Mountain Top Coffee and a Very Large Bull

Well, the girls are gone now, and our house is empty once again.

Sunday was another full day. After Church and lunch out, we went to a soccer game, Tacos Chi'huas for dinner, and out to see the city at night.

Here are some pics from the soccer game:


Here is the giant statue of a bull that is next to a giant flagpole (why is everything so big in Mexico and why do they build so many statues?)
We finished the night off at a cafe on the side of a mountain. We drank hot Mexican drinks and snuggled under the complimentary blankets that the waiters are kind enough to give the people who are brave enough to face the cool evening temps on the patio.

Thank you girls for a fabulous weekend!

On a side note: Jay and I had our 1 year anniversary on Monday. Although the wedding seems like it just happened last week, we have held enough jobs and lived enough places in one year to fill many years to come.
I love you Juanito and I am looking forward to those years to come.

The Girls Are Here!

I have neglected to post the last couple of days - I apologize.

Last weekend we survived yet another trip to Majalca (the same place we took the Jr. Highers). We went with the Tylers and the Meissners, and although the trip killed the Tyler's car, I think overall it was a pretty fun day.

This weekend, we have company. My sister-in-law Melissa is here and she brought her friend Laura. They arrived last night and today we conquered the city.

We went to El Pasito, on a seemingly endless search for cowboy boots for Melissa.

We went downtown and had a treat of Elotes before we went to the governor's palace


and to the square in front of the Cathedral.

We ate lunch at the Deportiva and watched people race their babies... yes, those are infants crawling.

After a walk with the dog, we ate dinner at home and soon we are going to sit down and watch the Three Amigos (my request: these three have been quoting it all day, and I am feeling left out).

We have another full day planned for tomorrow that may or may not include climbing at least one mountain.

Some thoughts. . .

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about "home". Where is it? How can I get to it? When can I get to it? etc. . . Today I had a realization: I don't know where home is right now.

Sometimes, I think it is back in Michigan, in my parents house where I have spent 22 or so years of my life.
Sometimes, I think it is in Lincoln, in the dark, cozy, little basement where Jay and I spent our first few months of marriage.
Sometimes, (and this one is more rare) I think it is here, in Chihuahua, in this brightly colored home with it's weird noises and unreliable electricity.
Sometimes, I think it is at camp.
Sometimes, I think it is in Norfolk.
Sometimes, I think it is Up North.
Sometimes, I think it is at Disney.
Sometimes, . . . well you get the point.

But God has revealed something to me. I have lived in three different "homes" in the (almost) year since I have been married, and God has given me peace in each one.
He is teaching me that "home" is where I am serving Him. "Home" is any place that I have had peace that comes from Him. I am blessed to have so many places that I consider "home", and God is teaching me how to serve Him and have peace in Him wherever I am.

Ok.

Side Note: Last night we had a random storm come through Chihuahua in the middle of the night. Whenever it rains, our electricity tends to turn off and then on again several times. It was doing this in the middle of the night, when all of a sudden, there was a huge crack of thunder and a flash of lightning at the exact same moment, as the lightning struck very near our house.

"What was that?!?" I asked as adrenaline coursed through my veins.
"It sounded like a shotgun," Jay mumbled, half asleep. "Or a cannon. . . yeah, it sounded more like a cannon."

Yes, Jay, most likely it was a cannon.

Pictures of the Week.

Here are a couple of pictures that sum up the highlights of the past week.

First, here is the GIGANTIC pepper I found at the grocery store. In this picture I am holding it so that one side is touching my nose.

Friday night we went out to eat with the MacDonalds (including their girls Leanne and Katie, and new grandson Gideon), and the Steinbachers (John, his daughter Julia and the new grandbaby, Naddie).
Here is a picture of the grandpas.

Here is a shot, minus the grandparents and one baby.

That's all for now...