Bacaville

Time doesn't wait for you!

As we had mentioned in previous blogs (I might add a long time ago) we had been waiting on the Lord for the answer of the four new children in our household.  Well, the Lord answered and the four children arrived at Bacaville in May.   We had the blessing of having the summer time to help them adjust although the adjustment was very peaceful.   I think it was more of an adjustment for Gigi and myself to get used to buckling them all in when we went into town and to keep up with all of them.   Between the teams at the House of Cornelius,  the horrible flooding at the end of the summer, and the beginning of another school year, we finished each day by flopping in the bed and getting as much rest as possible before the new day arrived again. 

As most of you know, the flooding was terrible and many people lost their homes, and everything they owned.  It could have been worst as there was an earthen dam that was threatening to burst and it would have taken out a colony in Juarez and crossed the river and done the same to a housing area in central El Paso.   Thanks to many prayers and even the US Corp of Engineers, that did not happen.   IFM was able to help a shelter where people were staying.  It was difficult planning an outreach until the minute they arrived, since we could not predict the weather and outcome.   God was faithful and the rains stopped and people were able to start over again.  Although we did not have the threat of the river rising, although it is only a mile away, we did have an immense amount of rain and we have experienced a few problems because of it.  Ours are minor compared to many.   Our water table has risen enough to cause a problem with our septic tank, which is being taken care of and I had to pay to have my tired removed and rebalanced because driving through the mud was too much.

I had an accident during the month of July and broke a rib along with injured my hip and leg.   I was on crutches for several weeks but healed wonderfully and was back on pace with the 4 +4 children.   I found that people were generally very considerate to a person on crutches and that was a pleasant blessing.   The second week after my accident, I drove to Dallas to be present for the birth of another grandbaby.  Its always fun to go to Dallas because we have mini reunions with the several families that live in that area.   Errington Brayton was Lyssa and Frank's 5th child.  He is a cutie (of course) and a blessing to the family.  This has been a summer of babies:   Araceli married and had a baby boy,  Carina and Antonio just had a baby girl (with the name of Jennifer Lopez) Rob and Joanne Harmon just had a baby boy, making their total of 4 children, and Kadey Wright is due any day with a little girl.    Maggie and Bill Paulsen (who used to live with me, from Minnesota) have been shuttling expectant mothers back and forth to hospitals.   God bless them for being available.   Elizabeth, who moved to Dallas 1 1/2 yrs ago, just moved into her own home. although I haven't seen it yet.   Chris and Erica Estrada (my grandson) are expecting their first as is Michael and Stephanie Englund.  Mike and Steph are having a girl in February.  They are currently stationed in Oklahoma.  Chris is a youth pastor in Dallas.  Wow, is that enough good news!   Of course NOT!   I probably left out some things.

The children at Bacaville have begun school:  Marcela is in the 5th grade,  Jorge is in the 2nd grade,  David is in the lst grade and Racheal is in Pre-K.   Maria has begun Headstart and the three smallest children, Ruben, Matthew and Marcela are at home with Georgia during the day.  We are going through the paperwork maze and working with getting all the medical current as well as all the other paperwork that we need for the children.   We have several workers with CPS that are assisting us in various areas and they have been a real blessing.   Georgia can't go into El Paso without someone asking her if she has a "day care".   We have added a new puppy to the mix.  He is a pomeranian (small) puppy named Pongo and sadly, we had to put Sugar and Cinnamon down due to physical and age problems.  Just last week, Georgia had to put her horse of many years, Charlie down.  She was 26 yrs old and a friend to the children, animals and all. 

Gigi has received 3 promotions since the children's arrival.  She went from a temp agency to permanent with the company. Then came off the line to work in the office.  The children are bonding well with her and as the Kinship worker, Rosa, said to us last week,  she has a wonderful support system.  Isn't the Lord great to supply so many wonderful people who can assist in so many different ways. 

Pray for us all as we finish out this year, so that we will grow in the wonderful love of the Lord and in His service.