The obligatory quote from what is arguably one of the top five films of 1939 (name that movie!) seems so appropriate, and yet I will refrain for the time being. As a random side note, can you believe that said movie will be eighty years old this year? I do want to let y’all know that we did make it home late Thursday, April 18th.

We had a wonderful time visiting several family members on our trip through Oklahoma and Texas in addition to two days visiting our stateside directors, Alise and Chad Mason, and despite several unavoidable and unforeseen delays, we were able to celebrate Easter with our La Huerta church family! Easter consisted of services on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon (we actually missed that one), and a sunrise service at 6 am on Sunday, followed by breakfast: chicharrones soup and bread or tortillas. After the service our family went home and took a nap. The rest of the day was filled with various chores, laundry, and introducing Aubri to Jenrri and Glenda who popped over to pick some of their things up and for a little visit before returning to her mother’s home to continue their Easter celebration.

As Easter is an extended school break in Mexico, last week was just a time of resettling and acclimating to Mexico as a family of four. We walked to the grocery store, did lots of unpacking and reorganizing, called both sets of our parents, and Saturday, Adam ventured to the village of Sombreretillo on his motorcycle for outreach with La Huerta.

Yesterday, we had a very splendid time catching up with Jenrri and Glenda. We really love the moments where we get to bond with just the two of them! Last night that looked like lots of conversation and planning, but also growing closer over rice, hamburger, and guacamole with WAY too much lime juice in it (sorry, Glenda), laughing over a few jokes, playing with a new electronic gadget, chatting about motorcycles, and washing dishes together. We went to bed very late because we were just having too much fun.

The kids return to the home next Sunday, May 5th, and to school May 6th. While we were gone in Wichita, a couple of the kids decided that they didn’t want to follow the rules at the home and they left. Because the home is not a government institution, the kids are all here on a volunteer basis and the parents can pull their children out at any time, for any reason, or no reason at all. We were heartbroken to find that neither Osbaldo nor Andrea will be returning with the rest of the children next week. Please pray for both of them. We really felt that we were making some headway, with Osbaldo especially. His mother had given encouraging reports about his changing attitude at home. Please pray for us, too, that we would find a way to continue to minister to him and his family. With both of them gone, and some birthdays passed, the home is down to eight children now, six boys and two girls ranging in age from seven to twelve, plus our three year old and two month old. We will definitely keep busy and are so glad to be back!

That’s about it for now. Did you figure out what movie I was talking about to open? I’ll give y’all another hint, there truly is no place like home!