ADOPTION UPDATE & HOW WE'RE ALL ADJUSTING

Once again, while I would love to share pictures here on the blog of our two that we are in the process of adopting here in Mexico, I will need to hold off until it's more official. But, we are asked often about where we are at with the adoption so I'll give a quick update.

Our little girl has been living with us for just over 4 months now! We are fostering her while we wait on the legal processes of having parental rights revoked, for both her and her brother. We have no control over that paperwork and so it is a waiting game. Our adoption certification was finished last year in August and so we are ready whenever they are!

Because we met our little boy that much later after we met our little girl (they are siblings but they were separated), visitation was also started that much later. He is also older, having turned 4 in May, and so is more aware of what this means and Mexico's CFS is working to make the transition as smooth as possible for him. He comes to our house one day a week and every week we see him opening up more and more. Please pray that he will transition well and that he will thrive and continue to be a joyful little guy! Pray also for the social workers that make the decisions as to when he is ready to move in permanently.

Please continue to pray also for the paperwork. Parental rights need to be revoked and then we can begin the actual adoption paperwork! In the meantime we hope to have them together in our home in the next few months sometime.

In other news, our little girl turned 2 on Monday! It's hard to believe we first saw her when she was 2 months old. As soon as we saw her that first day, we felt a tug to ask about her and here we are. She is so full of enthusiasm for life and we feel privileged to have the opportunity to provide her with a loving family and to give her a place to belong, praying that she will rest in that and find refuge in God as she grows and reflects on her life.

The boys are also doing really well with the adjustment of having a sister and a toddler in the house. It means being quite sometimes when she is napping, having a little less time with us as parents, not being able to go to the movie theatre because you have to be 3 to go to the movies here ;) but they love her and have accepted her as part of their life and family. 

We often ask how they're feeling or what they're thinking and I think that helps, at least it makes me feel I'm checking in if nothing else! They are proud to call her their sister though. She came along with me to Carter's zoo field trip and Carter wanted her with him all of the time so he could show her off. That's great to see (may-hap there is a girl he wants to impress??). They are also talking about where our little boy will sleep, are praying for him every day, and waiting for him to come also.

It's taken Dallas and I some getting used to also. Going back to a toddler after having all 3 kids in school already has been a bit of a transition. I'm still getting used to having a child at home all day with me...although in reality, it means her going a lot of places with me. I lead 2 ladies Bible studies on 2 mornings and attend another one, so it makes it a little tougher when you have a 2 year old along. However if Dallas is working at home in the morning he can keep her at home while she naps or things like that, which makes it easier. 

We're getting more used to it though and it's feeling more natural to have a young one again. Our older 3 are so independent already and I need to be ok with having more demands on me with a two year old. And now seeing the age difference between her and Carter makes me want to hang on harder to Carter as he seems so old now and I don't want him to leave me!! ha! He's 11, still young I know, but I can't imagine them not being here. I feel like I'm becoming a middle aged mom and it's hard to believe that soon I'll be that 50 year old mom with an empty nest. All right, I'm starting to digress. I'm not even 40 yet. 

Anyways, to sum up, we are so thankful for the lives God has given these 2 kids and so thankful to see how things are going right now with the adoption process. We have no guarantees that the adoption will be finalized, as things can happen with foster care, but we are thankful for the moment, thankful for coffee when toddlers don't want to nap, thankful for our family, and thankful that God has blessed us with a daughter and another son right now. 

Dad turns 60!

 My dad just had his 60th birthday on Sunday...the first of our 4 parents to hit this decade ;) Back in August we started thinking about how we could help him celebrate, as all 4 of us kids live far away and we knew none of us would be able to be there.

So then the plan was hatched...

My parents

We got his secretary Diana in on the fun, and shipped some things to her! My sis-in-law Dwylla happened to be in Manitoba in August so she also bought some things and asked my dad to deliver a "package" to Diana at the office, from her sister who happens to be a friend of Diana's. Anyways, it was a lot of fun planning it all out.

Every day for the past month she's been sneaking a little gift onto his desk at work for him to find in the morning.

Dad and Diana

There are 15 grandkids in total and we had each of them draw a picture or write a note for him, which were printed out.

These are just a few of the pictures :) We had him send us all one everyday.

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!

(I guess now we won't be let off the hook when our other parents have a big birthday and we aren't there.....)

Parties & Friendships & the Value of a Person

Sometimes I know it can appear that we missionaries spend a lot of time at parties. Especially if you follow us on Facebook, as a person tends to post pictures of events you're at. But here's the thing...it is true that parties here in Guadalajara are fairly frequent! Mexicans celebrate any and every event, especially birthdays and major holidays.

With our stage of life, and having young kids, most of our friends here also have younger kids and so a lot of the parties we go to are for kids (especially with us having 3!) However, kids parties here are different in that the whole family is invited and so it's a great opportunity to connect with a lot of people all at one time and has a purpose as well.

Yesterday afternoon we were at a party for two girls, one of who is in Carter's class at school. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the group of parents we were with, but I love these friends! Within his grade, there is a group of 6 families that we get together with frequently and I love how we can just "be", especially the women as we do know each other better as we tend to get together more often in the mornings.

As friends, we got there early, helped her set up for the party, I made the cakes, another decorated, etc. and it's just so nice to have people we can count on and do life with. This is the same group where I teach their kids a monthly Bible class and while our being friends with them does not at all depend on them having the same faith as we do, that is our desire as we know that life with God is that much richer.

Dallas and I are both the type that love deeper friendships and we prefer settings where you can develop this. However, we see the value in parties like this as well as there are connections you make that you wouldn't have been able to otherwise. For example, I met a new mom of a boy in Brady's class and we made plans to get together after school one day. Another mom asked about our Friday evening Bible study and what we did there. A sister-in-law to a friend invited me to her daughter's baby shower, as being friends with her family we are sometimes included in their family events.

 Another party we were at recently was with a group from Brady's class, where the parents are also dear friends! Dallas made a super connection here as well, as he met a dad who is a Christian Psychologist here and has since been a help as Dallas is currently studying the Code of Ethics for Family & Marriage Counseling in Mexico and needs quite a bit of info.

And a side note....this was the best Mariachi we have heard!

 A lot of parties here are more formal events, with fancy tables, some type of entertainment (often more for the parents!), and hired people to serve the food and drinks.

Other parties are more informal, such as this one which was at a swimming pool. The environment is different, but no matter the type of event, the friendships and connections you make are just as important.

People are people, no matter where you are, and that's something I don't want to lose sight of. In a culture where status and money and showing all of that to people seems to be so important, I want to teach my kids that a person's worth doesn't depend on that. That seeing inside of a person and getting to know them on that level is what will make a person feel valued and accepted and loved.

That is what these friendships are for me. They make me feel valued and accepted and loved. I want to do my best to also show these friends that I value them in the same way! To show them an unconditional love.

There are of course also the "behind the scenes" things that go on - back stabbing and not inviting so-and-so and gossip - there is so much of that as that is what happens in human relationships. It's so sad to me when I hear these things, and I believe our role is to be salt and light in these relationships.

But I am thankful that our kids are growing up with a sense of community and learning the value of people. My job as a parent is to teach them not to be the ones gossiping, but to be the ones including others no matter where they come from or what their status is. 

Interview with Brady: On turning 6

Brady turned 6 on August 14 so we had a little party with our Bible study group, since it was a Sunday.

He asked for chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing and he asked to go mini-golfing and have pizza. So that's what we all did. All of the pictures are from the day with the cell group.

School just started up this week so next week we'll also do a little party at school with his friends during lunchtime.

Now, time to hear some things from Brady.

Interview with Brady:

Why do you like being 6?
Because we can have birthdays. And because like if some keys fall into a little space, I can get them cause I'm still little like when I was 5.

What is your favorite thing to do in the house?
To eat a snack.


What is your favorite thing to do outside?
Play soccer.

Carter's birthday tradition of making "cards" 

Waffle wake-up in the morning

Traditional MX birthday bite

Who are your best friends right now?
Paulina and Jesse, Agustin, Santi, Cesar, Mateo and that's all.

- This is quite funny, as Paulina (18 yr old in our cell group) has always been his favorite and vice versa. Now that she's dating Jesse, Brady has been jealous that he is not always her centre of attention! He has now decided to accept Jesse as a friend though ;) The others are friends from school.

What do you want to be when you're bigger?
I don't know!

What's your favorite food?
Waffles.

What is important to you?
That I'm special, because God loves me.

What do you think of your brothers?
They're good.

What are three things you want to do this year, when you're 6?
1. Eat candy
2. Play tablet all day
3. Go mini-golfing

What are three things you want to learn more about this year?
1. I want to learn about playing piano.
2. I want to learn about painting.
3. I want to learn about math.

Ministry & Birthday #34

So last weekend I had a birthday, and turned 34. 

I love the age I am right now, so birthdays are just a fun thing! This stage of life is feeling really good. Dallas and I are enjoying each other, our kids, life as a family, and are enjoying Guadalajara and the ministry God has given us. Life has it's ups and downs, no doubt, and we are no exception. There are difficult things to process and deal with, but when I look at the overall picture, I am thankful.

My birthday was on Friday, so since we always meet that night for Bible study, Dallas and the boys went and picked up a birthday cake. One of the other families also brought one so we were sweetened up well! 

The above pic. was with the first cake, before the rest arrived. Our friend and neighbour to the left of me in the picture came to Bible study for the first time and we were excited to have her ask if she can join every week from now on! She has been a good friend, as has her whole family.

The next day, Saturday....Dallas was away in the morning but then, as per our family tradition, Dallas and the boys planned an outing for me. So we went out for the rest of the day and had some good family time.

And then....Superbowl...

Not for my b'day. But I can make it about that if I want right ;) In the morning we had our cell group meeting, so another cake together... and then several hung out for the afternoon and into the evening until the game was over. Some of Paulina's youth friends also came for the game, we love that they are comfortable enough to come over to our home.

I spent a large portion of the game playing with kids and taking pictures....

The other tradition amongst groups of female friends here, at least with those we are connected with, is going out for birthday breakfasts. Last week I had a breakfast with moms from Brady's class, another with moms from Logan's class (for all the moms that had b'days in January/February), another one this morning with moms from Carter's class, and another next week yet for my b'day with ladies in our neighbourhood. 

In each of the boy's grades, there is a smaller group of moms that I am closer to and so those are often the ones that get together. There is the smaller circle of close-knit friends...then the larger circle of moms that get along and like to get together occasionally...and then the whole group of moms from the grade. I'm sure this is any school, no matter where you are! The reality here is played out in lots of get togethers with all of the different groups.

So anyways...I'm sure I am just explaining things you already know. This morning's breakfast was with this group of moms that I have known since we moved to Gdl...and whose families/husbands we get together with also. This morning two asked if I would be willing to start a Bible class for their kids, just once a month or so! So great. 

I love this restaurant. It's in a greenhouse, and the birthday person gets a free plant.

Ok, the b'day post is done. This has nothing to do with my birthday, other than perhaps being justification for being a t-shirt. Picked this shirt up the other day. Anyone who knows anything about me at least knows I'm a coffee-holic.

And some sweet pis of Carter and Logan doing their reading homework one afternoon. 

A weekend at the beach & Carter turns 9!!!

We have had such a busy last while that Carter's birthday was sneaking up on us...but it's not his fault he was born just before Christmas, right?!

He really wanted a party with his friends at school so just a few days before school let out before Christmas we decided to let him invite some friends to go bowling and for pizza. Well, we said he could invite all the boys in his class (14), assuming that several wouldn't be able to make it and then it wouldn't be quite so chaotic.

Well they all came except for 2. Plus our boys and another sibling of a friend, so we had 16 kids in total. It was a little crazy but Carter was so happy to have the party so it was worth it.

Carter is NINE....what a fun age. We've enjoyed all of the ages so far (newborn was not my favorite but still loved 'em) and at this age it's been fun to hear the question he has and the things he likes to talk about.

We were away all weekend and only got home last night, and then we are leaving again tomorrow for Mexico City, so today was the one down day of the week at home. Carter chose a family day, so we had waffles (Allison our intern joined us!), watched a Christmas movie, played, and Carter had some skype and phone calls!

Bad cell phone pic in a dark bowling alley....but here is Carter with his friends at the party!

So, this weekend we were away in Sayulita, which is a smaller town a little further north of Puerto Vallarta. Jessy was here in Guadalajara the past two months as part of her Sabbatical...she is a wonderful friend of ours since College days and it was sooooo good to have her here!! We had great conversations, Dallas and her had plenty of tea to last me a lifetime, and plenty of laughs.

The last week that she was here her boyfriend Peter came to visit as well, so we spent this last weekend with the two of them in Sayulita before they flew out of there Monday morning.

It was a short getaway but just what we needed after a very busy fall and winter.  

One afternoon we did some exploring and hiked barefoot through the jungle and mud, climbed some rocks, crawled through a little rock tunnel, and came upon a little hidden beach!

 

If any of you have ever gone on a tour of the Mariata Islands in this area, this was a similar feel to that, except that we hiked in instead of swam in. But the hidden little beach had a similar feel.

So next time any of you come to visit and want a little off road adventure, we may take you to the little town of Sayulita and do a little walking! This town also has neat little restaurants and cafes that spill out onto the streets and especially at night it's fun walking around there.

Our boys took to Peter and Jessy so quickly and loved being with them, holding their hands when walking, being chased for hugs and kisses, and being appreciated. Thank-you so much Peter and Jessy for building into our kids lives as well as ours!!