Hola Amigos,
Yes, it's been a while since I've updated my blog.
The scoop: we arrived back in the U.S. on September 10, 2010. We are here to finish selling our house, so we can return to Guatemala and spend the next 2 years working with the children and families there. This could mean we return in a few weeks...or...several MONTHS!! We ran out of funds at the end of August and cannot continue until our house is sold and we have a balance in our account. Minor details, I know, but...

So...we are here, no money and no jobs, but here. John has secured a job starting next week. He will be driving to Kansas City 3-4 days a week for 12 hour shifts. A steady income...when it arrives, but somehow we will need to pay for the gas for him to get back and forth. I have applied in 3 districts to substitute teach...hopefully that will begin soon. Also, yes, I've applied at Wal-Mart.

Marisol is happy to be back home and every time we see someone we haven't seen for a while she says, "They're going to be so happy to see me. They haven't seen me since I flew to Guatemala." At the same time, she is anxious to get back. She keeps saying that as soon as we get our house sold we'll go back, because everyone there misses us. She also really misses her school.

Last funny Guatemala story before we return: walked Marisol to school, one last time, and thought we'd try crossing in a different spot. It is closer to our destination, but we also walk along the main, 4-lane, road most of the way. So...this day we start out as usual, umbrellas in hand, just in case, and begin our walk. Mind you, Marisol did not bring her rain boots, it's not raining and she got them wet on the inside playing in a puddle in our yard. Couple of blocks from home the rain begins, and it's not a gentle rain, IT'S A MAJOR GUSHER!!!! No problem, open the umbrellas and keep going. NO...this is a sideways, swirling, buckets rain!! We are getting pretty wet anyway. Then John takes Marisol's hand and, unlike my cautious guiding around puddles, he walks her straight through a deep puddle and the water pours into her shoes! As she squishes a few more feet along the road, the cars fly by and COMPLETELY DRENCH US!!! Tidal wave style! Oh, and did I mention, our only clean clothes have been hanging outside for 3 days trying to dry?! Note to self...stick to the old route.

So, for now I thought I'd include pictures of some of the obstacles of our daily walk to and from the children's home in Guatemala. They include the height, and length, of the walking path over the road and, the 4-story bowling pen at the other end of the walkway. And I picture of how the rain got in Marisol's boots.

A huge thank you to all who supported us through prayer, encouragement and donations. We have been bleesed beyond measure by all of you. I would send individual thank you's, but only know the amounts deposited and not who deposited them. Every little bit made our work possible. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! Love you all and talk soon.

Here are more pictures to go with the previous blog, and smoe shots of the picture John painted on the children's home clinic wall. Enjoy!!

The week has turned around. Got over myself, and went on with life.
Took a day off from the children's home on Tuesday. John was really sick, stomach problems, fever and chills, and I just needed some time to feel sorry for myself and do a little soul searching.

We returned on Wednesday and after some time with the kids all is well. How could you sit holding 2 babies under 2 weeks, while a 2 month old lays on the sofa next to you grinning and not have a great day?! Also, there are the 3 year olds laughing and playing around us. Life, after all, is really good.

Tonight, on the other hand, was, well....not dull. Marisol had a complete meltdown on the walk home in the pouring rain. She stomped in EVERY puddle. Had on rain boots, but managed to stomp in a deep enough puddle to overflow into the boots. Kind of a shocked look on her face and suddenly walking a little more carefully. Couple of more meltdowns when we got home. Can't remember over what, but then she went to our bedroom, closed the door, and all was quiet.

Not a good sign with a 3 1/2 year old. Carefully opened the door and peered into the room. There she sat with 7 stuffed toys and her hair bands/clips box open in front of her. lined up along her mat were about 10 different hair bands. Looking closer I could see she had put hair clips and bands on all the animals ears as they sat patiently in a circle around her. Left the room the way I came, not to dangerous. Made dinner and called her for dinner. She said she couldn't come because she was at a party. Told her to tell her Friends she had to eat and would return after dinner. She arrived at the table with her hair carefully clipped up in back. Said she needed to put it up so it wouldn't get in her spaghetti. Really looked cute.

After dinner she returned to the party and all was quiet again...John's turn to peek in. He smells something and asks if I brought nail polish. I don't remember bringing any. Follow him in, Marisol looks sheepishly up and me and I break out laughing...she has bright red lipstick smeared all around her mouth and nail polish half way down each finger (so I guess I did bring polish, but not remover). Of course, I had to take some pictures (special thanks to Jeri Shumate for letting me use her camera). Then John calls me back into the room and tells me to look down. There sit all 7 stuffed animals in a circle with hair pretties, lipstick and polish on. And, yes, a pig with lipstick is still a pig, but a MIGHTY CUTE ONE!! So is a bear, dog, lamb, duck,..... Okay, I should have been really mad, but what could I do about it now? and it was just so funny.

There is something about spending time with kids that makes it impossible to stay upset! If you're feeling down, find a child and everything will turn around. Enjoy these pictures, they should be a lot more fun than the last ones.