Home

Well, got home about 24 hours ago.  My wonderful brother picked me up, thought he had bought a new car.  It was Mine.  Cleaned, detailed, oil changed, and upholstery repaired. He and his sweet wife Kathey sent me home with snacks and food for dinner.  Appreciate them so much.
Walked in to fresh flowers and groceries in refrigerator from dear friend and her family.
So thankful for them. Many phone calls and texts from friends welcoming me home.  Took a nice long bath, watched some t.v., started unpacking and then hit the sack.  Slept like a rock.  Then got to have coffee with dear friends this morning.  Thankful, thankful, thankful for friends that are like family in my life.

More on my last day.....
Felis and Pedro arranged for us to meet up with sweet Marisol and her siblings on the way to Guatemala City.  They live right outside the City in Mixco.  I was over the top excited about seeing them again.
We met at a McDonald's.  I know that sounds crazy, but the major cities in Guatemala have McDonald's.
They came by taxi and Pedro and I went out to meet them.

Lupita just ran up yelling "Papa Pedro".  So sweet.
They remember Felis and Pedro and I think they remembered me. It has been a year since they saw me, but just a few months since they saw Pedro and Felis.  If you kept up with blog last year you know about Marisol.  She stole my heart. I adore her and her siblings Juany, Yulisa, Lupita, and Luis.

 They met us on a short twenty minute notice and were clean, well dressed, and all very happy.  Esperanza, the oldest sister, went to the court to gain custody of the children.  Her and her sister, Ana, have a different father but never knew him.  He committed suicide when he was sixteen.  Esperanza and her sister were raised by their grandmother.  The mother remarried, had the five children, and became an alcoholic.  They were brought to the Home because of extreme neglect.  They are obviously not being neglected now.

Esperanza found out that they were at Eagle's Nest and started the process to
gain custody of them so she could raise them.  She was granted custody last October.  I remember being so concerned (distraught)  when I got the news.  I couldn't imagine a 22 year old being able to work and take care of five children. But she is and they all seem to be doing so good!!  I wished I could of met
Esperanza but am confident that I will get a chance on future trips here.  Ana has a 2 year old, Jefferson, and he was full of smiles and love.  Hugged us like he knew us when he met us. So cute.

Ana brought them to the McDonald's since Esperanza was working. Ana is married and lives next door so she keeps the children during the day. Luis is the only one that was able to get into school, they were too late this year.  All the classrooms were full.  They will go next year.
Back to McD's.  I doubt the kids have eaten there before.  Priceless.  The serve kiddie meals with fried chicken, a drumstick or a wing, and fries and a drink of course.  They all got to pick a toy.  Priceless.

We sat down, Papa Pedro prayed, and we ate our yummy food.  Really and truly the McDonald's hamburgers in Guat are delicious, I think it must be fresh hamburger meat.  And the fried chicken anywhere in Guat is hands down the best ever.  Marisol ate very slow, apparently that is the norm so the other kids went to play while she methodically picked and got every last bit of chicken off the bone.

Ana said she always eats slow but she loves her food.  That is the one thing that I think kicked in for her so that she remembered me.  Last year when I would help feed her every time I walked up to the highchair when she was eating she would point her finger at me, wave it back and forth and say no, no, no.
Just too adorable.  The Mamma's would start laughing, everyone thought is was hilarious.  So when I did that to her at McDonald's her little face lite up and she gave me the sweetest look.  At that point I feel she truly did remember who I was.  Ooops, have to remember this is not about me.  So, so great to see them all.  So very, very, very wonderful........Anyway, played with kids for awhile and just had a great time.

Pedro got to talk with Ana and see how things were going.  They truly do look happy, well cared for, and loved.  It warms your heart for sure. It also it comforting to know that the legal process, at least what I have seen, truly is trying to do what is best for the
Children

So, I will begin to adjust to being home. And it is always adjustment.  I miss everything about Eagle's Nest.

Most of all I miss the love, hug, and laughter of the children.  Every single one of them.

Thank you to EN for letting me serve.  Thank you to dear friends and family that make it happen.  Thank You God for providing through friends the financial support needed to be gone a month.

Blessings,

Denise

I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart;

I will talk about all your wonderful acts.

Psalm 9:1