May 2016

Our month of May has been busy but so very blessed. This past year a girl named Alicia from Mexico found me on Facebook and now a few months ago she said that her and her boyfriend wanted to get married. She said he had received Christ and they both wanted to live right in the eyes of the Lord. She use to come and visit us (when we lived in Mexico) every chance she got. Now she was asking if I could come to her wedding. She saw me as her spiritual mom and wanted both of her moms at the wedding. Cory and I started making plans to go to Mexico and God went before us and worked out the details. As I drove from San Diego into Mexico I felt like I was home. How familiar things can be even after 13 years. The day before the wedding Alicia introduces her husband to be to me as his mother in law. She told her two sons that Cory was their uncle. She named her first born son after Brian, which is such an honor and shows even after so many years God allowed me to see the fruit of our labor. It was a very God honoring wedding and I was also blessed to visit the Calvary Chapel church in Vicente Guerrero that friends of ours started. We had many God moments. Visiting a ministry that helps abused women and their children, Eternal Anchor who help children with special needs, Foundation for His Ministry, praying with my friend Johanne and so many more. 

After five days in Mexico we went back to San Diego where we met up with some friends and also a trip to Long Beach to visit with my father in law and his lovely bride and niece and her family. It was a truly blessed trip and even when I was kind of out of my comfort zone driving along these busy freeways, Cory was a great navigator. 

John 8:32 was our theme verse for our tenth annual ladies retreat here in Belize. We were truly blessed with the amount of ladies that came. We had around 60 ladies in all. In 2006 when Denise and I started our planning for our first retreat in 2007 we wanted to bless the ladies that we were ministering to and bring them together. Over the years I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support coming Anna Mensie who is a big part of our planning team and Spanish Lookout community. 

Our main team of planning but we get a lot of help and support from others as well. Thanks Rachel, Anna and Denise!

WE have been truly blessed and thanks so much for standing in prayer with us. 

April 2016

This past year seems like it has gone by so fast. As I reflect back I feel so much has happened. Last year in November the twins were placed in their adoptive home. Only a few weeks with one, two year old, Zion, and then Tino came into our home. 

In February is when I got the call that Zion’s birth mom had passed away and if I could bring him into the city so the social worker could take him and his siblings to the funeral. Zion at the age of two did not really understand and when I picked him up at the office I could tell he was friendly with his five older siblings. My heart was saddened when I saw the sad looking faces. The following week I asked the social worker if I could have a day or afternoon and bring all six children together and have a play date at the park. She agreed and we set a day to do this. They had a good time connecting with each other and asked if we could get together in April for Zion’s third birthday. I told them I would see what I could do. Zion left to his adoptive home the day before his third birthday and so I planned with his adoptive mom a few weeks later to join us at the park where we had all the siblings together. This time we  had some time at the park but also went out for pizza. I pray for these five older children and that God would find a special family for them. The five are placed in three different homes and ages 5-16 years. 

Now Tino is the only foster child in my home and he turned two years in February. He has microcephaly which means he was born with a small head and brain. He is very happy and loves people. Physically he cannot walk, talks like a 5-6 month old and he keeps growing and gaining weight. I am not sure how long I will be able to care for him as my back will not  handle me carrying him as he gets bigger. There is a great need for people that have a heart for foster children. Praying for a children’s home that not only takes care of children with special needs but also would be open for some hours during the day for children to come whose parents might need a break. When I think about Tino staying in our home for long term then I can see we will soon need a ramp and a wheelchair for him. Praying for God’s perfect will in his life. 

Thank you for joining us in prayer. I am seeking God’s perfect will in the future of the many children with special needs. 

Cory started eleventh grade this year through Calvary On Line. He is enjoying his studies and he still enjoys a good game of soccer. 

Thank you once again for your love, prayers, and support. 

We thank God for the rain that is coming down right now. We have had a very hot and dry past few months. 

February 2016

I know many of you joined me in prayer for direction concerning Cory and his education. 

We are thankful that Cory was able to register with Calvary on line school and this is an accredited high school in California. He had to get adjusted of the way they did things but he is doing really well now. 

Psalm 6:9

The Lord has heard my supplication;

The Lord will receive my prayer.

January 2016 Happy New Years!!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2
Just finished a study with the ladies at church where we were encouraged to keep the faith and not allow the enemy to rob us of joy and peace that comes from our Lord and Savior. What a blessing to have a group of ladies, even if it is only few of us that meet regularly, to have that fellowship and prayer time together.
Each month has its own blessings and challenges. Beginning of December I was blessed to have Cory return to Belize after his five months in Alaska. He came back with many wonderful stories of all the things he experienced and learned. With being out of your comfort zone does draw you closer to your Maker because He is the only one that always stays the same.
Cory and I met in Phoenix where we were blessed to spend four days with our friends Andrew and Amber Walker and their two beautiful daughters. It was such a blessing to see you after so many years. Thank you for a weekend we will never forget.
The day we came home from Phoenix the social worker brought us a special needs little boy. He will be turning two years in February but he is mentally and physically more at the age of four to five months.
Some of the challenges we have faced in the last month or two is saying good bye to the twins who went to their adoptive family. Do not get me wrong I have peace that they are in a very loving Christian home. After 22 months in my care a special bond does form and they will always have that special place in my heart like so many others in the past. For Christmas Zion my two and a half year old spent two weeks with the twins. He will be the next one to be placed. We are not sure where he will placed at this time but there are several who are interested in adopting him. Praying for God’s perfect will in Zion’s life.
As 2015 came to an end I knew I had to make some decisions concerning Cory’s education and not sure which direction God desired for us to go. I found it hard to celebrate Christmas with feeling the pressure of needing to make a decisions along with missing loved ones. I had to come to the point of seeking peace in waiting on the Lord to see what is next. I was trying to make decisions quickly feeling Cory should be in school as the classes would start after the new year. Covet your prayers as we have started 2016 and continue to seek God’s will in the decisions ahead.
This past week I have had some trouble with getting my emails. So till the problem is fixed please send all emails to my new email address which is graceandmercy1985@gmail.com If you have sent me anything in the past week or two please resend to this email address. Not sure where all the emails went to that were in my inbox on my computer but they too have vanished.
Thank you once again for your faithfulness in praying for us and for all the little ones that have come and continue to come through this home.