la quinceañera

I have told you before all the amazing things that have been going on in Ruby’s life. Not that she doesn’t have struggles (she spent the night in the hospital last week for some intestinal issues so keep her in your prayers for complete healing!) but she is a classic conqueror.  She brings light to every room she enters and the Holy Spirit fills every place she is worshipping in. This weekend we had the honor to celebrate her 15^th birthday (her quinceañera). The first week she was with us she was admitted into the hospital. The doctor who diagnosed her syndrome told me that the average life expectancy of children with this diagnosis is 12 ½ years. In that moment, a moment of spiritual weakness, crushed by this number, I remember thinking, “really God. . . you brought her here just in time to die?” But knowing deep down, knowing that couldn’t be the case, I grasped onto the hope that God had brought her to us to do great things; to be a testimony to the works and miracles of God, and to be an example of pure faith to all who know her.

It was a great party. I mean it’s the only quinceañera I’ve ever been to, but I would have to say even if I had been to others, it would have been in the top. We were able to pull decorations that Joely had left over from her party and put them with some things that Yicza had and then with a few last minute purchases, we were ready for business. Ruby was radiant. She was so excited. She LOVED her new dress, and her new shoes, and she was so anxious to enter into the chapel (where we had it) making her grand entrance. I never imagined that I would get emotional. I should have expected it, but for whatever reason, it didn’t cross my mind. It hit me though, the second we entered the room. The three littlest girls led the procession and as we walked in and everyone cheered and clapped for Ruby, I couldn’t help but tear up. I was so proud. She’s not my biological daughter to be able to claim a normal parents’ pride, but I felt so full in that moment. To know that all year the girls had been praying for her to walk by her 15^th birthday, and to see that pray turn into a miracle, and to have the honor to walk in by her side, I just couldn’t have been happier. Of course I tried to hide the tears, until I realized that I was not the only one. Everyone was emotionally touched.

Enough of my sappy retell, here are some pictures :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

night time adventures

Playing outside with joe! The big kids all had gone to church for the evening so we found other ways to entertain ourselves! I'm not exactly sure what this game involves . . .

One of the kids explained it as buying and selling flowers???? I'm not sure how accurate that is. They did have fun though! And do you see, they all have jackets on, it was that cold! I just sat with Ruby who was not as willing to go play in the cold. She preferred to sit wrapped in a blanket on my lap.

In the end everyone had quite a bit of fun AND were plenty tired when bedtime came.

Can you tell that once again we're missing teeth!

If I made a quarter for every tooth that fell out of a little mouth in this house. . . I'd be a millionaire, or at least I'd have a couple more dollars :)

Could you sleep like this?

I mean, she has an entire bed. . . you would think if she wanted to ball up she would at least do it lying on her side!

 

Monkey Hut

The kids (and me) had a blast swimming in the Laguna de Apoyo in Catarina today. It was a reward for the big kids for learning their Bible verses for a Bible Study they are doing. 

 

chat time

I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing this :) Next time I look forward to my daddy being there too!

Frankie was pretty concerned as to why he wasn't around, he finally concluded that he must be sleeping.