Boy, oh boy, oh boy....We are going to have another boy!!

As many of you know, our family visited an orphanage in Jamaica during a vacation in 2010 and that visit completely changed us forever. I thought it was a trip to help teach the kids about the blessings that they have and that not all children have what they do. But that experience changed Neil and me much deeper than I thought it would. I wish that I could post pictures from our visit, but I promised the orphanage director that I would not place any photos of the children on the Internet. You can read a reflection that I wrote after the trip here: http://www.thecastrofam.blogspot.com/2010/07/blossom-garden-recap.html

When we left Jamaica I cried for days at what we were leaving behind. I did not want to return to America and all of the "stuff" that had become my focus and preoccupied my days. My eyes had been opened to a great need that I knew I would never forget.

Fast forward to November 2011.....my heart was still very passionate about the needs of children in orphanages but our lives had returned to normal back at home. That is until Neil and I started reading the book by Katie Davis, Kisses from Katie. God reopened my wounds as I read the pages in this book and Neil and I started discussing the possibility and feasibility of actually adopting and bringing a child home from Jamaica to be our son. God moved fast in our hearts and the hearts of our boys and by March 18, 2012, we knew where God was leading us...back to Jamaica.

It was this video (that I found while browsing on Pinterest of all places) that put both of us over the edge to commit to what God was truly placing on our hearts in a big way.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLpuIgDQ3Lw

It is amazing to me how God works in such a clear way. Our family vacation to Jamaica was a miracle within itself and it is so amazing how God places events, people, books and even videos on Pinterest to get us where we need to be. When he is leading you to do something, he will be there for you every step of the way and we are all so excited about the little boy that will soon be here at home with us forever!!

Please join us in praying for him. We do not yet know his name or what he looks like, but because we want to adopt a 2-4 year old, we know that he is already alive and probably living in an orphanage somewhere, eating whatever they give him (when we were there they fed the kids ground pumpkin with anchovies for protein), and lying alone in a crib or stuffed in a bed with no covers with 3-4 other children. My heart already aches and longs to hold him, cuddle him, and watch the boys wrestle with him or teach him how to play catch.

We love you little guy, and we can't wait to come get you!!

The one thing that will slow us down the most is the financial burden of international adoption. At this time, adopting a child overseas averages $15,000-$35,000. Unfortunately, we do not have that kind of money sitting in our bank accounts. So we are asking friends, family, or anyone else who has a heart for children or adoption to help us out. If anyone who reads this blog could give just $10, the cost of a lunch, that would help tremendously in our quest to bring our brother home.

You can click here to help us out:

http://www.acharityproject.com/f/HelpusBringOurBrotherHome

Blessings!

James 1:27- Religion that God our father accepts as pure and righteous is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

Valentines Day

We started the day with waffles topped with strawberries and cream cheese.

Then we finished the day with a special candle lit dinner of ribs and corn bread topped off with special Valentine cake pops for dessert!

We are so blessed that Jesus loved us so much that He chose not only to give His life for us, but also that he has showered us with the abundant love that we get to share everyday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Block N

Here is a video of Nick and Cody recieving their Block N Awards at school.

Disneyland 2011

This past December, we were treated to a special Disneyland trip with the Castro clan. We had a blast going on the rides and hanging out together.

It was an extra special treat that it worked out that the Demanbys, Lakovichs and Casarolis were all also able to make the trip that week so we all got to be together!

Getting a cousin picture was a bit difficult after Hannah's mermaid balloon popped.

Merry Christmas 2011

Wow....this year has flown by...I am having a hard time believing Christmas is in only 3 weeks!! This year our family could be characterized by the saying, "Get in, sit down, shut up and hold on!" With three active boys we are never bored, and at night we often fall into bed exhausted. But, we wouldn't change a thing, because there is nothing better than watching your kids do what they love. Also, we know in a few short years, we will look back on these days with great reminiscences and longing.

This spring started with all three boys playing on three different baseball teams and ended with three different all-star teams and a travel team. Neil and I figured out that in one week we watched 16 games and had 5 practices.....CRAZY!! I know, but so fun to cheer them on when they are at the plate or on the mound!!

In May, Neil's mens team took another national title for Fresno Pacific University. That is Neil's third national title in 6 years at Fresno Pacific. I don't mean to brag, but my man can coach! We are looking forward to another exciting year cheering on the Sunbirds and hoping they can take both titles this year...their last as an NAIA school. Next year they will be switching over to NCAA Division 2.

We are enjoying this last year of all three boys being at Nelson Elementary School together. We are cherishing the moments, realizing that they will not be together at the same school again until Nicholas is a senior in high school!! Nicholas is in 6th grade and Cody is in 5th grade which means they get to play all of the school sports together on the same team this year. It was fun watching them play football together.....in fact, for Nicholas's first touchdown of the year, Cody was blocking and made a huge block to allow Nicholas the room to score. They both did well and had fun on the field helping the Nelson football team to an area championship title!! Brett loves the fact that he gets to get out of school early on Fridays for away games to watch the games and play with his friends and he cannot wait until he can get out there and play as well!

This year also added more to my plate....going back to teaching full time in Selma. I haven't worked full time or been in the classroom since before Nicholas was born. Although this was quite an adjustment for our family, I am happy to report that I am LOVING being in the classroom again and it is not as hard as I was fearing. I work with a great staff in Selma and have an AMAZING class!

This fall all three boys again played soccer....Nicholas and Cody for a Clovis Crossfire team and Brett for the Nelson Zombie Ninjas again. Nicholas has given us fair warning that he will not be playing soccer at Kastner next year, so we enjoyed this season realizing it was probably his last. This made mommy sad because he is a very talented soccer player and has become a lot more aggressive the last couple of years. Thank goodness we still have a couple of soccer seasons left with Cody and Brett.

Lastly, this year we have also been blessed to work together with five other families to build a water well in Africa. It has been our goal this year to not be "polluted by the world" but to instead realize and appreciate all that we have been given. When you realize that children are dying daily because they do not even have clean drinking water, it quickly puts into perspective all that we have to be grateful for. It is our prayer that in this season, we would not be dismayed or distracted and that we would remember to be grateful for all we have been given.....the greatest of those gifts, a little baby born in a manger who came to give his life for you and me.

May you and your family have a truly blessed Christmas season!

The Castro's

Neil, Ann, Nicholas, Cody and Brett