The wonders of nature...

Although we live in the city, our house has been a source of interesting nature discoveries. That does not include our neighbors roosters that we would like to serve in mole or use for a dissection experiment! We had been admiring some spiders outside our kitchen window and seeing how they caught grasshoppers for lunch (which we do not mind at all, since there is a grasshopper abundance right now). Only after our maid killed it, did it don on me that we had been admiring a black widow! Yikes! In the same day, our maid also killed a scorpion. She has a special hatred for these critters having been bit by one some time ago. So, we are not lacking in excitement.


Today, as I was hauling laundry up to the terraza, I spotted a couple of dragonflies resting on one of our plants. I called the girls to take a look, and they noticed several of them. It was beautiful to see 10 or 15 of them glimmering in the sun and sitting very still on the vine. We are always amazed at all the incredible things God has created for our marvel and interest.


And, just to leave you a sweet look at our own butterfly...
Sofia had her face painted while we ate at Chili's! What fun...She has decided that she would like this face painter at her birthday party. Hmmmmmm...
(Sorry, I don't have the energy to figure out how to turn the pictures around...)

Chicago style pizza

Last week we had a house guest and friend, Charles. Much to the joy of our pallette,he is a cook for his Italian restaurant (italian food is my favorite). So, he sucumed to our pleas and made us some delicious pizza. It was very yummy and much unlike anything we can get here, so we enjoyed it to the fullest! Here is a visual of all the calories we ate!

Stuffed crust pizza




The traditional pepperoni pizza


Lunch with Charles

Low flying trip to Texas

We got back last night from a very quick, but rich trip to Texas. We joined Summer Powell and her family in her marriage to Tupac.
It was a beautiful wedding and we are excited for what lies ahead for Summer and Tupac. Victoria and Sofia were both flower girls and did a great job in the wedding.
For a plethora of pictures, you can go here. They looked so beautiful and big! They not only enjoyed their weddingly duties, but they also enjoyed spending time with Jessica, Grace and Grant Wininger. We stayed with our friends Ted and Cindy. They are the kind of friends that make you feel at home, when it's really not your home, and even when you flood their pantry. We and our kids stepped right in where we had left off and enjoyed good coffee, great food, trampoline jumping, playing and an occasional shut-eye! I would post a picture of them, but we thought of picture taking on Sunday morning, when none of us were looking particularly glamorous for pictures, and as any Sunday morning, running late!

Olivia tunes into some itunes while waiting for the plane...



Sofia expends some energy on her head!


Relaxing after a delectable airplane meal...



It was an uneventful trip that included a 4 hour drive to and from Mexico City and a plane ride to DFW. The girls were thrilled to be able to fly, which made the drive worthwhile. They only went to the bathroom three times in two hours! I'm thinking they were checking out a few of the bathroom amenities...(memories from flying to and from Argentina...)
Once again, we are home safe and sound, and nothing fell apart. Our pets are with us. Yes, we have a new pet: a guinea pig! We went to the fair and came home with it. I was not in the pet shop when the deal went down...but, hey, it's not a dog.

Meet Cri-cri -- who is looking much healthier than his first days here!

Church retreat

Last weekend we had our annual church retreat. What a blessing it was! Steven Wells, a former team member and now a minister for Impact Church in Houston, was with us and spoke about being artists for and of God. He did a great job talking about how we are God's artwork, created by Him, and are created to be artists also -- being able to see what is true, interpret truth and live truth. Everyone was blessed and inspired! We had about 50 people there and the rains held off during the day. It did, however, catch up in the night, and the ground was soaked, leaving nice muddy grass to walk on!!!
The weekend was a special time of being filled by the word, resting, being refreshed and being in community with one another. We had a bonfire, smores, plenty of food and even a talent show! The kids actually got to swim and enjoy it. All in all, it was a special weekend and we look forward to next year and what God will do!

The whole group


The kids playing a little water balloon toss!

Breakfast bright and early for the kids

Worship time before class from Steven

We meet baby Ezekiel

The road to Ciudad Hidalgo


Today, we packed up the car and headed to Ciudad Hidalgo to visit some friends of ours and meet their new baby. This is a 50 mile, two hour, winding drive through the mountains of Mexico to a small town nestled in the Mexico highlands. It is near the area where the Monarch butterflies come to winter. Olivia got carsick on the the way there and left a pungent aroma for us to all enjoy!
We met Salvador and Stacey a couple of years ago when Stacey and her three had recently arrived in Mexico to join her Salvador who had been deported from the States. They live in Ciudad Hidalgo where his family is from, and have adjusted to a VERY different than what they had in the States. Stacey just gave birth to their fourth child and today had the joy and relief and bringing Ezekiel home. She endured 70 hours of labor, a couple of tries at Pitocin (which only intensified labor, but didn't create much progress), no pain medicines, communicating in broken Spanish, and no one by her side!!!! The dad, and only the dad, is allowed to come in during visiting hours twice a day. Salvador stayed outside the clinic sleeping in his truck to be as close as possible. The baby had some breathing problems at birth and so he had to stay a few more days in the hospital.

Baby Ezekiel

The Torres family -- Salvador, Stacey, Salvi, Luis, Mariah and Ezekiel

We rejoice with them in the birth of their new baby. His brothers, Salvador and Luis, and his sister, Mariah were very excited to finally meet him, since they had been waiting a week to meet him. We pray that Stacey will get some much needed rest and everyone will adjust to this new bundle of joy!



Stacey and baby looking radiant



A literal bundle of joy with his daddy!

Yes, school has started!

Victoria and Sofia getting ready for school. Don't let Sofia's face fool you -- she's thrilled about school, after 8:00 am!


We are a little slow on getting things published in this family, but indeed, school has begun. The girls have survived their first days of school; although, we are still adjusting to the schedule. Victoria is now in 3rd grade! This is rumored to be a difficult year in Mexico, so we are praying that Victoria will continue to do well. She already knew who her teachers were, and most of her classmates are back. So, she started with confidence. One tidbit of information that we failed to receive was start time. So, when we arrived at 7:30 am the first day and everyone was in class and seated I decided to ask. Sure enough, school now starts at 7:15. This is a big adjustment for us! It's still dark when Victoria goes to school
Sofia started kindergarten this year. It is her second year of school and she seems to be enjoying it. She also already knew her teachers, which is very helpful in adjusting. She goes with Victoria and I at 7:15, and then we sit in the car for about 30 minutes until I drop her off to start her day. This has been a special time to spend just with Sofia reading, talking, drawing or just sitting (usually she's brings her fluffy robe along to stay warm).
We are off to a great year for both these girls. We pray that they and we will be a light in that school for people that need the hope of Christ.

Home Again

This week I slept in my own bed after a couple of months of being on furlough. What a glorious feeling to crawl under your own sheets and cuddle up with your own pillow! It has been great! Of course, shortly after climbing into bed, the roosters started their nightly crowing routine, the neighbor decided to do some midnight car repairs, and the rains drenched our stairwell. It's good to be home...
We pulled into Morelia around 5:00 pm on Tuesday afternoon after a two day road trip from South Texas. All in all, it was an uneventful trip. Since we have a new vehicle, both Sam and I had to drive. Sam's mom came with and was a great help with the girls. Most notably, as we approached Queretaro, there seemed to some trouble up ahead since traffic was at a standstill. Like fine Mexicans, we put our cars in reverse on the main highway to catch the exit we had just passed and head on a ways towards Mexico City. If it's any comfort to those of you gasping, we weren't the only ones with that great idea!
We are slowly getting unpacked and reacquainted with our home. The girls are ready for school on Monday, and we are looking forward to worshiping together with our brothers and sisters in Christ here.
Thank you to each of you that made our time in the States so special! Victoria is convinced she would rather be in Texas to go to school, because she could ride a yellow school bus, and you get lunch at school that you don't have to pay for (don't know where that idea came from) and it includes chocolate milk!
Have a blessed Lord's day!