A Fun Day!!!

Some friends of ours have a boat and invited us to go fishing this afternoon. So a very gracious, wonderful friend volunteered to watch Bryson, since the last time he was out for 1 hour he blistered his face, and we were uncomfortable taking him out. So our friends, their 4 yr old son, and us went out to a place called Gibbons Creek. This was only the boys 2nd time to go fishing, and they had a ball. This is such a neat thing to do with boys, and to watch them out exploring nature, and playing with the fish is just neat. This was a day I was so happy to be a mother of 3 boys.
He was laughing so hard, and I love this picture...it really captures his pure excitement
The boys absolutely loved riding on the boat. It was by far their highlight of the day. They each got to help drive the boat and Brandt loved swaying it side to side. They would ask to go faster and faster.
Brandt reeling in a fish, and Daddy helping him getting it on the bank
Brayden's 1st ever fish. He helped Daddy reel it in, and was so proud of it.

I survived!

I was asked to speak at my MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) meeting today about my Mission Trip over Spring Break. I was pretty nervous that I would talk to fast, or not make any sense. I picked out pictures, and Dustin put them on a DVD for me. It was funny, because I had practiced what I was going to say, but the boys interrupted me many times, and when I got to the end of the presentation I was like "oh no, I forgot to think of how I was going to end it". I was stopped by several people afterwards who said it really spoke to them, a few who said they had thought previously of adopting and now were going to possibly pursue it, and 1 who told me she felt convicted to help finance our next trip down there. Wow, I had not even thought about how God was going to use that, God is truly amazing. I would love to go down there as often as possible, but I know financially there is no way right now. As a family of 5 on 1 income, money is just tight. So maybe God is planning on using men & women like her who want to do something, but can't go themselves, to help us go and spread God's love. Who knows, but I am sure He will show us the way. Speaking of going back to Mexico, the 2 groups that were suppose to come behind us to finish the casitas weren't able to. So we are hoping to take another trip down there within the month for just a weekend to finish. We would be there Friday and come back Sunday. Then another 5 day trip in June sometime to work on cleaning and organizing the orphanage. Please pray that we can get the details worked out and get these casitas finished so we can get these families moved in and living there.
I'll leave you with another cute picture of Dulce, I can never get enough. lol Seriously, is she not too cute?

100 Times!

100 Times is the number of times a DAY I tell my kids (especially my middle son), no they can't have anymore candy. He would eat nothing but candy if I would let him. He is sitting in my lap crying saying he 'is hungry really bad mom" while holding suckers. Does he think that is actually going to make me say, "hmm you should have more candy"? I asked if he wanted a granola bar and the answer was no, just suckers. I guess you aren't that hungry then, huh. It drives me nuts. They must hide it when they get some so they have a "stash", because they are always bringing me some that I know I didn't buy. Normally it is funny, but today I think I am going to scream if I see 1 more piece or hear 1 more whiney, lame reason why they need it. Aww, the joys of motherhood I guess. My mom tells me it is payback, because she says I was the same way, and my 1st sentence was more candy, more gum.

Happy Birthday Aunt Lois...

This is a picture of my grandmother and all her siblings. The one in the middle is my Aunt Lois. She was such an amazing lady and such an important person in my life. She always inspired me to be more and to do my best. She would take over a room when she walked in with her laugh and great sense of humor. She was taking charge of her life, and traveling, and doing things she had always wanted to. She passed away on Valentine's Day after a very short, very unexpected illness. Today she would have been 54. I miss her terribly already, and I know today is a very hard day for most of my family. I rejoice in knowing what an awesome time she is having with Jesus now, and that I will see her again. Happy Birthday Aunt Lois...

Our Spring Break...

Dustin and I went on our 1st ever Mission Trip. We went to Mexico, right across the border, to Acuna. Most of Acuna are single moms whose husbands take them to the border with the promise that they will come to the US and send $ and then come get them. In reality, they meet new women in the US and abandon their wives in Mexico. Prostitution is very high there, and the orphanage we went to had pushing 30 kids, the vast majority abandened by their mothers. We built 4 little houses (and I mean little 10x12) and 1 buidling that had 2 bathrooms and 1 kitchen to house some single moms with their kids. When they go to work in the factories, then their kids will be taken care of by the orphange. The lifestyle over there is amazing. These houses were so much nicer than most of what these people had. Here is a house that is directly across from the orphange.

We didn't get 100% done with these little casitas, but there were 2 other groups coming behind us to finish. They need to be painted, and some finishing touches put on. We only worked for 3 days, and we started at square one, I was shocked how much we got done.

I hurt my back after the 1st day, I have a really bad back, so it was just acting up. So I spent a lot of time with the kids at the orphange. I was so amazed at how wonderful all the kids were. They had to be the best behaved set of kids I have ever seen. They loved just to be hugged on and loved on. If I could, I would have taken this 1 little girl home. I absoultely love her, and I am so grateful this group goes every 3 months, because I already miss her and can't wait to go back. Her name is Dulce, and she has to be the sweetest/cutest little thing.
When we got ready to leave these kids blocked the gate and were saying "No va" or don't go. They melted my heart and I couldn't help but cry. I came back with a few pieces of Mexican candy for the boys, some souveneir cokes, and a changed heart.