Lily...at last!

The 3 Amigas!




ICK! Poor guy...the kids found him. One less critter to worry about.



Marcela and Johana helping me make 425 cookies. It was FUN!




Jazmine




Aurelio!!! Even big boys love hugs!




The mom of Oscar, Armondo and Katy showed up today. It's been a LONG time and the kids were thrilled!




A sleeping Princess.




Adriana and Brisa




Courtney loving on the kids...just what they need!




Antonio is growing up!




The older boys keep warm on the bus ride to church.




Lorena




A full bus going to church.




Ana is a very brave girl!




Javier has surrendered his life to Jesus! His face just glows! I am thrilled!!!




Jovan at the soccer game. He is a great player.



Ramon wanted me to take his pic holding a stone. I thought it was odd...but I did it anyway.

I walked away and then I realized...he was doing something that all the other boys do...and he was proud of it. He was tossing stones on the ground...and for a minute...forgot about his handicap! I cried.






Me and Alondra...such a sweet girl.




Nico, Silvia and Lupita




Princess Andrea!!!




The kids are excited about the Michigan team coming!!! Me too.




Daniela and Lorena





Luz and Mireya...just like old times.




Luz and one fat dog!!!




Ruby, Ray & Leslie in the kitchen. Ray is such a blessing...with a servant's heart.




A favorite past-time on Friday night. MOVIE TIME!!!




The countdown begins!...many children helped with the poster.




Tortillas!




Felipe...I love this boy!




Gustavo!




Cereal with a fork...let me tell ya...it takes practice!




Fabiola




Silvia, Baby Alan, Maggie and Fabiola




Marcela observing a bird in the tree...which is always a risk!




Gary...perhaps you should bring weather-stip adhesive!!!




A studious Elvida




Juan and Marta




Belem, Sara and 'RAIN'...can't remember how to spell it.




Chewy




Brenda, Cielo and Briza




Marcela




Jazmine




Leslie holding Marta's chunky baby! Love those cheeks!!! He's ready to play football right now!




Samuel and Brenda looking over his documents to get his passport.




Yes Jackie...you're still cute!




Julieta and Elvida




Our newest boy...Miguel




Johana and Belem




Sisters!!!




Belem and Vicki




Adilene and Briza




Silvia




Nico




Julian...all grown up!





Ewing




Andrea




We celebrated Maggie's birthday today! Tomorrow she is going to take some of the cookies we made to her class at school to share with them. Fun.




Jackie and Brenda





Marta and her baby




Tia Christie and some of her girls.




Alondra



Wow...I finally have internet! Everything down here is a process, as many of you are aware. It only took 3 days...but, we're up and running, praise the Lord!

It has only been 3 months, but the kids have grown up on me again! I wonder what the combined inches are! It's amazing!!!

Many things have taken place since I've last been here. As you know, the new DIF director in the Mexico government has been working hard to find out what is going on with kids in orphanages. Well...they are also reuniting kids with families...and some of the situations are not healthy. Chewy and his sister have been told they have to go back to their mom to live. She is an alcoholic and never cared for them. We are very concerned. Marta and her baby and brothers were told that DIF was taking them back to the mountains three weeks ago. We are hoping they will forget. Also, Karla Ivone and her cousin Christian are living with a relative and it's not a good situation either. We are afraid this may happen to many more children as this director is trying to 'thin down' the orphanages. The good news is that she is pressing the parents to terminate their rights if they won't take them back. All my meetings with DIF have been moved to next week since the adoption agency representative has had to delay her visit by a week. God is in charge...so I'm just rolling with the waves. I do that a lot down here...sometimes I get sea-sick. =)

Some good news is that Mireya and her husband and baby are back...working at the orphanage. She has really matured and her husband does well with the handicapped kids. God is working!

Tomorrow morning Mama and Papa are leaving for Guatamala with Brenda. (Samuel couldn't get his passport in time.) They will be visiting the orphanage down there for ideas and encouragement. I am glad I can be here to help in their absence. The kids are sad that they are leaving...but the poster I put up announcing the new team's visit in 11 days has redirected their thoughts. I wish you were here to see them stand and look at the pics of the faces of the team. Sometimes they put their little hands on the pics...as if they are wanting to touch them. It will be a happy day when they arrive...especially when my Prince arrives. I do have a special prayer request in that regards. Today my husband found out that one of our employees just quit...and that leaves Gary in a tough spot to try to leave for Lily. Please help me pray for a miracle...that the position could be filled...or something.

In the past few days I have witnessed something that I just love. 2 different older boys have returned to visit Mama and Papa (that they have raised). They just wanted to 'check-in' and let them know that they are doing good. Actually...I think they were in need of hugs and lots of love. Both of them are working...and doing well spiritually. What a blessing it was to see this. One of the boys was one they took in many years ago...along with his brother. Ed told me that their alcoholic mother set their house on fire once the boys fell asleep at night in order to 'get rid of them'. Anyway, they escaped with only a few burns...and Mama and Papa raised them. They received lots of love here...and I could tell how much this house means to them. It was very touching.

Today I was able to hold 3 sleepy little boys on the way home from church. They were hot and sweaty...and so sweet. They kept on playing with my shawl...and my watch. As they snuggled in my lap...I realized how much they must miss a mommy holding them and loving on them. Little boys need mommys too! They liked my soft dress and the smell of perfume. I rubbed backs, kissed ears and noses, and loved every second of it. It isn't every day that you get to hold angels...but today I did. Thank you, Jesus! We did it together, didn't we?!