Babies and Blah.

It's a sunny day. Too warm for a sweatshirt, with a breeze just cool enough for jeans.

You still amaze me Mexico. After two and a half years.

Everything on the internet says Christmas, but I can't quite find it.

Maybe if I just bake some cookies or something....

I decided to update this Blog thing {that I am so bad at keeping-up!}

because  for those of you who haven't heard~ we have big news!!!

We will be welcoming baby Steffensen number 3 sometime in June/July.

I have never been sick with either of my previous pregnancies-

so this constant fatigue, nausea, and achiness has taken me by surprise!

I am 11 weeks today, and hoping to start feeling better in the next week-- we shall see :)

I don't have too much to report, mostly because I haven't done

a single productive thing in about 6 weeks!

I have been feeling so lazy and useless. My poor family!

School is going good from what I hear :)

The students are on module two, and busy busy busy!

We have 5 students this term {we had 6, but one went home after module one}.

3 Americans, and 2 Mexicans.

The students are leading two different Bible studies each week,

doing Oral Bible presentations and tutoring with our group of younger kids

from Guadalupe each week, and teaching an Inductive Bible Study course to a group

of locals each Sunday morning.

On top of that, they have classes 5 days per week, and make their own meals, and do chores.

It is always a blessing to see what God does through the students here.

Each class so different, but always SO blessed!

So that is the scoop- I will put up some photos later when I have some bandwidth.

Please keep us in your prayers!

><> Blessings <><

Garden Update May 2012

It's MAY!! :-D ..... That means the begining of harvest!

The garden is growing in leaps and bounds. It seems like everything is earlier this year here, maybe due to our warm, wet, winter.
So, without further adeiu, Today's Harvest- May 1, 2012:

Herbs: Parsley, Basil, Epazote

                        Greens!: Lettuce {Spring Mix}, Spinach, Acelga

For now, I am only getting greens, and herbs. Next week I will be adding Zucchini, Burgandy Beans, Peas, Carrots, and Beets to the harvest. Woo Hoo!!

I will take some photos of the garden today, but I was waiting until I got a handle on the weeds.... you would be shocked by how bad it was :-O  .... but the tiller is back up and running- and after hours and Hours, and HOURS in the garden, blisters, sunburns, and grubby fingernails...it is almost under control.... for now :-D



To Behold the Beauty

"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple."

Psalm 27:4

If this is our sneak peak of God's beauty, can you imagine what His Temple is going to look like?

Garden 2012!

{Baby Corn!}

{Black Beans!- all voluntaries!}

{Strawberries- already getting fruit!}

{Peas}

And bringing us almost up-to-date is the first episode of Garden Tres Cruces 2012 :)

Thanks to the hard work of the group that came in February, my amazing husband, and his right-hand man Isaac ;)- we have gotten all of the layout planned, the watering system installed, the mounds made, the seeds planted, and are now seeing the growth.

We have had plenty of sunshine, and we just got two days of rain this past week. Now the sun is out and the heat is on. Everything has doubled in size {at least} since I took these photos- so it wont be long before Episode 2 of Garden Tres Cruces 2012.

Looks like the Lord is going to have a BIG harvest for the Valley this year!

Semana Santa!

We hosted a Youth Camp over the weekend of Easter with about 30 young men and women from Ensenada. It was a blast! They are such a great group of kids. We hope to be seeing more of them all in the future!

Gracias Jovenes de la Iglesia Evangelica Ensenada!

Look who stopped by!!

Ok Ok.... so it has been three weeks since they were her, but whatever..... I am a procrastinator with the Ol' Blog....

Doug and Rebecca {http://flowinternational.blogspot.mx/} and their 6 amazing kids stopped by!

The Coults are ministering to the people in Las Glorias, Sinaloa, MX.

They were in the States on their furlough and I heard that they would be in So Cal on their way back to MX.... so I begged Rebecca to come by for a few days.... {OK, so I didn't have to beg.... She was like, "What? 12 acre ranch, food that I don't have to cook, hot showers, and one person per bed???-- sign us up!"} .... or something like that-- right??

They could only stay over one night- but what a joy it was to get to meet them in person!

You see-- Rebecca and I "met" over Facebook after Luis taught the first module of MBS in Las Glorias in January. I instantly felt like we were meant to be family. So I persuaded them to come visit ;) , and now they have been added to our family. I am sort of forceful like that. SO just know that if you come here- I will adopt you. No buts about it.

{Thanks for stopping by Coults! Hope to see you in October!}

Day Out Month 1: Fire Station!

The school room over in Guadalupe gets pretty crowded on Saturdays mornings. And the kids love to get out of the Valley for a day. SO we have instated a monthly "Day Out" with the kids. Our fiorst trip was to the park for tortas, and to the Ensenada Fire Station for a tour!

The kids even got a picture taken with Mario, and Dora and Diego!

Fun times!

Next month we hope to get a tour of the Sabritas Factory!! Woo Hoo!! Free chips!

Right Around The Corner

I got out of bed at 3:00AM and made 8 pots of coffee.
We drove over to the Alvarez' and packed the vans full. {And I mean FULL.}
After almost 5 hours, we arrived in what appeared to be Eastern Oregon.

The highest point in Baja, and we could even see both sides of the peninsula from the Observatory! It was magnificently beautiful.
And cold.
With even the slightest bits of snow.
In Mexico.
Crazy.

I am baffled sometimes by the places God takes us here.
We got to spend the day hanging out with a bunch of amazing brothers and sisters {some of whom had never been in snow before!}.

I'll confess though.
I despise snow.
And cold makes me cranky.
I love my warm, sunny Mexico.
Seems like God likes to show me visuals of where I fail.
I learn like a child.

I am at a place here in our ministry that seems cold and uncomfortable at times.
Desolate and quiet.
Like the desire inside of me to "do" wants to bust out of my chest.

I miss our students.
I am anxiously awaiting our team from Oregon.
I feel like I am always busy but never doing anything.

But God drags me up to the beautiful peaks of the Baja to show me that it isn't about me.
He wants me to find joy in every day.
He shows me His Majesty to remind me that my prize is Him.
He has me stand on jagged cliffs overlooking His beautiful Creation to remind me that there is beauty in everything He has made.
And this is the day that the Lord has made.
There is beauty in it.
Even though I spent all day doing schoolwork with my kids, and staring outside at the half-grey skies of the desert wondering when I will have a day to work in my garden, all the while neglecting the fact that it would be the perfect opportunity to clean my grungy house.

So I wait.
For our team from Oregon.
For my husbands family to visit.
For our Semana Santa Event.
For whatever God sends my way.....

Running the race

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12-1-2

We are all running a race. You know. Some win theirs, and some don't.
Luke tells us to run ours like we want to win it! For the prize is heaven!
Everyday I pray that God would bring glory to Himself in all that I do. Everyday. I mean that.
Not in like a "Ya, hon, I'm praying for you..." kinda way.
More like in a "Seriously, Lord... I disgust myself when I act out in pride and selfishness... please purify me!" kind of way. But I am so easily ensnared.
The deeper I get into the Word, and the more I beg the Lord to teach me to be humble- the more clearly He shows me that it is impossible. He shows me that if I were able to become humble, and to have a true servant's heart in EVERYTHING I do- then I wouldn't need Him.
I need to be asking him to guide me, in His spirit, to be humble. If I were listening to the Spirit every minute of the day, then I wouldn't be falling into discontentment and pride.

My race is crazy hectic. Almost all of the time.
It's like those races you see on TV where 12,000 people all crowd together and the gun fires and people end up getting trampled.
And man oh man do I love it. Almost all of the time.

But there are those times when I get so tired.....
I feel like I hit the wall so hard.....
Like the last 50 meters of the 200.
Because that isn't an endurance race-- it's a sprint.
You are all out for the whole thing.
And just as you round the last loooooonnnnnnggggg corner to the finishline,
you feel like your legs turned to wet noodles, and your lungs are actually going to implode, and you start to wonder "Why the heck did I sign up for this again???"
It isn't the race that lasts for hours- but only seconds... but then you have to get ready for the next heat. And much of the time is spent in preparation. All for but 20 some seconds of action.
But after that 20 some seconds, you feel like you could sleep for days....

I feel like that right now.
I am pretty tired.
I want to have time to do things for myself once in awhile.
Maybe hang out with a friend, or go see a movie.
Have all of my girls around so we can go get coffee.
Run off for a day and do nothing.

But isn't our God great?
He never gives me more than I can handle.
He always calms my heart when I think it will just burst.
He reminds me of my prize, and of my blessings.
He reminds me how much I love this place, and the job that I do, and the people
that I serve with. And He reminds me that I asked for it.
This is the desire of my heart- to serve Him day in and day out- and He gave it to me.

So this week I am making it a point to lay aside every weight,
and to reach out and hand off my baton to my Lord.
And with it, the troubles in my heart, the wants in my soul, and the discontentment that I let creep in. I have all that I want, and all that I need, and in time He will provide for me everything that He has for me. Other people around me are running a different race. They have their own rules, their own prize, and their own judge.
Just like coach Jerry used to say: "Always look up, never to the side, never back- and run through the line."

Be blessed friends.

><> Shae

Copycat-er

Well....... since everyone else is doing it.......

I have been working on a food/daily life blog as per the nudging of several friends.

A place to post the recipies that I use, or invent, and a place to write as myself, on a slightly less professional level, about the things that I enjoy.

I haven't gotten around to actually publishing it -- partly because I can't even keep up with this blog, and partly because I was writing it over on Tumblr, and, turns out: Tumblr is lousey.

Since I live 20 feet away from my best friend, and partner in Crazy- and SHE decided to post HER food/daily life blog- I am going to copy her :-D

So tune in for a glimpse into our life as Mothers, Wives, Teachers, Creators, Concoctors (is that a word?), and Dwellers in a foreign land.

Fair warning: We aren't normal.

Mem's blog is over at http://www.everyday-oddities.blogspot.com/
Mine is here: http://www.onmywaytozion.blogspot.com/

Have fun!

><> Shae

October

Well we just got back from our biannual visit to Oregon. It had been 6 months since the kids had seen any grandparents, so you can imagine how excited they were to go! We are lucky to live so close to the States, and to be able to visit twice a year.

Oregon was cold. Very cold.

Strange to be acclimated to Mexico and go to Oregon in all of it's Autumn glory. Lows in the 30's, highs in the 40's. Slightly different than highs in the 80's or 90's, and lows around 60.

And rain. We actually missed the first rain at home. It hadn't rained in 5 months, and it rained good while we were gone. But we experienced our share in Roseburg, so no worries ;-)

Nonetheless, we had a good visit, got to spend time with many of you, and are now back home and expecting guests tomorrow.

We had a group come in October to do some work projects. We had a leaking roof on the Frosland's side of the Triplex which got re-roofed. We had a mess of a garden that needed some serious TLC, and thanks to Polly and Charlie that is mostly done too. We are almost ready to plant winter veggies! yay! :)

The group was here for a week, and they left the same day that we did for Oregon.

While we were gone, Luis left for Cuba with Travis and Noe. Ryan took Nate to LA today to fly to Uganda.

And just like that- we went from 16 to 7.

And tomorrow we will be back to 13.

{Ryan's Uncle and Aunt and cousins will be here for the weekend from San Diego, and we are being blessed with a week-long visit from Mike and Marlena from Oregon!}

That is my little wrap-up for now-- I will be writing a slightly more personal post soon.

Here is a photo of the "Fruit of Our Labor" ;-)

Glory to God! We are Blessed!

Summer Work Project

Starting in June, we set up a work program with Lance and Maricela and the kids from Valle de Guadalupe. The kids were no longer in school, and so they had lots of free time {which can be a bad thing } and they are always game to get out of the Valley for a day. It is generally 10 degrees cooler here at the ranch than it is in Guadalupe.
The goal was to teach the kids that giving is a heart thing- and just because you give, doesn't me you will always receive. They were also learning work ethic, responsability, and everyday trade lessons like gardening, planting, cement work and landscaping.
The girls came each Wednesday, and the boys each Friday. They came in groups of 4-6 so that they got more one on one time with us. Lance and Maricela would pick them all up in the morning, then be to the Ranch around 9:00 am. They would have breakfast or a snack and some Ovaltine and then do a short devotion. Then we would work until lunch, share a meal, then work or play for a couple more hours.
We had a great summer, we learned a lot of Spanish. We built relationships with the kids, and also got in lots of time with Lance and Maricela. I was really blessed to be a part of the project, and when it ended at the end of August, I was sad that I wouldn't be seeing everyone so often anymore. We had a big finale party for the kids one Saturday to celebrate the hard work that they had done. We had a hot dog lunch, swam in the pool, and played feild games. They had a blast, and so did we!
I have lots of photos from the summer, and I promise I will share them as soon as I can get a chance to upload them.

Bringing you up to speed....

OK-- here I am, trying to update the ol' blog again, and I see that I am months behind as usual.


It really is hard for me to sit down inside for very long, and now that we have started school, I have, like, negative amounts of "freetime" { Is there even such a thing for Moms??}.





So let me wrap up the summer:





In August we had three Interns: Kayla, Isaiah, and Josh.


The boys are 17, and Kayla is 18.


These kids worked their butts off this summer, and I can't thank them enough for making our summer amazing and fresh and fun and productive and anything but boring! The guys worked on our drain ditch/canal, and did landscaping and basic up-keep. Kayla and i canned a butt-load of stuff, picked, weeded, watered, and tended the garden, and cooked and cleaned. We all got in lots of kid time with Lance and Maricela's kids, and we went to the beach whenever we got a chance. The boys filmed a movie, and I can't wait until you all get to see it-- Isaiah is a Pro!





Let me just give you a bit of my heart on each of these kids.





Isaiah. Oh Isaiah.


You must be one of the most energetic humans on Earth. You can put away more food than a football team. You can cover more ground, and shovel more gravel than anything that weighs a mere 120 lbs should ever be able to. You should actually be legally considered a Gecko, because humans can't climb virtical structures like you can. You have a smile {and a laugh!!!} that makes everyone around you happy. You are polite, respectful, kind, considerate, and loving. You LOVE the Father- and it shows. You must have some pretty awesome parents ;-).


I'll have a dorm and a banana here for you anytime brother.





Josh.


You are a fountain of information {or maybe more like a sponge!}. I don't know how you can keep so many movie lines, song lyrics, and details of life events in your memory like you do- but I wish I had that gift! You don't like beans, or potatoes, and that is just abnormal. But normal is boring, and that is why I think you and Isaiah are two of the most non-boring people the world has to offer. You clicked with Isaiah like you two had been best friends forever {eventhough you had never even met}. You are one heck of a hard working kid, and i don't think I heard you complain about it ever. You were a blessing to have around, and we are so glad we got to meet you. Come see us again soon-- I'll put the beans on ;-P





Kayla Mae. {Oh great.... I'm already teary and I only typed your name....}


My other sister. My friend. My sidekick.


I love you like you will only know when you are older. God put you in my life two years ago, and I can't even begin to list the ways that you have blessed me. I love your smiley face. I love your crazy hair. I love your willing heart. I never could have had the summer I had, or accomplished all that I did without you. I think I would have killed myself trying, so thank you for helping me :). You are dear to my heart, and dear to my kids. If your parents would let me, I would steal you. If you come back to me, I will even let you wear my clothes. The coffee is always on kid. I'm just waiting.





I hope you all get a bit of my heart for this "Job" that God has bestowed upon me.


There is NO other place that I would rather be.





And that was August.


Photos soon @ Mi Picasa

Birthday Week!!

Look Who turned FIVE!!!

Asa says he woke up taller :-(
Anca came for the party :) ...

We had some kids over from Guadalupe. They played games, launched water balloons, ate hot dogs, and cupcakes. There were two kids from the Valley who shared birthdays with Asa-- so we celebrate dthem too :)

Jesus turned twelve!And Magali turned Eleven!
This Mexican Birthday Party thing was much different than we are used to. Our family alone is like 45 people... so we are used to big parties. But the kids were really missing their cousins and there friends. They are used to their birthdays being like a family reunion.

God is still teaching us :)

Garden Update

The garden is overflowing!!

It cracks me up that I can read the posts from a few months back and see how frustrated I was with it!!

God is good!


He saw my complaining- and blessed me anyhow :)

More Pictures Here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/steffensenfaminmexico/Garden2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

><> Shae

A year of Change.

One year ago today, we hugged our family and friends, and drove away from Roseburg.

Our land cruiser loaded down with what was left of our belongings headed South.

I remember being excited. I love Mexico. I have wanted to live here for more than a decade.

There are so many things that I could write about..... my brain is overflowing with events of the past year. We have welcomed groups of servants, guest teachers, and students. we have hosted conferences for people from all over the Globe. We have painted, and cleaned, and landscaped, and repaired, and picked and pruned.

The one things we have not done- is struggle.

We spent the 3 years leading up to Mexico struggling.

God taught us so many lessons in that time. He was preparing us for this.

He was faithful to give us the desire of our heart that matched us perfectly.

Now- I'm not saying that packing up everything we have ever known and moving across a National border was easy. At all.

The kids cried. A lot. They still do.

They miss their family. They miss their friends. They miss the simplicity of living normalcy.

I miss my family. I miss my girls. I miss my Coffee Shop. I miss my church.

Oh, how I miss my church!!

But if we are weighing all of these things on a scale- they do not even compare to the blessings that we have enjoyed here.

We have been happy, and we have had more fun than we know what to do with.

We have new friends. We have lifelong new family members. We have seen lives changed.

We have met people who have changed ours.

We have seen the Gospel go out from this place and spread all over the world.

All of these things said~~ I am more anxious than I can even tell you to see this year to come!

Thank You for supporting us!! All of our family and friends back in OR {and other places too!!}-- your prayers have been felt. We are here because you sent us. You obeyed God, and supported us. You are just as big of a part of this as we are.

Blessings to you all- and stay tuned for a Garden Update :)

><> Shae

Seasons

I could hardly believe it when I read that my last update was TWO months ago!!
I feel like I have a million things I could be doing every day- and all of them are done outside.... so it is hard for me to make myself sit down- inside- at the computer to update the ol' Blog. Sorry guys :-/
I have had several of you mention that you love reading my updates.... so I suppose I should keep you more "updated" .

Well, since my last post we have had a lot going on. I will try to keep it brief, and get you up to speed.

We took a week-long visit to Oregon {I got to see some of you} on the week of my birthday. I spent my actual birthday in the car for 12 hours :)
But my loving husband made a stop in Medford and took me shopping, and to Olive Garden.... so I was happy.
The day after we got to Roseburg, I showed up to a dinner at my Sister's house to find a huge surprise party for me :-D
A bunch of my friends and family made it and the weather was good and I was so happy. It was the perfect way to get to see several people at once, and the perfect start to our visit.
We had a good time in Roseburg-- always seems like a long visit while we are there, but way too short once we're home.....
When we got home, the garden was growing fast, and the heat was here.
We caravanned back with Mason and Layla and the girls (Ryan's sister and her fam).
They stayed for a week while Mason taught the students on Evangelism and we got to hang out with the girls. It was in the upper 90's most of the week, so we talked the guys into setting up the pool that my parents brought us last fall. The kids are beyond happy!
I can't quite tell you what it means to us when family and friends come to see us here. It is different than us visiting OR. It gives them a better idea of where we are and what we are doing. It is hard to envision us here if you haven't been here. I know I have said it before, but I will reiterate it again-- we want you ALL to come stay with us for a while! Be a part of our life for a week. Meet our friends here. See our home here. Take part in ministry here.
I mean-- come on! I can't be "Hospitable" if there is no one to give Hospitality to .... right? ;-)

Anyhow.... after the Fam left, we were back to everyday life as usual for a bit.
We had a couple of Birthday Bashes {Tres Cruces Style} with lots of food, lots of friends, and loud music. It's all day-to-day around here until Mem turns 31 ;-)
We joke that we use any opportunity to throw a party-- but it really is good for all of us {including our fellow Missionaries in the valley} to get together and fellowship.
Pastor Phil was here from Oregon two weeks ago. He taught on the signs of the times. We always love us some Phil time :) He is a blast. I think he likes the "Grandpa" time with our Littles, and they like to have him here to climb on :)
We had one day between Phil leaving, and a Dental group from Oregon coming. Dr. Brodie and his wife have been friends of Phil and Susie for decades. They come to Mexico every year and set up a free clinic for locals. They were working right here in San Antonio this year. The group included 3 dentists, several Hygienists, and assistants, and two bus drivers. 16 in total. I didn't know what to expect- having never met any of them-- but let me tell you.... they were AWESOME! They were so friendly, and flexible, and even after a long day of hard work- they stayed up and played games and visited with us. They like to move their destination around every year, to get a variety of people the help they need.... but I informed them that they have to come stay HERE every year from now on.
They were only here for 3 days, then we started the planning for Sarah's BIG 21!!
Last Wednesday our one-and-only Sarah Meyer turned the big two-one!! So we did what anyone who turns 21 does.... we had a "Bar Party" :-D
You know: an Ice Cream Sundae Bar, a Build-Your-Own Cheeseburger Bar, complete with home made French fries, goup (the real deal- since Mem used to work at Pete's :), home made Chili, Twice-Baked Potatoes, and pretty much everything you can think of to put on a burger or ice cream :)
Since these kids (I know, they are adults, but still.....) are living out here in half-confinement from the "World", we do Birthdays BIG. I hope you had as much fun as we did Sarah ;-)
Oh boy-- I missed an overlap.... somewhere in between the Dental Group and the Birthday Party, we received new guests! Ron and Ronda Rust are here from Camas Valley, OR to teach on Biblical Counseling. These guys are great! They are so laid-back. They roll with whatever we are doing, and they have been to Mexico a half-a-million times, so they know the ropes. I haven't told them yet, but I am going to force them to adopt us all as family and promise to come back at least once a year.
It amazes me how God always sends us people who we connect to instantly. We have had guests from all over the world.... from 2 years old to 90.... and we love every one of them. No kidding. Every. One. What an Awesome God we serve!


The students have been teaching the MBS curriculum one weekend at a time in San Quintin (about three hours South of here). They started their second Module and will finish up teaching that this coming weekend. And then......

They go home.

For good.

We have lived communally for 9 months with these guys. They are like family.
I can't even write about it anymore. I just have to let it happen, and get through it. It's just like leaving home-- only we are the ones being left. It's like saying your good byes.... after a while, it just hurts too much. So I am ignoring the calendar that keeps telling me that Tuesday is just around the corner.
Sarah- I love you like a sister. Not EVEN "like" a sister. You are my sister. I know your heart will drag you back here from time-to-time :)
Anca- Your tenderness and compassion is inspiring. God gave you the gift of two things that I have never had. You make people feel safe, and you are caring and welcoming. We are going to miss you huge laugh and your perfect smile. My kids are going to miss you somethin' awful, and I know a couple other Littles that will too.
I can't wait to meet your future husband, and your kids, and see you living for God in all the ways you have always wanted to.
David- Your mom called :-) .... she told me to tell you that you are the best babysitter I have ever known. You are seriously the funniest person I've met thus far... and your heart is bigger than anyone could even guess. I'm sorry that I had to beat you at Blokus, and poker, and any other game that you challenge me to ;)
thank you for being the life of the party. Thank you for being a boy with Asa. And thank you for being a friend to Ryan. And thank you for being my little brother. You are only 7 hours away- and I will expect you to make regular visits! {and drag your brother along too}.

I really am excited for the summer. To see what God has in store for us. Who He will send here. And I am excited for the fall. A new group of students, and a new year.

If I can get through Tuesday, I think I'm good for another year ;-)

New photos up on Picassa- https://picasaweb.google.com/steffensenfaminmexico/DentalTeam62011?authkey=Gv1sRgCPG7-NP5qqz-jgE&feat=directlink
also~ the garden IS GROWING!! Just in time for everyone to leave ;-/ .... so if anyone feels the Lord telling them to come help me with my canning in about 3-6 weeks... I'll have the beds made :-D

Photos!!

Here is the link to the photos of the garden... and some photos of the rest of our produce as well. https://picasaweb.google.com/steffensenfaminmexico/Garden2011?feat=directlink
Enjoy!

><> Shae

El Jardin!!

The garden... the BIG garden, that is-- is tilled, hoed, raked, mounded, irrigated and planted!!! Mostly :) We have: Tomatoes (5 varieties), Jalapeños, Arbol, Bells, Guajillo, Serrano, Poblano, Spinach, Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Beets, Radish, Carrots, Tomatillos, Garlic, Onions, Peas, Cilantro, Parsley, Brussel Sprouts, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Zucchini, Acorn Squash, Gourds, Pumpkin, Cucumber, Strawberries, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, and Corn!!! Whew!!

This all is in addition to our fruit trees: Orange, Lemon, Lime, Mexican Lime, Grapefruit, Pomegranate, Peach, Kumquat, Plum, Quince, Pear, Apple, Cherry, (Some sort of berry), and Guava. We also have a banana plant-- but it is not exactly, um, ... thriving ;-/ I am also trying to grow Mango and Papaya- but we shall see how that goes :)

We have Cactus, which give TONS of fruit as well as their edible Nopali, and Wild Sage- which is medicinal.

Now- if you guys know Memorie or I very well- you know that this is a sort of paradise to us :) We are having a blast with all of this fresh produce! Once the garden begins to give, and we have an abundance, we will not only be saving a ton on groceries, but we will be able to help out our friends too. What a blessing!

It has been a lot of work the past three weeks. My sister and my mom were here to help for a week, and now Mem is back- so she gets to help too :) We have had some issues with Rabbits, Gophers, and insects. We are also dealing with the fact that Mem and I are used to gardening in the Pacific NW.... not the Desert SW. So if any of you happen to be Desert SW gardening Whizzes......

Now is the waiting game..... ugh.... some stuff is already started, some have leaves, some have sprouts, and I have already been able to harvest Spinach, Lettuce, and Cilantro. But now we have to wait anywhere from 30 to 180 days before we can eat fruit :) .... that seems like such a long time. That just means that I will have plenty of time to post pictures, right :-D

><> Shae

~ Blessings ~

The students are gone. The neighbors are gone. The Hubby is gone.

What a big silence out there!!

I have been working on the gardening this week! I am so stoked for the big garden to be planted in a few weeks!

Mem and I planted a mini-version of a garden just outside the Cocina window about a month ago. We have Basil, Cilantro, Beets, Carrots, Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Onions, Garlic, Oregano, Peas, Spinach, Cucumbers, Lettuce, and Calendula. It has been so exciting to see it all grow! It is amazing how fast stuff grows here!!

We planted some flowers, and some chilis too, and the flowers are taking off like crazy! The chilis took a hit from being thrown off the wall by the kids, and then took another hit (after being reinstated;) but a little rain storm we had. They are hanging in there- but I planted a new batch today.... so we will see how they do!

It is almost time to take the starts of the tomatoes and carrots and beets out of the small garden and move them out into the big garden.

So I guess I should get said big garden ready! :-/

I need to get it tilled under again- with the compost this time, and get a fence up around it. We have a HUGE gopher and rabbit infestation-- which Samson is doing his best to get control of ;).

I planted the Banana plant in the ground, as well as the Palm (which was our Christmas tree)- and they are both taking off too!

I will wait a week or so and take more photos, but I had to take these of the marigolds, zinnia, alyssum, morning glory and moonflowers that the kids planted-- last week!!

They are already a couple of inches high!! (see photos above^).

We had a day of rain, then we have had a solid week of beautiful, hot sunshine-- so they are loving it!

Ok-- so that is what is up with the garden..... can you tell that I am excited?? ;-)

What else---

The Base was blessed with the donation of a 15 passenger van from some peeps in Phoenix!! So Ryan took the van up to Oregon to get all of the registration and whatnot taken care of. It is getting a check-up, and a good cleaning too. ALSO-- RCF has the opportunity to up-grade their van situation too, so they are passing down one of the white vans to us!! So now we have TWO means of transportation for large groups! The Lord is good!

We had been trying to run everyone around in our personal vehicles :)

How many people can you fit in a 5-seater, '84 Landcruiser????

Answer-- at least eleven.....

So Ryan is driving the van from RCF back down (as we speak- so to say ;).

He left at 6:30 on monday morning-- after having taken all of Saturday to drive to Phoenix and back to get the other van! Isn't there some sort of point system for frequent drivers?? I think he will have logged in around 2,700 miles in 6 days. Whew!

In other news:

MY SISTER WILL BE HERE IN 7 DAYS!!!!!!

I am not the least bit excited.... obviously.

My mom is coming too-- in fact, she is bringing Niki with her-- but, she understands..... Niki hasn't been to see me yet- and Mom got to come down for two weeks in December.

This will be a fun visit though-- I don't have to work this time :-D

All we have to do is : Paint walls, dig and plant gardens, and eat tacos.

So...... please think of me the 17th through the 28th, because it shall be rough ;)

Oh, one other thing.

I have been told that a list of needs for the Base went out to RCF last week, and the van which Ryan is bringing home is packed to the hilt with blessings!!! You guys are so awesome!! I am always amazed at how much you all love this place! We were blessed to see everything that was sent back in July. It was such a help to get the school started!! And you have done it yet again.

I will post pics when I get the shipment ;)

AND- on top of this van being chalk full-- the van which Nate is bringing back at the end of the month will be full of everything that was brought in on Wednesday night, after the first van was already packed.

Did I mention that you guys are awesome??