Beach Trip!

High- 61 degrees. 70% chance of thunderstorms. As I read the forecast for Bahia de Kino, on Wednesday, I was depressed by the image of taking the kids to the beach in cold temperatures. What are we going to do, wear our stocking hats? We left early in the morning, praying for sun. After a big breakfast and a talk about "aguantando" the need to go to the bathroom for the next 3 hours, 41 of us loaded in the CVE bus


Bill our fearless bus driver.


I received a care package from Todd, Teresa and family the night before the adventure, and this served for HOURS of fun on the bus. For any parents nervous about a road trip, play the "Lifesaver Game." It beats the "Quiet Game" hands down.
Everyone received a lifesaver and given the instructions to keep it in their mouths. The person who can keep it the longest wins. I anticipated a seven minute game. After 1 hour, I called the game and had 7 winners. Wow. :)

Another game we played, (also inspiration of the care package) was "Who can make the coolest thing with pipe cleaners in ten minutes. Blanca was one of our (6) winners.


The public beach awaits us, unaware of what is going to hit it.


Francisco holds up an apple to attract all the seagulls. All of the kids wanted to feed the birds until we explained to them a long term consequence of this would be po-po on their heads.


When we arrived, Jeff bought a hammock and hung it in one of our cabanas. Maybe the best money he has ever spent.


Lupita decided that she wants to brave the waves but with the public bathroom closed, and boys changing on the bus, we were left with little option.


Lili, Francisco and Lupita stand in the VERY FRIGID water, discussing whether or not they were going to take the plunge.


Eli chases Uriel along the surf. I am not sure what her plan was would she have caught him.


Yaneli takes a jump into the water, with the help of Claudia (One of Gloria's sisters who is visiting) and Francisco.


Our new favorite activity, burying anyone you could find in the sand. (It was very warm under the sand, so we had no shortage of willing, wet, volunteers).


Paola catches a few rays.


Uriel rinses off the sand and salt.


Daniel does his act of defying gravity. Actually, he was just stuck deep in the sand. Jeff, Joel and Bill looked on laughing. :)


Late afternoon we took a stroll down the quiet beach.


Blanca stares, mesmerized by the waves. Notice her last change of dry clothes...not that they stayed that way. Oh Blanca. :)


Karla Joselyn strolls the beach with her bucket of treasures. This picture was taken moments before I dropped my camera into the sand, right as a wave washed over it. :( (Or as they would say in Spanish, "before it dropped me.) I think it is still okay, praise the Lord!


We couldn't get some kids to get out of the water...oh wait...that was Steph. (We later decided she must have extreme tolerance to ice-cold water).


Lili, Karla and I enjoy our last few moments at the beach.


As we loaded up the bus and began the homeward journey, the promised storm clouds rolled in and we saw the beginning of a beautiful sunset.

Why don't we all live on the beach?

What is it with boys and guns?

Lulu, the lady in pink, is the director of DIF (the CPS of Mexico). She came to make a Christmas delivery with Adriana Hoyos, the mayor of Magdalena. Notice what Daniel is holding, toy guns. It all goes downhill from here.


The kids dressed up in their new ninja gear.


So, I don't really have a way to excuse this picture. I was hitting Jeff. I am pretty sure he deserved it.


Jeff's fierce warrior stance.


Another picture of Jeff. We could have entitled this, "What is it with Jeff and violence?"


Daniel menacingly aims his gun at the photographer. He looks pretty scary for a seven-year-old, huh?


Jenna shows her strong side on Christmas Eve

So, after more thoroughly reviewing the entry, I think it should be called, "What is it with CVE and violence?" We really did have a Merry Christmas. :)

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, we had a day of non-stop action and company. Our Christmas Program was at 10:00, followed by a lunch with all who had gathered. I would guess we had around 140+ people who were in church on Sunday. In my 20 minutes to practice with my Sunday School kids for the program, Jenna and I were astounded as kids just kept coming, 10-15 that we had never seen before. Needless to say, it wasn't a program without any mistakes, but I personally think that each glitch adds personality and a feeling of community.


Maria y Josue (Mary and Joseph) pose for a picture after their great debut on Christmas Eve. The kids did a great job portraying the birth of Baby Jesus.


Armando played one of the most convincing burros I have ever seen. (In this photo, Joseph is helping him with his saddle.) He was a natural fit for the part, as he spends a large majority of his time pretending he is a horse. :)


Maycon (a sheperd) gives Alba a squeeze after the program.


Tamales were served to all during church lunch.


Bluffton World Relief Sewing sent down two FULL boxes of hats and scarves. We were able to distribute almost all of them at church on Sunday. The recipients were very excited (because it has been COLD) and thankful. Thanks for those who worked so hard to have them here before Christmas!


The evenings festivities started at 6:00 for our supper of carne asada. After the dishes were done, the girls who are learning to play the piano with Marie had a Christmas piano recital for everyone gathered.


When the recital was finished, Bill had those who wanted to read the Christmas story.


After the Christmas story was read, we started the chaotic process of opening presents. Karla Joselyn in her new fleece pajamas (every child received a pair).


Angel and Jose sporting their new sweaters.


Michelle and Paola

Christmas day has been laid back, sleeping in, more food, exchanging a few gifts, playing games, eating again and blogging. :) More pictures to come.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
love, amy

Luke 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Countdown to Christmas

Here are a few more photos of our pre-Christmas preparations here in Magdalena and at CVE. Let the festivities begin!


A group or people showed up at our gates with a plethora of toys and had a "give and run" method of giving. They left after maybe 7 minutes max, and the kids had arms full of toys. Gloria asked them to give some toys that we could donate to needy children and Joel was "collecting" these toys.

Blanca peeks through amidst the lights.


The girls and I went on a "Christmas Light Tour" and afterwards, ate elotes in the Plazita. The light tour consisted of me driving towards any lights in the darkness, and gushing over any Christmas lights, even the basic strand of icicle lights. :)


Kids sitting in their normal perch in the kitchen window. They are usually full of questions and stories


The Bluffton World Relief Sewing Group sent down a huge shipments of hats and scarves that they made. Since it has been unusually cold, this will be especially appreciated! I can't believe how many layers I have been wearing! We are planning to distribute the hats and scarves at our Christmas Program on Sunday.


The girls look at the Nativity.

Tomorrow our Christmas festivities begin at 3:30 pm. The kids are getting so excited for Christmas, and most of the time I am also. Today Federico and I were working on making angel wings for the play on Sunday. Kids were everywhere, hot glue was burning my fingers, nothing was going right and I found myself saying, "out, out, out, out, unless you have a job, leave the kitchen, leave the dining room!" After a few more minutes of working, I was so frustrated with the project, I'll Be Home for Christmas once again blaring from the tocadora, the cookies that needed to still be baked for tomorrow's caroling, the Christmas cards I have yet to send out, and then I realized that I am just one BIG GRINCH. I just had to laugh as I realized that I had just squelched the very components that make up the Christmas Spirit, thoughts of baby Jesus, kids, love, talking, food, togetherness, Christmas pageants, etc. Instead of choosing to rejoice in tangled lights, I was frustrated. I think I finally understand being so busy with the preparations of Christmas, one can miss Christmas altogether.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:31-33

Snapshots of Christmas Break

Christmas is quickly approaching in a whirlwind of activity. I will never be able to keep up on the blog, so I am going to try to represent the chaos with a random sampling of photos.


Yesterday we thought it was snowing. I didn't move to Mexico to deal with snow! Daniel is modeling his high warmth/high style look.


The girls sitting in the empty fountain in the plaza


On the way home from the "Worst Walmart Trip of Our Lives" Steph holds the mediocre poinsettas in her lap.


Hilda and I before serving church lunch. Hilda hasn't committed to be a part of the Indepent Living program just started here as a part of CVE; however, God has opened doors for me to spend time with Hilda and her family each week.


Timi shows off his superb finger(body)painting abilities.


A sampling of some of those random "ugliest cookies" cited in a previous post.


After the girls were in bed, Gloria and I headed to see the Christmas lights. We found these angels on the plaza and Gloria just seemed to fit in. :)