In a Nut Shell...

So I know that it has been a long time since I have posted. I have actually written several posts that I have not posted. Mainly because it has been hard to know what to say during this time of reentry. But, we are doing well and finally starting to figure out where we are in life. So in a nut shell:

Alison has finished 1st grade. The transition was hard for her but on her last report card she got all A's and 1 B. (The B was in spelling of course.) This was a major improvement from her first report card in which she had failed in spelling! We are very proud of her! She reads at almost a 3rd grade level and will read ANYTHING she can get her hands on. She made friends quickly at school and has such a sweet and giving spirit. She misses Mexico and talks about it every day. She wants to watch shows in Spanish because she prefers it over English. Over all I think she has readjusted well!

Christian has done great since we have been back. His new obsession is Star Wars. He got a game cube for his birthday as well as a Lego's star wars game and we have yet to hear the end of it! He has done great since being back. He only wants food that has chili on it and gets anoid with "American" style Doritos and Cheetos. When given the option he will eat Mexican candy over boring American candy! He is our little Mexican for sure!

Chris and I have had major ups and downs. Reverse culture shock is not something I would wish on my worst enemy! But we have weathered through and things are looking great! Our time with AIM was great! We made many friends and influenced young people. More then that we where encouraged and uplifted. We have both been participating in LTG's (Life Transformation Groups) and have had so many one on one time with the AIM staff. When we left Mexico we did so because it was what was best for our family. It is for the same reason we are choosing to leave Lubbock for the greener pastures of Shawnee, OK. After having an amazing experience in Lubbock, we decided that we needed something more permanent for our family. We need a place to call home. The Lakeview Church of Christ came to Leon several times. Chris and I always loved them and felt loved by them. Their preacher (a wonderful man) decided it was his time to move on after 10 years and so they came and asked us if we were interested. After about a month of back and forth, we decided that God was the one leading us this direction. So in a week and a half we will make that move. We are on the process of buying our first home and we will close on the 27th of this month. (If you would like to see it go to openhouseok.com, click view by city, click Shawnee and then scroll down to 27 Clark cir. and you can take a virtual tour!) We feel blessed by God. He has blessed us beyond what we deserve. All we can hope to do is to continue to follow His guidance. We feel that He has been leading our journey and it is only by His continued grace that we get to continue to work for Him. We feel blessed. Our journey has been hard and full of unexpected things, but we are better people for all the hard times! We have countless friends who are in Christ all over the world. Right now I thing about the missionaries around Mexico who where shinning lights when our world felt so dark. God used them to make us better people. So to the Rush's, the Burn's, the Brednich's and the Henderson's we praise God for your families and think about you every day for all your love and support. We could not have had the strength to continue had God not put you all in our lives! Thank You!!!!

So...In a nut shell...God has been Good to us!