Special Moments in Cáceres

We took a couple days vacation in Cáceres again this year.   We had our AGM (Area Group Meeting) in Portugal again; so on our way to AGM, we stopped in Cáceres to see friends again!

Our first Sunday, we went to visit the new church in Almendralejo.  That's the city where Wes used to travel every week to teach a small group of youth.  There was no evangelical church in Almendralejo at that time.  It was beyond exciting to see our prayers answered... to walk into the new church building of the very first evangelical church in Alemedralejo!

Praying over the youth who had just gotten back from camp

Our group of youth that used to gather weekly, before there was a church!

We spent the morning at the church and then the afternoon with one of the families that we were close to.  Paqui and Jose, along with their kids Debora and Jose, hosted us for lunch that day.  The kids had a blast playing with their dog, and we all enjoyed a delicious meal together!  It was just nice to fellowship with them again... and to hear the story of how the church became a reality in Alemendralejo.

The kids must've gotten so tired out, playing with their dog... or maybe it was all the traveling the day before, but this was our ride back from Alemendralejo...  :)

 The next day, we got together with Francisco and his wife María Jesús and their kids.  Every year, we have such amazing conversations with them.  Please continue to pray for their salvation!  They are a precious family, very dear to our hearts.

It was a packed couple of days.  The following day, we got together with some of our friends from our daily coffee groups that we used to have.  It's so crazy to see how big/old all of the kids have gotten!

Inés and Carolina

Marco and Weston

Being silly in Burger King... :)

Toña and I

Santo, Wes and Antonio

Pepi, me, and Toña

I just realized that with both of those pictures, we are all lined up as couples.  On the left, Santo and Pepi, Wes and I in the middle, and Toña and Antonio on the right! :)  It was a very fun night, catching up on the last year, and just laughing together.  I definitely miss these ladies.

 I was also able to sneak in a couple hours with my friend Paula.  She is another missionary who has lived in Spain far longer than I.  When we first arrived on the field, she was so helpful with all my silly questions (like, "what do you use in place of sour cream?!?!" :) ), and God just bonded our hearts together.  Over the years, we've walked through many different trials together.  I'm so thankful for her friendship over the years!

We were also able to sneak in a visit to our old neighbors.  The kids always like to go by our old house, just to see how it's holding up.  It looked pretty sad this time... definitely not being taken care of, but we did get to see our neighbors!  They were sweetly excited to see us.

Our last night in Cáceres, we spent with our friends David and Marisa.  It used to be our tradition to go off on monthly excursions together.  We had wanted to do it again, but Carolina was running a fever, so we decided to just hang out together at their house.  It gave the kids lots of time to play, and the adults lots of time to talk. :)

I'm thankful we can continue to make memories, even as the years go on!

American Football Camp in Valencia!

Right after we moved, we had two churches come to help us do an American Football Camp outreach for kids. Two of our good friends were the pastors leading the two churches, so it made for a very special time for us!  They were amazing with all the kids at the football camp, but they were also incredible at making our kids feel loved.  It was such a special time for our four kids.

Introducing the team from North West Community Church, Apex, NC

Introducing the team from Kings Mountain, NC

The day after they arrived, Pastor Matt preached, and Wes translated!

Monday morning, we began the American Football Camp! 

Pastor Jeff tackling Nathan :)

Jonathan and Alec hanging out

Pastor Matt playing with Carolina and Livia

Teaching the younger kids how to hold a football

Sharing Jesus during one of the breaks

Weston (in yellow) got to translate during one of the devotionals

The team spent lots of time and energy pouring into these unreached kids.  The kids so strongly felt the love of Jesus through these men.  The kids didn't want to say goodbye at the end of the week.

We also snatched a couple moments to relax and enjoy Valencia!

Standing in the Mediterranean!

Having fun in our pool with the team

I've been having technical difficulties with my pics because of a recent software update... but I have some awesome pictures of Alec and Caleb with my kids. Once I get things figured out, I will add them to this post!!  These two guys gave up their summer camp so that they could come to Spain, love on my kids, and share Jesus with those who would listen!  We were so grateful for their influence and their encouragement for our kids.  They have so few believers around them; it's a blessing when they get a taste of the fellowship of believers! :)  

We were so grateful for all of these guys coming!  They did a great job sharing the Gospel, loving on kids... but also making our kids feel so loved and special.  Our kids really bonded with these guys... not just Alec and Caleb, but all of them!  There were tears when they left, and we can't wait until we go STAS and see them all again.
 

Weston turns 12!

On July 20th, Weston turned 12.   He has gotten so OLD! :)  Sometime during this past year, he completely passed me in height.  It was around Easter that we noticed that he and I were the same height, almost exactly.  A couple weeks later, we were walking down the street; and I realized I was looking up at him... and I was wearing heels!!!!  How crazy is that?   In just a matter of weeks, he passed by me.  We also noticed that he passed my mom, too.

Look how tall he is!

Because Weston has a summer birthday, we are often traveling during his special day.  This year, Mom and Dad were here somewhat close to his birthday (for the first time ever), so we decided to celebrate it a little early, while they were still here. 

We went out to eat together (which worked out really well, since we still had boxes everywhere!)... all you can eat pizza for Weston! :)

Then we came home to open gifts

In the midst of the move (and because we were celebrating early), we didn't have time to actually go out and get his gift.  So we gave him two gift certificates!... which also allowed him to go with Wes and be a part of picking it out.  In case you can't read it, he got a laptop for his birthday... an 'essential' for online school! He also received Minecraft along with it! 

He essentially got two birthdays in one... because on his actual birthday, we still had to celebrate! :) 

His favorite breakfast... strawberry coffee cake

And thankfully... since we were still dealing with lots of craziness... he just wanted a very simple cake: OREO!... So, it had Oreos in the cake batter, Oreos in the middle filling, and of course, Oreos on top!

Not too impressive to look at, but it was oh, so good to eat!! :)

And he finally got his actual laptop!

It's so hard to believe my baby boy has gotten so big.  He is such a blessing to us.  I'm so proud of the man he is becoming... so responsible, respectful, and such a heart to serve! The thing I am most grateful for is his soft heart before the Lord and His obvious presence in Weston's life.  We are looking forward to this new year and all the changes it holds for both Weston (with online schooling!) and with our family!  Our last year before we have a teenager in the house???? ... Hard to believe. :)

My best friend, her best friend

This is a little out of order, but I couldn't pass this by... it was such a special time for us!  Before we knew we would have to move out of our big house by the beach, we had already made plans with my best friend from college and her family to come visit before school was even out for the kids.  In our town house, we had plenty of space for company... and living right on the beach, it was the perfect vacation spot!! :)

I should have been packing.  Lara offered to help me pack; and truly, next to my mom, she's the one I knew could help me the most.  She's amazing like that.  But with only two weeks left before the move, Wes and I decided we wanted to make sure we enjoyed this time with Brad, Lara, and Emma to the fullest.  And we did!

Emma and Carolina are just 8 months apart.  It was so special watching my daughter with the daughter of my best friend.  We vacationed together when we were on STAS, and the girls talk on Skype every once in a while.  But even after being apart for so long, they still have this connection.  It melts my heart, and I pray they keep it over the years!

Just had to share the sweetness...

Playing at Gulliver's Park

Talking to the police on horseback in the park

Front row seats at the Dolphin show!

Carolina got chosen to pet the dolphins!!

Her dream come true!!

It's hard to believe that our friendship began 20 years ago in a college dorm.  What memories Lara and I have together! ... and now these memories include our own sweet girlies... 

sharing this same bond.  

Precious.