Busy Busy Summer - Quick Update

WE have been having a great summer! We celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary, every one's birthday's and soon to be Josiah and mine. Solomon and the three boys all learned how to swim. Jerry got a new job and loves it. He works out of our house and is home for dinner every night. Granma is doing great, going on lots of outings with "The Posse" our version of the Golden girls. Jonathan and his precious girlfriend Emily are "falling in love" as is posted all over Facebook. We are so excited to have her in our family. The twinettes are talking up a storm, learning to swim, playing dress up and getting cuter by the day. Melissa & Randy are working hard at parenting and preparing for their next adventure. Our precious grand babies are absolutely adorable. Cana is learning to walk and talk, Vaden is entering the wonderful two's! Ellie is sweeter than ever, socializing with lots of friends and preparing for her next great orphan care adventure. Solomon & Ellie started school at Southeastern College and Mestas Christian Academy is back in session with 3 first graders and 2 preschoolers. Jerry also started teaching an adoption class at our church, Open Door Baptist, in Raleigh, NC. We are off to a great start!

And Me? I am so blessed and grateful to have a wonderful husband, my mom living with us, all of my amazing children and grandchildren, everyone healthy and safe, more provisions than we deserve and a Savior who puts up with and loves a sinner like me. I feel so inadequate and undeserving of all the Lord continues to pour into my life. I am trying to keep up with the house, love on everyone, write the book, teach school, fellowship with the saints and my dear sista's, ministry to Kolfe Boys Orphanage, read the WORD and fellowship with my Savior and Glorify HIM. I am very much aware of how much I fall short every day. I have a hunger and thirst to sit in the presence of Jesus more and more every day. The older I get the more I learn how desperate I am, how much I need to learn, and how much I need Jesus to fill me with HIS portion.

Reading "Radical" by David Platt, and feeling a work being done in me. There is so much going on that I have absolutely no control over and realizing I don't want to do anything unless Jesus is orchestrating.

Praying and preparing for the Mid-Atlantic Orphan Summit conference in Hershey, PA, in November. Looking forward to meeting lots of friends from the blog and Facebook network.

Just a little update since I haven't been blogging much lately.

Solomon is doing wonderful! The language is a challenge but we know as he learns more things will get less stressful for him. He loves all foods except for string beans. He is lovin’ strawberry ice cream, Oreo’s and pasta. When you walk in his room he says "Welcome to Wal-Mart". He has clothes, shoes, and everything he needs all to himself and says it looks like Wal-Mart to him. He has made some new friends and is busier than he ever imagined. No time to be bored anymore! He is a joy and blessing and we are still in awe that he is here with us.

Another exciting year in the crazy Mestas house. And it ain't over yet!

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2-3

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the LORD CHRIST you are serving." Col. 3:23

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Col. 4:2