Someone (Who Shall Not Be Named)...

... told me that I could just title my next post, "Back to School and More." Ha-ha. A bit of truth to it, though, I must admit. BUT -- since this post is NOT about back-to-school... I'll just have to save that incredible title for the next post... ;)

And hopefully it won't be Back-to-School 2010. :)

So... hi.

I've had a really difficult time dredging up ganas to blog for a while... why? I haven't the foggiest notion. However, that's how it's been. But then I had a revelation the other day -- standing in the kitchen of our house, nose-dripping, eyes-watering, and hands-burning from the chiles I was cutting up for supper...

The revelation came in the form of two little munchkins sitting (castigados, I'm afraid -- "disciplined" in translation) on our front porch. Candi and Jose had both disobeyed multiple times and so were sitting in time out. I had told them they could talk, though, so they were making the most of their conversation time... of course. I hadn't been listening very closely until I heard Candi say, "Ready? We're going to pray?" And Jose said, "Si." Candi asked, "Which country?" Jose said, "[Insert unintelligible sound which is mostly what comes out when they try to repeat the countries we pray for... ;)]." Candi asked again, "Which?" And Jose (obviously rethinking) said, "Mexico."

And so they prayed.

And I just thought... wow. Thank You, Father, that these kids are learning from such a young age. I don't know why You have chosen them, or what Your plans are, but I pray that above all they will know what is the one thing they should desire above all others for the rest of their lives -- You.

And then... conviction hit.

I have this blog as a means of communicating with my friends and family... people who are praying for me and these kids on a monthly, weekly, daily basis -- and I'm the loser who can't "find time" to update so that those prayers can be even more specific. These kids are learning the importance of prayer for men, women, and children all over the world who need our prayer support... and here I am ignoring an incredible opportunity for prayer in this house and for these children.

And so -- an apology. And a renewed commitment to post (if not photos) at least updates on prayer requests and happenings here at CVE.

Forgive me... please? :)

And so... a brief recap of Summer 2009 at CVE and in the Sibling House...

The usual afternoon FLOODS came with kids pressed up against the bricks of the porch and wrapped in blankets to avoid the stinging drops of rain...

... decoration of children smaller than you (who consequently can't beat you up) continued to happen...

... entire roads, cities, rivers, and countries were constructed on the living room floor...

... we've caught five too many mice -- and decided never to use sticky traps again. Can anyone say CRUELTY to animals? Seriously. At least with the other ones they get one taste of peanut butter heaven before they die...

... HOURS spent playing on (and rolling in) abandoned tires all over the CVE campus...

... praising God with voice, harp, and song happened...

... sweet moments of sharing were learned...

... new (and inevitable) hiding places were discovered...

... outdoor swimming in the rain (of course) happened [and you might notice that HAIRCUTS, on the other hand, didn't happen all that often... lol]...

... along with outdoor fighting-in-the-rain-live-action-shots...

... and pretty little girls growing (Lord-willing) into precious young ladies...

... and multiple shots of the same super-cute sister-brother-duo that make me put TWO pics of this afternoon instead of one... :)

... a trash can band ensemble for summer school's Music class (which was super-fun and enjoyed by all... and has now become a standard - at least for the little kids - any time they get their hands on pots, buckets, sticks, or bottles... lol). Gloria even got into it, and banged away on the pots and pans! Videos to come...

... the inevitable pain barriers were raised and more Bandaids purchased...

... LOTS and LOTS of pintar-ing in the afternoons...

... sleepovers in the living room on mattresses...

... dress-up parties and lots of face-painting...

... birthdays and face-smashing! Poncho turned 9 years old, which is just incredible to believe...

... Rancho Betania happened. And I got super-sick again, Jenean! The second sickest instant I've had (that I recall) in my entire life... and it's a close second to the peanut butter salmonella. Yuck. I'm taking my own food next year...

... and we had a dog. Her name was Luci (the kids so named her for the youngest girl from The Chronicles of Narnia who has the most faith) and she was super-cute. And then she got really sick and died. Kind of anticlimactic, but we're hoping to get another puppy soon...

So -- that was summer '09 in a brief overview that is a bit of everything and not enough of anything to give the full picture. Lo siento mucho... But hopefully it'll get better after this!

Prayer request-wise: Please pray for the kids in public school here, and also those attending the new school on campus. Patience, wisdom, and compassion are needed across the board (for teachers and caretakers).

Please pray specifically for the DIF (social service organization here in Magdalena) and decisions they make that affect CVE and the children here...

And please pray for the upcoming baptisms and visitors that will be coming next weekend... that Satan's attacks would be denied, rejected, overcome...