Background

OH MY GOSH!  Only five days until I'm going to my favorite place in the world....MEXICO!

This trip is going to be focused a lot on our Mexican "foster" daughter, who we sponsor from a children's home in Monterrey.  We first met Ady Leslie when she was 10 years old.  I fell in love with her IMMEDIATELY!  Her personality wrapped me right around her little finger!

Here is a picture of my girl the first time I met her!

Ady Leslie in June 2008

Fast forward FIVE YEARS!  On Sunday, March 3, 2013, we will celebrate Ady's 15th birthday.  In Mexico, it it celebrated by a big party called a quincenera.  Honestly, from day one, I dreamed about being able to be a part of her special party.  I guess I just didn't trust the Lord enough to give me the desires of my heart because until about a year ago, I didn't think it would really happen.

Now, here we are!  Her quince is just days away, and I'm trying to get everything wrapped up here before I leave.  My son, daughter, husband, two nieces, and sister-in-law/best friend are going with me!  The plan was for my Timothy (middle son) and Tim (brother) to come along, too.  We have prayed for years about a trip we could all be on together.  But, between school and work, we just couldn't work it out.  

Please pray with us regarding this trip!  I will try to post a specific prayer request each day before we leave and after we are down there.

Today's request:

Please pray for each member of our team (18 in total) as preparations are made to leave.  Packing, getting arrangements made for time away from work/home, and enough rest so we can give everything we have while we are there!

I'm going to post a few more pics of Ady through the last few years.

I lost touch with Ady for about 18 months.  She had changed children's homes and started being called by her middle name.  The day I saw her again, I thought my heart would burst with excitement!  This picture was taken in March of 2010.

Ady and I in June 2010.  Oh, how I LOVE this child!

Ady in March 2011.  This was the day she got her braces put on and she was the happiest person alive!  The summer before, a dentist was on campus and I asked him to check her teeth.  When she realized we wanted to provide the braces for her, she was jumping up and down and crying!  What kid gets excited about braces?  She truly is a young woman who exhibits God's heart in her life.  She is loving, thankful, appreciative, and wants to be a missionary in Africa to minister to orphan children!

My girl in June 2012.  Is she not the prettiest thing you have ever seen?