Home Again

After spending some wonderful time with family in California for the memorial of Kevin's grandfather, the Book-Satterlee clan hopped on an airplane and flew back to Mexico City. In the few days we have been back we have hit the ground running, especially as school is out for Easter Break and our Mexican family has been taking full advantage of being able to spend more time together. On Wednesday evening they put together a Noche de Talentos, or Talent Night. Mostly it involved watching how cute our kids are singing and dancing, but some of the adults got into it too. There were lots of laughs and also yummy food!

Because of visitors, trips, and work business I feel as if I have not been able to reflect during this lenten season as I would have liked. I cannot believe that in only a few days it will be Easter. I spent a lot of time preparing Eliana for Christmas and reflecting on Christ's birth, but I feel as if I have missed the boat with Easter, which really is the most amazing part of our Savior's story. Last year we did an Easter egg hunt, and hidden in each egg was an element of Jesus' death and resurrection. Even though we have missed the opportunity for some of the reflection leading up to this point I hope to experience this tradition again. Do you have any family or personal traditions you follow during the Easter season? I would love to hear your ideas!

Please be praying for Kevin because he will be preaching this Sunday. Different from the United States, Easter Sunday is really a hit or miss day as far as church attendance goes. Sometimes there might be a large group, and sometimes it might be almost empty (as most Mexicans vacation during Holy Week). We are praying that no matter what the attendance that God will work through Kevin sharing the amazing truth of our Savior's death and resurrection and draw people closer to Himself.

This past week my (Leah's) parents came to visit. It was so fun to see them and be able to share with them our life and ministry. It was especially fun to introduce my Dad to Mexico as this was his first visit. We hope that they come back soon! I am working on a short video of their visit which I hope to post soon. Right now we are on a short trip to California for Kevin's grandfather's funeral. Please keep his family in your prayers as we remember and celebrate his life.

Visit

This week we have been having these fun people visiting us!

Remembering

A year and a half ago we moved from California to Mexico City. A lot has changed in our family since that time. Eliana has grown up a TON, become bilingual, and is now a big sister. We are so thankful for how God has graciously led us, but we are also thankful for the time we had near family and we look back on that time with fondness. Here is a little video from Eliana's last day on the farm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk5A-wX_Z9k. And here is a picture of our oldest now! My how times change.

Choosing Fear or Choosing Faith

Recently I had a conversation with one of our YearOut students about fear.  Through reading one of our assigned books, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, this particular student was realizing that fears play a far more prominent role in her life than she had realized. As we discussed some of her fears, I realized anew how fear can play such a powerful role in my life as well.

I have battled fear about my identity, fear in relationship, fear of taking risks, the list could go on and on. Through God’s grace, I feel as if many of those fears have been met at the cross. Christ sheds light on how these fears cripple and burden me, and then, if I choose in faith to hand over my fears, he shoulders that burden for me.

Over the past couple of months the fear that has reared its ugly head in my face over and over is that of concern and care for my children. This fear has particularly been brought to the forefront as we have dealt with illness. Before Owen came around, Eliana had experienced some sickness, but not to the extent that both of them have experienced recently. In their illness I had to come to grips with the fact that, though I am their mother and in charge of their care, I am not in fact in control of anything.  I can do my best, but I must daily acknowledge that my children are gifts that do not fully belong to me. Even as I write these words, I know I have a long way to go as far as allowing the truth of this admission to become heart and not just head knowledge.

Confession time: our family has been practically existing in the realm of stress overload in the last couple of months. The factors that played into this stress are many, not the least of which is extreme lack of sleep (definitely different than the regular newborn variety). However, I am realizing more and more that by allowing myself to live in fear regarding my children’s health rather than choosing faith the panorama of our family life might have looked different. I must ask myself, what lessons am I teaching my children through my actions? Because, after all, all parents know that actions speak louder than words!

Our God has not promised to save us from the difficulties of life. The truth is that our fears can become reality. The question is, are we going to allow the threat of that fear, or even that realized fear, to control us? Or will we allow God to shoulder our burden and walk alongside us? God has not promised us deliverance in the short run, but he has promised his presence. I want my kids to know that I trust God even through the most difficult times of life, that this isn't something I simply say, but something I live.

Vacation!

Our family left sickness behind last Thursday and flew to Cancun to visit our Mexican sister and her family. It was a much needed breath of fresh air for us after the last month and a half. For Kevin, it was his first real vacation (no work was brought) in a year and a half. Upon return we have felt revitalized and encouraged by the health of our children that we can once again join the ebb and flow of every day life, yea! Here are a few pictures from our time.

Eliana was a huge fan of the beach!

Owen was not!

He looked cute though!

We relaxed on the beach

We ate yummy food

Owen's (and Eliana's) first professional soccer game -- you can tell Owen was really into it!

Eating a local treat -- crispy crepes with cheese and other fillings (Kevin had sweetened condensed milk and I had nutella)

Our only all group photo, the adults are all smiling and the kids are all doing their own thing!

Thanks Reyna, Obed, Elisa and Isaac for hosting us, we had a great time!

Retrasos and Recovery

Unfortunately, after my last post of how wonderful the road to recovery was, Eliana was hit by a nasty virus that left her unable to keep anything down for about a week. This was really our first experience with a stomach virus for such a prolonged period of time. We watched our happy, active, talkative little girl change so dramatically she could barely stand, talk or smile and she spent most of the day on the couch asleep. The virus also eventually got to Owen, but in a much lighter form.

The kicker of it all was that we had bought plane tickets to visit part of our Mexican family (from the family that originally hosted us when we arrived in 2007) who live in Cancun. Kevin worked over Christmas break so we never were able to have a vacation together as a family, and when we found discounted tickets we went ahead and bought them. In the end it was a close call whether or not we should countinue with our trip as planned, but because Eliana was showing good signs of improving we went ahead and flew to Cancun on Thursday. 

Thankfully, since we have been here in Cancun Eliana has improved dramatically (mostly due to her ability to keep food down). We watched our little girl come back and we are so grateful to have her like her old self. We are also extremely thankful for the opportunity to rest together as a family. I will update more about our trip in the following week.