It's been two months since my last post. Wow!  Life is so busy right now.  Carson is doing very well in 1st grade.  He had an excellent progress report.  Carson played soccer this season but I must say it's not his best sport.
A funny story....the other night Carson said, "mommy, Alexa's mom has a six pack."  Trying my hardest not to laugh I said, " what is a six pack?"  He replies, " she has six ninnies."  He keeps me laughing.   The other night we had a bowling fundraiser for school and my boy was surrounded by girls.  It was really cute to watch him interact with his classmates.  However, he kept asking me for change so finally I said, what the heck are you getting?  He replied, I am buying the girls rings from the 25 cent machine.  Haha.  He sure is a Latin lover.  Carson is growing up to be a really neat kid.  Well, little Cinderella is hitting the terrible twos.  She is not too bad yet, however you can see the spunk in her eye.  She started music class a few weeks ago.  She loves it.  She comes home singing her new songs she learned.  And if I do not get the words right she will let me know very quickly.                                                                                                                                                  
We are leaving for Florida next Wednesday for 10 days.  We all are very excited.  There is a large group of us going so it will be a great time.  We will be making a lot of memories for sure.                    
Onto some very exciting news....we sponsored a girl to come live with us from Guatemala.  She will arrive in late December.  She will be attending the local community college in the spring.  God had His hand in this process from the very beginning.  To obtain a visa in Guatemala is extremely difficult.  However our girl breezed right through the process.  God is so awesome!  The little ones are very excited to have her live with us too.                                                                                            

Carson's little sister

Thanks Best for watching me the other night.  We had so much fun together.  Now I know why Carson loves you so much.


 

more pictures of our trip

This is where I am in life right now......

God never promised that the Christian life would be easy. In fact, He said it would be a challenge. The world is full of challenges. Bad things happen to good people. But, "Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this you'll experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can (ever) understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Jesus Christ," Philippians 4:6-7

I am walking in a fog.

I can not get my mind around the pain I saw this trip.

I am struggling to focus.

I am pleading with God for a few miracles.

I can not talk about the trip without tears flowing like a river.

 

 

 

I am home from Guatemala

My heart has been changed by the things I've seen and the stories that I've heard. Amazing.

Battle against Evil.

Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.
...
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.

Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,

and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Constant Prayer.

With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones

and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel

for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

A Final Message.

So that you also may have news of me and of what I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and trustworthy minister in the Lord, will tell you everything.

I am sending him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us and that he may encourage your hearts.

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I learned today my dog Kyndel is deaf in both ears.  

In 10 short days

we will be in Guatemala for our summer mission trip. 

And the losing of baby teeth continues for Carson...

wordless wednesday

7:15pm both kids are in bed sleeping for the night.
Time to read my bible as it was a really rough afternoon at work.

bed time prayer

Carson's prayer tonight:

Dear God, thank you for loving us.  Thank you for the sun and warm pool.
Lord thank you for America.  Thank you for my mom in Guatemala who gave me up because she could not feed me.  Thank you for my mommy who adopted me and gives me a lot of love.  I love you and oh thank you my soft bed.  Good night Jesus.

 

1 Peter 3:13-15

Usually no one will hurt you for wanting to do good. But even if they should, you're to be envied, for God will reward you for it. Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way."

 

kissing privately

Me: Carson- I spoke with Sophia's mom today and she said Sophia said she did not kiss you.
Carson: We did kiss.
Me: Why would Sophia tell her mom she did not kiss you?
Carson: because we kissed privately.


 

Relaxing with my little girl.

First day of summer.

Last day of school. YEA!

Did I really have to read the below today?

1 Thessalonians 5:15

June 13, 2013

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Do I really do this?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6

Can I get an Amen?

I wanted to be a perfect mom but....

Motherhood has shaped me, broken me, changed me, humbled me, and caused me to rely upon God more than ever before. And one of the most important lessons I’ve learned so far is to give up on perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

quote from MSM, C.P.

 

6 Years

Today is our sixth forever family day.  I can not believe its been six years since God placed Carson in my arms at eight months old.  As I have written numerous times this little fellow saved my life.  We have a bond which is indescribable.  Carson is filled with spunk and will challenge me to the hilt and back.  However his heart is so tender for the sick and needy.  His smile and laughter are contagious.  He is my super star.

 

 

Happy 2nd Birthday Greta Rebecca

Wordless Wednesday

As I sit here typing this letter my heart is filled with mixed emotions. I have questioned the Lord over the past years as to why he brings certain people in and out of our lives. Some of the people have caused heartache while others have brought joy. With that being said, rewind the clock eight years. I made a decision then, being single, to adopt a son from Guatemala. This decision was based on the desire to have a child and the need to fill one of the biggest voids in my life at the time, being alone. So the Lord showed me through time that I have what it takes to be loved and to love again no matter what. Carson has changed my life in ways I cannot describe. He has taught me so much about myself. Carson has taught me to forgive even when it hurts. Needless to say, there has been some healing that has taken place in my heart. God has always been faithful and has given more than I could every ask for in so many ways. One of those ways is to allow us to be part of an ongoing mission to serve the people of Guatemala. What began as a curious and anxious team of 4, God has blossomed into a group of over 20 willing and able volunteers.

As our mission team prepares our hearts to embark on this next journey to Guatemala in July, we have no idea what the Lord has in store for us. However, from past experiences he has revealed to us that money does not buy happiness, sadness can be turned into joy, prayers can be answered, that giving to others with a cheerful heart is more of a blessing than receiving, and so much more. Over the past few years, I have been asked why we don’t just send the people in Guatemala money and they can build their own homes, get their own food, and take care of their own needs. Well, my response is usually something like this “It’s easy to write a check and place it in the mail, however when your hands and feet are doing the work for the Lord your heart is changed forever.” Some people understand my response while others just shake their heads.

While money doesn’t buy happiness, the reality is we need funds to be able to provide such things as homes, beds, food, water filters, wheelchairs, and other needs of families (many of whom are widows with children) as the Lord shows us.

In order to help raise those funds, on June 8, 2013 we will be hosting our third annual Walk/Run/Ride4Relief and Yard/Bake sale event. Please come out that day and show your support. One hundred percent of the funds raised are used to purchase home construction materials, monthly food supplies for families, water filters, beds, wheelchairs, and other needs that we see while we’re there. If you can’t attend this event and would like to make a donation please send it to Calvary Baptist Church, 2373 US Route 9 Oceanview, NJ 08230. In the memo line please indicate “Guatemala missions”. Would you be so kind to keep us in your prayers as we continue to fundraise and prepare our hearts and minds for what is to come in the next few weeks. Also, please keep our families in your prayers as they care for our little ones while we are in Guatemala serving others.

Memorial Day 2013

He still can not

reach the sink to wash his hands. 

This is how we rolled at the Inner Harbor.