This weekend's trip was really good. I always enjoy being able to get to know the youth more as well as the adults of course. It was great to see relationships form between Keith and Jesus Guadalupe and Jeff and Trish with Juan Manuel. I swear, Jesus Guadalupe just seems like he is a Kincaid. He fits in perfectly and you can tell that he just wants to soak up any time that he is able to spend with them. It was also great to see how Juan Manuel finally opened up to Jeff and Trish. In the end, Jeff said that he thought Juan was the coolest kid there. How amazing is that! It is so great how God perfectly pairs up all of the kids with the right sponsors. They just seem to fit together perfectly. God is good.

Ten of the kids got to go on a vacation with the project coordinator for CdE. Every year, he takes one boy and girl from each age group who did the best in school on a trip. This year, they went to Kino Bay. It was so weird without those ten there... When we left to go get lunch, I felt weird. I didn't know why and I couldn't quite explain it. I thought it was from being hungry and dehydrated. Yet, it wasn't. We had to return solely to give the key and the money for the apartment to someone on staff, and they were back - all ten kids that were on vacation. I got out of the car and Juan Carlos and Margarita ran out towards me with open arms and gave me the biggest hugs ever. Juan Ramon was immediately following them. That was it. It was seeing the 3 of them and the other 7 inside that made me feel complete. Part of my family was missing and there is that void there. I wanted to see those kids. Each one of them holds a huge space in my heart, and without seeing them, that part of my heart is missing something. It's something only they can fill.

A lot of people don't get it. They don't understand how or why I would want to go down there often or how I can never get sick of talking about them. These kids are my family. At times, I will be holding their hands or something and I don't even realize that we are touching each other... It's almost like we are part of the same body. It doesn't feel awkward or weird, because they're family... It's like they are a part of me. It's something completely hard to explain, but I don't know how else to.

Part of family isn't always pretty. At times, family gets frustrated and annoyed with each other. There are times to reprimand and hold each other accountable. There are times for forgiveness and bonding. I am past the "honeymoon stage" with all of them. I see them for their real selves, raw and vulnerable. They don't listen to me as much as they used to, and they make fun of me and know all of my weird little quirks. Yet, it's real. They are real now. Despite everything, the relationships are growing and the bonds are real and the truth in them is there. It's a beautiful thing.

It's great to see other people that get it as well. Keith and Patty get it. I didn't expect for them to get it as fast as they did. They are there. Their whole hearts are with those kids and it's amazing to witness. It's beautiful to see how they grow and develop. The kids can tell too. From being a part of this family down there, I can tell who will come back on trips and who won't - but the kids can too. They tend to try to form relationships more with people they know will be consistent, and the kids saw that in them. A lot more kids drew to them than the others - not that the others don't have the heart for the kids as well, they just have a bigger heart for them - a more long term committed love. It's a great thing to see, especially when it's just beginning.