Preparing for Blossom Garden

At the Castro household, we have been very excitedly preparing for our trip to visit Blossom Garden Orphanage in Jamaica next month. Two weeks ago, we had a car wash at our house and many friends and family showed up to have their car washed by about 16 kids. It was a blast and we were able to triple the goal we had set for the day!!

Thank you to all who showed up.

With that money, we have been busy buying the supplies that Mrs. Brown, the director of Blossom Garden told us they were in greatest need of.

We went to Neighborhood Thrift Store (thank you to AP for giving us such an awesome discount!) to buy some clothes.....

then we went to the Dollar Store to buy toys and school supplies (Jacob and Andrew Rush went along to help us pick out all of the toys).

We also purchased some Bibles and books from Majesty and bath soap and shampoo from Wal-Mart. We already have about 4 suitcases packed for the orphanage and are getting so excited to deliver it to them!!

We are praying and expecting that God will do an amazing work in all of our hearts and that this will be an experience that none of us will ever forget!

Ringbearers

My cousin, Jason got married to the new Annie Papi this weekend and the boys were all ringbearers in the ceremony. Instead of carrying rings, the boys all carried wooden bats with their names engraved down the aisle. It was a very fun celebration and the boys looked so cute in their tuxes that I had to post a few pics.

Cody's Baptism

Well, because our trip to Jamaica was pushed back two weeks, Cody was able to get baptized earlier than we had anticipated. We were so proud of him and his step of faith to pubicly express his love for Jesus. So, last week, Cody and I sat down to write his story. I asked him if he wanted to tell it to me and I would write it or if he wanted to write it himself. He chose to do it himself and following are his words that were read by Nicholas as Cody stood in the baptismal.

I want to get baptized today because I love Jesus so much and because he died for my sins. I asked Jesus in my heart when I was five because I wanted my sins to be forgiven and so I can go to heaven. I am getting baptized today because I want to follow Jesus and because he is my Lord. My favorite Bible verse is Phillipians 4:13. I like this verse because it says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. My mom has helped me understand who Jesus is by praying and reading the bible with me. That is why I am getting baptized.

We then left church and headed to Cody's last all star baseball game. Later in the day, our friends and family came over to celebrate the occassion with us over pizza and cupcakes. It was a wonderful day and Cody ended the day underlining his favorite verse in the brand new Bible that was given to him by Mimi and Papa.

Philipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.