renie just got back from the states with all of my mail...it was so awesome to get the cards and presents! thank you everyone! krista i will wear my new yogurtland shirt with pride as soon as i'm not around the kids (it will get ruined hahahaa)

school was pretty good. we're settling into a routine, especially in the morning. the afternoon is still utter chaos, but it will get better.

i brought the new toy to the big house today and the babies seemed to like it! well kind of. angelino fell asleep less than 5 minutes after i put him down and jose manuel just laid there. at least he wasn't crying.

we've had some staff shortages lately so things are all crazy. joanna has been here for about a month and she was alone down below with the preschoolers - 8 of them! 5 of them are in our afternoon class that's crazy. i went down to help her for the rest of the day. it was fun because, other than school, i don't spent a lot of time with the kids down below. i'm always working in the big house or hanging out with the boys. definitely lots of energy. the kids could use an area the size of a football field to work off some of that steam.

we went to dinner and as the kids started eating, josue smacked me on my shoulder and made the sign for pray. i realized they didn't pray before they ate (which they don't always do, it kind of depends on who is working) and so i was like, 'oh great josue! definitely, let's pray!' so we prayed and then ruben smacked me upside the head and wanted to pray too. ruben and i haven't really hit it off yet - he appreciates me as a punching bag and not much more. we're working on that. he knows i love him and as time goes on i'm sure he will love me back. anyways, after we prayed he gave me a huge hug and a salty, beef stew covered kiss. wow. it was the best kiss i've ever gotten!

amy from the mexmed office sent me 'the magic purple book' a week or so ago...it's called breaking out of beginner's spanish. it is completely amazing. it's got tons of practical, super useful, and hilarious info. there's a chapter on how to curse correctly, but i skipped over that one. i don't want to know when people are cursing or learn how to do it hahaha. well, i'm off to read about verbs!

oh also, gabby went to the hospital today. i don't know why but it wasn't for a scheduled appointment, so please keep praying for her especially. hospital visits are (unfortunately) starting to feel routine, but there's nothing routine about them. i think about the kids lying in their beds alone at night in the hospital and really worry about them. i pray and trust that they don't feel alone, because i know God is right there with them.