Memorial Box Monday

The kids gave us "spa treatments"

In May, a friend from Mexico that we met through our Spanish church, Socorro, came in to town. She comes and deep cleans homes for different families to make some extra $. We only see her once or twice a year, but we really love her and it is a great treat when we have had her clean our home. This year the Lord provided in so many ways through her.

Basically we hit the jackpot:) She stayed at our house the majority of the 2 weeks. She was such a blessing! Every evening when she got home, she would play soccer, football, baseball or jump on the trampoline outside with the kids while I prepared dinner in peace. Then after dinner every night she insisted on bathing the babies - they have never been cleaner :). She also helped make dinner a few times (authentic Mexican food). Many nights we went grocery or clothes shopping together or out for a coffee and spiritual encouragement. I rarely get much time out with other ladies, so I treasured that time. Then, she insisted on staying with the kids one night so Javier and I could go out for coffee. Also, another night, she planned a pajama party for the kids, full of games, dinner, popcorn and a movie. That allowed us to go out for a nice dinner and stay out as late as we wanted. She taught our kids a lot of Spanish and they just adore her. They now lovingly call her "Tia" (aunt). Oh yeah - and she did a wonderful job cleaning our home and the house we rent (which we needed to get ready for the new renters).

Seriously, how many people could put up with 8 kids that aren't their own for 2 weeks - the fussing, the messes, the noise, the never ending neediness - yet she did it with joy and tears in her eyes when she left. What a cheerful, energetic servant! She uses her "ordinary talents and gifts" to be used for God's glory and to serve others. So to remember this provision of our friend Socorro (Tia) that God gave us, we put a Diet Coke can in our memorial box because she loves Diet Coke.