An Aside: Museum of the Kid in Hermosillo

In April, we had the opportunity to go to Hermosillo and visit the children's science museum there, which has a very hands-on display of many, many scientific principles. It was really an awesome field trip for the kids! (And the adults... :)

We got to the museum/park a little early, so we all played on the playground equipment... and I do mean ALL! Check out Jenna on the slide (pictured above)...

It takes skill to do this. Aun more skill when you're wearing a skirt... ;)

Kids playing with bubbles... does this ever get old???

I remember my Grandpa Rudy teaching us how to blow huge soap bubbles in the dishwashing water... this would have been bubble paradise! :)

And other than occasionally splashing one another, all the kids did pretty well at getting their bubbles to come forth!

Diego and Marcos complete the large foam puzzle with a map of Mexico and all her states.

There was a telephone-operation station through which the kids could experiment with different calls to different countries, in-country, etc. Candi, Jose, and Aaron hung out here a lot...

... as well as in Wal-Mart! The museum had a miniature Wal-Mart (no adults allowed, funny enough) with shopping carts, products, and a cashier where you could "check out" with the money they gave you when you entered. This was definitely a favorite with the kids!

And I hope you'll notice what Marcos is buying (above) -- coffee for Steph!!!

What a nice, obedient, loving child... he knows what side his bread is buttered on! ;)

Other than Wal-Mart, this was Candi's second favorite... and I don't even know what to call it!

The needle-push-thingy-majig-game... but HUGE. :)

This is her modeling her face that she pressed into it on the other side a minute before. It did make me wonder how often it gets cleaned... ;)

I love this picture of Jenna and Gloria! Tights, sitting position, and water... gemelas, indeed.

Monkey-see, monkey-do? :)

With our tickets, we got a "free" train ride around the park, which the kids seemed to enjoy. Above, the back of the train (Alexia, Jazany, Julissa, and Nere). I think Jose and Ramses were back there somewhere, too, but you can't see them in this photo...

Train Ride photo #2 -- Jodi, Jenna, and Gloria

And... the middle section of the train!

Me, Candi, Marcos, Aaron, and Diego

After we finished at the museum we headed to Peter Piper's Pizza for some lunch (Candi and Gloria pictured above), and then on to the necessary stops... like... Costco! :)

The kids (of course) crashed on the way back home. It was really a blessed time, and I'm so thankful we are able to do trips like this once-in-a-while!

We are officially in our sixth week of school... please keep praying for the kids' work ethic in their classes, and for patience and fortitude for the teachers! There seem to be some changes on the way as well, so please keep all staff in your prayers as we wait on God's leading and His timing... thanks!

Recap #5 -- April 2010 (Half-way through these recaps!)

Seriously... aren't they precious?!?

One Sunday morning these three boys saw that Candi had a yellow shirt on and so they decided that they had to wear the same color! Hence... matching outfits. Seth asked me on the way out to church where my yellow shirt was... and if you know me at all, you know that "matching" outfits were never something I was super-fond of... to say the least. :)

However, if they choose to match... I'll let them!

We had the blessed opportunity for Diego and Jose's entire Kindergarten to come out for their "field day" during the Week of the Child. It was actually really fun!

A hundred kindergartners, four teachers, one principal, one bus driver, and all the CVE staff that could help out... we were quite the group!!! And Limon was amazing enough to arrange a hay ride for the kidlets, which was something most of them had never, ever experienced... I appreciated all the help and everyone's willingness to keep an eye out... ;)

And for Week of the Child, you also get... Dress-up Days! All through the week the kids had to dress up for something different... [above] Candi, Diego, Jose, and Marcos pose before heading to school on Crazy Day!

Aaron and Nereida look pseudo-happy here, but actually this was a tough one... they both chose their outfits (including the face-painting), but after they had them on and were ready to go... embarassment struck. It was hard to get them out the door... but they made it!

After Tami had her baby, Kaeb, and started carrying him in a sling... oh boy. We have never had a fad catch on so quickly... ;)

This was seriously the only way the girls would carry around their teddy bears for awhile...!

And... Diego turned 6! It's incredible to me that he was only 2 years old when he got here (he turned 3 shortly thereafter)... he still has the same face and smiley eyes, but he's quite a bit taller! [About ready to pass up Aaron, if truth be told!] Please pray that Diego's heart is soft toward the things of God, and that his pride in well-doing and being "a good boy" would be taken away.

Thanks for your continued prayers, everyone!!!

Recap #4 -- March 2010 (it's a long one!)

March started with a honky-tonk twist as the grade-schoolers gave their Spring Program at San Ignacio. Nereida and Aaron's class had to dress up as cowboys and cowgirls to dance a jig. They were cute... but it was even cuter watching Aaron be seriously uncomfortable dancing in front of the crowd. Apparently, dancing in our living room is fine, but not for live audiences... ;)

I walked into the kitchen one morning to hear giggles (Candi) and excited whispers (Diego) from behind the curtain rod. I looked over and there was the perfect "stage" for the kids' puppet show... which amazingly enough consisted of...

"Hi."

"Hi."

"How are you?"

"I am well. And you?"

"I'm well."

"Candi... it's your turn!"
"Oh... [lots of giggles and snorts] Hola!"

"Hola."

And the whole thing repeats itself... the best play dialogue I've heard yet! :)

We were so fortunate to have Jon and Amy Gerst come down in March, too. The kids love them -- let me reemphasize that... the kids LOVE them! They especially love being thrown up in the air by Jon -- I can't imagine that his back does so great after the fiftieth (I'm not exaggerating) toss into the air!

And it was great timing for their being here because...

... this little guy came! [I can't get the pic to turn, so... sorry!]

I woke up one Friday morning with this incredible feeling of peace, and I thought... "Wow. Thank You, Lord. I have no idea what you have in store for today, but I praise You for Your presence that is so, so evident around me." The morning continued, and that peaceful feeling continued... right up to and through the point when Bill came over and asked me how I felt about taking a newborn.

What else could I say? God's been preparing my heart all morning for this? :)

So I said yes, and six hours later this little guy showed up.

Little is an inadequate descriptor. Bill had told me it was a newborn, five days old, but we had no idea that he was a preemie -- and a preemie that weighed less than two pounds. I came out of the house when they arrived, and saw this look on Bill's face that I couldn't understand... until they handled me that weightless bundle of blankets and I realized...

Realized that my teddy bear was bigger and weighed about the same as this precious soul.

When we finally got him in the house, unwrapped the bundle and looked at him, I have never felt more inadequate and unworthy in my life. He looked like an 80-year-old man in the tinest, most shriveled human body I have ever seen. In pictures, magazines, you-name-it.

Jodi Beer (who arrived in March and became the newest member of our Casa Rota household -- caretaking with Jenna), Amy, Kristy Leman and I huddled around this child and lifted him up to the Father -- knowing totally and completely that any healing would have to come from Him, and just praising God that He had a purpose in all of it.

The days continued -- with a feeding schedule that tried to get an ounce (if he was drinking) of milk down him every [I don't remember for sure] three hours or so. Some days were better, most were worst.

Amazingly enough (or not really amazing at all when you think about how God sustains each and every one of us, and how He provides when we realize we have nothing left to offer), I wasn't tired. I felt... spent. But in a way that wasn't draining at all. And the other kids... they were absolutely delighted to have this tiny little boy in our family. They loved him totally... and were super-protective and prayerful for his healing...


He didn't have a name. And it seemed like... we were going to be the one's to give him one. My mind immediately jumped to a story I love; the story of Josiah (Josias in Spanish), the King who hears the Word of God read for the first time, and begins immediately to remove the idols and blasphemous practices (and people) that have infiltrated the country. The Word records in 2 Kings 23:25, "And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him."

So his name became Josias.

There were so many moments when God pulled this child from near-death; so many times when he wasn't eating, he was dropping even more weight, he wasn't responsive, etc. But God had His hand upon this child from the beginning... He was supposed to live.



Two stories: One night, Josias had been eating well, but he was so cold. We had heard from someone (maybe one of the doctors who helped counsel us...) that keeping him tucked in close to our bodies would be the best heat source he could have. So, I went into the living room and laid that cold, shriveled skin next to mine, and wrapped us both tightly in a blanket. He was slightly restless at first, and then suddenly calmed and I could feel the faint, tiny thump, thump, thump of his heart... beating the same as mine. I wondered... is this what it feels like to have a child inside of you? Flesh of your flesh, and bone of your bone?

God, You created this child, his innermost parts... You formed Him in his mother's womb. And here I was... a recipient, a vessel, an instrument... sharing and rejoicing in every breath and beat of life within this little ravaged body. God, You "... maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalm 113:9)

The second story: We had gone for a week or so with Josias' new feeding schedule, vitamins, etc. and he had been gaining a little weight -- praise God! But then, after a doctor visit on Wednesday, he started vomiting up after every feeding. And with a tiny body like that, any amount that you're losing is bad news. Wednesday was okay, Thursday bad, and Friday really bad. Friday night/Saturday morning I couldn't get anything down him, and I told Jodi I felt like we needed to get him in to see a specialist/pediatrician pronto. Thankfully, Dan & Tami Coughlin (who arrived in January and had had their baby boy Kaeb a few weeks earlier) had given me the name and number of their pediatrician whom they really liked. I called him early, early Saturday morning, and he (rather than just giving us directions over the phone) wanted to see him -- Praise God!

So, we wrapped Josias up, took him in to town, and found out that he was doing worse than we had imagined. Second-degree starvation, dropping body weight, etc. He was so weak that he couldn't suck any more from the bottle, and we were going to have to try with an eye-dropper/medicine-dropper. Jodi and I left (so thankful for the doctor's expertise although more concerned), went to pick up medicine, and headed back to CVE where we were supposed to have a picnic and supposedly have Josias' first day outside with other people -- it was not to be.

I tried to get him to drink something, anything... and he wouldn't. He was completely and totally lethargic, and as I sat in my room, holding this small life, I could feel it dwindling... literally waning in my hands. Jodi was there and Kristy, and I told them I felt like we needed to get the elders and pray (as in James 5:14-15: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."). Seth came in, and he and Jodi knelt beside me while we all three placed our hands upon this child knowing that it was only through God's power that he could be healed. And while we prayed, I felt strength returning to that little boy... and he began to nurse! He not only drank a few sips, he drank the entire 2 oz. bottle!!! And didn't vomit afterward...

It was a miracle. Right in front of us. I have never seen anything like it.

After awhile I went outside for a break while Jodi took over, and Seth asked me if he had vomited. When I told him no, he just shook his head, and said, "Of course not. Should we expect anything less?"

Our God is good. Our God is powerful.

And He would have been just as good, and just as powerful even if Josias hadn't lived.

Our God is sovereign.

The following Sunday Josias started going downhill again, and we made the decision to take him to Hermosillo (the capital of the state of Sonora) to the children's hospital there, where he could be monitored more securely. Nicole Knobloch, Josias, and I headed down (did I mention that my wonderful sister Chelsie came down to help for a week and that she was amazing -- along with Jodi -- in caring for my other kids while I was gone...!) Sunday night, and got there about 1:30 a.m. We waited, got through check-in and after another long while, Josias finally had a place in one of the incubators where they let me come into the room to stay for a short while. Parents in the intensive care ward for infants are only allowed two hours per day to visit: 10-11 in the morning, and 5-6 at night. Nicole and I slept in the car, then I was able to go up and stay with Josias for that hour visiting period the next day. We knew that his case would most likely be taken over by the DIF in Hermosillo, and that it was probably the last time I was going to get to see him.

I reached in through those two holes to touch a baby encased in plastic, breathing through tubes, that tiny diaper his only covering... and I cried as he turned -- lifted his shoulders and shifted his head -- toward the sound of my voice. It didn't matter that it was my voice, or if it had been the voice of any other person... he was responding! Praise God!

We left Hermosillo, and part of my heart stayed there. And my heart rejoiced as we heard that he had finally gained enough weight (a week later) to go through surgery -- and that he came out of it perfectly fine! A check-up when he turns six to change the shunt (I think that's what it's called?) in his head, and otherwise he was doing just fine! Prayer is a powerful, powerful tool.

And now part of my heart lives in Chiapas, Mexico, where this little child, this preemie, this "most-certainly-brain-damaged" but "he's totally fine" wonder boy -- has been reunited with family who never knew he existed and who had lost all touch with the mother for the last ten years! I pray that God uses him in a powerful way one day...

So that was a really long update, but it was one of the hardest to write. I've never had a life so dependent upon me ("me" meaning Jodi and I and all the others who helped us out), that you are watching and counting every breath. Difficult as it seems, and selfish as it sounds (and is) I felt so... lifeless after he had gone. As though living every moment with him as his last had suddenly made everyday life so mundane when I wasn't able to provide for him -- and I lost sight of the fact that I wasn't the one providing for him in the first place. Or healing him. Or watching over him. Or guiding every step of the way.

This vessel may at times be a selfish, stubborn, possessive one -- but I thank and praise God that He even let me be a vessel He could use to accomplish HIS purpose in the life of this child. And I pray that He will use me again... it is worth the heartache of separation to rejoice in knowing that you are able to be His hands, feet, and aching heart on this earth... if only for a short while.

Recap #3 - February 2010

So... February. The month of Valentine's Day (which has almost totally lost it's non-commercial meaning). I enjoyed reading the kids the true story of St. Valentinus from a Voice of the Martyrs kid book... ;)

However, two things redeemed Valentine's Day this year: the best-looking male servers I've had in a long time (pictured above: Aaron, Jose, Marcos, then Diego) for a February 14 dinner fixed by the CVE gentlemen, and... what else?... DECORATING SUGAR COOKIES!

The plates of finished product! Post-cleanup...

Decorating the sugary goodness. Pre-cleanup... :)

Candi also turned 4 years old... unbelievable! She got here when she was just 13 months -- poorly nutritioned, couldn't walk, and her hair didn't grow for six months. We took her to the doctor when she'd been here for a couple months and he said one of her legs was longer than the other and she'd have to wear corrective footwear -- the next visit, they were equal! The power of prayer... praise God!


Candi and Juan-tan share a birthday, and so this year he got a camo-colored Dora the Explorer... :)

Also -- I lost a roommate! But for a good reason... ;)

Bere and Juan-tan got married this past May, and this was after they were "officially" engaged... she got to shove his face in the birthday cake... :)

I also went home end-of-January/beginning-of-February... and it snowed! I hadn't seen snow for... well, a really long time. :)

My kids really like this photo... they were fascinated that you would actually eat snow! I told them we used to pour soda over the snow and eat it... so they wondered if I could just bring some for them to try!

And... Candi got her first haircut... ever.

My plan was for Tif to do this while she was down in January, but time got away from me... oops. Anyway, it wasn't too bad. Not too great, either, but... she's four, right? ;)

Please pray for continued patience and perseverance for kids, caretakers, and teachers as we continue in the third week of the school year. Also, please pray for traveling safeties and health of our workers since many are gone, and several have been "hit" with various ailments. Thanks!

Recap #2 -- January 2010!

So... January brought with it lots of wind (surprisingly), a fun visit from Dad, AP, and Tif, and... inevitably... dirty children who decided to play in the remaining ashes of the campfires! :)

Since my policy has pretty much always been... "eat dirt, it makes you healthy," I didn't really care that much; until they tried to get too close... ;)

Dad showed the kids how to make "real" rolly-pollies, and I got an update in what my recipe should really say... :)

The kids were specifically impressed that Dad could flip the rolly-pollies and catch them in the pan; I, too, have been practicing, but it's just not the same as having a "man" do it! It might be right up there with other manly jobs like carrying a drill.

Actually, the "pancake flip" is truly essential to manhood.

Didn't ya know? :)

Jose turned 6 in January, and since he was so totally impressed with the Wulf boys' play swords, we got him one. This was used by everyone! (Including me... quite handy for picking things up off the ground, prodding recalcitrant children into action, and practicing [of course] the delicate art of sword thrusting, slicing, and general body dismemberment. Why not?!?)

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon your point of view) the sword also became a favorite of... Rito!!! And there it met a swift demise... although it managed to hang around for awhile in all its chewed-up glory.

Nereida (Jose's older sister) also had a birthday -- she turned 8. I don't have a picture of it on my computer, but she asked for Snow White and her Prince on her birthday cake. I said, "Sure, why not?" And then she made her specifications known: "The part where they kiss, Steph!"

"Ummm... okay."

And so I drew it. She loved it. Everyone saw it. And a couple of our "older gents" [namely Bill and Seth] were shocked that the little girl wanted a birthday cake with such a romantic theme! ;)

The Schicks gifted Candi and Gloria matching pajamas -- and they were pretty cute and cuddly! For awhile, this space between the chair and the bookshelf was the favorite "hideout" of these two little munchkins. :)

Usually when they were getting into something they shouldn't...

Chelsie gave the boys a "shaving kit" for Christmas -- and they loved it! Yet another thing that they should probably watch their dad doing, but... having watched my father for years, I think we got the general idea... ;)

Please keep praying for the kids' attitudes as we adjust to a school and a schedule that is much more intense than these kids have experienced before... it's a good thing, but it's very different from their public school experience.

All the kids are on campus this year (I just realized I haven't explained this), being taught under a CONAFE-approved curriculum by (praise the Lord!) several new teachers. I am so grateful they are here, and just ask that you all would continue to pray for their adjustment!

Obsolete...

... is what this blog has almost become. :)

I do realize that in a month and a half (or so) it will have been a year since last posting. However, certain recent remonstrations have reminded me of the error of my ways, and I have a plan!

The plan: A recap of the end of 2009/beginning of 2010. I'm going to go month-by-month, and give a brief recap of some of the events. Obviously, this won't be the complete picture, but will hopefully make up for my silence in the blogging world.

And Jenna and Jodi promised to keep me on task... ;)

And before I begin, let me just say thanks for the prayers that happened anyway. It's been... an interesting year to say the least. Sometimes joyful. Many times joyful after and through intense sorrow. But -- I know it's written, "... count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." (James 1:2-3) I pray that I never stop seeing patience and righteousness worked in me...

DECEMBER RECAP!

The kids always look super-cute for their Christmas programs. Above we have Mr. and Mrs. Claus (Aaron and Julissa) in all their red-and-white finery. I was especially proud of Aaron's "pansa" (or "sampa" as Candi says) -- we had the perfect pillow to give him a little stomach bulge!

We had a nice surprise for Christmas with Chel coming! She was with the kids and I for a week or so, and it was wonderful having her around during such a fun time of year... above you see the kids with their "rehab" shirts on from "Aunt Chel"! :)

Aaron turned 8 on December 10th... wow. EIGHT! He was only five years old when he came to CVE. Admittedly, he's not a lot bigger physically, but in three years we've seen a lot of growth. Please pray that that growth will lead to a heart ready to live for Christ -- ready to give his life into the Father's hands... where it's been all along.

Also, please pray for a breaking of his stubborn pride -- this entire family (Marcos, Aaron, Diego, and Candi) has a stubborn streak that is very, very visible and manifests itself often in anger. Pray for patience and wisdom that I (who also deal with anger) may be a godly example and help them look to Christ as the only one who can truly change them... from the inside-out.

And -- I turned 26. On the 26th. My golden birthday, I think they call it.

Twenty-six always seemed so old and far away, and now that I'm here, I find that I am not even a quarter of the way to where I thought I would be as a person, as an individual. I don't write that despairingly, but realizing that He who has begun a work in me will finish it -- in His time, not mine.

Happy Wednesday to you all... nos vemos pronto. :)