DATE NIGHTS!

Abner and I have continued our date nights as a couple and with two small children they are even more needed now than ever. Last night, after going to Quiznos for dinner, we came home, put the kids in bed and then played checkers. It has been years since I have played checkers. We only played two games...I beat him, then he really beat me! It was fun!! We had some good laughs. Couples, I encourage you to take time together...laugh together! It is worth it! I have the best husband!

VENGA DANZA...COME DANCE!

These were Susana´s words to anyone who was sitting during the home group on Tuesday night. The little girlie arrived with her spirit ready to dance. Do you remember that video of her dancing a couple months ago, well she had her dancing shoes on and was leading adults, youth, and other children into the presence of the Lord dancing to a cd that the host family had playing as background music. Abner had the guitar ready to begin the time of praise and worship, but being sensitive to the spirit he realized that Susana had already begun it. He put the guitar down, had the music turned up and began dancing as well. One by one as other´s entered the house they couldn´t help but to dance. Several commented on how it was Susana who the Lord used to get them on their feet. We praise the Lord that our children are not the church of the future, but are the church of today. God doesn´t want to wait until they are older to be used, He is using them now. We had a great time dancing, Marcia Kearns, it reminded me of our apartment days.

SOMETHING NEW IN HONDURAS...

Hey there everyone, don´t give up on me yet...I am still blogging, it is just a little difficult sharing the computer room with the buddy. We were using the laptop in the living room for awhile, but it isn´t working, so I will blog when I can. Right now, Abner Daniel is asleep behind me and I am here typing in the dark. Just wanted to share my interesting Saturday evening...we had just gotten home and I had put the kids in bed and was cleaning up when I heard this aweful noise. I ask Abner, what was that! He said he wasn´t sure. I thought that a pig was stuck in our swamp area behind our house and that we were going to have to go and save it, but then it hit me...the noised stopped...could the neighbors really have just killed that pig? I heard them all in the backyard while I got ready for bed. I went to sleep with my mind wondering what that really was. In the morning, I had to go and ask our neighbor for something before church, I had to ask if they had really killed that pig and sure enough they had. Ana was laughing as she told me how they were trying to do it before I had gotten home, so they wouldn´t scare this gringa, but the water on the stove just wouldn´t boil fast enough. In June, I will have lived in Honduras for 10 years and still I endure culture shock. :o) By the way...hope you all had a great Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2009 holds great things!

ABNER DANIEL IS 1 YEARS OLD!!

On November 28th, while we were in Tegus, the big boy turned 1. Susana was all excited to sing Happy Birthday multiple times throughout the day. She loved blowing out the candle with him two. These two are fun to watch, but that little stinker in both of them is starting to come out more and more. Lord, have mercy on this mommy! Some of Abney's favorite things to do right now are play with big sister Susana and papi, walk around mommy while she is cooking, watch baby signing time, and swing outside. He has 8 teeth and is getting his first molar. He is blowing kisses, givingbig wet ones too, and starting to sign. He loves to dance, though he is still a little stiff. We love our Abney!

NO NEED FOR WORDS...

GOD'S BEAUTY!

I think that sometimes WE let life get to busy to stop and enjoy the beauty of God around us. Those of you who have grown kids, reflect back and wonder where their childhood went. Daily I have to remind myself that our children will not be small forever and making the most out of each day is important. We live like 9 blocks from the port where the boats come and go to the bay islands, and Susana loves to throw rocks into the water. After 10 days of rain, we were finally able to go and enjoy the sunshine. God's beauty is never ceasing.

MOMENTS A PARENT LOVES...

The other day I was still preparing dinner for everyone else, when I told Susana to sit down and start eating. When I turned around, this is how I found her. She loves to pray! And to worship! One day I was doing dishes and when I looked to see what she was doing, I found her literally face down laying on the floor worshipping to a song her daddy had written. It's moments like these that make the times of disciplining fade away.

LOOK WHO IS WALKING...

November 7th was the big day for the big boy! Just three weeks before his 1st birthday, he got brave and decided to go for it. We cheered him on. Big sister Susana is loving it/not loving that her baby brother is walking. He can get her now! :o)

PROPER TIMING!

You know, I created this blog in order to continue to share the Lord's faithfulness in our lives, and I realize how poor of job I have been doing. The Lord works in our lives DAILY and His name desires to be glorified, so I will try and do better at making His realness known. Lately, we have been experiencing a time of "testing" in the area of our finances. I told Abner this morning, that I feel like this testing is mine, I know that it's both of ours, but I am a little weaker in this area. In simply ways, HE HAS PROVIDED! We went by a used clothing store a couple weeks ago, and I thought, I need to stop by there and look for jeans. In that same week, a friend from church brought a bag of clothes to give to the girls in the neighborhood, then she said, there are some jeans in there for you also. THREE PAIRS! God is good! The other day we were out of snack food for the kids, the next day, the neighbor brought a bag of cookies and said that they were for Abner Daniel. God is faithful! We stopped by a friend's house to take showers, since the neighborhood didn't have water for 4 days, and she loaded us up with meals for four days. It's in these little things that I see our faithful Father. Psalm 145:15 states, "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the PROPER TIME." The Lord is so faithful to us as His children and He is teaching me this more every day. My heart is humbled by His faithfulness!

YOUTH CAMP...

This past weekend we took 7 youth from La Ceiba, to meet up with over 170 others from the association of Camino Nuevo. The theme of the camp was against the flow and there we many activities that challenged the youth to be different from the world and to live their lives for Christ 100%. The kids and I were not going to go, but having 6 of the 7 youth from our church that went females, we decided that to go for it. The kids did great! Susana didn't want to come home. You can imagine her and Abner Daniel being the only small children amongst 170 youth, she got a little attention, and she loved it. Since being in the U.S., Susana has transitioned into this little social butterfly saying hello to everyone. Anyway, I realized how much I am so out of the world of the youth. They were talking about a MSN type thing here called Hi-5, and I thought that they were talking about the children's program. I never thought that this day would come, but I realized that it has. Just wanted to share a little clip from the worship time with the youth...I love the way Hondurans worships the Lord, even in the heat and mugginess, we love to dance.

MINISTRY WISE...

What have we been up to ministry wise...a couple weeks ago we had another baptism, where three of the members from our home group were baptized. I love baptisms! I was baptized two days after being saved and I love the way that it is used as a public testimony of our faith in Jesus Christ. Sarah, Gaby, and Hatie were the three baptized. Gaby was one who we were praying for salvation for not long ago. God is good!!

My buddies hair cut....

I have been watching Abner Daniel's hair grow rapidly in the last couple months. It got to the point of going over his ears and it started bothering me. So, I started the hair cut there. A couple days later the rest of the hair got trimmed, a couple days after that, the bangs. He is one handsome dude if I do say so myself. His first hair cut at nine months.

ABNER AND I....

Well, we are doing well. Lots of lack of time alone together hinder our communication in a lot of ways, but it has been good to have just our family in our house these last couple weeks and Abner and I have been able to spend some much needed time together as well. I truly have a loving husband, who I praise the Lord for. I know that he loves God, loves me, and loves our children, what more could I ask for.

SUSANA...THE BIG GIRL..USES THE POTTY!

Susana will be 27 months on the 31st, and is starting to talk ALOT more. She is speaking a mix between english and spanish. It's cute. Her newest accomplishment is yesterday and today she has been using the big girl potty, with only one accident so far. She is loving the praise and the skittles that she gets every time she goes. She really is growing way to fast, but truly is developing into a silly, creative, loving little girl. She has had a couple hard months with illness, cuts, etc., but praise the Lord God has pulled her through.

ABNER DANIEL...

Our little buddy will be nine months tomorrow. He has three teeth, all on the bottom and the fourth is coming in. He is a little cruiser in her walker and is only wanting to be standing up. He's a happy little guy, who we are praying will begin sleeping in his crib SOON! After all the craziness over the last couple months, some bad habits have been formed. As I type, he is on the guest bed, which works for now, but once he becomes more mobile the crib will be necessary. He is a joy.

TIME WITH THE BRODINES...

You can read more about their time here at http://www.mattbrodine.com/.

TIME IN THE U.S.

This was a blessed time with my family and friends...if you want to see more pictures you can go to, abnerarevalo@shutterfly.com, there are tons.

OPPS, FORGOT ABNER'S BIRTHDAY...

ABNER'S FAMILY REUNION...

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN!!!

I know, I know...we have been lost! I tell people that since June 14th, life has been like a blur. We picked the Brodine family up from the airport on the 14th, Abner's family reunion started on the 15th, we left for the U.S. on the 23rd, returned on July 7th, had a few days to ourselves before the Brodine family moved back to our house for 5 weeks. Last weekend, we took them to Lidia's uncle´s house, and we are trying to get back into somewhat of a normal routine over here. The last night that Lidia and her family were here, her and I laid on the floor together in the midst of all of their lugguge and we came to the conclusion that our time together deserved a gold medal. We were blessed with their stay, we learned from each other, we laughed together, cried together, and grew together, but there were some hard times too. Just imagine, 4 kiddos under 2, with four parents. YIKES! We made it though and were blessed! Here comes some pictures....