Friends, Family and February's Work Frolic

The month of January was one of few photo opportunistic moments ... It's now half way through February and it's taken me 3 days to finish and send this post that contains more photos then I've ever posted! February dawned upon me before I was ready for it and came full blast, bringing with it friends, family, work teams, new adventures and sleep deprivation.  You know those days when you wish for 4 more hours just so you can sleep?  We just lived through 2 weeks of them ... really, has it only been two weeks? Yesterday, we returned from church, ate lunch and ... I took a nap!  It was the most luxurious, peaceful gift. When I awoke, I laid there listening to the silence in my mind. Tomorrow's to-do list would come soon enough but for the rest of Sunday I wasn't going to think of what I had to do next. As all of our houses inhabitants slowly awoke from their dreamland stupor, the energy quickly surfaced. It was a beautiful sun filled day, the perfect day to play futbol at the park with Pop-pop and Mimi ... yup, she played too!

Praises

Physical laborors

Prayer warriors

Tender hearts and joyful spirits with a desire to serve

Positive start to a new school year for Jedi and Adam

New friends that blessed our mighty men with camaraderie, friendship and encouragement

Hugs, tears, words of affirmation and encouragement that Father knew our weary soul's needed 

Prayers

Casa 242 and it's new beginnings. A program that follows Vida220 to help them work towards "what's next" in life.

Finances for VidaNet

Preservation of our family life

Jedi and Adam (and Mama) as we adjust to a new school routine.

Life on the Mountain

Once again I find myself wondering how to concisely share life with you from these last two weeks ... February 1 - 10 Casa VidaNet hosted: Hollinger family of 7, Horning family of 4, Bethel Church team of 9, Erb Church team of 10, two youngin's from Florida and ... a Pop-pop and a Mimi! The job list to start the week was overwhelming ... no, it was awe inspiring!  The energy, strength and desire to serve that each one of these guests brought to CR was a gift from Father.  I was tired just watching them work! Destruction, construction, paint, concrete, grass, dirt, wind, sun, good food, cold showers, weary muscles and happy hearts. These pictures, as always, have a story behind them ... sit back, relax and enjoy our journey over the last two weeks!

Big boy Adam holding baby Declan ...
Does this classify as the first time Joseph "held" Declan?

My dear hubby bringing some sunshine to my day ...
Never a dull moment ...
Stealth selfie photo bombers!

Dentist Adam and his drill ... Jedi was a willing patient ...
"Listen for the beeps and I'll be done" 

We found the end of the rainbow! ...
No pot of gold ...
The sweet satisfaction of  HIS peaceful presence

Hollinger - Hoover Carpet Ball tournament

Hollinger - Hoover crew ... 
"Please, just one more game of Grey Wolf and Piggy wants a motion"

Every little boy needs rain boots ...
there are just to many puddles in life not to have them!

Horning work team ... Faithful friends ...
Feeling Father's love ... Sweet blessing to share life

February 2nd, Joseph's Spiritual birthday ...
Extra large cookie monster cupcake ... He ate the whole thing!

Cleaning toys at El Nido ... Many hands make lite work!

Work with Thome makes the work easier! ...
"Mom, we're not working, we're posing for a picture!"

Mama's helper ... moving mattresses ...
Getting the job done anyway he can!

Pounding out a wall ... he loves destruction!

The work begins ...
rebuilding the cabin a tree fell on

Surveying the land ... So many rocks ...
How will it ever be cleared?

Moving the rocks and debris one bucket at a time!

Painting continues ...
Jedidiah loved the variety of jobs offered this week!

Dona Vilma was so pleased that we had matching pants : ) !
Absolutely love this precious woman of God ...
Words of encouragement every Sunday!

Delicious food ... Plenty to share ...
Have you ever seen a plate so big?

Super Bowl activity ... "Yo gane!" ...
They couldn't care less who was wining

View from the sidelines ...
Food, fun and fellowship cheering our EAGLES onto victory! 

The gift of Eagles shirts ... simple things ... of course I cried!

The morning after the big game ...
Late nights, early mornings ...
Needing some extra snuggle time!

And then ... Mimi and Pop-pop came!

Of course they brought Legos!

Laying the foundation ... CR style!

Mighty Men ... first day of Kindergarten and 4th grade ...
Of course they started smack dab in the middle of our week of chaos! 

laying grass ... they were like little ants all over the dirt ...
I've never seen grass 'planted' so quickly!

Cleaning out the laundry room and storage area

Rolling the grass? ... I don't know, I just take the pictures!

At work and play ... Adam loved helping everywhere!

Adam translating ; ) ...
or at least trying to explain what Pop-pop was saying!

YEAH, new, soft, green grass to roll and wrestle on!

Working hard ... this boy went from one job to the next and loved all the attention from his new friends!

Showing Mimi where to put the trash

Who filled their bucket first!

No, you can't keep him for a pet!

Decorating crew for El Nido's Valentines Cafecito

two little peas in a pod ... Adam and Dylan ...
playing turtles

Erb's crew enjoying one last bite of CR pizza before flying home to warm showers : ) 

So much fun destroying things!

Angelica's sweet little blessing ...
one of our El Nido Mama's

Does she know how to hold pink?
Of course she does ... Enjoying sweet baby snuggles!

El Nido Mama's making cards at the cafecito

He didn't want his picture taken ...
then he got ice cream ... the smile says it all!

Puzzles with Adam and Santiago

"I'm learning how to read" ... time for school!

Weary bodies ... peaceful souls ...
thanking God for the gift of this week!