Yes and No. Yes because, as soon as we connected to wi-fi, we had around 51 emails and 81 text messages! Although a lot of them were not personal emails, it felt good to be thought of.

No, because I felt like I left home to come home. When I told somebody that I felt like I had come home when we came to Mexico, they asked me where there I felt at home. “On the road,” I replied. Which was true because that’s where we spend a lot of our time in Mexico.

We were able to meet a lot of friends and relatives even though we only spent a week there. On Sunday we celebrated Groszmama’s 83rd birthday. She is turning 83 in a week from today but we celebrated it now because she isn’t going to be in Mexico on that date. This provided a great opportunity to meet a lot of relatives. 

The day before I had helped Tante Anna prepare the food. The children went on a hike during that time. A little south of Jorge and Anna’s place is a small river where they spent a greater part of the afternoon. Their shoes, socks, and the boys’ pants were wet and studded with thorns but they were happy. They really enjoyed their time together.

Ironically, while the children played practically in the water, Alberta was having very cold weather. (How often did ya’ll at home have -30 C?) Mexico had fairly pleasant weather although the people living there found it cold. 

We found out that we missed out on some very cold weather in Alberta, a lot of snow in Colorado, and ice rain in Seminole. We are very grateful for this and are hoping for clear roads the next three days. 

Gladly trusting Him who is Faithful,

                                                     Yesenia

P.S. Both border crossings went very smoothly. (Thanks to answered prayers!)

I guess some of you would feel that way if you were deprived of wifi and phone service but when we enter Mexico it doesn’t feel like we’re leaving civilization.

I decided to write a quick update post before we leave the USA. We are planning on crossing the border into Mexico today and I do not know when will be the next time I have wifi to connect to you. Your prayers are coveted as we cross the border and go through the process of getting a tourist permit. The memory of not being able to get a tourist permit at the one office last time we went is still haunting us so we are praying that we won’t have the same problem again. (We had to cross another border that time and were able to get one at a different office.)

Besides all this, I am looking forward to seeing my uncles and aunts and cousins in Mexico. It’s been almost three years since we were there so I should be missing them, right?

We had an enjoyable time at Mariche and Groszmama’s house. We celebrated Thanksgiving there on Thursday.

 

On Saturday we headed to Carlsbad Caverns. Susy and Walter had bought an RV which is called a ‘diesel-pusher’ and a ‘minivan’ by turns.

Anyway, Uncle Walter wanted to take that thing to Carlsbad Caverns so we loaded a bunch of children in there along with some aunts and the rest of us went in our van. 

I wish they would have put more lights in there but what we did see was quite interesting. My tired and sore body prevents me from expounding on the beauties. (:-)) Besides, Mr. Pink-Eye insisted on accompanying me to the Caverns which didn’t improve things.

 

Yesterday we left Mariche’s, along with Groszmama. Who would think that an almost eighty-three year old Grandma would want to join a noisy family of seven children to go to Mexico?

I can hardly believe it’s December already as we are experiencing spring-like weather. In fact, my sweater finished it’s job on the day we left Colorado. But I do know that a lot of you Albertans are in the middle of a snowstorm. I can’t really say that I’m jealous of you although I’m sure by the time I get there I’ll be wishing for snow. Wishing y’all the best.

In Texas,

Yesenia

Yes, that’s where we are at the moment. We left home on Friday in the morning. After a smooth border crossing, we started our trek into the United States. The roads were clear and progress was good. We stayed in Sheridan, Wyoming for the night. We left a little bit before 8:00 a.m. (record broken!) Around lunchtime, we were cruising down the interstate at around 75 mph when Daddy saw a hammer laying on the road. He knew he couldn’t miss it so he just hit it, the thought going through his mind that this might cost a tire. Leandro needed to use a restroom very badly and so we got off of the interstate and found one. After Daddy got out of the van, he checked the tires. Sure enough, the tire was letting out air. We went to find a place to fix it. The Costco parking lot was full so we went to Sears. They were totally booked but they told Daddy to park outside the door and they would at least put the spare on for us. After removing the tire, the man who did it, said he would quickly try to fix it. After he had put it on, Daddy wanted to pay him. “No,” he said he couldn’t accept anything for work done outside. Daddy thanked him and we thanked God. As we thought about it, we realized what a blessing it had been that Leandro had needed the restroom. We could have easily realized that our tire was empty too late. And even if we had realized it soon enough, we would have had to fix it on the shoulder of a busy interstate.

After finding our way through Denver, we headed through the mountains to Frank and Elaine. Even though there was a nice layer of snow everywhere, the road was clear so that was a blessing. We were almost at their house when our trailer started shaking. Another flat! Thankfully we knew the couple whose driveway was next so we just parked the trailer there and headed to Frank and Elaine’s, a few hours later than planned.

Even though the situations weren’t the most pleasant, we saw God’s hand working through it all.

Now we have thoroughly been enjoying our time at Frank and Elaine’s. We had a relaxing Sunday yesterday. Even though we hardly noticed it, it was snowing quite hard all evening. This morning we woke up to a thick layer of snow on the ground. Our cousins didn’t have to go to school due to the weather so we have enjoyed a forenoon outside in the snow with the quads and snowboards.

A view of the table from the second storey.

Thanksgiving Dinner on its way!

Edgar and Samuel really enjoyed the room to spin around in the snow.

 

 

 

Justin helping Leandro get started.

 

And he flies… (after getting enough speed behind the quad)

 

Yes, they are thirteen now. In one day, we have four teenagers instead of one! In fact, now over half of us children are teenagers. Their birthday was yesterday and we celebrated it at breakfast. Janice and Nacho and Willy and Marcie came over. Mama had made an egg casserole, and I baked a lot of pancakes. I had baked a cake the day before, so the girls decorated it after breakfast.

It was an enjoyable forenoon. Especially so with the snow that started drifting down. By evening we had a nice layer of fresh snow!

Although I was three and a half at the time, I remember when they were little. I remember the apprehension as Bianca went through, not one, but two heart surgeries; the worry about Imelda’s pneumonia; and the problem of Edgar not breathing on his own. I also remember going into the NICU in the huge hospitals, finding the correct incubator, reaching into the holes in the incubators to touch my tiny little siblings. And the attention! I was such a special little girl to be their big sister. Busy times obviously followed.

Although the attention has diminished by now, it’s still a specialty.

Happy Teenage years Bianca, Edgar, and Imelda! And may God Bless your next year.

The wind is blowing, the furnace is going, and snow is falling. 

I felt like writing an email to some friends about recent happenings. I did have this niggling thought in the back of my mind that I should maybe do a blog post, so I’ll combine two ideas. We’ve had a beautiful autumn thus far. The other day, Daddy and I were going to pick up the van at the tire shop and I told him that I had thought that nice autumns only happened in the east but I realized differently this year. The trees have been extraordinarily beautiful this year. True, we don’t have much reds and dark oranges but the shades of yellow are very beautiful as well. We have minus temperatures almost every night these days but it hasn’t been enough to take away the beauty of our harvest flowers. They are just full of flowers. It is very nice. Personally, I’m ready for snow but I know a lot of people aren’t for it yet. For Daddy and his brothers, there’s still a lot of cement to be poured before the snow flies.

School and Piano Lessons are keeping us busy as usual. Joshua and I go to Medicine Hat for piano lessons every week. We are taking lessons in the Cultural Centre on the College grounds and it has proved challenging. I was used to a light workload with lots of praise. This has turned out to be quite the opposite. I enjoy it though because I was ready (or I thought I was) for more intensity.

Yesterday, Samuel and Jonathan came along as well. Samuel’s long-awaited glasses were ready so he got to go along to pick those up. I always  enjoy spending time with my cousins even if they are boys. Never having had a close girl friend nearby until recently, I developed a very close relationship with them. I do have my driver’s license now but they still gladly take me along to youth functions.This week we had a tea party at our house with our aunts and cousins in honour of Tante Janice’s birthday. It was an enjoyable time. It has become a tradition to have tea parties for the ladies’ birthdays. Since we are all home-schoolers, we enjoy something ‘out-of-routine’ every once in a while.

I can hardly believe that I’m in my second-to-last year of school. I guess 10th grade must have seemed long because I keep on thinking I have two more years to finish everything. I enjoy school and I start wondering what I will do once I’m done. This doesn’t last long though because I know between Mama and Daddy, I’ll be kept busy. Mama doesn’t oficially teach me anymore but I couldn’t homeschool without her support and encouragement. Not to mention the hours of housework she does so that I can keep on doing school. Don’t you think Moms should get a diploma of devotion at the same time as we get our diploma of graduation? (Not that their job is in any way done then. 🙂 )

We have started a three-times-a-week exercise routine. I need a physical ed credit for my diploma and so Mama and the children joined me. We’re hot and tired once we’re done but I think it’s worth it. If you ever want to see how ‘unfit’ you are, just try a few exercises. We started at beginner level and it’s sure a stretch.

The weekend before last, we went to Great Falls on a shopping trip. We enjoy going there a few times a year to do our monthly shopping. Even if the prices are lower, we don’t save because we stay the night, etc. We do take advantage of the lower prices by buying four carts of groceries. After we’re done in Sam’s, we’re really done.

As I write, I hear some children working in the garage. Samuel is really enjoying the jigsaw Daddy brought from the shop the other day and he’s turning out to be a good builder. The other day, Daddy helped him build a nice birdhouse. I heard rumours of Edgar cleaning out the bunnies’ hutch. Our bunnies are interesting creatures. For one thing, they bite, which makes it unpleasant for us to really handle them. And they’re also really messy.

I think the girls are reading and Mama is taking a nap. Daddy has been working since yesterday morning so we are all looking forward to him coming home today. He’s been in the office for quite a while again so we really miss him if he works a few days.

Daddy started renovating our basement and he was hoping to work on it tomorrow again. The exterior wall in the bathroom is almost stripped and ready for the insulators. It all started with a leaky faucet. Daddy was going to replace it and then he realized that the drywall behind there was all soggy. One thing led to the next until we decided to do a full-fledged reno.

Mine and Elfrieda’s room is next. That means moving into the family room. Our basement is always cold due to poor insulation. We’re hoping to spray out our exterior walls and floor joists and hopefully that solves the problem. Our room also had mold in it which is why we get to be first. I know it’ll be a long process but I’m looking forward to new drywall, new flooring, and new drop-ceiling.

As you can probably tell, we enjoy life. True, there’s thorns as well as roses but the roses are the ones we remember anyway. And they are the ones I’m telling you about.

To God be the Glory, Great things He hath done.

                                                                             Yesenia

 

Me?

A photographer taking formal family pictures???

I just proved Scott Kelby right.

He says that as soon as you have a big camera, your cousin will come and ask if you’ll shoot his wedding.

Well, I didn’t have to photograph a wedding.

And it wasn’t my cousin either.

It was my dear “Aunt and Uncle”. I know that sounds old so I’ll quickly show you a picture to nullify that statement.

No to continue the ‘nullifying’ process, these happy people were willing to let me try out my techniques (and my camera) on them.

After the church service, we went to Elkwater Interprovincial Park for lunch with them. This beautiful park is an irony to the statement that Alberta is plain.

There’s actually a few mountains covered in evergreens rising out of the plains (that are actually quite hilly.)

We took turns taking pictures of each others families.

However Mama says that you don’t take two men along to take family pictures because this is what happens just when the little girly is smiling…

But we did get quite a few nice pictures and I’m glad for that.

However the day was not stress-free and losing my len’s cover did not relieve the stress in any way.

Anyway, here’s a few more pictures:

If any man will do His will,

he shall know of the doctrine….”

John 7:17

The Golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, indellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience. If things are dark to me, then I may be sure there is something I will not do. Intellectual darkness comes through ignorance; spiritual darkness comes because of something I do not intend to obey.

   No man ever receives a word from God without instantly being put to test over it. We disobey and then wonder why we don’t go on spiritually. “If when you come to the altar,” said Jesus, “there you remember your brother hath ought against you…don’t say another word to Me, but first go and put that thing right.” The teaching of Jesus hits us where we live. We cannot stand as humbugs before Him for one second. He educates us down to the scrupleThe Spirit of God unearths the spirit of self-vindication; He makes us sensitive to things we never thought of before.

   When Jesus brings a thing home by His word, don’t shirk it. If you do, you will become a religious humbug. Watch the things you shrug your shoulders over, and you will know why you do not go on spiritually. First go—–at the risk of being thought fanatical you must obey what God tells you.

My Utmost for His Highest  July 27th entry

Now those are big words and strong statements. They might shock you and put your guards up, but just think about it; when are you confused? Is it when you haven’t been obedient? This devotional was an inspiration to me when Daddy read it to us. And here’s why:

As many of you might know (and many of my readers actually are part of this) the little fellowship we had been attending for the past eight(?) years, fell apart almost a year ago. We had been expecting it for awhile, but when it actually came, it was a shock. This was ‘home’. This was where we belonged. Not only was it confusing and heart-rending for us as the ones involved, but it was also confusing for the bystanders. Weren’t we the ones that claimed to have the real thing? We probably never said it, and yet, in our hearts we believed that this was the way to go. We still don’t regret the years we spent there but now God has something else in mind for us.

Now, why do I tell you this? For one thing, a lesson.

Our little fellowship started during a revival. People were getting saved, God was moving. One thing that was impressed upon me was the fact that when you were born- again it was a U-turn, a day-to-night difference, a life-changing experience. I was young at the time, but I decided in my heart, that that was what I wanted when I got born again. A date I could look back on followed by real changes in my life. The problem was, no matter what I did or didn’t do, I didn’t get that. I had listened to the testimonies of others and I did not want to go through the confusion and heartache that they experienced when they didn’t have assurance of salvation. However, God again had something else in plan for me. (Isn’t it interesting what God does with the things we set our hearts on?) I knew that I needed to realize my need of a Saviour and yet, I couldn’t! I thought I was just too proud to admit that I had done something wrong. And yet, (as I see things now) I realize that perhaps I couldn’t see my sins because I had confessed them as I saw them. I have always been a very conscientious person. I can’t fall asleep until I have a clear conscience. When I was younger, Satan got a hold of my brain through this. Before I fell asleep, he would bring up all sorts of “sins” that I thought I needed to confess. Sometimes I even felt guilty for other people’s sins. Oh, the misery of getting up at night again and again to confess to my parents unnecessarily.

By the way, this is just the place Satan wants us. He wants us confused. I learnt how to deal with this unnecessary guilt but later I came to a wonderful realization. If you feel guilty and you can’t pinpoint it, that’s from the Devil. However, if there’s something specific, don’t try to shake the guilty feeling; God is trying to tell you something.

As the years went on, I tried to stay away from the subject of being saved as much as possible. I just got more confused the more I thought of it. I didn’t feel “saved” and I didn’t feel “unsaved”. What was I to do? My greatest fear was that I would pass away suddenly and my family would have no idea where I had gone. However, I am coming to realize that they know me better, much better, than I know myself.

Now here I want to backtrack a bit. Through the years when we had our fellowship, I felt convicted to wear the women’s head covering. Even though I didn’t count myself a Christian, I felt that the passage in 1 Corinthians 11 was addressing women, not just Christians. This brought up more questions as people began wondering if I was baptized. “No”, we told them, “I was wearing it because of conviction, not baptism.”

My one comfort (and yet I don’t know how comforting it was) was the Bible verse that says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” But sometimes I wondered if I wasn’t just being a very good hypocrite. More confusion. Until I read the rest of the passage. “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”

I always thought that God was making a wonderful testimony out of me. (and I still believe He is) I thought that one day I would have a ‘born again’ experience and then I could tell others about my years of confusion and then this glorious ending.

Now I realize that ‘getting saved’ isn’t a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience. This quote describes it so well. “I was saved. I am being saved. And I will be saved.” Instead of a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience, it’s a life-long process.

A while ago, it was mentioned in an opening that it was Naaman’s pride that didn’t like Elisha’s way of healing him. After all, he was a general of the great army of Syria. Shouldn’t Elisha have made a big ceremony of healing him? Now to just go bathe in the Jordan with only his servants as witnesses? That was too much. He wouldn’t do it.

As I heard this, I realized that I had been (and am) a proud person. I would like to have the dream conversion with the right people present and … “a huge ceremony”. This was pride. God wants me to be content with the way He has planned it. He doesn’t want me to have that kind of conversion because then I would take the glory. He created me and He has planned my life, shouldn’t I give Him the glory?

Glory to His Name,

                               Yesenia Unger

“Being confident in this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.  (Philippians 1:6)