Christmas to be remembered!

This week was busy with going to the hospital, adoption meeting, getting groceries the day before Christmas and the town being fuller than I’ve ever seen, so it took twice as long to do everything! We came home, unloaded the van and put those things away, changed our clothes and left to go to Enrique Becerra’s house for the evening. The home was invited for supper and caroling. They are a Mexican family that comes to church once in a while. They had made a delicious meal of tamales for us. Then Greivin shared the Christmas story with everyone. The children really enjoyed going away and we had a very nice evening there.

This forenoon then we fixed food and got our Christmas meal ready. Ham, mashed potatoes, rice & beans, salad, homemade bread, tea, and 3 different kinds of cream pie. Regina and Bethany did a great job of decorating the tables and making it special for everyone.

   Decorating gingerbread cookies      

After lunch was cleaned up I sat down to relax a bit and listen to Greivin’s mother tell stories to the children. After just a little bit I saw Nevin come rushing up to the front door clutching his arm and there was blood! I opened the door and he said, “I need stitches.” I told him we want to look at it so we went to the kitchen and I took one look and said, “You’re right!” There was a cut 3” long across his arm and if he let go of his arm it stood open at least 1 1/2”. So I told him to go to our house but we only made it to the couch til he had to sit down. The boys got Lorne and I helped Nevin to the van. Lorne got in to go and the van was dead! So he got the truck and off we went! I held his arm together while he hung his head between his knees to keep from fainting. On the way he told us what had happened. Some of the home boys got knives for Christmas and the one was out there by Nevin playing with his knife. Nevin was watching Greivin do something with the tractor and then turned to the boy and the knife caught his arm. We went to the Red Cross and the man there took a look and said to come on in. Well, he searched for the Dr. but couldn’t find him so he said we need to go over to the hospital. I was still putting pressure on the arm and carrying it as back outside we went. There was an ambulance driver and he wanted to see too! When he saw it he said to come over to the ambulance to dress it. Then he said that they can get us over to the hospital faster and get faster service, so into the ambulance we went. They told Lorne where we were going and off we went again! Only this time with lights and sirens! I tried not to laugh and just buckled up for the ride! The one man was cleaning and bandaging the arm on the way and the other racing across town. When we got to the hospital we got immediate service so that was a plus. We weren’t there long until two policemen came in and wanted to know what happened. We had told them he was cut with a knife and they were there to be sure that he hadn’t been in a fight! After looking and asking a few questions they were on their way again. The Dr. did a good job of sewing it up and when we were ready to leave I asked about paying. He said, “Oh, nothing for this day!” Well, thank God! An ambulance ride, an emergency room visit with lots of stitches and no charge. What a blessing! We came back and counted our blessings and so ends this eventful Christmas.

The ‘after’ picture. So wish I had a ‘before’ but somehow didn’t think of a camera until later!

We went to Tijuana today to visit Virgil & Liz again. We all walked several blocks to the ocean then back to the hospital and ate supper there on the patio. Yesterday she had a bigger day of treatments so seemed more tired today but was still up and going. It's so special to be able to share a few hours together!

Blessings & Trials…

The greatest blessing first… We received our answer from DIF today that we have been approved to adopt Tania!! How can I describe the feelings that go with this answer? I can’t. We praise, thank and glorify God for arranging this in His time! We are to receive our appointment next week to process the documents needed to take it into the legal phase of the adoption here in MX. We also know that until it is completely finalized God can allow it to be disrupted but we continue to place it into His hands and trust Him with the details.

It’s been a very full 2 weeks emotionally & physically. Susie, Amy & Tony Burkholder came on Dec. 9th and were here for a week. We really enjoyed connecting with them and having their fellowship here! The ladies helped a lot in the kitchen and Tony accompanied Nevin in whatever his projects were on the given days.

Last Sunday Virgil & Liz came to Tijuana for cancer treatment for her and plan to be here until Dec. 26th. We planned our Tijuana trip with the Burkholders for Tuesday so that we could also visit Virgil’s. Liz was feeling well enough that they went with us downtown to do some shopping too. They have a wonderful place at the hospital and seemed very positive about the treatments and care that they are receiving there. It was very special to be able to be together even if only for a little while. We continue to pray for her healing.

Then, on Wednesday Lorne’s Dad & Mom arrived with their pickup load of things that they brought down for here. They plan to leave the truck here for our use and fly home next week. It’s so special to have them here with us again!

One big trial this week was that we had 2 children diagnosed with hepatitis A. They had arrived around 2 weeks ago and we were unaware that they had been exposed to the illness. I never before needed to deal with this illness so was fairly ignorant on what is involved but have done a lot of studying and we go forward. We needed to put the children in a room by themselves with only their caregiver allowed to enter the room and are taking precautions to prevent spreading the virus any farther.  Please pray with us for healing for them and for protection for the rest of us that no one else will get sick. 

Every day God has appointments for you… be there.

Back Again…

We are back to Mexico and back in the routine here. We came back at 9 pm Dec. 1st. We had a wonderfully sweet reunion with our little girl! She first just looked at us smiling, then just laughed as if not believing her eyes. She readily came to us and just looked into our faces and couldn’t get finished going back and forth from one to the other of us. She didn’t want to sleep for a while then was awake several times during the night. The next few days she wanted to be held all the time, laying on our shoulders, cuddling and snuggling, but she seems to be settling in better the last couple of days. What a joy to be together again!

We’ve been busy catching up on schedules and working on upcoming plans. On Friday we went to Tijuana to take some more adoption related papers to the office there and to bring Enrique back again.   He had left on Mon. to go to his adoptive family but that didn’t work out for them so he was returned to us. He was so terribly sad when we first saw him, but when he realized he was coming with us he became very lively and happy! This afternoon Lorne went to Tijuana  for Nevin’s ortho appointment and to bring 2 more children. This brings our number of children to 40 again.

Friday the men and boys helped Delores move all of their things up into the school apartment, as they’d decided to move up there for the winter. Greivin continues to improve but still is not able to be out and going or doing any work. The house where they were living was total cement with no insulation and was very cold. With little children and a sick man they knew they couldn’t live there while it’s cold.

Today it has rained all day! And for us that’s very different. But it also means water under the doors, water in some windows and down the walls, sweaty windows all day long. Muddy, slippery road. It continues to get more windy the later it gets. Just a bit ago Mikaela came and told me to come look while she excitedly showed me that the chimney had blown off the roof and into the courtyard! Well, so she blows! We’re in Mexico… Come visit us!!