And yet more reunions

I have been so blessed over the last few weeks to see friends and family-did I mention that I love teaching and having a semi-free summer? Sunday, on my way home from Minnesota, I stopped in Sheboygan and met Kaela for dinner and then headed back to The Cedar Grove Hatfields to hang out with Traeger, Ataly, and the rest of the gang too. It was fun to see Ataly's big smiles and to watch Traeger perform his new dance moves and even funnier to watch him direct us as to where we should sit and what we should do. I also enjoyed a little competition as Laura, Tim, Kaela and I all played some Nertz after the kiddos went to bed. Thanks for a fun night!

Childhood Memories

Do you have any of those places that can instantly bring you back to a moment in your childhood? There are so many little things that bring back a flood of foundational memories for me from childhood when I go back to visit my grandma in Minnesota. Whether it is the train rumbling by, just a few hundred yards from my grandma's backyard or the smell of the refinery a few miles away from her home, I am brought back to great times as a child when I would visit my grandparents and go on four-wheeler rides, boat down the Mississippi, hit the local mall, go to Selma's for a larger than life ice cream cone, or hike through a state park.

During my visit last week, Grandma and I did one of my favorite childhood rituals-we visited the open air market in downtown St. Paul. There is nothing particularly thrilling about the market or exceptional in comparison to others, but it is something I have always enjoyed. My grandpa used to take my sister and me to the market and we would stock up on fresh produce, chat with the growers, and end our time at the market with a freshly made bagel, smothered in cream cheese. It's amazing to me how the littlest things can leave the biggest impact in a person's life. Going to the market wasn't a budget breaker back in the day, nor was it a talked about or overhyped activity. It was simply something we did to spend time with our gramps and see a bit of their hometown.

Unfortunately the fresh bagels are no longer sold at the market, but the memories still came flooding back. As I walked past all of the local vendors and purchased good, wholesome, local food like honey, tomatoes, and wild rice, I was able to pause in my over-booked life and appreciate the simple things-the abundance from God's land, the kindness of good people, and the diversity of God's creation (both in the bohemian hippy types and the common families that littered the market).

Grandma and me at the market-looking at some herbal cookbooks

The market, from the rear view (and less crowded part)

A great new sculpture near the market

The park near Grandma's house on the mighty Mississippi

Grandma and me relaxing at the park

More Reunions

This time, I was able to see Mike and his wife Beth, as they traveled through Milwaukee on their way home to Michigan. The best part was hearing the news that the Goers family will be growing to 3 in March! Congratulations Mike and Beth!

Reunions

It is always a privelege to meet up with old friends, no matter the circumstances. I had the opportunity to finally meet Micah as he and Jamie traveled to Wisconsin for Jamie's grandmother's funeral. While I would have loved to see them under different circumstances, I was grateful for the chance to meet the little guy and to catch up with Jamie (and Julie B too). Thanks for a terrific visit and conversation that flowed like time hasn't passed.

Micah and me-he's really into the picture as you can tell

Jamie, Micah, and me-great to see you old roomie of mine

Funny

This is a picture that Logan recently drew for his mom. It is fun to see his drawing develop and watch as he goes through each stage of the tadpole people. This picture was particualarly amusing to me as he is adding more detail to the pictures, especially anatomically correct details. I asked him to tell me about the picture and he sure did. As you see by the labels on the top, this picture includes Logan, Ava, and mom. I asked him to point out who each one was. Ava is on the left (smallest and with no hair). Logan is on the right (he had a bellyache that day and that is why his stomach is so big). And, mom.....mom is in the middle. Can you see what is on her belly? Yep, Logan drew her breasts. Since Julie is still nursing, he sees them as an important part of who she is . I almost had to walk out of the room I was laughing so hard. Gotta love those 4 year olds.

Summer is Flying by

Besides all of the other things I've blogged about, I've been pretty busy with babysitting, visiting family and friends, camping, and much more. I've been able to see my sister and her family quite a bit this summer. In the month of July already I've seen them on the 4th of July, camping, Discovery World Museum, and 2 other visits to their house. Good stuff. Logan now swims completely independently and can make it from one side of the pool to the other by himself. He swims above and under water and now attempts dives from the side, which are more like belly flop dives. Cooper also loves the water and is good at swimming underwater from one person to another. His vocabulary is expanding every day and he is now using the potty. Ava is smiling non-stop these days and just started crawling. So much fun to be around them all. Here are some pictures from my jaunt down there yesterday to babysit.

Ava

Logan and the "scary" mask we made together

Cooper with a bead necklace that Logan made (I have one too)

Other than that, I am looking forward to a week of seeing lots of old friends and family. Within the next 7 days, I will be able to see Katie (Wagenecht) Dennert who is in town from San Francisco, Mike and Beth from Michigan, Jamie Truwe from San Antonio, Kaela from northern WI, and my grandma, as I make my way to Minnesota this coming weekend to see her. I am blessed with great people to share this journey with.

Ezekiel's Baptism

I was priveleged to be a part of Ezekiel's baptism on July 6th as Jessi and Nick asked me to be his Godmother. Zeke will definitely be in my prayers, just as he has been even before he was conceived. It was a beautiful service and a really nice day with the Smedal/Crego families and friends. Grow in God's grace Ezekiel!

Being baptized by Pastor Huesmann (with his Godfather in the background)

Me, Roger, Pastor Huesmann, Zeke, Nick and Jessi

Jessi, Zeke, and Nick

Fourth of July

I went to the motherland (Omro) for the Fourth of July and enjoyed time with family. I was even able to see friends too (Luke and Kaela). While Omro had no fireworks due to the flooding, we were able to take in the Fisk fireworks on the eve of the 4th of July. I don't think I've ever seen so many men in muscle shirts or sleeveless shirts as I did in Fisk. Ahh, back to the homeland. In other respects, I was grateful to be in an area where materialism is not stressed as much and people and natural beauty (the outdoors) are respected and valued.

Since I had just returned from Mexico 5 days before the 4th of July, I had a unique perspective as I celebrated our country's freedom. I am extremely grateful to live in the United States of America. Our freedoms are unique and we have definitely been blessed. What a sacrifice so many people have made over the last 232 years to safeguard our rights. God Bless America!

After the 4th, our family spent some time together playing cards, visiting, and checking out at the baby goats at my parents' friends house. Good times.

Kaela, Luke, and me-meeting up at the Fisk fireworks

Logan with a great seat for the show

Fireworks! My favorite part of the 4th of July!

The boys and me after the parade as we got ready for the cookout

My patriotic brownies-flashy, huh?

Logan with one of the baby goats-he wasn't quite sure what to think when they started climbing up his leg.

Mexico 2008

I'm finally home and getting back into my groove after being gone for 9 days in El Carmen, Mexico on a mission trip with my church through UKANDU. As always, God has revealed himself to me in new and powerful ways and has used me and our entire group to be His hands and feet. I definitely know that the theme of this week was "Move". God called us to move to different sleeping locations many times over the 9 days due to safety issues, wind, bugs, retreats and other issues. He also called us to move more dirt and cement than I would care to ever see again as we started the foundation of a second orphanage at Casa Hogar. It was truly a blessing to be used by God to lay His foundation.

"According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

-I Corinthians 3:10-11

The work was hot, exhausting, a real test of relying upon God for strength. As always, we drank gallons and gallons of water and never had to use the facilities. Interesting, huh?

The other key way I felt God speaking to me was in reference to my time spent in His word. I was so convicted of the power of God's word.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. " -Romans 1:16

Over and over again, I read scripture that pointed to the sweetness and grace in God's word and the power it has in your life, if only you read it. So, my goal is to be more diligent in reading the Bible and starting my day with a conversation with God.

Other than that, we were blessed with safe and smooth travel and no major sickness (Nothing for me, other than a thousand mosquito bites and a few bruises. I didn't even get burned while in Mexico, yet I fried my first day back in Wisconsin with temperatures in the mid-seventies-crazy!) We had some pretty good food, as we were blessed with a Mexican chef who left a cush job at a 5 star hotel in Mexico City to make one-tenth his former income and serve the Lord by cooking at the Bible College where we stayed. What a blessing and what a heart for the Lord.

I was encouraged by so many people I met along the way. There was Chuck in the Chicago airport, who was merely trying to step over our group to get to a chair, and ended up joining in a rowdy game of spoons with 10 teenagers and hearing the good news of Jesus. There was also Oliver from El Salvador who sat next to me on the plane and engaged in hours of Spanish and English conversation with me about the Packers (yes, a Packers' fan all the way from El Salvador), God, sugar cane, and much more. Uriel was one of our UKANDU leaders from Mexico City, who had such a passion and zeal for the Lord and lit a fire in the hearts of so many and Amy, our other leader had such a servant's heart and always a smile on her face. Though I will probably not see these people again, I praise God for the chance to spend time talking with them and sharing in each other's lives.

A huge thank you to all of the people who prayed for our group and for those who helped support me, so I could go. I truly feel that each of you were a part of this journey with me and that God used you to also be His hands and feet. Many, many thanks! Much more to share and not enough time, but feel free to check out the photo journal below to get a glimpse of our adventure this year.

The view from the auditorium where we stayed: beautiful mountains, palm trees, and yet desert all around us. We averaged about 100 degrees each day and no rain all week. It made for a long and sweaty week.

My little sleeping area-an air mattress never felt so good!

Our bathing facilities-I can't say I miss my own bathroom and the ability to flush toilets and the toilet paper. I've had enough of "If it's yellow, let it mellow and if it's brown, flush it down."

Antonio (a Mexican Maestro or teacher) measuring to see that the foundation was level. We dug many, many trenches that were about a foot wide and 2-3 feet deep.

Why we do what we do-for the love of God's children. Here I am with Graciela, who I met last year and was reunited with.

Samuel, me, Febe, and Hemima (twins)-I met these amazing folks last year and have been writing to Febe all year via e-mail. Their father lives next to Casa Hogar and is an amazing man of God who helps the orphanage out.

While in Monterrey, we ate dinner at Popo's Taco's-simply delicious. You've never had a taco so tasty in your life.

The Luchador masks were a huge hit at the market this year.

The market in Monterrey, Mexico

A bit of the landscape around the foundation site.

The mountains of Potrero Chico-a hugely popular and world-renown rock climbing area near our work site. The slope is pretty much straight up.

Javier and Memo heading to work (two of the Mexican Maestros)

The whole team of Maestros: Javier, Pedro, Antonio, Isaias, and Memo. They were hard-working and great fun too!

Uriel, one of our UKANDU leaders, and me-love the matching outfit of purple and blue?

The site of the foundation, with freshly poured cement that was hand-mixed in small batches, bucket by painful bucket of gravel, sand, cement, and water. The site kind of looked like a pac-man arcade game with all of the trenches connecting with each other.

The first day and a half I was painting the existing orphanage, or trying to finish it up. Jill and I are about 20-some feet up on very shaky scaffolding. It was scary, but also a bit exhilarating.

More of why we do what we do!

Look at that sweet face-what a precious child of God!

Samuel on his horse, checking up on the work site! You can also see the cement mixer, off to the far right side.

A Tres Leches (three milks) cake we picked up to celebrate the birthday of one of our team members-it was to die for!