Special Blessings

The Lord truly gave me a very special time up north last week. For one, I was able to spend all that one on one time with Eliseo. That was a true blessing that helped mend a little hurt in my heart. You see, I got pregnant with little Samuel when Eliseo was just 4 months old. Now, that wasn't too unusual for me, but being put on bedrest for much of the pregnancy was. Between the bedrest and then hospital stay, Samuel's premature birth and then weeks in the NICU and later hospital here in Mexico, I felt like I missed so much of Eliseo's baby days. He grew so big so fast and I just had this tinge of sadness feeling like I wasn't able to hold him as much as I had my other babies.
Well, last week, this little guy got held by me A LOT! :) And it was so special to just be with him for a bit before he gets too big for me to hold.

My favorite thing about being in the USA (even more wonderful than getting to pick up supplies at Walmart :) ), is spending time with family and friends. This trip, I was able to spend some time with some very special people whom I love very much.

This picture brings tears to my eyes and is one of my favorites. I was able to see my Grandpa whom I hadn't seen in almost 24 years. It was a tearful, joyful reunion.

Eliseo is our first child to meet his Great Grandpa

I met my sweet little 4 year old cousin Olivia for the first time too; Eliseo had so much fun playing with her!

I have mentioned here many times what a tremendous blessing the Maxwell Family has been to our lives. There are certain people the Lord brings into our lives to bless and encourage us in our walk with Him. The Lord has used Mrs. Maxwell to mentor me in so many ways. Several weeks ago, my sister in law told us that the Maxwell family was coming to Redding to do a conference. I went to their website to look at the speaking schedule and saw they'd be in Redding during the time Eliseo and I would be there! What a special treat to be able to go to the evening conference and visit a bit with this family who has been such a blessing to us!

I was able to spend 3 days with my sister Julee before Eliseo had his surgery. She teaches at a Christian school and it was wonderful being able to watch my little sister teach! What a gift God has given her! She teaches a combined 5th/6th grade class and does a wonderful job. I was taking notes! :) She took me out to eat one night and we had such a good time catching up, laughing and sharing what the Lord has done in our lives. Saturday morning, I was able to go soul winning with her in the neighborhoods in her area too.

Yes, I did end my trip with a visit to Walmart. :) My sister in law Deborah and my friend Christine helped me make a supply run late Thursday night. Apparently after midnight, we are easily entertained. :)

And now I am back home. Today was a cold, rainy day. I didn't even know those happened here. I had just finished catching up on all the laundry and housework, so no children outside in the mud today! But they kept themselves quite busy and happy. :)

Daniel ran into town to take Timothy to the doctor. Sunday afternoon, he fell off the storage shelf above his closet and landed on his foot. Today it was pretty swollen and bruised, so we decided we'd best get it x-rayed. It was fractured, so he's in a cast for the rest of the month. I'm not sure what his face is all about :) Apparently he's easily entertained as well. :)