First month down...

<---Ella and Papa Jeff. They're two peas in a pod!

We've been back from Peru a month now and can hardly believe that it has not been longer!! It seems like we've been gone an eternity. Homesickness (for Peru) has set in and we are really missing our friends, family rather, in Peru. But there are so many wonderful things to be thankful for here. The newness of Ella in her cast is wearing off. We're starting to get the hang of a 2 1/2 year old in a full-body cast and how to maneuver her around. She's getting pretty sick of it, but is such a good sport. Her latest "accomplishment" was learning how to wiggle around and kind of "crawl". She'd start on her stomach and then put her hands under her body and push up. Then, with her half-free leg, she'd scoot forward and drag her immobile leg along. It wasn't a good idea though. The night after she figured out how to move she was in terrible pain and slept very little because it stressed her muscles that just been operated on. So, we're trying our best to keep her from scooting, but it's hard now that she knows she can do it. Ella's still as happy as ever. She asks politely to be moved from here to there and is more patient than I think I would be in her position. God has placed a peace on her little heart and body. We are so amazed at the signs of His love and fulfillment in her life. I know that there is no way a little two year old could understand what is going on with her body, but it seems that Ella does understand or is at least patiently accepting this new life-style, at least for now.

<--- Ari was doing a puppet show for Ella

Ari has been having a rough time. Not because of Ella in her cast, but we think because of all of the changes in her life. The biggest one being the move from Peru to the States. She is starting to settle in now, but the first three weeks were really tough. We had to continually comfort her and reassure her that we weren't leaving. Every time one of us would go somewhere (when she wasn't coming along) she'd cry and hang onto us until we'd finally have to pry her away and slip out the door leaving her in the arms of either Cal or me depending on who was staying at home with them. Ariana has however, enjoyed speaking English and being in her own element. One phrase she uses a lot at church when she recognizes someone is, "I know you!!" And then she runs to them and squeezes them tightly. All the signs of familiarity are very comforting to her right now. Cal and I have been struggling with a sense of "lostness" (just made up a word). :) But that's kind of where we're at. It's crazy that that feeling can even be around right now because we can see the amazing ways that God is leading in our lives! We've narrowed it down to the fact that it's Satan's way of battling us right now. Right now I am doing the Beth Moore study on Revelation and have been challenged to write down all the ways that God meets with us each day. How he reveals Himself to us and gives us divine appointments on a regular basis. I've been doing it for three weeks so far and when I read all the blessings and ways that God has revealed Himself to us aloud to Calvin the other night, we were snapped out of our frustration, and were overwhelmed as we reflected on God's goodness and love in our lives. We are absolutely certain that He has a great plan for us! We are still in need of prayer! Please pray that we would seek His will in our lives and that the distractions that Satan throws at us would NOT be effective. We want to follow Jesus whole-heartedly!

<---Ella LOVES dogs!! This is one of her favorite things in the whole wide world!

Another upcoming "event" is our (mine and Ella, Ari, Aunt Rhonda, Brianne & Ryker's) trip to Salt Lake City for Ella's MRIs and cast change. We're SO blessed to have such a great family and be so close-knit! I'm so thankful that Aunt Rhonda and Brie are spending four days to travel with me and my girls and help out while we're in SLC so Cal can continue working!! This will be a big visit for us because we'll get some important questions answered. Like, does Ella have cerebral palsy and how is it effecting her development? And is the dimple on Ella's lower back connected to her spinal cord and will it require back surgery? The trip will be a milestone as well because it's our half-way mark for Ella in her full-body cast! We'll only have 6 weeks left!
This past month has been a blur as we've reconnected with friends, cared for Ella in her cast, tried to settle into American life, and Cal's gotten trained at his part-time job at Paul's. It's been a hard transition, but so good. We are so blessed with the amazing friends and family that we're surrounded with. Thank you so much for your continued prayers for our family as we seek what God has for us next. We could not ask for a better body of believers! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your out pouring of love on our lives! We'll continue to keep you posted.


<--- Here's Ella passing some time with her Papa Al :)





I just had to get one of her little bum....so if anyone's wondering how we change diapers and were "it" all goes...now you know. :)