Homes of Love

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Mt. Tunari Hike

One of the best things about living in Cochabamba is the MOUNTAINS! Our valley sits at about 8,400 feet above sea level, but the highest peak in the Andes that surround us is fully twice as high (a little over 5,000 meters above sea level).

I've gone with others to Tunari several times, but September 1 was only the second time I've finished the challenging hike to make it to the top. Here are some pictures of the beauty of that day!

Leaving the car and starting our walk...

Our little group!

L-R: Jake (Washington), Jen (Texas), Anne (Missouri), Jessica (Germany), Stefanie (Germany)

We all live here in Bolivia and everyone but me teaches at Cochabamba's Calvert school

This particular mountain ridge with snow was one of the best views during the hike

There were SO many llamas this time, they were our constant companions during the hike. Took me back to Texas, of all places, remembering when my sister and I each had a llama.

I was rather shocked at this picture - I know that's me, but I didn't realize I was so far ahead! I was making the push (and believe me, you have to be motivated at this altitude) to get to the view at the other side of the crest - all of Cochabamba flung out below us!

Jake, nearing the top. Yep, he got there first and might like me saying it. ;-)

The twin peaks of Mt. Tunari are right behind us

Pretty amazing day! :)

Thursday, September 6, 2012

September 1 Birthday!

On September 1, our dear J turned NINE! That completes the marathon of four kiddos turning nine in recent weeks at CDA II.

J is one of the neatest little girls EVER. She is spunky, fun-loving, smart, and jabbers about anything and everything non-stop. Her mind never stops!! I've also recently discovered her great Bible story reading (and telling) skills.

A favorite picture of J from May 2010 when we were blessed with a visit from a professional photographer

J on September 1 with her mother (one of very few kids currently with us who receive parental visits)

J is not a big eater, but she put away this pizza during her special birthday dinner outing!

Newly nine A came with us, as well as Shirlen, Angel, Jesus, plus Oriana (2) from the Baby Home. I love being with our big kids!

Happy Birthday, J!!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Last week we celebrated M. N.'s second birthday!

I well remember when she arrived such a tiny, sweet baby!

Now she...well...has all sorts of nicknames here!

Don't let that angelic face fool you, we have to watch out for this one! She can knock a baby over with a huge smile that makes it rather hard to know what to do!!

Our M. N. is a fun baby, that's for sure! :)

Please pray for a speedy adoption! A local couple chose her from seeing her picture published in the newspaper as abandoned (part of the paperwork process) but has been denied the adoption multiple times by the court. The case has now gone to Sucre, the judicial capital of Bolivia, for the courts there to make a final decision.

We pray that God's will be done for this beautiful, smart baby, growing up so fast! :)

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Look who's nine!

Last week our third-oldest at Casa de Amor II and longest in Casa de Amor out of ALL of our kids turned NINE!

A was 3rd out of 4 in line to turn nine over a 6 week period - first came boy J on July 16, then girl A on August 1, and still to come, girl J on September 1! Our kids are growing up. :)

A few pictures of the festivities and also of his previous 7 birthdays at Casa de Amor.

Little boy J had turned 3 a couple weeks prior and even though we did his birthday, he didn't get a cake...until this day with A!

Some of the kids really get into "biting the cake"...

L-R: Tia Ana Maria (caregiver with 24 hour shifts), Tia Benita (cook/housekeeper, Monday through Saturday), Tia Carla (our new psychologist for all three homes), Tia Eli (in charge of education, Monday through Friday)

A really cleaned up with the gifts!!

A requested a boat from me, handmade by my jail friends

Afterwards, we loaded up A and five of his specially invited guests - girls Jhosie & Abi, boys Jesus, Marcus, & Edgar - to go eat hamburgers at their new favorite place!

The tio and tia in charge... :)

(Picture by Marcus!)

Playing basketball in the car with their "happy meal" prizes!

2005

2006 (in blue striped shirt)

2007 (in red stripes)

2008 (sharing a birthday with C, at head of table)

2009

2010

2011

Happy Birthday, A!!!

Even though the past year has been very hard, we know that God has good plans for your life, and we are excited to be a part of them! :)

Monday, August 27, 2012

To the Lake!

On a recent local holiday we decided to get out of the city with the big kids! We went to Lago Angostura, to the south of town. It's actually not that far (less than an hour drive), but sort of feels like it. We had a great day!

I wish that I had taken a picture of the complete group, but we were 19 people: 13 energetic children (8 boys, 5 girls), 2 Bolivian tias, 2 French Canadian volunteers, plus Jake and me!

This was probably the first boatride any of our kids have ever experienced.

I wouldn't have been surprised if one of the younger ones had showed hesitancy about the boat, but it was M (just turned 8) who refused to get on. After an extended conversation, I finally got him to admit what he was worried about - drowning - and then worked from there. I told him I was paying for us to be taken off dry and to be BROUGHT BACK dry, that I wasn’t about to get into the lake water, either!

When M finally piled in the boat, he headed straight for Jake's side, having heard that he has worked as a life saver. The best words of the whole boat ride came at the end as Marcus said with a beaming smile, “Tia, let’s do it AGAIN!” :)