Tijuana

Well, we are safely back from Tijuana. (I would like to apologize for misspelling the name in previous posts- if only I had some exposure to Spanish I'd have known that... :)). Josh and I (as well as our team) had a great trip down to Mexico. We were gone for 8 days- the longest days of my life! Don't get me wrong- the time spent there was good, it was just without my baby girl! Mom and Phyllis took great care of her and all seemed to love the time together. Rebekah sprouted her 8th tooth, so they got the joy of some sleepless hours...sorry, guys! Rebekah learned so much from them- my favorites are that she now says shoe in a really high-pitched voice as she admires hers or your shoes and "men-men" for amen at the end of prayers (they must be more spiritual than we). They also taught her to back off the couch, which is really cool. Anyway, I was crazy anxious to get my hands and eyes on her and it seemed like it took forever to get back to her. She was waiting for me and I burst into tears the second I saw her! I just couldn't get enough- honestly, she seemed a little confused, then really happy to see us. We got some great hugs and kisses. Y'all know I was worried that she would walk before we got back- as much as the grandmothers tried, she waited to take her first steps (to me!!) until yesterday- her 13 month birthday!

As for Tijuana, it was wonderful experience, albeit tough. We took 50 people from our church of all ages and Josh's and my team of 10 (there were 5 teams of 10) was awesome!! Each team built a 12x12 ft or 12x16 ft "house" (read shack) per day in about 5 hours. We each had a staff member teach and guide us- we loved our leader! Her name is Alicia and she has a great heart for reaching the lost. We worked with her and her friend that is a boy ;), Chris, almost every day and they seriously were the best! I felt challenged to know more and be more active in reaching the lost of the world, be it Mexico, Iowa, or overseas.

Here are some shots of daily work across the border. We hand-built each house without the aide of power tools, so that was hard work. Hopefully, you can see the progress as we built as you scroll through. There are some shots of the families for whom we built, mostly the children who were preciosos! The 2 girls were darling and just wanted hugs and kisses from the gringa!
It never ceases to amaze me the little people are able to have and still survive. These people were so generous- each family sacrificed to make us a meal in appreciation- I was very humbled. Josh and I loved participating (in such a tangible way) in God's restorative work in the world. So often we think of people's spiritual separation from God and fail to see their very real physical needs.

Thank you, Lord for this opportunity and for so faithfully providing the way.







































These were from the last day as we waited for our plane- at Mission Beach in San Diego with the Kampmans. It was so nice to kick back a little bit on the beach.

We're in Mexico!!

Just a reminder that Josh and I are on a mission trip to Tiajuana this week while our moms take care of precious one. PRAY for us and my sad heart as I leave my baby for 8 days!

This will have to tide you over!

Obsessed with the pony!

Okay- seriously, I am now obsessed with trying to style Rebekah's wispy, literally baby-fine hair. You may remember that I cut her bangs a couple months ago and they have already grown back to be shaggy in her eyes. So, I was faced with the dilemma of butchering it again (she really is so squirmy, thus making scissors a dangerous thing) or trying my hand at tiny rubberbands. I know I'm her mother, but I am speechless at how beautiful she is! That little face just slays me! She wears this dress a lot- it was a gift from Aunt Becky and Uncle Billy!

Side view
Check out the lower lip...
Such a serious face as she figures out the package.

Another profile...can't get enough!


These were my first try the other day- her little cute body in those overalls was just too cute! Some of you mothers of boys may be thinking to yourselves, those seem mighty familiar...My mom and dad bought her these at Gymboree, knowing full well that they were for little boys, but, they had turtles on them! If you don't know my dad, he is a turtle guru...so, they bought them...I was hesitant so Aunt Becky (creative thing) suggested adding pink bows...apparently she doesn't know me as well as I thought b/c my husband can attest, I don't sew. However, my mom does! Mom to the rescue- awesome job!



She loves to hand me things now! This is her "I'm up to something" look...



Swinging with Dad...
Evidently there was a toy that could only be gotten by climbing in the toy box...


Other fun tidbits-
Rebekah noticed me scratching an ant bite on my knee the other day and now she helps me scratch it!

She pushes around anything as a walker- her actual walker, her highchair (scares Sam to death), or a kitchen chair.

She calls blueberries bb's and has been asking for them...sadly, the grocery store was out... :(

She hits and then hugs other children.

She finally got into a pool yesterday b/c she so desperately wanted to experience the slide that went into it. (all child-sized)

She laughs when you finally figure out what she wants...such as when I pull out Goldfish or find a toy she thought she had lost or out her in the swing.

She blows her bangs out of her eyes.

She mimics everything she can, especially fun sounds and short words. I definitely think she thinks she is communicating exact ideas.

She has conversations with herself in the backseat.

She holds her toy cell phone to her ear and then hands it to me to talk.

Quite a fright

We should have known something was amiss last night when, after kenneling Samson (our fearless boxer) for dinner company and subsequently releasing him, he didn't charge up the stairs, knocking us over in search for the long-lost aforementioned guests. In fact, not only did he take his sweet time joining us upstairs, he lingered....hmmm....unfortunately, Top Chef was too intriguing to abandon so as to analyze this anomaly. Eventually, Sam trotted upstairs and did his usual beg to go outside, eat, beg to outside again. It's like he doesn't have enough bladder/bowel space to eat, then mesh the 2 trips outside into one....I digress. So, this morning, I went down to the basement to grab last night's laundry (I know, Mom, extra wrinkles from my procrastination) and took pity on Sam's empty bowls. I filled his food. Now, you need to understand our watering system- he has his water bowl and we have a laundry sink also downstairs. However, in my typical hurrying fashion, I always slosh the water out of the bowl by the time I get it from the sink back to his domain. So, I remedied the situation by donating a large plastic, small-mouthed pitcher (you know, the kid with a screw-on lid, which I discarded, of course) to the cause and I fill it, then fill the bowl, then use the remaining water the next day...so, as I reach for this pitcher, I notice the water is a nasty brownish-gray color. I think to myself as I reach down for it, "Self, that is some funky water...it couldn't have been more than 2 days since I filled it from the sink...?" Praise the Lord (which I did) that I never actually touched the pitcher becasue i happened to peek over the top and see...I kid you not, a dead floating mouse!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! That mouse must have been terrorizing Sam in his kennel, only to have him released and then choose suicide over canine torture! Truly, there was no easy way for him to catapult into that water...it was scooted away from all other objects...of course, Josh took matters into his own hands and disposed of the mouse and the offending pitcher is being soaked in bleach as we speak...I still may throw it away...I just wouldn't feel right doing so before bleaching it.