FAMILY UPDATES - SEPTEMBER!

Dallas and I were saying this morning that it feels like this is the first week since June that we have had a "regular" routine! 

So many good things have happened since June, and they're also just simply things that make life busy.

The kids got out of school at the end of June and were home till mid-August. 

In July our new missionary co-workers moved to Guadalajara and we spent quite a bit of time with them in the summer, which was so great! 

On July 23, Salomón moved in with us (our 4 year old!) and as good as he did in adjusting, it still means adjusting for all of us. We took a family holiday together shortly after he moved in, which was such a great bonding time

In August all 4 boys started school and my parents came to visit for 10 days! Salo and Sofi bonded so quickly with my parents, as they had seen them on Skype and we talked a lot about them before they came, so it was so neat to see.

My mom and dad

And last week we had representatives from our Board of Missions in Canada here for a week, which meant meetings and people in our home all week, also good and also busy.

So, life continues to be busy but we are settling into a routine now of ministry, regular meetings, school, homework times, kid's activities, etc....at least for the next few weeks ;)

Here's just a quick update on each of us these days!

Carter (aka Chaí) - age 11, grade 6

This summer, Carter got into camping quite a bit. He went to Bible camp for a week, he spent a night camping with Scout friends, and he did a two day hike and camp-out on the mountain together with Dallas, Logan, and our friend, Juanca. 

He also loves spending time with his friends and once every week or two he is invited to someone's house after school or has a friend over here to the house. 

He just finished swimming lessons this week and was asked to be on a competitive swim team. He chose not to though, as it means swim practice every day of the week. Instead, he is going to join the Scouts program on Saturday afternoons and is also taking piano lessons during the week.

He also instigated starting a YouTube channel together with Logan and Brady :) We'll see where that goes. It's private for now but they like to do mostly food challenges at this point.

He also loves to draw, cook, play with the neighbor kids, and read books.

Logan (aka Logey, Logancito, Gancito) - age 9, grade 4

Logan also really enjoyed the hiking trip this summer and spent his time there hunting for mushrooms and taking pictures of them (he found about 10 different kinds). He also went to Bible camp for a week.

He just finished swimming lessons as well, and is going to start the Scouts program and is also taking piano lessons. As you can see we generally have our kids in the same activities ;) so far they like the same things more or less and it makes it easier with multiple kids and taking them to their activities.

He is a curious kid and likes to see how things work and what he could do with different things.

He also likes to draw and make up stories and comics, he loves Calvin & Hobbes, he likes to play with the neighbor kids, swim, ride bike, and bug people.

Logan is also a very sweet kid and loves to play with Sofi and Salo. He often asks to help put Sofi to bed and will sing and pray with her.

Brady (aka Tobey, Tom) - age 8, grade 2

Brady turned 8 on August 14 and asked us to do a friends party and then to surprise him for his family party. He invited several friends over to the house to make pizzas and play, and then we took them all to see a movie. For his family party we went and played mini-golf and went for lunch.

Brady is a people person and loves to talk to people. He is not afraid of very many things and likes to see what he is capable of doing. He prides himself on being everyone's friend at school and got an award from his teacher in June for being the funniest in the class :)

He likes to roller blade, bike, play with legos, swim, and play with his friends. He also just finished swimming lessons, is taking piano lessons, and will be joining Scouts.

He wants to be a teacher when he grows up and he already has such a great way with younger kids, explaining how things are done. Salo is in preschool here and has homework and Brady has a much better way of explaining things to him than I do! Maybe it's a patience thing :)

Salomón (aka Salo, Salomoncito, Salemono) - age 4, Pre-school

Salo has been doing so amazing since he moved in. He has adapted way more quickly than anyone expected and it's so good to see him flourishing. He shares a room with the "big" boys and loves to copy anything they do. 

He speaks 100% Spanish but is starting to learn some English. We speak to him mostly in Spanish, but he hears English all day both at school (it's bi-lingual) and at home when we talk among each other and he's starting to understand quite a bit. 

Having a 4 year old again is interesting as we get used to hearing "por qué" (why?) all day long! But he is learning so much about the way our family does things and how the world works in general right now. 

Salo likes to play with lego, play with with cars, he likes to ride his bike, go to the park, swim, and play dress-up. He likes the color red, loves Superman, lions, and monkeys.

Sofía (aka Sofi, Chofis) - age 2

Sofi has got the personality to run a household of 4 older brother! haha She is a girl full of life and fun and determination. She is a big people person and loves to be with anyone, but at the same time, rarely lets mama out of her sight. 

She loves to play with play dough, with cars, ride her little bike, be with people, wrestle with daddy and the boys, and she likes pigs at the moment.

She also likes to pick out her own clothes, change her shoes about 10 times per day, and always have a "moño" (bow) in her hair.

Tara 

I don't think it's hard to guess that I've been a little busy with mothering 5 kids! It has made life quite a bit fuller with adding two kids, although I think it's mostly because of their ages and that they need more attention and care at those ages. So it's expected and fun but I do find that I am still figuring out a new routine and balance with 5 kids. I'm so thankful that they all get along well and are happy for the most part!

Besides taking care of the kids and alllll that this entails....

I am a wife! and all that this entails :)

I also am involved in our ministry through leading two weekly ladies Bible studies, meeting with women one-on-one for mentor-ship, meeting with women and families weekly, volunteering monthly at Sofia's orphanage, hosting two weekend Bible studies weekly, teaching Sunday School, being part of our missionary team planning meeting and prayer times weekly, etc.

It all adds up to too much to do in one week...and I'm currently evaluating and figuring out, you guessed it, a new routine!

As far as enjoyment, I enjoy times of reflection, reading for fun and for learning, being with closer friends, skyping with family, relaxing and hanging out as a family of 7, organizing things (ha! yes), watching a couple of shows, drinking coffee, biking in the park, baking cakes here and there, and being creative in different ways.

Logan thought he was sooo funnyy....

Dallas

Dallas is also busy being a dad to 5 kids now! Between everything else he does, he has been trying to be intentional about spending on-on-one time with each of the boys as they go through adapting to new siblings and a new family. I think this has helped them to not "get lost" in the mix and in the process.

His focus is also our ministry, and he has meetings and prayer times each week with our missionary team, spends time planning and brainstorming and researching and praying and prepping for upcoming ministry things, preps and studies for the weekend Bible studies and services, meets with men and youth in the evenings for one-on-one mentor-ship or counseling, and many other things. Ministry is hard to pinpoint as it changes throughout the week but he enjoys the spontaneity of it and also enjoys visioning for our church plant.

He also is busy with another course towards his Counseling Masters online, which means a lot of homework.

And he enjoys mountain biking, biking as a family, wrestling with the kids, playing some sports with the boys, bbqing, etc

SOOOO that is a quick update on life these days! There is much we are processing and learning and much we are thankful for at the same time. God is good.

Parties, Studies, Visitors, Extra kiddos, Counseling...oh my

 We've been back in Mexico just over a month now, but...it feels like so much longer! Just looking at these pictures of this one birthday party from January seems like such a long time ago already.

Time doesn't stand still just because you've left, and life gets busy no matter where you are. Busy is not necessarily good or bad. I think it depends very much on why and what you're filling your time with. That said, we are working on being better at setting aside time (actually scheduling it in more) for us as a couple and for us as a family. Ministry and relationships are our life and it is very easy to feel that every spare minutes should be filled with people other than our own family, but let's not forget those that God has entrusted to us in that very special and intimate way - our spouse and kids!

As Carter said to me the other day after I was talking to the kids about something or other - "Good speech, mom, good speech".  As he clapped for me. (insert eye roll here).

Anyway, we have been spending time with those in our ministry circles and back into the Bible studies and ministries that we're a part of.

We also celebrated my (Tara's) birthday on February 5! We usually plan surprises for whoever's birthday it is and Dallas and the boys surprised me with taking me to an Escape Room! I love them. They found one here in Gdl and this was the first time the boys had done one, and they also loved it. Then we came home and they made me my favorite, fettucine alfredo.

I also had some birthday breakfasts with friends.

Then, this last week we had friend from Canada come to visit! Frank & Angelica were here with their 3 kids and we did lots of fun things and spent some time visiting and hanging out.

Making a favorite for Bible study at our house one evening - guacamole.

The kids didn't always like having to sit all squished in the back seat of the van ;)

Dallas' studies for his Masters in Counseling have also kept him quite busy this month. He's in his second semester of Practicum now, and he is having to counsel a client each week and do the homework that is involved with that throughout the week.

And last, but definitely not least, we have been doing respite for our little girl that we are working towards adopting! She has been in our home often since we've been back and we are loving it. She just fits right in! We are also having more regular visits with our little boy, her brother, and so things are moving forward in terms of bringing them home soon! Pray with us for their paperwork that is being worked on so that this process can go more quickly.

I have a ton of pictures of them...but this will have to do for now ;) We will likely not post any pictures here publicly until the adoption is completely finalized.

Canada Part 2: Dallas, Tara, Ministry, Studying

The largest portion of what we do while we're in Canada is connect with our supporters as much as possible. This includes extended family, friends, and churches. We reported in churches on Sunday mornings, attended some mid-week church events, and met one-on-one with people throughout the week.

It's a chance for us to promote missions and promote Guadalajara, and also a chance to be mutually encouraged in our walks with God. We couldn't do what we do here without knowing we have the prayer support behind us. Perhaps we could. We have God with us no matter what. But we are in this together and being upheld in prayer and having people interested in our ministry and lives here gives so much strength as well.

Besides reporting and sharing, we had some great time with family and friends to just relax, be rejuvenated, and laugh together! We are so thankful for "our people". Sometimes I miss having "our people" so close by - those people we've known our whole lives or for more than 10 years at least that just know you. But we're working on that here ;)

We also had a lot of meetings that were ministry related and a lot of business to take care - banking, renewing paperwork...those kinds of things.

So, some pictures.

One weekend Dallas and I attended our EMC Conference's Ministerial Retreat. This was a great opportunity to connect with different pastors and ministerial in our Conference, from around Canada. It was also great to see so many people we knew and many that had come to Guadalajara on Prayer teams over the years were there as well.

Dallas had a chance to play in a curling tournament while we were there...a little R&R.

Since our boys were already being babysat while we were with the Ministerial, Dallas and I took advantage of this and headed to a cabin in the Whiteshell for a couple of nights longer. We rarely ever get away for night without our kids. I should really say never. So that was wonderful and we need those times as couples also.

Some pictures with friends. You know, I didn't realize how few pictures I took!! Our minds were quite full during our time in Canada and I just wasn't taking out my camera really at all. So if any of you have pictures that you took with us, please send them to me!!! This is all I have! So bad. I should have taken some everyday.

This is Dallas and his best friend since high school.

And these are friends of ours from College days and even earlier...her family and my family have known each other for eons, but we got to know each other more so in College days. And they are arriving here in Guadalajara in a couple of days to visit us!!!

And the boys with their life-long friends/second-cousins. They grew up together, moved to Texas and Mexico together, so now when we're in Canada they love to see each other again. They pick up right where they left off.

Studying - let's not forget that!

Dallas was in class and doing studies while we were there. He had to be there for part of a class all of November and then again in January, which was the reason for the timing of our trip. He started his Counseling Practicum, which he is now continuing here in Gdl this semester.

And, we did homeschooling with the boys. They missed 8 weeks of school! The school is so amazing to us and the teachers had prepped a lot of their work ahead of time for us to take. We did it each day and every Friday I sent pictures of all their work for the week so that they wouldn't get behind. We are so thankful for the school working with us in this way.

We even did projects and recorded video of the boys giving their "presentations" to the class.

Their cousins encouraged them along here and there ;)

Why do Missionaries go on Furlough (Home Assignment)?

I mentioned in my last post that we will be in Canada for a couple of months this winter. The purpose of this is for Furlough, or Home Assignment, as it's also often called.

We often get questions or just hear comments from people wondering what furlough is for, so I thought'd I'd just talk about a few of the purposes here to perhaps help clear up some questions you may have!

So, what is the purpose of Furlough?

1. Reconnect with Churches/Supporters

This has changed a lot in missions over the past 20 years or so. It used to be that there was no Internet - meaning no email, texting, Facebook, Skype, or any form of constant communication with people back in Canada. When I grew up in Paraguay even a basic phone call cost a fortune and I remember talking to our Grandparents for our birthdays and that was pretty much it.

These days we are in constant communication with people all over the world. This enables missionaries to be in more contact with their supporting churches which is very good. But it is still not the same as a personal, face-to-face conversation. When we're in Canada we share in different churches on weekends and during the week we take time to visit with individuals and families from our churches. We are responsible to our home churches and to the EMC Conference and so we need to be in communication.

We need people supporting us in prayer, financially, and emotionally, and there is nothing like being with someone in person to build that connection and friendship.

2. Reconnect with the Missions office

This basically means that we have meetings with our Board of Missions and this furlough we will also be attending a retreat for ministers. We also have a meeting with our home church's mission board as well as other connections and meetings with EMC personnel.

3. Rest & Renewal

It is always encouraging and renewing for Dallas and I to be able to spend time with people in Canada that support us - whether that be family, friends, or church people. It's an opportunity to be filled and supported in prayer and gives us fresh energy to return to the field. I wouldn't call this restful exactly as we fill our calendars pretty full with wanting to see everyone! Almost too much sometimes but we really love it and it is rejuvenating.

Allowing your brain a little break from another language and culture is also restful ;) Although we love Spanish and love Mexico it can be tiring to always be trying to figure out culture and language. This does go away to some extent over the years but can be present at different levels for different missionaries.

4. Reconnect with Family & Friends

Even though we are living away from all of our family, we love our family and it is so important to us to have good relationships with them and for our boys to know them. This requires visiting them. Again, in person!

This is what makes overseas missionaries different from those in ministry in their home country, as it means being away from ALL of your family (usually) and that is one of the more difficult aspects, no matter how old you are or what stage of life you're in.

Connecting with friends that "get" you is also very renewing and something Dallas and I both value very much. We connect with friends from years ago and with friends that we've made more recently in different ways as a result of teams, visitors, churches, etc.

5. Education

This is one that also has changed a lot with online studies! Dallas is so fortunate to be able to study most of his Masters online. However, he had to go to Canada for a week in October for an in-person class and he has portions of his class that he will be doing while we are there now in November and in January. This education is very helpful for our ministry while on the field.

6. Encouragement/Recruitment

Part of our job is also to encourage missions in churches and individuals, whether that be through financial giving, through helping churches become more interested in missions, or through encouraging others to consider overseas missions! This all falls under point #1 as well but it is more of a direct purpose in connecting in different places.

7. Taking care of Business

We take the opportunity to update any banking we need to do, take our driver's license pictures, have other financial meetings, buy items we can get cheaper there than here, doctor visits (although we do most of that in Mexico), any needed paperwork, etc. oh, and go to Ikea.

8. Culture learning ;)

I'll add this one for our boys. Going to Canada every few years helps the boys keep a connection with their "home" culture. They do not consider Canada their home, though. They have never lived there, besides Carter who lived there for just 1.5 years. To them, Canada is an awesome place to visit where they get to see Grandparents and cousins and everyone else! They love to visit.

And it's always a time of culture learning, especially now as they're getting older.

To be honest, it's always culture learning for Dallas and I too. Everytime you go back you have to remember what Canadian culture is...we especially struggle the first couple of weeks with wanting to hug and kiss everyone ;) as that's the Mexican greeting. So if we get a little too close to you for comfort just bear with us.

This picture is from 7 years ago, the last time we were in Canada in winter. Carter was 3, Logan was 1, and Brady was 3 months old. So they don't remember winter. They are super, super excited for snow. We'll see what they think of the cold!

All right, I will leave it at that for now! I hope this gives you a bit of an idea. As you can see, it serves several purposes which can make it seem a little ambiguous at times. 

See you soon Manitoba.

30 Days of Writing: WHAT SPEAKS TO YOU (literally, today)

My day literally starts every morning with Logan giving me a hug and a smile (how is that my roughest child is also my cuddliest? I guess they both have to do with touch).

And then I'll usually get a good morning or some random comment from him.

The day continues with a hundred words a minute coming at me from all 3 boys. Yes, they speak to me even before I've had my first cup of coffee. Oh, what brave children I have!! Dallas has long seen that important conversations are best left until I've been awake at least an hour. 

But regardless of the time of day, I do love having the boys talking all the time! They have the most interesting conversations and I learn a lot about what goes on in their minds just be listening to them talk amongst each other. 

This evening we also had some "sharing" time as a family, as we watched Masterchef and had to pause it every five minutes to let it download some more. During each pause, we took turns asking each other in the family questions that we all had to answer.

Would you rather be an elephant or a turtle? 

Would you rather be invisible or be able to fly?

Would you rather sleep in a tent or a cabin? 

What's your favorite thing that happened this year?

What's something you like about yourself? (no hesitation here, their answers were that I'm handsome, I'm crazy, and I'm awesome)

What's something you would change or do differently that you did this year? 

So there's the kids talking to me all day. 

And then there's Dallas. Last night at 10 pm he handed in his last big assignment for the class he's currently taking, a class that is so interesting (to me as well as I hear about it! all about the brain and it's connection to our emotions and behaviors) but a class that also has taken more time with homework. So today we had more time to talk and hang out together, which was nice! 

Oh yes, and Jack the cat, meowing to go out.

Today this verse became a focus and an encouragement for me. 

Other people that "spoke" to me today, in person, via Whatsapp, etc.......a lawyer, several friends, my mother...

30 Days of Writing:
DREAM, SENSES, LIGHT, INSPIRING, WHAT-SPEAKS-TO-YOU, HAPPY, FLY, MUSIC, TASTY, SUPPORT, SPECIAL, PLACE, BREAK, TOMORROW, DESTINATION, BRAND, EVENT, NO, LAUGH, FEED, MIND-BLOWING, FABULOUS, COMPARE, EXCLUSIVE, FUZZY, FRIEND, BATTLE, SIGN, GRATITUDE, SMILE
*#an_snapaword

Seminary: 1 year in

Dallas is just over a year into his studies towards his Masters in Counseling at Providence Theological Seminary! It is mostly online but he has been to Canada for one in-class module so far (1 week long). 

Because he is only doing it part-time though, it will take about 5 years instead of the 2 years that the full-time studies would take. With ministry and family life, one course at a time has been perfect and he is finding that as he gets further along in his studies, the classes are becoming more in-depth and therefore take more time as well. 

We are both still feeling positive about the decision for Dallas to study! He is really enjoying it and it suits his gifts so well. We are also seeing that it opens up a lot of conversations with people here and there are so many ways to use the counseling skills he's learning now already as part of ministry. 

Most of his studying is done here in the house in his office, although once in a while "life" gets in the way so he makes his classroom mobile! This particular day we had to attend an event right after our kid's sports classes, so Dallas had to come as well. He sat at the picnic table in the school where the boy's classes are and did homework while I took them to their classes. 

This fall he'll start Practicums, so it's really time to put it all into action!

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.