I came up last Thursday, December 6th and had the privilege of joining Linda and Carolyn at the prison that night in Haskell. We had three groups of women come for the study and a woman named Esmeralda from San Luis Potsosi, Mexico made a decision to follow Christ that night. We pray God works in her life and uses her when she gets deported to her family in Mexico soon.
Tim and Linda gave me sweet hospitality that night and I left in the morning to pick up Todd in Aspermont. We drove to Brandon's and had a wonderful weekend with family. Amber and Jayden had flown in on Thursday from Sacramento so it was the first time we've all been together in one place in several years. Saturday was Abigail's 3rd birthday party and they had it at an indoor pool. The theme was the Lorax and we made mustaches and truffula trees for the party. Everyone had a nice time, and Abi especially loved her Lorax cupcakes.
Kaci, Todd and Meg, hamming it up with their Lorax mustaches.
We enjoyed our time together and Sunday afternoon, after Brandon took pictures of our family at Trinity Park, I took Todd back home and made the long cold trip back to Brandon's to spend the next few days with them before going back to Mexico this week. 
Amber and Baby Jayden at the birthday party Saturday
Last night, Brandon and Jessica took us to their church for a fun evening at the Christmas Festival. They had tube riding on snow hills and a hayride, petting zoo, and bounce houses for the kids. It was very cold but very fun. The kids had a great time, too. Even Jayden went down the hill in an inner tube by herself.
Then, they hired a babysitter and we adults went out for a dinner at Truluck's Seafood Restaurant in Southlake. It was so nice and we had a great waiter named Rob who was amazing. The evening was perfect and it was fun having adult time with Jessica, Brandon and Amber. They ordered the desserts to go for the perfect end to a perfect day.
Tonight, we're going to drive around and see the Christmas lights on homes in the metroplex and Abi and I are especially excited and looking forward to it. We did that last year and had so much fun.
It has been such a blessing to spend this time with my family and I thank the Lord for my children, my grandchildren and God's provision for this trip.
Thank you for your prayers for us and please keep Bill in your prayers as he continues to work in the Carrizo Springs area. His son, Paul, is working and living with Bill now, so Bill isn't all alone.
I will try to do a better job of updating our blog and I appreciate your comments, as they let me know you're reading all my ramblings! We love you, thank the Lord for you and look forward to hearing from you when you get a chance to write, call or email us.
In His loving embrace,
Toni and Bill
