Happy Birthday Jesus

This was Cooper's first haircut from Katie.

This was me trying to put Avery's hat on. Katie didn't approve of how it looked though.

Cooper showing off his scrape after falling earlier in the day. Its hard to notice it past those cannons! Runs in the family.

Mommy and Cooper mixing the batter for our cake.

Just like his daddy, he wanted to lick the bowl.

Avery enjoyed playing with the ornaments.

Mommy made a cake and we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Our Crazy Girl!!!!!!!!

Our little girl is so funny already! This was a dinner on our beach trip and Avery started out like this sitting in her high chair.

Then, she figured out that you can stand in the chair!

So we sat her back down!

But that was so much fun that she decided she wanted to make a game out of it. So every time we went and ate while we were that at the resort and had to play this game while eating. We would try to get on to her but she would just smile and then we couldn't do anything else.

She is just too adorable to get mad at. I am sure that day will come that it won't phase us at all to get on to her. Right Cooper?

She really is our Little Princess!!!!!!!

Little China Doll!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is our little niece Mei Ling! We are so excited that she is officially in the family and in the arms of her parents and brothers! They have been working on the process for at least two years now and we just Praise the Lord in his timing and for this precious Christmas gift! I really wish I could be in the states to welcome this little girl home! Mei Ling and her cousin Avery will be very close one day. They are only a month apart. She is so beautiful and we give God all the glory for him placing her in the McNelly and Mercer family. We love you Mei Ling!

Mei Ling and her mommy! Gina and Kevin are such wonderful parents and have been very big mentors to us. I know this little girl will get much love, nurturing, guidance and prayer daily from her wonderful parents. She is such a lucky little girl to have such Godly parents!

Is this not the cutest family? It is just so complete now! I know they have been waiting on this day for so long. I can only imagine the feelings that they are going through. I am sure little Mei Ling will get tons of loving from her big brothers. Just make sure you save some of that love for me little princess. Your Aunt Katie can't wait to eat you up!

Congratulations McNelly's on your new little girl! She is truly a bundle of joy and so beautiful!

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing yes, I will sing praises. 

Psalm 57:7

Tiny Trees Can Be Cute Too!

Well Darin finally gave in and let us get a tree! A very small, cheap tree. But it is a tree. So it feels a  little more like Christmas! Darin went to play basketball and Avery was in bed so I just couldn't wait any longer. I got it out and Cooper was so excited. This has been the first year that he has really showed interest. He loved getting to put the tree together and decorate it. I was fine with him helping on putting the tree up, but did not really approve of the decorating skills.

Don't you love how most of the decorations are all on the bottom?

He was so proud of how it decorated though!

What a great present under our tree!

Darin Loves Coffee

So, where to start. Oh I know, Darin thinks he is Mr. Folger now. The man with the basket is Mark and he is over the housing here. We had our barefoot classes at his house and he let the boys pick the coffee beans off the tree. Darin thinks it is the neatest thing.

Here is Mr. Folger, I mean Darin, working very hard to pick the beans that were ready.

He is so proud. Even though that might make two cups!

The barefoot class got to go to the coffee packaging plant. So Darin thought all of  you would love to see the process. First there is the bean that is not ripe. Second is the bean that is ripe and ready to be picked. Third is where you let the red ones soak and then peel it (the tedious process) and that is where you have the white one, which these have already been dried out. Fourth is the roasting. It is the brown seeds. And then you have it packaged. Either with beans or ground.

And then finally your coffee. I know crazy coffee maker huh? Many Ticos think this is the best tasting coffee made in this pouch. When you have Mr. Folger living in your house though it doesn't matter what kind of coffee maker you have.  Darin sure does love his coffee!!!!!!!

Museum in Costa Rica

Part of our barefoot class we all went to a museum. I would have to say that this is the first real art museum I have ever been to. It was very interesting. Especially since some of the things looked like I could have done it and some things look like Cooper did it. But most of it was pretty neat to look at. The building was actually the first airport in Costa Rica that mostly only politicians used. This balcony is where family use to stand and watch the planes come in!

These next few pictures are suppose to show the aging woman. I am sure you will notice what I mean.

Darin and Josh thought they would get on it as well.

I just thought this was very neat. 

Wake up Darin, you're dreaming.

If you had this picture, would you feel like someone was always looking at you?

They said this represents some of the woman of a certain kind back in the old days of Costa Rica. Said they were all very short with big hands and feet. 

This picture is suppose to symbolize conception. On the left is the egg and on the right is......... can you tell?

This is a park now, but it is where the runway thing was for the planes to take off and land. Excuse us though. It was very windy and cold. That is why I have my jacket on, plus Darin's sweat jacket.

The main Catholic Church in Costa Rica

This is the little black doll that they all pray to. The story was that a very long time ago that a little girl found this doll in the woods and kept trying to take it home but then it would disappear and then she would find it back in the same spot in the woods. So after a few times this happening she told the catholic priest and so on and so on he said that the place the doll kept going was where she wanted the church to be built. So that is where the built the church to worship the idol. So it is very obvious how false this religion is. Once a year, there is a pilgrimage where thousands and thousands of people walk to this city from everywhere. They close one side of the main highway so they can get up there. Last year, a team went and shared the gospel and passed out tracks.

This picture is where people would start at the back of the church on there knees and crawl all the way to the front of the church. It was so sad to see. Especially when this elderly lady came in on a walker and seeing her trying to crawl with two people trying to help her. I just wanted to go and pick her up and tell her that she could just sit in the pew or at home and pray to the REAL GOD! But she would have thought I was crazy because she doesn't speak English! Ha!

This is where people came to get healed. Yes, healing water? One guy almost had his pants down rubbing the water on his lower back. Sorry, didn't take pictures of him. But you can't tell but the lady at the water is filling up a bottle of it so she can take it to someone who couldn't make it there.  I only pray that they will get to know who the true Healer and Physician are.

This is a picture of the church. It was beautiful and gorgeous inside.