Muchos Eventos...

... means that this post involves lots of pictures and not so much of the writing. However, when so much time passes and so many events occur... writing about all of them would give me a headache and the rest of you strained eyes. So let's not... ;)

Part 1: LAS SISTAS and friends...

... who visited this past week with the Purdue team. As always, it's amazing having family here (and amazingly draining since bedtime was - always - midnight or later... usually later). I never fully realize how incredible the interaction is between my sisters and I until after their gone and how I can take that for granted... nevertheless, I am so thankful for our time together, and for the amazing women that they are.

In the plaza.

(l-r) Poncho, Brady Strahm, Chel, Tif, Diego, Aaron, Jason Kaeb, Dan Leman, and Candi. We headed downtown for churros one night and to see the Christmas decorations.


Dan and Candi...

Vandalism at its finest: Tifani lifted Diego up so that he could reach one of the pinecones around the base of the Christmas tree in town. He proceeded to haul it around, and definitely would have taken it home if his mean caretaker hadn't intervened... :)

Candi likes to plop down wherever she is. I decided that this should be my philosophy as well, but then rejected the idea since I could never look as adorable... ;)

In this photo, she plopped down and then stuck her feet up on Tif's lap... ready for her massage or something... lol.

(l-r) Nick (a friend of Braden's from school), Braden Mogler, Tif, Brady, and Chel on the edge of the fountain in the plaza.

Part 2: THE RANCH

Friday morning after saying goodbye to the Purdue team, the CVE kids, some of the mentors, and a few friends headed out to the ranch to enjoy a day of fun and games. We started off with a mad game of Capture the Flag, ate a sandwich lunch, and then headed to the river bed to play in the sand and roast marshmallows. It was a beautiful day, and many thanks to the workers who made it happen...

Walking down the river bed...

Tifani leaping over the pole... we had some amazing high-jumpers, and then "benders" as Limbo was also played.

Julissa and I guarded the flag for our team... bien intimidating... ;)

At left, Diego and Chelsie. At right, Magda poses after shoving the rest of her orange in her mouth...

Jason and Poncho pose for the camera...

All the "battle wounds" after Capture the Flag... I'm pretty sure David wins the prize for wicked cool cuts...

Uriel decided the roasting stick needed to be used for a different purpose...

David and Eli "enjoy" their lunch...

At left, Jose shows how Limbo really should be played. At right, Katie demonstrates her "hippie" style...

Top: Michelle, Lupita, and Armando give back massages while waiting in line for lunch...

Bottom: A field view of Capture the Flag...

Top: (l-r) Bill, Ryan Schick, Carlos Soto, Tyler Schick, and Jesse Rufener joined us at the ranch for some of the games and food...

Bottom: The food line with Jose, Dan, and Jason manning the table...

Part 3: Thanks...

... to all of you who have prayed for Pollito and our CVE family. I know I haven't posted for a while, and that the last post was about him leaving. Amazingly enough, God has provided a relationship between his mother and this place... she text messages once or twice a week with greetings for everyone here, and a week or so ago I got to talk to Pollito for a little bit on the phone. God is good, and even where there's pain... He can make beauty.