What do you want for Christmas???

The girls always REALLY look forward to the week of Christmas... What kid doesn't? Their Christmas lists were really funny. Lili asked for some "K-wiss" shoes. (K-swiss...) Karla asked for some "woopers." (whoppers)

Lupita, Yaneli, Tania, and Jaqui making ornaments.

Magda wrapping a gift.

If any of you have been here, you know José...

We had a talent show on Christmas Eve... Aaron, Poncho, and Ezekiel made us all laugh.

Some very excited kids with their new toys!!!

Watch out!

It was a fun Christmas Eve. More pictures of Christmas to come.

The song below talks about a little kid and his greatest Christmas wish. As we try to give these kids a taste of what a family is, pray that more than anything, they will see God's love in all of us here at CVE.

"All I Really Want for Christmas"

Well, I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone

I didn't come and talk to you 'cause that's never worked before
And you'll probably never see this letter, anyway
But just in case there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time

All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for, but there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad

But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I've heard, it sounds like the greatest gift on earth
Would be a mom

All I want for Christmas is someone who'll be here
To sing me happy birthday for the next 100 years
And It's okay if they're not perfect or even if they're a little broken
That's alright, 'Cause so am I

Well, I guess I should go, it's almost time for bed
Maybe next time I write you I'll be at home

'Cause all I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I'll never be alone, someone whose love will never end
Of all that I could ask for, well, there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Life and Hope

Casa Vida Y Esperanza... House of LIFE and HOPE?!?
What does that mean? Where do we find life and hope? Around Christmas time, we think a lot about our families. We spend a lot of time with our families. We spend lots of time thinking of what special gifts we can give our loved ones. What can we give these kids at CVE?

We would say if these kids leave CVE someday and have found life and hope in Jesus, it will be worth it all.

John 10:10 says that Jesus came so we can have not just life, but ABUNDANT LIFE.

I Peter 1:3 says that in Jesus and his birth and resurrection, we can have not just hope, but LIVING HOPE.

Michelle, Tania, Yaneli, Lili, Eli, Emily, Kaleigh, Keith, Magda, Lupita, Jaqui, Blanca, and Karla...

Top Row... Armando, Uriel, Francisco, Michel, Fede, Bottom Row...Jose, Angel, and Daniel...

Aaron, Jose, Poncho, Nereida, Candi, and Diego...
Top... Julie, Nereida, Jazany, Alexia with Gloria, Ezequiel, Ramses, Aaron...
Bottom... Candi, Poncho, Jose, Diego...


Please pray with us that this Christmas these kids will be able to understand in a simple way that in Jesus we find true life and hope.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES!!!!!

We are home visiting family right now, but before we left we made some cookies with the girls. Here are a few shots.

You may not be able to see, but they say FELIZ NAVIDAD!!! We hope you are enjoying the CHRISTmas season.

Finishing Touches

We keep saying the house is almost done, and I think it may remain that way for quite a while. We did paint the kithcen and hallway. It looks really good. The Denver team also helped paint some of the doors and trim. That will be a long ongoing project. Well, it's progress...

We are also trying to get a dog kennel made, so that our puppy has a good home.

Here the girls are helping me dig the trench. We still need to get the fencing materials. This is a great job for girls that haven't been behaving. The ground is HARD, especially since it has rained once since September!!!

Meet Frodo. (Yes the girls have read (and loved) Lord of the Rings, and yes he is named after the star Hobbit) He is a little short... He is the newest member of the family, and Kaleigh and the girls are thrilled to have him. Now I have a buddy to hang out with and talk about "guy things"!

Me, Frodo, Lili and Kaleigh enjoy a Saturday afternoon.

Hope you all had a Thanks-full Thanksgiving. We are thankful for the Denver team and their efforts to make it a special time for the kids and staff here at CVE. We had an all out feast with about 175 people attending. More pics to come soon.

"Giving thanks ALWAYS for ALL things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

El Desfile

November 20th is the celebration of the beginning of the Mexican War for Independence.The girls marched in their school parade. The few days before the parade were crazy, as each girl told us what they needed to wear one day, then the next day came home and told us somehting different!!! Here are the girls all ready to march in the parade!Julie (Jenna Mueller's girl) dressed up and ready to go!

The CVE spectators at the parade.

Recognize anyone?

FIRST BREAKFAST!!!

Well, we now have a fully functioning kitchen... and brand new colorful dishes to top it all off.

Karla, Lili and Michelle washing the new dishes.



They loved the colors...thanks to Mama Schick for picking out, and picking up the tableware. Saturday morning we made pancakes with chocolate chips, along with hot cocoa and fruit. The girls helped out a lot, and were even excited to do the dishes...I know this will wear off sooner than I'd like.
The table, set and ready for food. Notice the table...that's the next project, along with chairs.
Lupita and Tania entertain Kaleigh while they wait for the meal.

We also had some bricklayers come to help put a fireplace in the comedor. We are THRILLED to have it. It looks great, and makes the room more cozy already. Christmas night will be altogether different this year!!! Chestnuts roasting by an....sing it.

Work in Progress.

KITCHEN

Well...we are just around the corner from being totally done with the kitchen, We got the stove hooked up Saturday and started organizing the dishes.

The girls are pretty excited it!

A TALL step stool is a must for some of the girls to be able to reach the dishes! The cabinets reach all the way to the ceiling!

Well, it's a start...we will have to fill the pantry in order to start cooking. Help from the girls, and their cooperation with NOT taking food without permission, will be an interesting adjustment.

Special thanks to all who have helped to get the kitchen functioning!