In case anyone is out there who has not heard our most recent news, I am copying a message I recently wrote into this post. This message is from Tuesday, May 25.

About this time of the evening 7 days ago, the LORD took the baby he placed in me for 6 weeks back to Himself. It has been a season we will never forget, but I am thankful for His presence, providence and perfect plan. We are trusting in 1 Pet. 5:10"But may the G-D of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Messiah Yeshua, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

I have learned that His love is above and beyond any that we could give this child. He loves us so deeply that He desires us to dwell with Him. Today I was reminded:
Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints." Ps. 116:15

I can proudly say, I am the mother of 3 children. Even though we had such a short time together, so short I don't even know their name, but I already loved and will always love and miss my faceless baby leite. As I sit here and cry what I hope are tears of closure, I can find no proper way to "bury" what has gone. Our family will never be the same. But I am filled with wonder at how He loves us and how much better of a parent He is than I could ever be. My heart lies forever in His hands and my hope is to be united with my baby when we see each other in glory, to look into their eyes and see the peace that truly passed all my understanding...and for us all, our family of 5 (and any more blessings He chooses to send our way) plus the myriads of believers bow together to sing (from Psalm 139:1-18):

O LORD, You have searched me and known [me].
You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
For [there is] not a word on my tongue, [But] behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
[Such] knowledge [is] too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot [attain] it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You [are] there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You [are there].
[If] I take the wings of the morning, [And] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall [fn] on me," Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light [are] both alike [to You].
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made; [fn] Marvelous are Your works, And [that] my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, [And] skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When [as yet there were] none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
[If] I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

Our precious baby now rests eternally in His hands, and in memory of Baby Leite #3, we pray: "Magnified and sanctified be His great Name in the world which He created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom during your life and during your days, and during the life of all the house of Israel, speedily and in the near future, and say Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and ever. Blessed, praised and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, Blessed be He; Who is beyond all blessings and hymns, praises and songs that are uttered in the world; and say Amen. May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life for us and for all Israel; and say Amen. May He who maketh peace in the heavens, make peace for us and for all Israel; and say Amen."

When you don't hear from us in a while, it's either because something's up or nothing's up. We're glad to report....nothing. :O) We are all doing well and just as busy as can be. Al and Rachel are still both working - each one trades off with the other to be with the kids while the other works. Al is still very busy at seminary, but has had an issue with his health this semester. An upper respiratory infection followed by bronchitis has had his less than 100% for over 2 months now. He is feeling much better, has been on lots of meds, but is still trying to shake the spontaneous coughing fits that make him lose his voice. Rachel has a lot of very busy students and has a studio party coming up next week.

The kids are GREAT! Both have excellent health and are learning and growing so fast. They are our daily blessings and we know that full well! Hava is speaking and counting and learning her colors in both Portuguese and English. She is much more fluent in both now. She has a very sweet demeanor (95% of the time - the other 5% we count as her being a 3-year-old), loves to help, play instruments, play outside and watch movies AND is fully potty trained! Levi is the smiliest, happiest baby either of us has ever known. He is very independent - into EVERYTHING, crawling and pulling himself up to standing. He is our ball of laughter and peace. He is still a bit small for his age, but growing properly. The latest news we have on his kidneys is that the left is still a bit underfunctional, but nothing to worry about and his urachal sinus seems to not be a problem anymore, so for now, no surgeries needed.

Lately, we've had friends come to visit from NY, had a wonderful passover season and are now counting down the days till Shavuot. Al also celebrated another birthday. With the great weather that finally found its way to north Texas, we love to go to the park and play outside.

I tried to upload some pictures here, but to no avail. I will try again later.

Has it been long enough??? :o)

We are here....plus 1!

Levi Caldwell Leite came into the world at 10:44 am on August 17th via c-section. He weighed in at 7lbs. 6 oz. and 18.5 inches. Here's an excerpt from my facebook note the day he was born:

My part in this was a little harder than last time - the anesthesiologist said "looks like you're gonna be my hard case for the day." I'm gonna make this short and simple since I am still VERY dizzy and tired from it all. It took the anesthesiologist about 6-7 tries to get the meds to kick in. I suffered a lot of sharp pains and even a couple of screams (which most of you know for me, means a big deal). Poor Al was sitting right outside (since they don't let him in until the procedure) and could only hear me screaming and crying. They even thought I might have scoliosis since they couldn't get the spinal to take on one side, but they finally were able. I had some vomiting, difficulty breathing and LOTS of dizziness. My heartbeat got down dangerously low and I didn't really start feeling pain-free until they got that under control. I am still extremely dizzy and nodding off, but I promise to get some pics up as soon as I get my head on a little straighter. :o)

And yes, I'll post pictures here too. :o)

Levi's been growing like a weed the past couple of months, but I'll be the first to admit, taking care of a baby with a toddler in the house is a feat of epic proportions (yes, I used the word "epic." I know, I know.) I was so blessed that 2 days before he came, my mom (and Al) surprised me when my mom unexpectedly, at least to me, came back from Brazil to help me with bringing this new one into our family! She was a huge help, especially with Hava. We had Levi circumcised 7 days later with Rabbi Marty Cohen. Levi has not had the nursing problems Hava had, so he was at birth weight the week after he was born, and is now right around 12 lbs - Hava only reached 12 lbs. after 4 months! He had one little issue which are enlarged kidneys. We had several tests on him and will need to do follow ups about every 6 months, but as far as the urologist can tell, it doesn't seem to be a big issue and might just be how his kidneys are. Levi is a VERY easy going baby. He loves to be held and sung to. He has a super gentle spirit and even a gentle cry - unless, of course, he feels neglected. :o) He is still not sleeping through the night, but is getting better. Our biggest surprise with him? BLUE EYES! Not quite sure where he pulled that one out from, but he sure is a cutie!

Hava - she's a hoot! She is such a smart cookie, a people-lover, and an independent drama queen! She is using both languages now, but generally chooses English first. She LOVES her little brother and has not had one moment of jealousy towards him. She is also growing like a weed - she'll be 3 in January. We're still working on getting her FULLY potty-trained, but she's on her way. Her personality is probably what we're most proud of. She's very adaptable to different situations and schedules and loves to have fun no matter what. She will instigate the fun with a funny phrase, a little dance or even come up and tickle you!

Al is finishing up his first seminary course - Greek! You can only imagine, his first time graduate course, studying in English (his second language) and it's a third language - GREEK! The great news is that he was hired as a campus electrician. This past week, we had some sad news - one of Al's aunts in Brazil tragically died. It is hard to be so far away when things like that happen, but technology helps us to feel closer. We have been able to see and speak with the family quite a few times and everyone is hanging in there.

I have gone back to my private voice students as well as public school voice students and love my job! When I'm home with the kids, Al is either at work or school and when he's home with the kids, I'm at work. Our schedule has worked out so nicely.

Grandma is also doing well. She just arrived back from her second trip to Israel! She will be visiting with family over the next month or so and when she comes back, mom and dad will also be coming from Brazil for the holiday season.

We are truly blessed beyond measure!

Back to School!

Just a note to announce that Al has officially been accepted at to a seminary (yeshiva) in their Masters of Divinity in Counseling program!  We are very excited and ask for your prayers as we continue to search for the path G-D has for us.  Al is applying for an on-campus job since he has not been able to secure any other, so please pray with us about the finances as well.

Rachel is still giving private lessons and will take a short break to bring this new baby into the world in 2 weeks!  After that, she will be returning to her private students as well as her public school students in September.

Hava is doing well, talking lots and growing like a weed.  We are very proud of her development and are trying to prepare her to be a helpful big sister to her baby brother.

Baby Leite Kidneys

Today was another weekly trip to the Fetal/Maternal Medicine specialist for a sonogram.  This baby boy (at 35 weeks, 6lbs., 6 oz. now) is almost as big as Hava was when she was born (at 38 weeks, 6lbs., 11oz.).  Up until now, there has been no reason for any concern of his health, but just cautionary measures based on Rachel's blood disorder.

Today, the doctor informed us that there is a slight problem with baby's kidney function - both a little underactive.  Still, for now, not a huge issue, but something to watch.  Would you join us in prayer that this issue would resolve itself or rather, that G-D in His infinite mercy and wisdom, would heal it.

We're still here...

Hi friends!

Yes, we are still here.  It's been a while since we posted anything here since Rachel has been a bit tied down with work, a toddler, a grandmother and a huge pregnant belly.  Al is doing well and keeping everybody sane.  :o)  Our baby boy should be here in about 5 weeks!  Please pray that the rest of the pregnancy and delivery would go smoothly.

Leites Lately...

Well, we haven't been up to too much.  Rachel's about 10 weeks pregnant and still feeling ok.  Hava just had her second birthday on Sunday.  Al is still doing pretty much everything at home until Rachel can see the doctors.  So, here are some pictures and videos to catch you up.

Keep Praying For Us

It has been a while since we've been able to update the blog.  We have had quite a bit going on.  One of Rachel's students has been recording her new demo which required a lot of preparation on Rachel's part.

Also, we had a bit of a scare a while back that even took us to the ER.  Rachel suffered a "threatened miscarriage."  The doctor said there is no explanation as to why it happened, or why it stopped, but we know everything is in the LORD's hands and we desire His will.  Rachel has been and is still on bed rest until the degree of danger lowers sufficiently to return to daily activity.

One of our Brazilian friends who you have prayed for in past is also suffering the risk of a divorce.  She has been studying scripture with us over the past year and needs believing friends nearby to support her in this trying time.  She also has a 4-year-old son.

We know that many times we pray and yet have no idea of the outcome.  We just wanted to confirm that your prayers for us and our ministries do have power.  We are thankful to be moving into a new year with the hope of having another baby to come into the family.  We are hopeful for a great success for Rachel's student who is looking to get signed by a record label.  We are prayerful that our friends and family, no matter how far, will feel the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives through internet scripture study and encouragement.  Please continue to pray with us in these specific areas - your prayers are powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Just in case you hadn't heard:

We're expecting Leite baby #2!  Should be here around August - maybe even on Rachel's birthday.

Fall+Cold=Cute Hava

So, it finally got cold in Texas.  It was 30-something today and Hava went out to play in the leaves.  We all had a good time!

Everyday Hava- 

She decided that the best place to keep her fork during dinner was in her straw.

This is the VERY FIRST TIME any braids have stayed in her hair...we were all very excited.  :o)

Part of our thanksgiving - stuffed apples!  There's a mirror on the other side of the room, so that is where Hava sees herself at the end of the video.

Portuguese Translations:

"Da um sorriso" - Smile!

"Ajuda Mamãe" - Help Mommy

Extras: Cookie, Happy :o)

A Leite Thanksgiving

*I think I might need a disclaimer here - these pictures are out of order, so we did NOT have dog hair in our food.  :o)

Evidently, we got a single shot of Hava eating on Thanksgiving last year, and oddly enough, we got one this year too.

Hava and Papai stuffing the apples
Hava and Fumaça
Hava and Mamãe making the stuffing for the apples

Working on GG's famous pumpkin roll
Basting the bird
Watching the thanksgiving day parade

We had a wonderful day of just spending time with family and friends and recognizing that in all things, at all times, we are His. We have every reason to fill every day giving thanks for all that He has done for us!!!

Hava got very relaxed watching tv.


Praying and reading the bible before bed.

Stars and Puppies - Day 3!

*This might be TMI (too much information) for some of you, but a lot of our readers are parents who appreciate the milestones.*  :o)

She eats like a big girl, sleeps like a big girl and is now using the big potty!  We are on day 3 of potty training week.  We started a while back, but Hava wasn't quite ready and got bored with it, so we left it alone and came back to it about a month later.  This week has just been great.  Day 1 was kind of slow and just getting her re-acquainted with potty.  Yesterday got Hava 9 star stickers and 1 puppy sticker on her potty chart (yeah, that means a lot of #1 and even a #2!).  Today, she hasn't had to change underpants once and we're an hour away from bedtime!

So, hopefully by the end of the week, we'll have a diaper-free (except for bedtime) little lady!

We might be biased, but......G-D MADE HER SO CUTE!!!!

Well, unfortunately one of our cute videos of Hava vanished off into the technology black hole and it is nowhere to be found.  She had just watched a video of her friend Natalie drawing happy faces and saying "happy, happy, happy!!!"  Right after watching she went in our room, climbed up on the bed and started jumping up and downs saying "happy, Happy, HAPPY!"  She loves the phrase and says it all the time now.  In fact, she even "reads" us a story out of her bible - the story of Yeshua (Jesus) curing the sick girl.

She points at Yeshua and says: "Shua!"

Then she points at the girl's parents nearby and says: "Papai, Mamãe" (Daddy, Mommy)

Then she points at the little girl and says: "Dodoi" (Boo-boo)

Then points at Yeshua and then towards the little girl and says: "HAPPY!"

So, I guess when we're sick, Yeshua can make us Happy! :o) (Especially if mom and dad are around!)

She is such a joy to us.  We understand when scripture says it is a blessing to have children!  Even though she is almost 2, there are moments where she is calm, collected, patient and just plain sweet!!!

And there are moments where she is very active, very vocal and all her batteries are charged....like playing soccer with Papai (daddy).

There are also so some "not-so-photogenic" moments, like time-outs and burning her fingers on a lamp bulb!  We hate to see her cry or in pain, but we also know that shapes her into being who the LORD is preparing her to be.  And even after such "horrific" moments, she shakes it off and comes back to us with loving embraces and precious kisses!

We know each life the LORD allows to come into this world, comes in with a purpose.  We don't know for how long, or for what reasons, but we are confident that each person is made in the image of G-D and has the capacity of allowing His love and life to live purely through them.  We know we are not perfect, but we hope our lives show the same affection for our Creator, when we return to Him with praise and service.  

Within the last couple of weeks, we have had friends who have just had their first child, just lost children, are waiting to have their own children or waiting for adoptive children to finally be in their arms.  Whatever the circumstance, we praise HIM for fearfully and wonderfully knitting us in our mother's wombs.  We commit ourselves to Him so that HIS will may be completed through our obedience.  

May He forever be praised for being the One and Only 

Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer and Comforter of the Universe 

and everything and everyone therein!

TE AMO!

Hava just learned to say "Te Amo" -"I love you" in portuguese.  We couldn't be more proud!!!

and by the way....WE LOVE YOU!!!

Right now, there is not a lot we can blog about.  But, we do ask for your prayers at this particular time in our lives.

Kissing the "boo-boo"

Beginning tonight, we remember the extreme sacrifice that was made for us through a price of blood long ago.  Tonight starts the appointed time of Yom Kippur - or the Day of Atonement.

Earlier today, Hava said for the first time (and repeatedly) "Yeshua!"  (The hebrew name of Jesus - Salvation!)  I have to tell the whole story for you to feel where we're coming from.

Every night, we read to Hava from a children's bible in portuguese.  We always pray in Yeshua's name.  This afternoon, I was in her room with her, when I saw she went over to the dresser and picked up her bible.  She sat down beside me and started to flip through the pages.  The next thing I know, she is in the back of the bible, pointing at pictures of Yeshua and saying: "Shu-a...SHU-AH...YESHUA!!!"  It was a good thing I was sitting down, because otherwise, I think I might have fallen over backwards.  I called Al on the phone and she kept saying it repeatedly to him.  Then I called a close family friend and she continued to repeat His name.  As I was on the phone, she picked up her Minnie Mouse doll that her uncle and aunt gave her and sat the doll down beside her.  Hava picked up the bible again and showed it to Minnie, pointed at the bible and looked at Minnie and said: "YESHUA!"  (I guess she's already evangelizing!!!)

Immediately after that, she turned back to other pages in the bible.  When she saw the picture of Jonah and the great fish, she said: "Peixe!" ("Fish!") and made the sign for fish.  I was still on the phone and she turned back further.  There was a picture of Noah and his family kneeling and praying at an altar.  Hava immediately put the bible down and imitated what she saw - bowing and clasping her hands together!

So, tonight we read with her again - and decided to read the story of Yeshua's sacrifice.  As Al flipped the page, there was a picture of people kneeling at the foot of the execution stake and you could only see His feet with a nail through the ankles.  As soon as she saw it, Hava said: "Do-doi!" ("Boo-boo!")  Al said: "Yes, Yeshua had a boo-boo."  He flipped the page again and there was a depiction of Yeshua with the crown on His head and the nails through His wrists.  Hava again saw the nails and said: "Do-doi!"  She then leaned over the book and kissed Yeshua's boo-boo.  Again, good thing we were sitting!!!

I can't help but draw a divine connect-the-dots conclusion in my precious daughter's actions today.  So many times, we plead for His forgiveness.  We ask for His blessing.  We long for the answers.  But I'm not sure we actually "kiss the boo-boos."  When Hava is hurt, I know she knows my kissing her boo-boo doesn't make it go away.  But she wants my affection - to know I see her pain and the ugliness of the mark and still care for her.  It reminds me of when she was covered in mosquito bites on the amazon.  She looked terrible, but I think I might have even loved her more as I noticed people were not as drawn to her as they usually are by her natural beauty.

Just because she kissed Yeshua's boo-boo doesn't make it go away.  And I'm glad it doesn't. We need that sacrifice.  Now, I realize, as much as I need forgiveness for my sin - I need to love the scars.  I need to show my Savior that I not only need His sacrifice, but I love Him for it- through my actions, not just my words.  I need to be more concerned with loving what He has already done for me, than pinning it on some miraculous blessings He might throw my way.  Even if the sacrifice was all He did for me - THAT would be enough!  (Dayenu!)

To end on a lighter note, but just as important.  Here is Hava right after learning to say "Yeshua" today - dancing and singing about how He loves us.  Oh, how I love Him!

Waterboarding

1 Peter 1 has a lot to say, and is worth reading in it's entirety.  But there is a specific part that comes to mind tonight....verses 6-7:

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah is revealed. 

We just completed the celebration of Rosh Hashana, or Yom Teruah - the feast of trumpets.  It is exciting to think about all that will happen at the sound of the trumpets.  But in the meantime, we are here, and here is not always a fun place to be.

Al and I have a petty addiction - it's a show called "Heroes."  Since we were not home yesterday when it came on, we recorded it to watch tonight.  There is one particular part that stood out to me.  One character who has the power to create fire from their own hands was teaching another indestructible character a lesson about a form of torture called waterboarding.  Even though the character could not die by burning, the more she sweat and lost oxygen, the more she felt as though she were suffocating - similar to drowning - losing control and feeling trapped, panicked and helpless.

To be quite honest, Al and I have been through a little struggling lately with this and that.  We definitely feel as though we are being "refined by fire."  I always thought about going through "the fire" as an awesome test of what type of warriors we are.  But now, I see it is much more intense than that.  I can see how the trials we go through can bring us to the point of wanting to give up - they make us feel trapped, panicked and helpless.  It's like our oxygen is being taken away.  It is almost an opposite idea than that of the courageous warrior.

But scripture gives us a hope...there is a reason for this suffering.  And that reason is not necessarily to have our needs and wants provided miraculously (although, that many times is the case), but ultimately to glorify our LORD and Savior.  The more our trials seem to trap and control us, we remember the the end:

verses 8-9: 

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

This isn't the first time (nor, am I sure, will it be the last) that we will be bombarded with difficulties.  In fact, as I write these words, many of my dear friends are urgently dependent on prayer to heal a loved one, bring a baby into the world or save a dying marriage.  We are thankful to not be going through those kinds of "torture."  But ours is one that the LORD has allowed and we must endure for His Name's sake.

The prophets spoke of the grace to come through Yeshua (although it existed long before He became flesh), and the sufferings He would endure and the "glories that would follow."  The idea that "even the angels long to look into these things" is just refreshing to me.  That we should participate in suffering, to become more like Him and to experience glory - well, that is glory to me.

At this very moment, we do feel somewhat trapped and as if we are suffocating, but in the midst of it all, there is an overwhelming peace that assures our hearts that this moment is not in vain.  My hope is that we have learned or are learning our lesson(s).

We would appreciate your prayers - not that we would just "get what we want," but that the "peace that passes all understanding" would prevail and reign in our lives, our households and our communities of faith.  May we be indestructible in the midst of our refining.

verse 23:

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of G-D.