A new year

My computer screen recently had an unfortunate encounter with the corner of a kindle and 2 young girls resulting in a month's stay at the computer hospital.  I cannot even begin to explain the helplessness of not having my computer.  Crazy isn't it that its such a little thing, but without it I feel like I cannot communicate.  Oh there are other electronics, but have you tried writing a newsletter on a smartphone?  I tried.  A few times.  And then totally gave up.  Its miserable.  So...welcome back computer!  And welcome back communication :)

This was a busy month for my family and for Puerta de Esperanza... I'll just start with some pictures :)

As a family we did a countdown advent calendar that my mom made for us!  It was so fun getting to start new traditions with our kids this year... our first year as a family.

Although the kids' visas fell through, Lesther and I still got to travel and be with my family over the actual Christmas holiday.  We got visit with friends and family, go to Amy's wedding, and just have a real vacation! But we missed the kids like crazy and were so happy to be home to see them!





The girls and babies spent Christmas together as a family and spent time with Jennifer as well.  A local Honduran family welcomed them in for Christmas Eve and they got to have tamales and traditional Honduran celebration.  We are so thankful for the people here locally who love on our girls and welcome them into their families.  It is a huge blessing.



They also got a Christmas box from a family in Cary.  It was SO fun to get to open it with them and see their faces when they saw all the wrapped presents in there for THEM!  They had Santa hats and stuffed animals and flavored popcorn and all kinds of goodies.  So Christmas morning with Jennifer the tree was full of fun gifts.  When I got back W went running to his room to get all his new toys to show me :)  And we even have some stuff to send on to J who is now living in another city with her mom.  She is going to be so excited to get some late Christmas gifts.

Both of our little babies turned one while we were in the states.  So last Sunday we celebrated!  Piñata, friends, cake, food, family... what more could you want?  It threatened to rain, so we moved from the beach to our house, but I loved having everyone here.  Both the little ones were scared of the piñata, but definitely had no problems with the cake :)

Please be praying for our girls.  It has been a good week, but a hard one.  Its been a week where they are coming face to face with what it looks like to really know and walk with Jesus.  He wants your everything... not just your Sundays and your empty words.  He wants to be a part of your decisions.  He wants you to learn from His love and mercy, grace and forgiveness and let that overflow to others.  He has healing in mind for hard things from your past.  He wants to chip away at your resentful heart.  He has a good future in mind for you, but that doesn't necessarily mean wealth and ease.  We've been talking around in circles about some of these things.  But praying every day for the Holy Spirit to break through the walls that time and sin and a hard past have put up.  We are praying for the Gospel to be more powerful than cultural norms and for God to bring lasting change.  And when He does... it is beautiful.