A long lapse of silence....watching life happen daily.

Since my last post end of May a world of events, life experiences, travel, and things have happened. The intensity of life over these past several months has left me literally without the energy to blog. A long list of these events would serve no purpose other than to justify my long lapse of silence but in the end I realize that the lives of most people are equally as full or more so. Now that the deadlines have been met for publishing all new leadership development materials for Christian Camping International, Latin America, and we have come and gone from our beloved city of Pittsburgh for a month, and we have gone and come back from a month of training in El Salvador, and Valerie and Victor are back in school, I am fully easing back into a delightful routine.

I watch life happen daily.

I watched one of our supervisors give a training on "Holy Play" to 4 new Sunday School teachers to teach our 5-7 year old Bible stories using wooden figures and a contemplative approach, inviting children to enter into the story, retell the story, and express their thoughts and feelings to God through art materials.

I watch our beautiful daughter Valerie grow from a child to a soon-to-be teenager (Dec. 21 she'll be 13). She loves to read!

I watch Victor deepen his love and appreciation for God's Word.

I watch my marriage with Alfredo grow and mature as we continue to struggle through our different temperaments and cultural backgrounds.

I have been out of a regular routine for so many months that I find myself delighting in those small, repetitive tasks like picking up the kids from school, taking them to their sports classes, helping them with homework, and "debriefing them on the High-Low of their day,"  having lunch with Alfredo when he's around, brushing the dog, etc.

I anticipate taking the time to unpack the wonderful lessons learned over these past months of business but at the same time, I am enjoying life happening daily.

What is one repetitive aspect of your life that you find yourself enjoying?
I'd love to hear about it! Tell me about it by posting your comments below.

God has a plan for you too Valerie and Victor...

We are moving from the current church we have been attending since 2004 to participate in a new church plant in our neighborhood, it's a daughter church called CCI El Hatillo (which is the name of the town we live in, by the way: CCI stands for Christian Center International not Christian Camping International!)

This week, after Alfredo preached his last sermon at CCI Fellowship, our Pastor John, brought the children and me up to the front with Alfredo.

He had the elders surround us and pray for us but first he spoke a word to each of us. He thanked me for the years of service as a Sunday School teacher and he seemed to be quite surprised that tears filled my eyes. But how could they not when we have experienced an amazing sense of community, made friends for us as a couple and also for our children, and loved serving together.

Pastor John thanked Alfredo for his leadership as an elder and preacher and perhaps what blessed me the most was his words for Victor and Valerie:

"Victor and Valerie, you also have God’s call on your lives and need to know that it’s not just your parents who are called but also you as well. So, be asking the Lord: What plans do you have for me there?

V&V have been struggling greatly with this move. It is perhaps the most difficult thing Valerie has had to face in her young life, trusting God that this is for the best even though she leaves her best friends back at the other church. So, I know that the Holy Spirit will use that question to cause her to reflect. Please pray with Alfredo and I for her to learn to trust in God's direction and seek His will in the face of uncertainty.

Reflections on the children's baptisms....

Valerie reflecting on her baptism August 29th, 2009:
"I felt cold outside because of the water,
but warm on the inside because of Jesus."

Victor,
"I felt like if I was entering into a new world with God."





Enjoy the brief picture slideshow below!




Our reflections as parents:
We had the good fortune of our home being chosen to celebrate the quarterly baptisms.

Valerie had read about John the Baptist with her first grade teacher and came home one day, eager to follow suit. For two years, we had been hesitant to let Valerie get baptized, waiting to see if she persisted with this idea or it was a passing fad. Now, just having started fourth grade, she communicated that she was still eager to get baptized. Prior to baptism, our church leadership taught those ready to get baptized a lesson on it's meaning and role in the Christian life. We rejoice with her decision to demonstrate publicly her commitment to follow Jesus.
Victor, within the last 6 months or so had indicated he was wanting to get baptized so we supported him as well in his decision. By the way, both sacrificed attending a camp to stay home and get baptized.

Our hearts are filled with joy at how God's spirit is evident in their lives.

While Mom is away the kids are learning business sense--Selling coffee!

One day Alfredo went to his monthly Father-Son event with Victor where "the boys" learned how to change the oil of a car. Can you imagine seeing 12 pairs of shoes sticking out from under the car! What a scene!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, while Mom was in Costa Rica training trainers how to teach the Bible, Valerie was with Haidy (the babysitter) who happens to know the entire process of taking coffee beans directly from the bush to the cup!

Here is Valerie sharing with Mom on the phone: Mom, Haidy is very smart. She knows a lot. You do too, Mom. I am learning so much!
Over the next week, during each phone call the kids began to expound on their business and marketing plans.

• Valerie: We have no more coffee bushes at our house, but where we built ropes course stuff at the camp by our house has a whole forest full of coffee plants. We can buy their coffee beans and then sell the coffee to get our money back.
• Victor: Daddy, can you ask the computer for a good logo for our coffee... we want to call it: Haidy's Coffee (according to Victor one needs only to "ask the computer" and it will give you answers).
• Valerie: We want to sell the little bags of coffee at the small store up the road. We will give the money to Haidy since she is the one who taught us.
• Alfredo: The coffee, by the way, is delicious!

What a thrill it is for me to hear the daily reports of my family's adventures!