Anonymous comments

Since first set up my blog page I have internally debated whether to allow anonymous comments or not. I decided to keep that option open because there are people that keep up with my family that may not have a google account or be able to post comments in another way. If this is the case, don't forget to leave your name so I know its you though. :)

The one problem with anonymous commenters all over blog world is the fact that they are generally negative. There is something about anonymity that gives people the liscense to be rude. I have no problem with differing opinions and points of view but have the balls to put your name behind your thoughts. If a person is genuinely honest and unashamed about what they have to say then leaving a blog link, picture and name would be the honorable thing to do. Really, it would be nice to trace the wisdom to its source someday to find further enlightenment. I stand behind the things I say and believe, I find it amusing that cynics never do the same. Just an observation from blog world.

I really haven't had too many rude comments in the past year but I know from reading other anonymous comments on other blogs that some can be very hurtful. The ones I've had have been more laughable than hurtful ,and I realize its all part of making myself vulnerable and my life transparent. Some people just won't like it. Good thing I've got thick skin.

Rancho de Christo

This morning we were able to go for a quick tour of a minsitry affiliated to the one we work and live at. It is a rehab for men built in the last few years. What a wonderful work they are doing. So many lives changed. Brought out of the pit of addiction and worthlessness into real life and knowing their value in the eyes of God.
There is a smal woodworking shop on site where they are building gorgeous wooden toys to sell. I may have to do some Christmas shopping there.

We gave 3 students ,from the Bible Institute at the mission/ orphanage
where we live, a ride to the ranch. They volunteer their weekends to work at the rehab. What an immaculately clean and well kept place it is. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and even the dirt is raked and manicured. The facility is modest but adequate and what stood out to me was the presence of God in the place. Such a beautiful example of lives being restored.

Checking out the pigs.

One of the men that volunteers there on weekends, and who is currently a part of a very intensive 2 year Bible School training program, was once one of the addicted who lived at the ranch. I haven't heard his whole story but the pieces I have heard are unbelievable. He grew up in California fluent in both spanish and english. His arms and hands are covered in tattoos , many appear to be the homemade variety and he speaks with a very distinctive dialect. He referrs to it as "ghetto english". I find it pleasantly amusing and maybe even refreshing. A strong man of God, tattoed to the hilt, with a spanish ghetto accent and a history of gang violence, prison and drugs to run chills down any "good Christians" spine. I love that God is in the business of restoring lives, preserving men and woman in the worst circumstances for his purposes. This young man breaks every legalistic mould people have made of what a Christian "should " look and sound like. I love that....because Jesus broke every mould that the pharisees made as well. What God looks at ,and what makes his life an amazing testimony, is his heart.
His heart is completely surrendered to his savior and his life is dedicated to sharing the hope and freedom he has found in Christ.

There are so many stories like this young mans. Many of the students at the Bible Institute are former drug addicts, pushers and gang members. The student that we are sponsoring has a similar history of violence and drugs. He has shared some of his past with us and Gods hand in his life is incredible. These are people that we would lock away and see as worthless, but God ,in his power, has freed them from their demons and given them new life. I stand in awe of how God works and how He consistently raises up the lowly things of this world to bring down the proud.

odds 'n ends

Here is Silas after his first trip to a Mexican hair salon. Looking more like a big boy. It took a little getting used to once they chopped off the locks. Still couldn't bring myself to have them take the buzzer to it though. I'm afraid he would look like one of those shaggy little dogs that get shaved and they just look strange. You realize they had that hair for a reason to balance out the size of their eyes and make up for their skinny little heads. I guess I should stop comparing my son to a dog now. Anyway, he does look handsome with his new cut not at all like a shaved terrier.
I forgot to take my camera with me so I have no adorable before and after shots but he was as good as gold during the whole cut, shockingly enough.

This guy is the nemisis of every flowering plant here. He is convinced that his mommy needs them...even though I keep telling him that they are better left on the plant. It is very sweet though. "ur fo pwetty mom" (your so pretty mom). His anunciation has not improved much but his vocabulary has definately expanded. He puts together quite complex sentences and can talk your ear off. The only problem is he's a Burlando kid and no one else understands them until they are about 5. I may have to interpret for a couple more years.

It is not working to his benefit that he is the size most 4 or 5 year olds here. He's in the 90th percentile for height in Canada...here he just looks like a kindergartener. People don't believe me when I tell them that he is two years old. I dont' know why its so hard to believe, he talks like a two year old, acts like a two year old and definately reasons like a two year old.
Being the tall kid (or being the mom of the tall kid) can be difficult because people expect him to act like a four year old..even if they know his age. The kids his age are still considered to be babies and live in the nursery. Parenting a preschooler in public can be tricky. I'm trying to not get caught up in what people may or may not think. ...because ultimately it doesn't matter.

He is well liked by the people here though, and because of his unusually white blonde hair he gets lots of attention.

Here is the daddy working on the set for the Christmas prodution "Noche en Belen" (Night in Bethlehem). We are playing town people extras, market vendors to be precise. No lines but cool costumes , perfect. :)

Thanksgiving dinner

This November we were blessed to be served a delicious Turkey dinner prepared in the cafeteria but a group that came from the U.S. They brought with them about 40 turkeys and all the fixin's to feed all the kids and staff at the mission. It was such a treat to sit at a beautifully decorated table surrounded by people who know what it means to be trully thankful for a meal.

A quick and chilly trip to "rocky beach" Costa Brava. Here is Silas trying to return his sea monster to the ocean.

Aili doing her best cheerleader impression?? Roman wishing he wasn't wearing soaking wet jeans. Minerva and Alvaro acting like kids.

We found out this week, from their house dad, that the afternoon (a few weeks ago) when we took Minerva to Sand Dollar beach was the first time she had seen the ocean. She went back to her house on cloud nine. She hadn't even known what the word "playa" (beach) meant. That might be normal for a prairie kid but they grew up less than 4 miles from the ocean. She had no idea. They were never able to venture out of the nightmare they were living in to see a glimpse of the beauty of Gods creation only a few miles away.
Thinking back on that afternoon I don't think I've ever seen a child smile so big for so long. I had no idea though that she had never seen the ocean or even played in any kind of water. It was like she was reclaiming a lost peice of childhood as she dug in the sand, splashed in the waves and slid down the sand dunes.

Please pray for these two precious and very vulnerable children. At 13 and 11 they are only a few short years away from the adult world filled with adult sized mistakes and decisions but they have never really experienced the freedom and nurturing of childhood to give them a healthy base in which to navigate that world.
They will carry the scars of their past with them for the rest of their life and they struggle daily with those wounds. They are sweet and loving kids but they carry a dark shadow over their little hearts. You can see it on their faces and in the tears they try to hide. Their Tia sees them though and it break my heart. For years they have been taught they are worth nothing and deserve nothing out of life. I think for every 1 negative thing etched into their souls it will take a 100 posatives...maybe a 1000. They are in a good place right now to start that process as many people are pouring into their lives here at the childrens home.

I don't think I've ever seen kids that take care of each other like these two do.

family life

This is just a glimpse into our rather strange family life. We are living a somewhat non typical life but in so many ways we are dealing with everything a family that lives in a normal house in a typical neighborhood does. Discipline issues, schoolwork, chores, reminding kids where to put their dirty clothes and shoes.

For the most part we are all adjusting quite well to our surroundings, routine and lifestyle. Some things that are a challenge are, as you can imagine, 5 people living like sardines. No one has gone homicidal yet ,but at times when we are all inside (not sleeping ) we tend to literally step on each others toes. We trip over toys, we have towels hanging everywhere, and school books are constantly being moved from one place to another depending on where we are hoping to sit. It is organized chaos. Everything has to be put back exactly in its place and nothing can get left out...there is just no room. The problem is "in its place" is in everycorner of the trailer. The kids really haven't complained though and long as mom gets her bi-monthly trip to the internet cafe to blog...by herself...its all good. I may keep my sanity.

Our bed doubles as the tv room. As you can imagine our bed does not exactly stay prestinely made. Its a good corner to shove the kids in while I wash dishes or get some food made. Looks like we are in the process of getting kids bathed and in bed , in the above picture. It gets dark (and cold)here at about 5pm. So after supper we call it a day...move inside get showered and put to bed. The kids are usually in bed before 7 often closer to 6pm. They play hard outside all day and are usually exhausted by then.

Last weekend my wonderful hubby finally built me a little raised garden and hauled me a couple wheel barrels full of dirt. The dirt around our trailer is not exactly good for growing anything. I had moderate success with my last garden but only on the spot where I had dumped a wheel barrel of fresh dirt. You can see my other tiny garden surrounded by the rocks. I have some bean plants, radishes , swiss chard and green onions that managed to grow. So far no luck with tomatoes and peppers, which is odd. I might have brought bad seeds or something. I replanted what was left in my new raised bed along with some lettuce. Fingers crossed for a handy source of nutrition in a couple months.

Icecream on a Sunday afternoon.

We finally found a zoo that would take this little monkey. Don't feel too sorry for him, he was fed plenty of icecream.

This is the other little boy we sponsor and are fortunate enough to get to hang out with here.
Alejandro is a talkative, full of energy and mischief ,six year old boy.
Fits in well with my brood. :)

Franco and Diego. Two of Silas' best "eedo's" (amigos). "Dat my eedo! EEEDOOO!"
He loves them and they seem to enjoy him tagging along. These two boys and Alvaro live in the same "Casa" (the family style orphanage housing).

A couple weekend ago we took a group of kids to a nearby park to play on the playground and to a little icecream booth. It was a little crazy keeping track of that many kids but they all had fun.

I opted for the cob of corn covered with hot sauce and lime (chile y limon).
I'm a total Mexican food junky. My husband calls me Mexican garbage mouth. I'm not sure why...maybe because I'll try anything.

out with our kids.

Ever tried these? A Mexican favorite not complete without chamoy sauce to stain your fingers red.

I recently tried to post some pictures through a backdoor route to my blog since I can't actually access blogs from my home at the mission. I did discover a way edit and post writing but the pictures didn't work so well...so far.
A couple of these pictures were posted last week but I'll post them again in a much more enjoyable size.
A couple weekends ago...I think. See this is the problem with blogging every 2 weeks. My memory is not that great.
Anyway, we took our kids out to a nearby town for a tour around the market and then out for lunch.

This is a little playground beside the restaurant "Baja fiesta". A real restaurant this time. We often go out to eat at out door taco stands but it is a nice change to actually sit down somewhere.

I think it may have been the first time Minerva and Alvaro have eaten at a restaurant. They thoroughly enjoyed their very large order of enchiladas. Alvaro had enought to take a doggy bag home with him, he also took his prestinely clean paper place mat. Nothing goes to waste here. Its fun to spoil them and it sure doesn't take much to do it.

Some kind of lizard and a horny toad. They didn't keep them too long and no I did not hold either of them. After a few days I made them release them. I convinced them that they would likely die in their bucket and they might miss their families. That wasn't a complete lie...only half of it.