Dia de Amor y Amistad

It's been said that if a girl feels the security and love of her father growing up, she will less likely seek the attention and love of guys around her. These girls have had very few, if any, positive male roles in their life. So Keith decided to make our Valentine's dinner extra special... The girls each got a rose and a special gift. GAME TIME!!!

The girls had to write a poem about Valentine's Day using words like love, friendship, etc. Some of them were pretty creative... some of them just really silly.
Happy Valentine's Day from Karla and Jaqui!!!
1 John 4:7, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

Weekend Fun

Saturday we made pancakes in the house. The girls are great helpers. Lately they have had a lot of fun making different things... anywhere from quesadillas to some type of marshmellow/chocolate/nut creation by Karla.

Keith's parents visted for the weekend, and they took us out for ice cream (or chips) in the plaza. It makes no sense to me that the girls ALWAYS choose chips with chamoy and salsa over ice cream!

It was a great weekend!

Kaleigh LOVES her life!!!

As a 10 month old, what more could you ask for? Kaleigh has kids to watch ALL the time, she has animals to look at year-round, she has 10 girls to keep her occupied 24/7, and she even has 10 hair-stylists. An example of their handiwork is above.

Fun in the House

The girls all got sleeping bags for Christmas, and they were SO excited!!! They reminded us a few times before Christmas that they wanted a "sleeping." Karla was writing in her diary about Christmas and wrote about the "sleepings" they had all gotten.
Lili and Michelle (as well as Karla) are in middle school. You remember that time in your life... It's a time of lots of decisions that affect the futures. We are praying the girls make good choices, especially at school. Both of them are doing really well in school, and Michelle was even second in her class this past quarter.
Thanks to the Indy group for all the new things for the house! The girls favorite game so far is Life. They love it. It will be fun to see them play twister someday...
Here's Blanca playing Operation. Magda and Blanca are going to be adopted by their uncle and aunt probably sometime this summer. We are really excited for them, but also pray that God will bless their last few months here as living with their new family will bring lots of changes for them.

Vacation/Back to School

After two weeks of Christmas break, the girls are back to school. They started this past Monday. We are thankful to be back in the school schedule, but are glad that the vacation went well.

We took a day trip to the zoo in Hermosillo, which is becoming a tradition as they went the past Christmas break. It was a good day and the kids seemed to enjoy it, even though some complained about going.

There were many small animals in glass cases. The kids had fun looking at the lizards, snakes, fish etc., and trying to scare them.

There were a few coyotes that some of the kids started to bark and yell at, they started howling and yelping very loud. It made for a good laugh.
Some of the bigger animals were really fun to watch. Here Karla and Tania are walking through the Safari zone.

Kaleigh enjoyed the day. She would laugh and wave at the animals. Here she Emily, and Poncho enjoy the small pond and waterfall.

After the long afternoon at the zoo...The Golden Arches....McDonald's!!!

They had fun in the playplace, and waited paitently as the McDonald's employee's gave all the adults thier food first, then distributed the 40-some Happy Meals. The toy that came with the meal was very fitting. ANIMALS!!! Hippos, Monkeys, Zebras, Lions...

The bus ride home was filled with singing and games. Overall it was a really good day.

Hopefully the school semester is the same!

Christmas Break Fun

Christmas en la casa... The girls had a great time Christmas morning. It was weird to wake up to 60 degree weather!!!

Like all girls, they quickly tried on some of their gifts!

Stockings...

Some games in the "cancha" (No English word even comes to mind)...

BOYS against the GIRLS!!! Water balloon volleyball...

Piñata fun.

Keep praying for wisdom as we strive to love these kids and teach them the love of God!

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