A few more pictures..

We have prayer meeting on Thursday evenings, but with school schedules running until late, only a few children are able to accompany their parents. A couple weeks ago these five kids and I had a good time together....and afterwards they enjoyed looking at my magazines and eating ice cream!

Eduardo and Emanuel enjoying the awesome Cabela's magazine...
Fani, MariFer, and Galilea are hanging together....

Gotta love these children....along with so many others we have taught in our 7.5 years here, they all have a special place in our hearts and prayers.

Who knows how God might change Mexico through them??

Having a hard time sleeping tonight (or rather this morning, 2:18 to be exact) so I figured I might as well be up and trying to do something, like a new blogpost perhaps??!

A busy Sunday, this one! Being Palm Sunday we celebrated Communion (la Santa Cena here) ...which I love . I’m so awed, always, by the very personal relationship Christ made possible to us by His death. I cannot imagine life without God...He’s not a crutch, He is the very Center of all that makes life possible. I love watching new ones reach out in faith to participate in this event, and expecially my heart was thrilled this time as I watched two of my Sunday school girls, Cynthia and Keren, take part! They’re 13 & 14, and in recent months I have watched them absorb and understand the plan of salvation and apply it to their lives. I don’t think anything could make me any happier!

Wanting to explain all of this tradition to my smaller kids, I decided to share with them the customs of Jesus’ day, which included that of having their feet washed when they were invited to a home. I asked for volunteers and at first had no takers, but it wasn’t long until they all wanted to have theirs washed! I tried to explain the example of Christ and how it applies to us today.
The girls took a couple of pics but my batteries gave out about the time I wanted one of them...

After washing feet we talked about the significance of the bread and wine, and how and who shared the last meal with Jesus. I needed bread that could be “broken” for our feast, and so used biscuits (I know, it was leavened, but the kids didn’t notice and I left that part of the explanation for a future date.) They had fun, it was hands-on....and I really do hope that some of it stuck with them!


We were also happy to have Alejandro (MariCarmen’s husband who has addiction problems) back in church today after several months of relapse. Many had been praying for him and his wife said that just this last week he had started seeking God and praying privately at home after his work each day. Pray for him! He and MariCarmen wanted to bring dinner to us today, so we fixed and ate carne asada here at the house and had a good time. Please pray for Alejandro, that God will give him a complete .

Like I said, my camera was dead....but tomorrow Philip has to do a couple odd jobs at their house,so hopefully I will get some pictures of them to post


Getting sleepy...so I should try to get this posted while I can...

Turning 1.....and 21!

Momentous occasions call for a blog post.

There have been a few between the date of my last post and now, but many things continue to conspire against me and my desires. But I definitely can't let Grant's and Alicia's birthday go unnoticed without calling attention to it!

Happy Birthday Alicia! In our minds you have been all grown up for awhile, but at least now you can prove to the world that you're 21! Life with you as our youngest has been so much fun, not just for your dad and I but for your sisters and brothers-in-law as well. Your perspective of life, since the time you were little even up until now, has kept all of us laughing and enjoying you. We love you and hope you have a memorable celebration with little Grant!

Yep, it's hard to believe he's a year old today, too! You thought it was pretty special that he arrived last year on your day, didn't you?! Whisper in his little ear that Nana and Papi wish him a happy birthday, and give him a hug for us too.

Happy Birthday, Grant! See if you can talk Mommy into letting you sink those ten little teeth into some of that TX barbecue.....but leave some for everyone else! Just a few more weeks, hopefully, until we see you....


Love you both!

What do I title THIS post?

Yes, folks. I actually made it back several weeks ago, back from a blissful world of baby hugs and little-girl kisses, back from being a real hands-on grandma to Ryleigh and Grant. It was so much fun, not only to be with them, but to have three full weeks with our family, including my parents and my sister Ana. It was totally an awesome time, with no time at all to blog or email or even think about anything else outside of PA. I think Philip and I both needed it!

Well now the month of January is almost totally gone. So much has happened and so much lies ahead in this new Year. The most heart-breaking news that we have dealt with has been the tragedy of our dear friends, Roberta and David Miller in the loss of their daughter and two lovely grandchildren. Roberta always is in contact with us, and the day before I heard about the accident I was going through my Christmas photo cards, and there was one of all of the Miller family. It had hung on my refrigerator for most of the year and I anticipated receiving a new one from Roberta....needless to say, I have it where I can see it often and pray for Brent and all of them.

I can't even begin to fathom what losing a daughter must be like, and losing my only two grandchildren as well. All I know to do is to daily and whenever they come to my mind, to pray for another great measure of God's awesome grace to be deposited in their hearts. Roberta, David, Julie, Sylvia, Lydia... and of course dear Brent...why you have been asked to walk this path puzzles me, and yet makes me realize that I too must be willing for whatever He asks of me.

I won't stop praying for you all.

Brenda, here's to you!

Happy Birthday, honey!

It can't possibly be 24 now, can it? No way.

Daddy and I smile at the many cute memories you made through the years. I can still see you and Shari in the back of the pickup, parked in the driveway, singing about Jesus. Remember how excited you were to get a baby sister when you were three years old, and from then on you mothered and took care of her and gave in many times? Remember the "stage" you went through when getting a picture of you was like impossible without you making a silly face?? As a young teenager you always seemed to know when your help was needed and between you and Shari you soon began to take up so many responsibilities. You're a great wife to Brent, and the future is bright for both of you. We couldn't be any prouder....

We can hardly wait till we get to see you in a couple of weeks, Lord willing. Make everyone give you lots of kisses for us today!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Three weeks later.....

I had every intention of posting before we left on our trip to Guatemala. There was a lot taking place around that time, not to mention getting ready for the trip. But as soon as I can I will try to fill in the blanks about the last three weeks.

For now, just wanted to post a note saying we arrived in Jalapa, Guatemala tonight, in readiness for the pastors's retreat which starts Monday evening. We left Salamanca last Monday, and I have pictures of our stops along the way, but just realized that my camera is in the van, which is parked in a garage down the street. We, along with Crystal and Michael Mason and boys, are staying with Lee and Sharon Rickenbach in their nice and comfy home here in Jalapa. After several days of staying in "sufficient, but less-than-ideal situations", it is so nice to enjoy clean and very comfortable quarters and have the luxury of a washer and dryer thrown in. Best part of all for Philip and I is getting to see our friends after so many years. This week of visiting will be so nice!

I will try to get some pics up tomorrow, that is, if time permits. I HAVE to spend the afternoon getting ready for a women's session on Tuesday afternoon. Philip has asked me to do the women's counterpart on his session, the theme being "Shepherding our Families". I am using Jochebed, the mother of Moses, as the basis for my study, and am praying that God will help me develop as it should be. Pray for me, will you?

Well, it is getting close to midnight so I better run. ( I mean, stop...)

Late night musings....

I really should be in bed. After all, it's Saturday night and even though we don't have to leave the house tomorrow morning until 10:30, I prefer an earlier-than-normal bedtime before my day of rest.

The problem is, I got home late, cooked my chicken late and now here it is past midnight and I am waiting for the broth to cool down before I put it into the fridge. Yeah, I could go stir it, but I think something more interesting or profitable could come of the situation. So that's why I'm here.

It's been a good day, one of those kind where I really felt like I got alot accomplished. It wasn't all on my mental "to-do" list for today, mind you,.....but if there is one thing I have learned in my life, it is flexibility. At least I think I've learned it. (Where's that wood????)

I told Philip this morning that I would take the car early and go over to the church to clean up my SS room (been trying to get it decorated and bulletin boards done and up this week) then get back by 11:00 so he and Librado could do their regular Saturday visitation. The plan was that I would have to whole afternoon free to get my house in order and ready for Bro Rigo and Bro Sidney, who are coming in on Tuesday. Nice plan, easy enough to implement...

I got to church later than I thought, and realized the dear Christian lady who cleans every other week had not arrived. (She usually comes early). Thinking that she might have fallen prey to the prevalent flu going around, I tossed around the idea of doing the church myself and leaving my Sunday School room uproar till last. That way if she did drag in feeling half-sick, I would at least have given her a head-start on it all.

Long story short, I started in and she never did come. Philip came and got the van and went visiting, and came back for me. Eight hours after I left home, I was done.

I know, I get carried away and have to clean in detail. I even got alot of stuff done up in my Sunday school room , that is, before I got my hands burned badly burned by that blasted glue gun! I don't say bad words when things like that happen, but I was sure wishing Philip would hurry so I could get some aloe vera or something on them....

The evening turned out fine. Xochitl and Aaron heard about my burned hands and brought me some special ointment to put on them, bless them. Shortly after they left we had two visitors, another man from the church and then another young neighborhood girl who needed some English tutoring.

Thats why I'm still up. By now that broth should have cooled, and it actually was a blessing in disguise.....I got this crazy post up. I promise next time I will have a more rested brain to work with!

I've decided that come Monday, I am NOT going to be flexible!! I HAVE to get this house cleaned.....

And yeah, I'm gonna live.

Lish's beloved car...

For those who didn't see these...




'Nuf said.....she'll have to transfer her affections to another one.

That dreaded phone call....

Philip and I arrived home last evening, after dropping off two church children I had babysat yesterday. The message from Shari on the answering machine was very calm and even: "Hey Mom and Dad, if you could me a call when you get back...even if it's late, it doesn't matter." As I ran up the stairs to do so, my maternal instinct picked up on something...Shari wasn't wanting me to hyperventilate about something. And so I wasn't surprised when she told me Alicia had been involved in an accident.

A couple hours earlier, before we left the house, Alicia had called and chatted with her dad and I about her week and about installing a new chip in her phone. She and her friend Alonna were on their way to a revival meeting at another church in the area. Philip asked her if she had her bluetooth on, and she assured him she did and that she had both hands on the wheel. It was rainy out, but that she was being careful. As we talked, she and Lona came up an accident around which they had to detour, taking another back road that Lona told her about, but with which Alicia was unfamiliar. We cut the call short, because we needed to get the kids back to their mom. But just before we hung up I told her, like all moms do, to be careful and that we were praying for her.

As we found out later, just down the road she slowed down for a curve, but being slippery, her brakes locked and they slid off the road, hitting a tree. Long story short, a friend traveling the same road behind them, saw it happen and got the police and ambulance there. The girls were both taken in and released last evening-- Alicia with a swollen face from the airbag hitting her, and Alonna in a neck brace after a CAT scan and a number of tests.

I know you can imagine what it felt like to be more than 2000 miles away at a time like that--I was shouting inside that I needed to be there, and Philip was really torn up....

I recalled then a verse that had been coming to my mind throughout the previous week, and which even had been on the quiz Carlitos and I had taken on the computer yesterday afternoon: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." (Psalm 34:6) (When I saw it, I thought, there's that verse popping up again, the same one I've been thinking about...)

Well, I don't think it is coincidental. I really and truly believe God's angels were around the girls last night, protecting them from what could have been a total tragedy. An tragedy that unfortunately has happened to many parents, and one from which God, in His great mercy, chose to spare us.

I slipped into her old room last night to look at the pictures of her on the desk...

Heavenly Father, thank you.

My fingers are crossed!

I know this is crazy to post, but I'm kinda excited about an opportunity I've had to submit a bid and a sample translation on a book, from Spanish back to English. Philip and I have done lots of translating of materials for our own personal use in ministry, but this kind of a freelancing thing is a first.

I would love to take the challenge of this 322-page book...and hope it works out!


Will post more later....we've got prayer meeting in a couple hours.

Morning reflections

I love the early morning.

I guess I've always been a morning person. History states that as a small child I liked to "rise and shine" too early, no doubt at times to my parents' chagrin. Philip hasn't always appreciated my early morning chatter. And I don't recall my girls being too thrilled when I peered though their subconsciousness and roused them sooner than they wished.

There's a song in Spanish that I learned as a child when my parents were attending language school in South Texas 40 years ago. (No comments necessary about that last part...) You've probably heard it even in recent days or months sung by missionaries visiting your church. I have heard the words in English, but don't know them all....so apparently this is for my fellow missionaries today!

Por la mañana yo dirijo mi alabanza
A Dios, que ha sido--y es--mi UNICA esperanza
Por la mañana yo le invoco con el alma,
y le suplico que me dé Su dulce calma.
El nos escucha, (pues nos ama tanto)
y nos alivia de cualquier quebranto.
Nos da Su mano, poderosa y fuerte,
para librarnos de la misma muerte.

Cuando la noche se aproxima, tenebrosa
En elevarle mi oración, mi alma se goza.
Siento Su paz--inagotable, dulce y grata--
Porque temores y ansiedad, ¡Cristo los mata!
También elevo mi cantar al cielo
Cuando a la tierra baja negro velo.
El sol se oculta---¡pero queda Cristo!--
A Quien mis ojos en el sueño han visto.....


This morning my lips and heart move through the many verses of the song, savoring the inspiration and richness of the word picture the songwriter expressed with his pen. I'm awed by the way he expresses his adoration to the Father, encouraged by His faithfulness, and strengthened to meet the challenges of the day. There's no way I could express it any better.

Suffice it to say that today, this very day, God is just exactly what I need.

Happy Birthday, Shari!

Where did the last 26 years go? I will never forget the first time I held you in my arms, red and ruddy and so tiny...such a sweetheart. You were our first little gal, and because you were so much fun, your dad and I decided to stick with girls from there on out! You were always a happy, outgoing little gal who loved to sing in Spanish and play with your imaginary playmate, Rachel. (Remember her? She disappeared not long after Brenda was born.) You've been a wonderful daughter, all down through the years....never giving Dad or I any trouble at all. It's been awesome to watch the Lord lead your life, give you a great husband and two precious babies....it didn't just "happen"---it was all part of HIS Plan for you. Your dad and I are awfully proud of you, Shari.....and may this year be a significantly blessed one in your life. Love ya so much,
Mom and Dad

Remediating.....

I'm holding my head high as I begin a new post, in defense of my "sabbatical"! My daughter Shari tells me that if I blog as a duty or under pressure, it loses its thrill, so I guess she's right. Part of my problem could be the moment in time that I find myself in life right now, with a few extra physical annoyances that I didn't use to experience. Enough said.

It has been a month that has had some beautiful moments though, and I want to share a few pics. (I was waiting for Crystal to post first about our trip to the ocean, before I put up a few of my own.) She and Michael, Michele and Kay invited us to accompany them to the Pacific a couple weeks after VBS ended. Actually they didn't really need a driver (ask Crystal) but they did want a guide...and they got both in the person of Philip! We took off on a Tuesday and had to be back by Thursday evening, but it was great trip, about 8 hours each way.

Over our years of living in Mexico, our family has been able to occasionally get away to the coast of Nayarit (Guayabitos, Los Ayala and thereabouts...), and what awesome memories we've made! This year at the Mason's suggestion we went a little further south and found a typical quaint seaside village that was equally beautiful. The Masons had made arrangements for our place to stay, which was a little ways off the beach but with a gorgeous view.

Crystal, Kay and Michelle....notice the lack of the use of sunscreen on a certain person! Are you still peeling, Michelle?

Yummy menu... a tortilla breakfast dish, Mexican scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs with beef jerky, hot cakes (who wants those???) juice and coffee....all for a decent price~!

La boca del mar....where it empties into the ocean

The view from the patio upstairs

This really is the best of both worlds...a cup of coffee in Paradise....we're beginning to feel a "call" to minister to the beach bums here in this little town...we didn't see any churches! ;)

The landscaping was so natural and breathtaking....

This beach was pretty private, but very stony, and Philip and I wanted to get in past the breakers. Fortunately a little boy came along and told us that if we climbed over the significant outcropping of rocks, we would find a clean beach on the other side. It was a little daunting, but not impossible.....and the beautiful, totally pebble-free beach on the other side was well worth the effort. No one around either, but we did see steps going up to some beautiful mansions. Sorry I didn't get a picture, I left my camera in the car and was too busy jumping waves to take one anyway. We stayed out about three hours, got some good sun and came back soooo refreshed.

Frankly, I think there is no place like the ocean for renewing one's spirits and emotions. I have so many childhood seashore memories in CA and TX. On occasion, after a hard week of work, my dad would pack us all up and head for the ocean, where we would camp out and watch the sunset and sunrise before heading home late the next afternoon. Thanks, Dad....it didn't take much money, just time...and I love you for those memories.

Thanks, Michael and Crystal, Michele and Kay, for inviting us along! I am still pinching myself to see if it really was true.

What's on the agenda for July?

VBS! I've been toying with the idea for months....not sure whether to attempt it when I wasn't really sure of where my help was going to come from. Michael and Crystal are studying over in Guanajuato, so of course their time would be limited. Some of those who used to really get behind and help carry the load are gone now.....so while I knew it was something I really wanted to do, I wasn't sure if I could.

Then, an email slipped into our inbox from Miss Marjorie Alexander, wanting to come visit this summer....and I jumped at the offer.

Marjorie's parents, Paul and Linda, are fellow-missionaries who aren't on the field now...but who will never lose their heartbeat for missions. Marjorie is the youngest of three siblings, and was only a very small gal when her parents changed fields of ministry. She is excited about helping me do this VBS, and I have also garnered the help of another dear friend (also a grown-up MK)...Margaret (Eversole) Velazquez! She and her husband Juan are great friends and their sons have through the years helped my girls learn to deal with not having brothers! (I won't say more lest I get in trouble!) Anyway, Margaret and her youngest son Jared (14) are going to accompany Marjorie and will be spending two weeks here...finally! I say that because we have wanted them to visit Salamanca for forever. It will be great.

So...........I am busy planning this thing out. Fortunately I was able to talk to some of the church ladies who will help with the prop preparation and decorating (I'm no artist) The program I am using calls for a daily puppet skit (my team is coming together slowly), music (Michael and Crystal's dept), a Bible story (I guess that will be mine) memorization and crafts (yet to be assigned!) and finally crowd-control, sound-system, projector prompting, yelling over the top of kids, etc will be Philip's job! (Not really the last thing I mentioned, I hope.....but I am telling you, it will be challenging!) Anyway, this week we got the banner designed and at the printers. Crystal is working on the flyer we are going to pass out in a couple weeks, and I doing the worrying that it will all come together! We can use plenty of prayers right about now.

Here's the banner! We'll get it hung this next week. I think it turned out pretty nice.
Oh yeah, when is this event? Not until July 23-27th---but I need all the time I can get.

Some pics I wanted to post....

Here are two of our little church tykes....Taylor, the Mason's littlest guy, and Galilea, the daughter of Grace, one of the young women who attends. These two steal the show weekly!

While visiting in NC in May, we stayed with our friends, Robb and Veda Kaufman. Through the years we have watch their seven children grown from babies to young adults....and lucky for them they still have some at home! Here are two of theirs, Josh (12) and Catrina (7). Josh is someday going to come see me in Mexico!

Monica is a neighbor girl who likes to come by and have me give her an English class. I think by teaching her for awhile I might actually get up the nerve to advertise for a bigger class. I would only have to put out my sign out front and I'm sure before the day would be over I could have a roomful. Have to get my nerve up first, though.....so that's why I teach Monica!

Oh, brother!

I am just about ready to give up on this whole blogging thing! I looked at the last time I posted, and cannot believe my eyes. So much for all my repentance of the past and my good intentions. I really wish it were possible for you all to listen to all the good posts that I create in my head and never get around to posting.....you'd be impressed!

I'm not kidding, this morning I came awake with blogging on my mind and immediately launched (mentally of course) into the longest blog yet. I was getting all excited about getting up and posting. But ....it was a bit early, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak! The rest is history.

On a brighter note, we had a great Bible Study last night, the women and I did...can't speak for the men, but they were in their room longer than the rest of us, so I assume it was interesting. Anyway, I love it when the ladies participate and feel free to ask questions, share their own struggles/prayer requests/victories. Last night a young couple that Philip visited last Saturday showed up for Bible Study. This couple has been struggling for sometime with their marriage and debt and other issues....and we had been praying for their situation now for several months. They have two adorable children who have been to church with their grandparents in the past and are super-intelligent and a handful! I had heard through their family members that the children were missing coming to Sunday School and were begging to come back. Well, I wish I could have taped the entrance of those kids as they ran up the stairs to where I was and came to greet me! Cristal (4) got to me first shouting out my name and giving me a big hug. Victor (6) came right on her heels and being the most expressive little guy you ever saw, gave me an even tighter and longer hug, all the while trying to out-talk his sister. Of course, I love kids and like to squeeze them back, and as I did he looked me right in the face and said, "Hermana, do you know why I hugged you so hard?" "Why?" I asked. "Hermana, porque a mi me da TANTO GUSTO verte!" (Hermana, because it gives me SUCH JOY to see you!)

I know MY face registered my delight at his vibrancy!

Back to the parents. Philip and I compared notes later and found out that they have both come back to the Lord and have been attending on Sundays the church they grew up in. Cristal (yep, that's the mother's name as well) told me that even though she had read the Bible since she was in her early teens, it has only now become real to her and speaks to her right where she has needed it. Victor (yep, that's the dad's name as well....no baby book of fancy names for this couple) shared much the same story with Philip and the guys, adding that God has recently supplied him a job after 6 months of no work and tons of late payments. We are rejoicing that these young people are seeking God and finding that He really and truly is the answer.

On the other hand, we still have some struggling hearts who are still not ready to give God his rightful place. They need His help, His blessing...but they still want things their way and it is taking its toll on their families. Philip has gone over to one home tonight to pray with this family who is facing major difficulties. I'm praying the visit will go well...

Congratulations, Lish and Dwight!

We arrived back last evening, from a quick week-long trip to the States. The main focus of our trip was Alicia's graduation at GBS, plus a few other awesome details that the Lord threw in as well.

Two weeks ago on a late Sunday night, Philip and I left the Safari in Guanajuato at the Mason's house, then rode with them out to the Valley. We really shouldn't do that, because it always catches up with us...but we had to be at the airport in Harlingen at 5:30 AM on Tuesday. The plan was to fly into Charlotte, pick up brand-new wheels (an exciting provision from a long-time friend--Philip will be posting more about that over on his blog) and then drive on to Cincinnati on Thursday. It was such an eventful trip, tiring, but so very worth it! Here are a few pics:

Sharing the moment with Heather, Lish's roommate


Alicia and her look-alike, Michelle

Dwight and his family....it was so good to get to meet them.

Celebrating! Thanks, Beverly, for the lovely cake....it arrived intact and was delicious!Thanks also to our good friends, Dan and Martha Glick, who opened their home once again to us.

Shari's got some more (and better) pics over on her blog....especially of Ryleigh and Grant. Philip and I were too busy holding them to bother getting shots of our own. It was just awesome to have those few hours with them all. Brenda and Brent couldn't make it, which was a bummer....but in the spirit of family tradition we enjoyed Mexican food on Friday evening, not at Taco Cabana but at Chipotle, which was a close comparison.

Fuzzy afternoon thoughts....

I've been sitting here at the computer most of the day, doing bookwork, some research, and lastly some preparation for my women's Bible study tomorrow night. As is often the case when I sit still for very long, my mind gets fuzzy in the afternoon warmth....my eyes start crossing and before you know it I lay my head down for "just 2 minutes" !! I've done that once already and then resumed my work; then decided to blog-hop for a little while to clear my mind! Doing that made me once again aware that I needed a new post, so that's where I am now.

Looking at our daughter Shari's blog always makes my day! It is so much fun to see the grandkids and how they are growing. Philip and I had such a wonderful time with them last month....getting to interract daily with Ryleigh for those two weeks was such a treat! Learning what she likes (oatmeal, gummies and "watching Bob"--of Veggie Tale fame) and then of course getting to hear her chatter and read her books....those are things that long-distance grandparents miss! Snuggling that little bundle of Grant as a newborn was simply wonderful, too....We had to pinch ourselves sometimes to see if we were actually in PA!

From day one, Ryleigh has been an attentive big sister! Here she's helping Papi understand what Grant is like....

We were able to spend time with Brent and Brenda also, staying at their place for a few days. After taking a trip to the Street of Shops in Lewisburg to show Philip what she wanted, he made Brenda a coffee table and two end tables for her living room. When we left she was giving them the last coat of polyurethane, so maybe she'll post some pics on her blog when she gets a chance.

Girls have a way of getting into guys's hearts.....just ask Brent! Ryleigh will not let him forget that she loves him...
Lish got to come out for our last weekend, so we were altogether for the first time since last summer. She had to get some school assignments done, which meant staying up a couple nights late to discuss Les Miserables and the virtues of Noah Webster for two different papers she had to do. Reminded me of homeschooling days past....except that now the student has far surpassed the mom/teacher!
I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in truth..that's a bit paraphrased, but is exactly how I feel. Family truly is a awesome gift from God.

Coming up for air....

It is a very warm evening here in Salamanca, and I think that I will try to get "back" to this blog that I dreamed of keeping up with when I began it back in January. You and I both have chuckled at the header and subtitle....la (vida) cotidiana: a little about my life!" It appears I don't HAVE a life and that I'm having a hard time sharing even a little bit of it!

I've been by myself most of the day (Philip went to Guanajuato to help the Masons get their DSL set up with Telmex), and I have just allowed myself to enjoy doing as little as possible for a change. If I can keep my mind off what I need to be doing, I may actually get this post done....I sense some inspiration coming on.

Uh-oh, I just think I heard the front gate open, which means Philip is back home. That's good, I missed him today. But I think instead of getting up and doing supper, I'll try to twist his arm into going to eat tacos at Arleen's. For those of you who know him, it won't take much twisting!

Since this blog is really supposed to be the "personal side of ministry", I'm going to really try hard to keep it that way. I know I am going to have a hard time just letting my hair down, but I think it might be a good thing. I probably will just end up taking a few pins out, so those of you who are holding your breath can just relax.

So where have I been, what have we been doing? Well, alot has happened in the last few months. Most of you read about our going to camp in FL in February. It was great for us, and looking back we know that God gave us a break before the storm!! We had been concerned over the course of the last year about some very critical attitudes that started cropping up here and there among our congregation. We would try to deal with those we knew of, try to bridge misunderstandings, and prayed that each one involved would reach for more of the grace of God in their lives. We knew the Enemy was fighting (he always does when God is working) but didn't realize "how great a matter a little fire kindleth"! The long story short is that some of the very ones who were here from the beginning began to allow jealousy to come in over any newcomers who began to attend. The root problem is of course the carnal heart, needing to be made perfect in Christian love. The disgruntled (which grew into several families) finally left, and are now divided into two groups among themselves. Our hearts hurt.....because after endeavoring to preach that the solution to their misery is a sanctified heart, they're making the choice to walk away from it. Our consolation is that God, the faithful Holy Spirit, is the one who can show them their need even yet.

To be honest, these events totally drained Philip and I both of any energy we had left, especially for about a month. During that time we were grateful for the plans to go to PA to be with our daughter Shari during the birth of our grandson, Grant Logan on March 18! We so thoroughly enjoyed our three weeks there (more about that just ahead) but we couldn't help but wonder what we would feel upon our return. Would we be able to get up and go on? The devil surely painted a dark picture.

In God's wonderful foreknowledge, He knew what He was doing when He coordinated Michael and Crystal Mason's move down here (to study Spanish nearby) with our return! They have been here for three weeks now, and during that time we have helped them in their house-hunting efforts and in getting settled. In turn, they have encouraged us and helped us by taking part in church activities...something that at the time seemed impossible for us to renew on our own. Their two little boys, Kyle and Taylor (2 1/2 and 11 months) have helped keep us busy feeding little tummies, wiping little faces, and giving them squeezes in lieu of their own grandparents who are back in PA. The Lord knew we would need them around~

We have a small but strong core of believers who are praying along with us for a true move of God. We've realized once again that the work is God's, that in spite of those who might look on and misunderstand the situation, we can hold our heads up and know that His work is not done here.

I hope I haven't exceeded in shedding more than the alloted amount of hairpins considered proper in these cases! If I have, let me know....I'll try to be more careful after this.

Quess what? What I thought was Philip arriving a few minutes ago was actually the wind blowing the gate open and then letting it clang shut. So I actually got this post done! More later...