Lions...

With just a few weeks until Reece turns 3, we have begun to talk about party themes. Seems that Reece's theme of choice this year is ZOO animals. We always have fun doing our kids' birthday parties and now Reece is getting of age to offer input so that is neat. After our dinner discussion last night he has been talking, with excitement, about his party. This morning he drew this lion on his etch-a-sketch - I had to post it because I was pretty impressed with his early artistic skill....not bad, eh?!

 

And speaking of lions...tonight at bedtime Reece chose "Daniel in the Lions Den" from his Bible. As we read the story he interrupted me several times to ask why the king didn't want Daniel to pray, and lots of other "why" questions. As I tucked him in I said we should say our prayers and pray for his cousin Camrynne who isn't feeling well. He looked at me and said..."and the King will put us in the den?" He's thinking! I reassured him that wouldn't happen and we love God, just like Daniel did so we can pray and we will be safe. It seemed to me that his prayer was said a little quicker tonight, just in case! :)

They're Gone...All Gone!

You know those moments when you know it is time for something to happen and so you prepare yourself for it, emotionally. Well, don't get me wrong - I am not referring to anything tooooooo life changing - just the big boy haircut of Reece. Yup. He has been looking like a mad scientist (or scarey hair as Auntie Betsy calls it!)these days and so we decided to go get it cut. I knew we needed to actually go beyond the teeny little trims we had done before, where no one - but us - actually noticed it was a cut. But...I honestly expected we could come away with a few little curls still remaining. And - apparently I was wrong. They are gone. And only time will tell if they will grow back (I don't think so). He looks very very handsome - but I will be honest, I had to fight back a few little tears. He looks like a true boy, life will be easier around here with no fight to comb through the curls - but still. As I write this I am wondering why haircuts are a big deal too me...perhaps because it reminds me that my kids are growing up. A good thing...but I am a sentimental one at heart! Anyway - it has been cute because last night I kept asking Reece "oh no - where are your curls?!?" and he would giggle and say, "they're gone - on the floor" and I would pretend to cry. He loved it.

But just now as he woke up and cuddled with me on the couch, this conversation unfolded (much more significant than any lost curls!).

Me: Reece, I really like your haircut. You look handsome. We use "cute" to describe babies and little boys - like Chase....and '"handsome" to describe big boys and Daddies. What would you like to be....cute or handsome?

Reece: I want to be a Christian.

Kids have a way of reminding you what really matters! So, that is it for now. I will post a picture soon - I need to take some first.

The Vote is In

Since Chase isn't talking much yet - we have found alternative ways to communicate! He is responding to the this statement: raise your hand if you love your Mommy! I love it!

  

Never Too Old For A Little Competitive Fun

On Saturday a group of us went to Cuernavaca to visit some missionary friends (Doug and Sandy Holcomb). They rented one of those large, inflatable toys for the kids to jump around in while we fellowshipped. Well, the kids had a lot of fun - but so did the adults. Almost all of the "big kids" took a turn at the inflatable toy too. The adult challenge was to enter from the side by jumping over the wall! Benjy and I raced one another, and although looks might be deceiving, I really think my arm entered before his - HA!

 
 
 
  
  

Bowling Fun!

 Chase loved watching the balls return...and sticking his finger in the holes.
 The boy is truly Mexican because all he cared about was trying to "kick" the bowling ball!
 This ball is heavy!
 Eventually that ball will get to the pins - what's the hurry?! 
 A timeless game!

Always Active!

 
  

Handsome Chase

It was due time for Chase to get his first haircut. He was not at all happy about it, but he sure looks handsome - much more like a little boy all grown up! He enjoyed his ice cream treat after the big event. She cut off a lot of hair - I was suprised!

 Before...

 During...with lots of angry tears!

 After...

  Ain't I handsome???

Boys Are So Sweet

It is late and I am sleepy, and feeling a bit sentimental, so I am sure that combination will make for an interesting post....but I want to record these moments for me. And, it is my blog so I can post sappy stuff if I want to....

It is often said how sweet little boys are and I have so much evidence of it in my home. Reece is a bright kid and he must know how much it fills my heart when he tells me he loves me because he is in this stage of saying it frequently and confidently - and even in increasing measures. It is not uncommon for him to declare his love for me 5, sometimes 10 times a day - and completely spontaneously. It usually sounds something like this: "Mommy I love you so much" or "Mommy, I love you up to the sun, or the moon, or the stars, rainbow, etc.." and recently, "Mommy - Daddy can't love you because I love you." I know, I know - lots of kids tell their mommy's they love them - but do they pause from an intense game with toys on the floor to make sure I know it? Do they say it suddenly as we are driving along in the car? Do they yell it from the other room as I am busy in the kitchen? I really love this stage of my life and just writing these thoughts down has filled me with joy. Reece likes to hear the story of his arrival into this world - so I tell him about the early morning that he began to announce his arrival - and he listens so carefully, I think sensing just how much he was truly wanted. Not all kids have that privelidge in life and I am determined to make sure mine know how much we love them.

And little Chase. I will never forget the moment, just a few days ago, as I was resting on the couch and he came walking up to me and planted a big, wet kiss on my lips and then laughed with joy at his accomplishment. He suprised me and it then became a game. He is a lot of fun these days too. He has grown to love "the chase" and will get so excited that he doesn't know if he should "run" towards you or away from you when you get into that "I am gonna get you" stance. He is getting faster on his feet (but is like lightning when he crawls!). He had his first awaremess of a bodily function noise from down there (that I have witnessed anyway) and like all those of the male gender....he laughed! It is amazing! He isn't talking much yet, but he has his ways of expressing what he needs to say - usually trying to act innocent about the things he is getting into that he shouldn't be. What a joy he is - sometimes a bit of a challenging joy - HA! - but a huge joy nevertheless.

I have several girlfriends who are expecting babies in the next few weeks or months. We want more children, and would love God to bless us with a little girl someday - but as I think about my boys tonight, I feel so humbly blessed with them - and know that another one of these messy little creatures would be a great thing too!

New Friends

God continues to answer our prayers. We were blessed with the opportunity to meet in Victor's home and share time in God's Word with several of his family and a friend. Victor is the taxi driver that contacted us about 8 months after our first and only interaction with him (I wrote about him a few posts ago). They shared their time and their home with us and we believe that God is at work! They invited us to come back and we look forward to getting to know this new group of people. Reece cried when it was time to leave because he had so much fun with his new friends.

Cow Parade

Yesterday we took some time for culture and family. There is nothing quite like seeing an art museum through the eyes of a toddler. Reece thought it was the neatest thing, at first asking what every piece of art was. I learned that rather than answering him I would ask him what he thought it was and we got some interesting insights!

Then it was on to the Cow Parade on display on Reforma (a main street here in Mexico City). I didn't know that this was an art display that has been on exhibition around the world, but apparently it is! Reece was amazed at the many large cows (and we didn't walk past them all) that were brightly painted each in its own unique way. I am not sure how many there were in total but surely over 50. I thought it was cool too - and began taking pictures of Reece by each cow as we walked along. Chase made it into a few early pics but Benjy wasn't exactly in agreement with my picture taking idea and simply stated that as long as we kept up to him and Chase, we could take all the pictures we wanted! Reece raced from one cow to the next, offering hugs or pats to each one. Here are a few cow pictures for your a-moooooos-ment (sorry, I couldn't help it!) Just click on the picture for a larger view.

  

Hoping for "Green Thumbs"

I received some birthday money from my Mom and was saving it especially for the chance to go to the huge plant and flower market here. We bought some neat stuff to begin adding some greenery and life (okay we do have lots of that!) to our home. Reece and I had fun re-potting it all - Reece loved the dirt as all little boys do - and he was particularly proud of the worm he discovered! This is a new field of interest for me so now we just hope for "green thumbs" to sustain plant and flower life! Any advice?!

  This is hard work...but, oh so fun!

  There's gotta be another worm down here somewhere!

  I am sure I'll never be climbing this tree, but it is a tree nonetheless!

  

Happy Valentine's Day

What a fun day I have had! We had a Valentine's Day party for the little ones this morning - baking and decorating cookies, finger painting and potatoe stamp painting (yes, I am realizing that this is more fun for me than toddlers!) And then the best part...a movie and dinner date with my very handsome man! We have become much too familair with jeans and a comfy sweatshirt here in Mexico, so we decided to dress up and truly feel like we were on a date. It was so fun! I am reminded today of how beautiful life is, and how blessed I am to share it with Benjy. We love each other, we love our boys, and we simply just love life!

 
  My valentine!

 
  So happy together!

GO CANADA!!!

 
 

   

Okay, I might not live there anymore, but I know who to root for in the Winter Olympics...and so do my kids! It is true that a Mom's influence goes a long way in a child's life!!! I have always been a big lover of the Olympics and it is a sad sacrifice to make to be in Mexico during the games. We don't get very good coverage here - they didn't even show the Opening Ceremonies, for example! But we will watch what we can and cheer hard for our Canadian athletes....and yes, for you American family and friends....don't worry, we will cheer for team USA as well!

Wobbly... But Walking!

Yup! Chaser is walking! He took 4 - 5 steps yesterday and seemed pretty pleased with himself. It is as though now that it is his own accomplishment, he acts like it was his idea all along and seems to enjoy it a bit more (he was pretty stubborn to any encouragement from us before!) I was home alone with the kids yesterday when this all took place - and naturally, I wanted to capture it on video - wrong. As soon as I turn that thing on, Reece becomes crazy - wanting to see himself and pretty much cancelling any opportunity to focus on Chase for a second - let alone trying to capture him actually taking steps! Chase is obviously pretty unsteady yet, but it is cute to see him venture out there, let go and take his steps. The bumps and bruises on his face are from his pre-walking days so we might be in trouble! Tonight he was trying to kick a ball and maintain his standing position...quite funny! I guess we are now another step on the journey to losing our little baby boy to toddlerhood.

 
 

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Our AIM Team

We were able to meet the AIM students that will join our work. Josh, Adam, Leah, Michelle, and Beth will arrive in Tlalpan sometime in May and will serve and work in expanding the Kingdom for the next year and several months. Benjy and I, along with James and Erin Henderson will serve as their coordinators, mentors, and friends. Below is a picture of all of us!

 
 

Just Hangin' Around!

 
 

Scattering Seed

If you are reading this you probably care a great deal about God's Kingdom and the work here in Mexico City. Therefore, I want to ask you to be praying that the seeds we will be scattering in the next few days will fall on hearts of good soil. We are looking forward to visits from 6 friends from Westport Road Church of Christ, Louisville, KY (our supporting congregation) and a group of about 80 young people from the Advetures in Missions (AIM) program in Lubbock, TX. We will be meeting the AIM team (5 students) that will be joining our work next May. We are thankful for the many extra hands that will help us with various service projects and in the distribution of thousands of invites to get involved in Bible studies, small groups, and church life. Jesus tells the parable in Luke 8 of the 4 different types of soil that seed falls on. We are praying in faith that there is good soil within our reach, and that God will providentially lead us to those people!

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15

Being Followed

Reece asked me a few weeks ago what my "favorite color" was - in reference to candies. I told him "orange". And guess what I have noticed - suddenly, everything has to be "an orange one" for Reece. I kind of like it!

Smiles from God

I am pretty pleased, and I know God must be too, to watch my kids praise Him. Sometimes, when Reece is playing, or is happy about something, he shouts, "hooray for God!" I think God smiles at that. We are loving our "devotional time" in our daily routine. Reece calls it his "devo game" and it is a highlight of his day. He often asks to do several devos at a time...we pray that he will always have this desire to love and learn about God. And singing...we have a cd with kids songs about God that he asks for as soon as we get in the car. He sings along and it is one of the sweetest sounds to hear his little voice singing "God is so good, He's so good to me" (but of course, you have to watch him in secret b/c he gets a little shy if he knows we are listening). And Chaser likes the music too - he knows when to clap his hands in "if you're happy and you know it" - but he claps whenever there is music so it might just be coincidental timing! He dances a lot to it too - a little rythymically(sp?) challenged, but hey! And just a few days ago, Chase began to participate in our prayer times - before meals, and bedtimes. It is so sweet. He will hold my hands and when I am done he claps twice (learned from Reece) during the AMEN. I am sure that God smiles frequently during the day as He watches and cares for their innocent and pure hearts.

"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise" Psalms 8:2