the past week, which has been such a blessing for all of us. We had a very special day at church yesterday. After services we had lunch to celebrate the time Sara has been with us. The cell leaders did an amazing job at planning the event and deciding how to best honor Sara. After lunch, each family had a note for her and a rose which we all gave to her and put in her new wooden trunk (it's pretty cool,if you ask me). You will have to wait for her to post something about it so you can see it. There were many tears, but there was also a peace and a joy in our midst. Many people don't get the chance or don't take the chance to say goodbye in a healthy way, so this was a great way to show and participate in one of those facts of life.



Sara with her parents, Ron and Marilyn, Phyllis and Don Box at the table of honor yesterday




Some of the church members enjoying lunch with Sara



The whole bunch stayed at our house Saturday and Sunday night. In spite of the circumstances, it was fun to have them all in our house -- they got a great taste at the hustle and bustle of activity in our midst. It also gave a special opportunity to spend some time with Sara and her family during this special time. Very early this morning, they loaded up her car, drove to her house to pick up the minivan and headed out. We have gotten word that they are safe and sound across the border and headed to spend the night somewhere (probably San Antonio).



Good buy Sara

It was tough to see her drive away and know that she won't be back to be a part of the work here, but we know that she is headed for something great. We praise God for her time her, her commitment to the ministry here, for the way she has opened her heart to the church here. We will miss her very, very much!


Our sweet Victoria...

This has been an especially emotional time for Victoria, which breaks my heart as well. I know that it's part of learning about being a mother and watching your child hurt, and in a sense be unable to change that. We have talked about it and hugged and cried together. It's been a special time. It has touched all aspects of my life. It has taken me back to when I, as a young teenager left Argentina and all the emotions in that. I have thought more of what this was like for my parents, of how incredibly difficult it must have been for them. The reality of the moment is in my face with my own emotions and with helping my children walk through this time. And it takes me to think about the day when we may pack up our things and move into the next phase of our lives. I'm not ready for it, which is okay. I don't have to be ready for it.
So, in a sense we are flying solo now, yet we are surrounded by people here who are committed to what God is doing in this church, who are ready to step up into what needs to be done, who are our friends, our co-workers and our brothers and sisters in Christ. God is good.
I know that Sara would appreciate your prayers as she faces what is next in her life...

Update...

I guess it's not very nice to post about scary things happening here and not follow up, so, just so we can all rest at ease, I'll follow up. Our neighborhood has been very quiet without any exciting activity. Many of you may have heard on the news about some bombings in Morelia. It is truly very sad, but the night of the Mexican Independence (September 16, not to be confused with 5 de Mayo), some grenades were thrown into a crowd of people. Eight people were killed and some 100 people injured. Nothing like this has ever happened in Mexico, much less Morelia. It has really unsettled people since the drug war activities now crossed a line into terrorism where innocent people are hurt. Last week, it was announced that they had found the culprits for the bombings -- three men who confessed to the crime and who were related to one of the largest drug cartels in Mexico. Interestingly enough, this has not brought much comfort to most people. Many are leery of the police system here that would find guilty people so quickly or at all. Many feel like these are just scapegoats so that the government will look good in doing their job. This attack is having some profound effects on the city of Morelia. Much of it's revenue comes from tourism, and nobody wants to come here right now, and people from here do not want to be out and about as usual.
The president has really made it public that he is fighting against the drug cartels, and they are fighting back vigorously. There have been some 3000 deaths related with the drug cartels in this year alone. Many of the measures to fight the drug war has been on corrupt policemen, which indicates some of the root of the problem. Again, we feel safe here and do not feel in danger. We also take precautions in what we do and try not to get into harm's way. We do see this as an opportunity to reach out to people who are afraid and hopeless. Please pray with us that the president's efforts will truly make a difference, and that people will turn to the only source of hope and security.