the new years party begins

The party begin........ Christina's family bought all of the kids outfits to celebrate new year's eve. The kids all love the idea of being dressed up. We got spider man, batman, princesses, and even pirates! The kids will get to live in their fairy tale land this evening. We are going to play games,eat pizza, play the Wii, and set off fireworks and burn up the old man and have lots of fun! Hope they can all stay awake til midnight! Happy New Year!

 Antonio the pirate

 Cris as batmand and Lupe the princess

 Nohemy the princess and Jackson as spiderman

 Katy as the little mermaid

 Maryuri

Cindy the princess

Happy Graduation Antonio

 Signing off from 6th grade!!!

He choose me to be his madrina after changing his mind about 5 times about who was going to graduation with him. Although after choosing me as his madrina he was embrassed when I had to go in front with him. Before I even got to the stage to sit down and sign the book with him he was already signing. I told him I was proud of him and he told me he was so nervous.

One proud momma for sure! Finishing 6th grade is a huge accomplishment. Many here in this country don't even finish 6th grade.

 Receiving his diploma

 After graduation Antonio wanted to go out to eat and take his sisters too.

Happy Graduation Antonio

We are proud of you!!!!

Christmas cookies

 Christina (our casa intern) worked two days diligently with the kids to make cookies. They got to make the dough, roll out the dough and cut cookies and then decorate them. The cookies the kids made for our CASA staff. So they all had a hard time not eating the cookies up as they made them. Although when it was all said and done and the kids all got to eat a cookie.

Good grades

Nohemy, Daniela, Rosy, and Ana

These girls get a special trip to town this afternoon/evening with Byron and Pamela. They had mention months ago that they wanted to reward the 3 kids with the best grades from the whole school year. Well today they got their grades. Their averages were; Rosy 90%, Ana and Daniela 83% and Nohemy 80%. After talking to Pamela she told me to let Nohemy come too and they would make room for four. She sure did light up when she found out she got to go too.
The plan is they are going to the movies and out to eat and I think to the arcade to play some games if there is time.
Next year we hope to do a better reward system so we can reward the child every grading period with the best grades.

Birthday Girls

Happy 15th Birthday Doris!!!

Happy 8th Birthday Guadalupe!!!

School

The kids are officially out of school for the year. Pamela and Brayan have to go tomorrow one last time to retake a music exam and then they are done for the year. The kids all came home yesterday with plates full of food as they had their end of the year party. They sure do through them a party and fill their bellies.
Now to keep the kids busy while they are on break. We started the new tortilla schedule this week. So that keeps a few of them busy in the mornings. Hope that they soon will be able to make tortillas with out an adult helping them.
Here is hoping to a uneventful summer break!

Thanksgiving

We have made Thanksgiving a tradition here at CASA with the kids. Starting our first year here Jen and I got things together to have a small meal with the kids. We were by far cooks but we manged and got a meal together. Now Marc involves many in our CASA thanksgiving celebration. Terri does a great  job at cooking. She is the expert!!! 

The kids love every minute of it! They love getting to choose what goes on their plates and most of all filling their plates with lots of sweets!

We have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for the blessing to be here at CASA and ministering and loving on these kids! May God continue to bless this CASA.

 Daniela and Antonio making no bakes

 Jackson mixing the pudding

Cindy getting the bananas cuteup and layering the cookies in the pan

 Elvia, Jackson, Sisi cutting up celery and onions for the cornbread and shredding cheese for the Macaroni.

 Potato peeling crew

The kids look forward to Thanksgiving every year. They love getting to help and being part of this special day. So many happy helpers and I know that there is a lots of memories being made too.

happy 1st birthday

 Olman dug right into his cake and Josue was not too sure what to do. I think they both enjoyed their cake although Olman was ready for more when his was all gone.

Happy 1st birthday Josue and Olman

The birthday boys, Josue and Olman

exams

The kids are finishing up the school year. They are in their last weeks of school right now. They were in exams all last week and this week they are finishing up a few exams. It won't be long until their summer break. There last day of school is suppose to be November 30th and then their end of the year school party December 3rd. Sixth grade graduation for Antonio is December 8th.
I guess I better start planning and getting things ready for the kids summer break. Always a task to keep this many kids busy.

Hooray for Josue

Josue is developing and coming right along but in his own timing. We worry about him as he does not do everything that a 12 month old should. He is struggling to sit up still on his own and he is not even ready to stand up yet. We are pushing the staff to give him more floor time and not so much time in the stroller or bed.
Although he finally crawled for the first time the other day. The staff is trying to give him more time on the floor to play as that is very important for him. He is a few weeks short of being a 12 months old. He is getting physical therapy classes at Teleton and the staff have to work with him daily with different movements.

tortillas

 The kids all know that soon that they will all have to make tortillas. Some are excited while others could care less if they learn to make them and others are dreading it because it might add more work to their already chores they have to do. Everyday we will have a schedule dividing up the chores for tortillas. Someone will have to go cut firewood, cook the corn kernels, take the corn to be ground, and then make the tortillas.
We got some corn that the school send home this week with the kids. So we cooked the corn and put lime in it until it was soft. Then the next morning the corn all had to be rinsed off to get the lime off before taken to be ground. Rosy then took the corn to be ground (Dilma one of our staff members takes corn every day to be ground so she was nice enough to let rosy tag along and show her where and how to ground the corn) and hurried back to get to work on making tortillas. Rosy was impatient and did not want to take the time to learn how to make the tortillas. She was good at pressing them with the block and getting them flat and then putting them on the stove to cook. All with time and practice I am sure she will become a pro.
Doris even tired to help. Elvia was very patient and when it was all said and done they had made over 100 tortillas for a couple of days here at Casa.

 Pressing the tortillas

Elvia showing Doris and Rosy how to make tortillas.

Happy 14th Birthday Antonio

Antonio turned 14 this week.

 He and Bryan both just turned 14 in the last couple of months. They are our two oldest boys here at CASA. Praying as they continue to go through their teen years that they are men who seek God and that their hearts are molded to be gentle, kind, and loving.Proud of the young man Antonio is becoming. 

Charlie Brown Christmas

The CASA #2 was suppose to have the Christmas tree this year. I told them we would rotate it between the Casa's every year. Well I decided with Mirian having all of those little ones that a Christmas tree might be enough to make her go crazy. Keeping them out of it would be a hard job.
Well Mirian decided that after we had already put up the Christmas tree in the big house and still wanted one. She had Denis cut her a limb from a pine tree and she stuck in a bucket and decorated it. It is pretty pitiful and not too sure how the tree will hold up til Christmas. Although she is very proud of her Christmas tree.

Reina, Fernando, and Katy ~ 6 years

Fernando 2006

Katy 2006

Reina 2006

Reina, Fernando, and Katy 2012

What progress these kids have made since being with us. To think where they would maybe be if they were not with us. Their mother is very very very poor and not in her right mind. She has a mind like a little child too. 

Reina has learned to write her name, add, subtract, and write. Who would have thought!?!?! With her disabilities I would think she would not be able to do any of this but she has over come those obstacles. She will be turning 13 this coming March. She has turned into quite the young lady.

Fernando is for sure our clown of the house. He is always looking for ways to make others laugh. Whether it is appropriate or not. We have to tune him down every once in a while.

Katy is still our fearless ball of energy. She goes and goes an goes and knows no fear. 

Cindy & Maryuri ~ 6 years

Happy 6 years to my girl Cindy Lou and Maryuri. 

They both had LOTS of anger issues when they first came here. They have came a long way. Still working through all of their issues with them and praying for healing on their little hearts that have been hurt, abused, and broken. God can and will continue to heal their hearts. I praise God for the progress that has been made in their lives. May He continue to make HIS way into their hearts. 

Cindy October 2006

Cindy and Maryuri 2012

Maryuri 2006

Christmas!

It's Christmas time here at Casa. The kids have been counting down the days til November 1st. Well it's here. November 1st came during the week and the kids had homework so I told them that they needed to wait til the weekend. So sure enough the boys climbed up and got all the decorations down today, and many of the kids were busy getting decorations up.
Now for the Christmas music......:)

7 years!

Happy 7 years to me!!!!!
It has been 7 1/2 years ago that this country stole my heart. Little did I know that 6 months later I would be living in that country. The 29th of October is the day I waited with all my luggage to board a plane with many unknowns awaiting me.
Seven years later here I am still. Happily married and with an 11 month old little boy, Korbin. God sure does have his way about things. It has had it's ups and downs but I am so blessed to be here serving. Who knows how much longer I will be here serving. Possibly seven more years or maybe twenty more years or maybe not even a year. May God continue to direct my thoughts and steps and may I continue to be passionate and loving to those that I encounter every day.

Tortillas

 Ana with the maseca. Mixing and adding water til she gets the right consistency to start making the tortillas. Elvia was very patient at showing Ana what to do.

 Ana's first try at trying to make a tortilla.

 I even got in on the tortilla making. 

 The finished tortillas

On our new wood burning stove cooking the tortillas. 

Most of the kids are pretty excited to get to make tortillas. We shall see how long that lasts. Hopefully while they are on summer break we will get a good start with learning to make the tortillas.

Fire Wood

Bryan and Antonio are very anxious to go help look for wood for the new outside wood burning stove.

Dorian, Elvia, Denis has all showed them how to cut the wood but they are still trying to get the hang of it. Terri went to town today and got a new machete, hatchet, and axe. Bryan was so excited and anxious to get to try them out. The mother in me does not like them even with a machete or cutting wood but hey they have to learn sooner or later. They are 14 years old.
Even some of the girls are pretty anxious to soon learn how to cut wood.

Cooking

The ladies have one of the kids daily help them cook in the kitchen. They all take turns in the kitchen and some days they all fight over who is going to help cook. Some of the kids have finally learned to cook without the help of the adults. The last month or so there has been days when we do not have any staff here to cook or clean and the kids really are learning to step up and take more responsibility. Antonio has been great at cooking the rice. He does a great job!!! This past Friday we needed to make lunch and was in charge of making lunch. He choose Sisi to come to the kitchen to help him. They both did a great job. They made me a little nervous as they were cooking french fries and had to boil grease. Every time I would go into the kitchen to check on them Antonio would tell me to get out the kitchen because I made him nervous.
 Although they were careful and made a delicious lunch. It feels so good to see them growing up and learning to do things on their own and putting in practice what they have been taught.

Expelled

We are having to deal with one of the kids being expelled from school this week. Not what we wanted to hear. Cindy has always had a defiant side to her. Although she has come a long way she still has that streak in her at times. Although we have not had problems with her in school til this year. Her teacher she has this year is pretty tough herself and does not put up with anything. I thought it would be good for Cindy actually since last year she failed 4th grade due to lack of interest. Never wanted to study or do homework. It was like pulling teeth to get her to do her homework. Although this year she has improved in the homework area but her attitude that is very defiant at times her at home she has showed to the teacher this year. So she was expelled for coverings her ears, sticking out her tongue and ignoring the teacher.
Really hoping we can get her some help as I feel there are some deeper issues going on with her.

Stove

 Today we got to try out our new stove. This past week we had an outdoor stove made. It is even the new eco~stove. It uses less wood to burn. Excited about this as this is important the kids learn to cook on one of these and as a plus it will help us save money. As many people here in Honduras only use a wood burning stove to cook. I am hoping that during summer break we can start making our own tortillas. The kids will learn to make them and learn how to use the stove. Today Elvia was excited about getting to use the new stove. She was making the kids lunch on it this morning.  Hopefully we can build ourselves an outdoor oven too.
Fernando has a debt for money he has taken from people at school to he is in charge of collecting the wood for the fire every day to pay off his debt. Not too happy about it but he has to do something to pay off the money he owes the teacher. Yesterday after about 5 trips of hauling wood he came to me sweaty, hot, and tired and wanted to know if it was enough. This morning he was at it again looking for more wood.

Elvia making lunch

4th graders

Cindy, Fernando, Jose, Daniela, and Ana

This past month the 4th graders have been working really hard cross stitching. It is something they make all of the kids learn to do in school. They have had to practice doing different types f stitches and write their name and the school's name.
Well for some of them this was easy and they even liked doing it, and then for others it was torture. First of all 4 out of the 5 of the kids could never find their needle. They always seemed to misplace their needle. Jose came home from school one day and said, "I know my needle is here some where". He had just put it in his book bag loose with all of his books and pencils. He emptied his whole book bag and shook every notebook but to no avail no needle. It was a struggle the whole month they worked on this. They even lost their thread at times.
Although they finally have turned them in to their teachers and got graded. Some got 100% and others 80% and 90%. Now they are all wanting to sell theirs in our casa store to make a little money.

Games

This past month the kids have spent a lot of their time playing hop scotch. They go from month to month with different things they like to do. Sometimes its soccer, sometimes its jump rope and well this past month it has been hop scotch. It is so good they find things to occupy their mind and I love when I get to see all of the kids playing together and getting along.
We will wait and see if this month brings a new game or they stick with hop scotch.

Sisters!

Rosy and Sisi usually don't get along very well. Well they are sisters. Although recently things have changed. They are starting to share, play together and even hug each other. Hopefully they are growing out of their fighting stage and are finally growing to love and accept each other as sisters.

Also friday was Sisi's birthday! Happy happy birthday Sisi!

Jackson

Yesterday I got a call from the school that Jackson had fallen playing soccer and that I needed to come get him to take him to be seen. It was a little after 12 and I knew that I could not get back in time to get all of the kids at 12:40. So on my way to get Jackson I called the school to tell them I needed to pick up all of the kids. There was no one else here at the house that could pick them up and I didn't know how long we would be in the hospital and if I could get back in time to get the kids.
When I got to the school all of the kids were outside waiting on me. Jackson seemed to be very calm. He had to get seven stitches. He is doing great. He has to hobble around because where he cut up his knee is right where is bends and he has to keep his leg straight.

Exams

Our school agers have exams this week. Exam week is always a little stressful for the staff and kids. Just getting some of them to study period is a task. Others don't even bring home their study guide to study. They accidentally forgot it some how, how convienent! All week there is no movie time after super instead they get to study. Extra prayers this week as we get through exam week.

CDE

Denis does a great job taking care of the grounds here at Casa. Last week he decided to do some yard art work with the weed-eater. He made a little CDE logo and then outlined it in rocks!!!!

happy birthday!

Brayan turned 14 years old Saturday! 

He spent the morning marching in the local parade here in Santa Ana for Independence Day. Hard to believe he has grown into a young man. As we are in the teenage years I pray things get easier instead of harder with his anger and control issues. God please give us the patience to guide and mentor him.