ALMOST home at last!

This was Annie playing after being in the plane or on a bus for many hours today!

Nothing like friends!

This is Big Annie from Costa Rica and little Annie from Mexico!
This is Jackson and Annie, they played together all week long! Are they cute or what?

Reading cards from children in Japan! Thanks Jessica!

Heading home to Mexico

This is just a real quick post before we get on the bus heading to the airport in Guatemala City. We have spent a great week in Guatemala with coworkers for an annual meeting. We have learned a lot and been refreshed in some good fellowship. The kids have had a blast with other friends. Annie continues to do better but still is complaining of itching and a still a little nervous during bath time. Please keep us in prayers as we travel back to Mexico today. We should have more time tonight to put a more extensive post up with more news. We continue to thank all of you for your prayers.

Almost back to normal!

Hi everyone, I am sorry it has been a few days since our last update. We have been a little busy. Annie has been doing so well and has had so much fun with her friends. Her 3rd degree burn has just about closed up and hopefully tomorrow we can try to have a normal bath. We have had 2 days without tears and bath time is starting to be less tramatizing. We have noticed some things that bother her, that we will have to work through. She does not want to be put into water, like a bath tub, however she has talked about splashing in a pool. We hope to try that tomorrow. She also becomes alarmed when she hears other children screaming or crying. I believe she is remembering other children in the burn center crying in pain and this scares her. However, it is good because she is realizing that sometime kids cry for other reasons. Please pray that she will get over these fears.

Last night we had an auction to raise money for our company. Some people brought things from different countries including the United States to auction off. We raised over $3000 and had a great time doing it! This picture is of Annie, Jerod and Alex with their Frosted Mini Wheats, chocolate chips, USA hat, and Book of Jonah that they purchased in the auction. You would be amazed at the amount people spend when they REALLY want something! The items that got the highest bid were two, 1 pound bags of M&M's that were auctioned for $130.

As you can see by the next picture, Annie is starting to enjoy showing people her hands and arms to show how God has healed her. The psychologist said that this would be good therapy and I have found that it is . She has been such a blessing to us! She continues to teach us many lessons through her healing. Thank you for your continued prayers! Love you all!

No tears at bath time!

Yay! Today was the first day in a month where Annie was tear free! It is hard to believe that this accident happened a month ago tomorrow. (Tuesday) We are truly feeling like God has worked a miracle in Annie. After her tear free bath time tonight she said, "God is doing a really good job, isn't He?" Of course Greg and I smiled and said, " Yes, Annie He is doing GREAT!" She even told Greg that he didn't have to act silly tonight if he didn't want to because she wasn't sad! Praise God for that!

I have put a few pictures of our day on here. The first one is of Annie with her new towel from her new friend Hannah. Annie says that this helped bath time a bunch! She really did have an awesome day. As I have mentioned before, we are here in Guatemala for our annual meeting with our company. We are so blessed to be with a company who takes such good care of us, seeing to every need, even the needs of our little ones! Annie had her first try at the Wii game. She had so much fun playing it and you can see in the second picture that her brothers are her biggest fans! In the third picture you can see one of Annie's "aunts" was really rooting for her as well! I took that picture right after Annie missed her long jump! Annie says,"Aunt Barb is fun!" Thanks for your continued prayers, we feel them! Love you!

Not much news!

I know I keep saying the same things and I really don't want to bore you with the same prayer requests! Annie is doing so well that I am about to say it is time to turn your prayers to others who need it more. I say that, and then I look at her open wounds and think she really does still need your prayers. She still is not completely healed and still has some pain. Baths are still a big challenge and it is constantly on her mind. This morning she woke up and the first words out of her mouth were, "Do you have to change my bandages?" Then at about 5:00 pm she asks about bath time. So, we are not out of the woods yet! She is really enjoying playing with friends and "going to school." That is what she calls it when she goes to her class here.

Being here in Guatemala really has been the medicine we all needed. Jerod and Alex have been enjoying swimming and playing hide and go seek until it is bedtime. They have had a blast and the week is just starting. Greg and I had some time together today and that was needed as well. We went to a plaza here and bought some souvenirs. I have put these pictures on here so that you can see we are all doing great. The boys haven't been still enough for a picture but I will try to take one of them soon. I am thinking about continuing with this blog about our time in the village as well. We will see. Thanks for lifting us all up! We continue to feel your prayers!