Putting God Back in the Holidays

I just finished a fabulous book that I recommend to all of you! It's a great "helps" book - helps for doing something we desperately need in our society today. Let's put GOD back into the holidays we celebrate! My favorite part was - no, I can't tell you, because I loved all of it!

Gotta admit, some of those holidays mentioned don't have a lot of meaning to me - since I grew up south of the border (the U.S. border, that is), and have spent most of my life south of the border, some of the holidays, like Memorial Day, Arbor Day, Veteran's Day and Labor Day weren't really on my radar, but I'm sure they're on yours and need to be remembered for exactly what they are! Celebrations! And we can make them spiritually meaningful for our children and grandchildren, or anyone who surrounds us.

Read it! You'll be inspired! You'll be challenged! Maybe you'll even be rebuked (in a loving way, of course). You'll want to put some - maybe ALL - the suggestions, to use this year. I know I've already got plans for many of them! And Valentine's Day is fast approaching! Here in Mexico, it's MUCH MORE than "just" day for those in love - it's Dia de Amor y Amistad - Day of Love and Friendship. So, go for it. Let's keep Christ in ALL our holidays this year!

Fun in the sun in El Paso

Elia is one of those people who can enjoy a good book even among the chaos.

She does it well!

I was surprised that Josie - on the right - could fit into Maria and Lluvia´s
dress-up dresses.
But the most amazing discovery was when she appeared in
Eden´s (age 2) little tutu! Wowser! It definitely fit her!

Very snuggly!

Isn´t being 6 and totally uninhibited FUN??!!

Elia and Abuela got in some cookie baking this morning.

And there´s not a cookie left as of 3 PM!

Guess we´ll have to do it again tomorrow!

While Elia´s cousins, sister and especially brothers were running

and being crazy, Elia "had to" sketch the wonderful scene

before her!

Enjoying the El Paso sun.

There´s not much of that in Chesterton, IN these days!

See that teeny spot of person at the top of this hill?

Well, gotta admit, I don´t either!

But there ARE people up there!

Very excited little people who couldn´t wait to CONQUER THE HILL.

See that great mountain behind us?

We CONQUERED it today!

LIFE I AM THE NEW YEAR

A friend sent me the following poem and I thought it was a great way to consider this yew year God has given me. There are always so many dreams and desires in a new year and, with God´s help, many , if not all, of them will be accomplished. At least that´s my hope.

My first desire this year was for a healthy baby to be born to Ken and Esme. And God did it! Kenneth Enoch is a very healthy, beautiful baby. And a second desire: that some of his far away relatives would come for a visit to get acquainted! And tonight around 8 Mike and Kris and their four, will be arriving to spend a few days doing just that! It´s a very short visit, but we´ll take all we can get, right?

LIFE I AM THE NEW YEAR

---

Life I am the new year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.
I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.
All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out with more determination.
All the good that you tried for and didn't achieve
is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.
All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have --
these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.
I am your opportunity
to renew your allegiance to Him who said, "behold, I make all things new."
I am the new year.

-- Author Unknown

Kenneth Enoch Hanna

This picture was taken special for Abuelo and Abuela La Luz.
Note the name on his hat!

Centro de Maternidad La Luz is the birthing center
that attended the birth.

But it fits, doesn´t it??

Taken just minutes after his birth.

Counting our blessings!

What are Little Girls Made Of?

Here at the Hanna household I´ve been hearing the following poem, at least three times a day, sometimes more. Maria reminded me again this morning on the way to her school and asked me to quote it. It goes right along with what´s happening in this house - three girls and a soon-to-be boy.

WHAT ARE LITTLE GIRLS MADE OF?

What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spce and everything nice,
That´s what little girls are made of.

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snps and snals and puppy dog tails,
That´s what little boys are made of.

Good News in Every Language

What a great book I just read about a great man, used incredibly by our great God!

Cameron Townsend (known in Latin America as Don Guillermo) started out with CAM International, but soon went on to start his own mission, now known as Wycliffe Bible Translators, and also started SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics) and JAARS - Wycliffe´s branch for flying - I don´t know what the letters stand for!)

What a fascinating life Cameron had! And what made it even more interesting to me was that so many of the places, things and people are places, things and people I know! He and his first wife Elvira started out their translation ministry in Tetelcingo, a town where I spent many many happy occasions when I was a child! Wow! What fond memories! It spoke of Tamazunchale, another town my family and I visited on our way to and from the U.S. I loved that town! One of the first students in his summer jungle camp (where they trained recruits to live in the jungle) was Ed Sywulka, long time friend and colleague with me in CAM International! Of course all his mention of places in Mexico City were very familiar to me! And yes, I even knew him and his second wife Elaine, who also was an amazing lady!

Another neat thing: I have a grandson named Cameron who was named after Cameron Townsend! Cameron, you need to read this book! Or maybe you already have!

The key sentence in the entire book is: "Many people told him it (one of his many plans) was an impossible dream, but the word impossible was not in CAM´s vocabulary." And see what he accomplished for the Lord - and his work goes on, even though he left and went to heaven on April 23, 1982 at age 85.

Now I´ll be passing this book on to my granddaughter Elia. So if you can´t find it anywhere, just go visit Elia and maybe she´ll let you borrow it - if you promise to bring it back soon!

Havin'fun at the Hanna's

After eating cajeta, gotta clean up! Dakota is glad to help!

Princess - Tio Johnny sent Christmas gifts for the girls and this is what Maria
found in her package!

When each girl was born Aunt Elaine sent them a special towel - they put them to
good use each morning after their bath!

Let's play!

As you can see, Baby hasn't arrived yet! Tomorrow is due date, so we're hoping....!

Silly dog! The wall is almost as high as I am - Kota jumps up there to go get her
toy that one of us throws over. The other side is a bigger jump, so sometimes she
whines a bit before making the jump!

I Want to be More Like Jesus

Some of you will be very familiar with this poem, which was one of Keith Green´s songs. We tend to forget that, even though we know Jesus and want to live for Him, we forget that we need to desire and ask Him to help us, be more like Him. Some days we feel like we´ve come a long way, other days we totally forget how to "be like Jesus." So, this is a good reminder to me that I have a long way to go!

I Want to be More Like Jesus

By Keith Green

As each day passes by, I feel my love run dry.

I get so weary worn and tossed ‘round in the storm.

Well I’m blind to others’ needs,

And I’m tired of planting seeds.

I seem to have a wealth of so many thoughts

About myself.

I want to

I need to

Be more like Jesus.

I want to

I need to

Be more like Him.

Our Father’s will was done,

By giving us His Son,

Who paid the highest cost,

To point us to the cross.

And when I think of Him

Taking on the whole world’s sin,

I take one look at me, compared to

What I’m called to be.

Remember, there’s no greater love

Than to lay down your life for a friend.

The end of all my prayers,

Is to care like my Lord cares.

My one and only goal-

His image in my soul. Yes my weakness is revealed,

But by His stripes I’m healed!

He’s faithful and He’s true,

To complete the work He begins in you!

La Galería

Next time you come for a visit, we'll take you to La Galería for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner, for whenever you'd like. Or just for a snack. They also sell homemade goodies like cakes and cookies - we haven't tried those yet, but they do look yummy.

The jamaica drink is excellent - not too sweet. Their freshly made lemonade is also wonderful.



And the empanadas (pastries, pasties) are to die for! Wow!

We first had a dinner empanada. Mine was a poblana empanada, which contained strips of chile poblano and corn in some kind of sauce. Delicious! They brought us a sauce made of mayo and chipotle chile which was delicious, but spicy! Very spicy!

Then came the dessert empanadas! It's so hard to choose! Bethie and I chose the raspberry which has raspberries and cream cheese. Delicious!





Alan chose a pineapple empanada, which was also delicious, made with fresh pineapple and cream cheese. I might have to opt for one of those next time!



Hopefully La Galería will still be around when you come visit! Restaurants here in San Juan tend to come and go so quickly, almost before you can blink! But if these guys keep up with these delicious meals, they should do well. They also offer delicious looking breakfasts - our team should meet for breakfast soon!

Quilts, quilts, quilts

I don't make beautiful, perfect quilts. I make FUN QUILTS! The past few weeks I've been designing three quilts for three little Hanna granddaughters.

This one I made of many, many little squares, half of them given to me by Esme, the other half what I found in my "material bin." Neither it or the other two have quilting in between because they're meant for HOT EL PASO during the summer! It came out super nice!



The next one is a large piece of material that I added pieces just here 'n there and tied it with lots of different colored thread. It also came out super!



The third one was the craziest, I guess! A large piece of material that we THOUGHT was going to become three little dresses, but, wait! What happened?? Also with pieces all over to give it fun character!


And if you think the FRONT is super, check out the BACK! I bought a sheet for the backing, and this was my choice! I hope whoever uses this quilt is into BRIGHT! Might need dark glasses just to get to sleep! But, hey, it looks SUPER! Super fun!



I don't know which quilt is for whom. Maria, Lluvia and Eden will have to decide, probably with some help from mama and papa! Or maybe they can just share around - each one gets to use one for a week, then we trade! We'll see what happens!

And if they don't like them (as if THAT"S GONNA HAPPEN!), I'll just bring them home and use them myself! They're that fun!