OK so this week is off to a great start as usual. Oh wait let me back up. So I was really emotional on Sunday with things going on with my family and just overwhelmed. And so after I got off the phone with my dad, I could not stop crying and I walk into the kitchen to talk to Elizabeth. We decide to eat some Ice Cream and I just let it all out. But the funny thing was I was crying over every little thing. So I am crying Elizabeth is making me laugh, and I am shoving Ice Cream down my throat. The other volunteers said we looked like we were straight out of a movie. And then I cried and laughed some more. Man I love being a women!
Enough about me, I want to talk about our new boy Alejandro. We were told on Wednesday Charli would move up to Medianos, and Alejanrdo would be a new member of Chicos B. When we asked when he would be here, our reply was in 2 hours. So we were excited. And then we were told that he will have to attend the public school across the street, and they get out at 1:00 and not 2:00 like all the other boys. But he is a fun loving child with lots and lots of energy here. Elizabeth and I walked him over to his first day of school. On Friday when we went to pick him up, we stood behind this concrete thing and jumped out at him, he was so scared and excited we all walked away laughing. And he told us all about his day and his new friends. So now Elizabeth and I take turns walking him across the street. It was so beautiful to see him all smiles and happy I felt like a proud mom.
Speaking of laughing, I have come to realize how absolutely medicating it can be. I have never laughed as much in my life as I have here with Elizabeth. She and I sometimes just have to give one another the look and we bust out laughing. We laugh so much sometimes we end up in tears or running to the bathroom. It has been the perfect cure for everything. For instance one of our kids wanted water, so he was pouring it out of the pitcher. Well I guess he poured it too fast but the whole pitcher of water ended up all over him and our floor. He looked at us with a deer-in-the-headlights look and I looked at Elizabeth and we all started to bust out laughing. I think he thought he was going to get in trouble, but instead we all just laughed it off. And then when Emilio eats so slow and will not finish his breakfast, we have to save it for lunch to give him. Well the food in Casa Hogar is Mexican Cafeteria food if that gives you any idea what it would look like. So our poor child is looking at the food and Elizabeth feel so bad, but then it just leads to us laughing. Our kids do the funnniest things all the time, leaving Elizabeth and I in laughing fits. So I strongly suggest to allow laughter to be a constant in our lives. Path Adams said "Laughter is the Perfect medicine." And I must say I agree to the fullest.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Just another day in Paradise
This week is off to a great start, the kids have been great with very little problems. Each day I am falling more and more in love with the kids. By FRiday I am ready for the kids to go home, but by Sunday I am in so happy to see their smiling faces knocing at my door, Emilio is the always the first one banging on the door at 4:15 even though they are supposed to be here at 4:30. But it is ok.
So while the kids where at school yesterday and in the past few weeks I have been running in the little pueblo behind Casa Hogar, adn each day I usually get lost but then I eventually find my way home. I was never much of a runner, but my whole life here has changed and running has been a great decision on my part.
Well back to yesterday Elizabeth and I after she went for her run and I woke up from a nap we decided to lay out on the roof while the kids were away and we needed some peace and quiet. Little did we know the UV Rays were probably in full blast, needless to say Elizabeth and I are a nice shade of pink today. But it was worth it, and we get a good laugh at it each time we look at one another.
On a more serious note, I truly felt the presence of God in Church. Sometimes it is very hard to go to Church each and everyday, but today I know why I need to be there everyday. While I was kneeling and praying I felt the presence of God, and it was just the two of us. I felt as if I had an outer body experience, and there was no one else present in the Cuhrch. It was so relaxing and peaceful. God spoke to me this morning reassuring my time here, and the importance of this trip and experience in my life.
So while the kids where at school yesterday and in the past few weeks I have been running in the little pueblo behind Casa Hogar, adn each day I usually get lost but then I eventually find my way home. I was never much of a runner, but my whole life here has changed and running has been a great decision on my part.
Well back to yesterday Elizabeth and I after she went for her run and I woke up from a nap we decided to lay out on the roof while the kids were away and we needed some peace and quiet. Little did we know the UV Rays were probably in full blast, needless to say Elizabeth and I are a nice shade of pink today. But it was worth it, and we get a good laugh at it each time we look at one another.
On a more serious note, I truly felt the presence of God in Church. Sometimes it is very hard to go to Church each and everyday, but today I know why I need to be there everyday. While I was kneeling and praying I felt the presence of God, and it was just the two of us. I felt as if I had an outer body experience, and there was no one else present in the Cuhrch. It was so relaxing and peaceful. God spoke to me this morning reassuring my time here, and the importance of this trip and experience in my life.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Finally Home
Well I made it through another week. I celebrated the 15 & 16 of September here, and it was a blast. Tuesday night we had a carnival for our kids. Where they played games, ate tostados, and danced to music. We all had a great night and our kids were well behaved. Each day I am here, I am learning more and more how to be a mother to these children. After having to deal with Josuè our dear child who is always the last for EVERYTHING, his homework is always copied wrong, he is a year behind in school, and for some reason he is just not getting it. Elizabeth even wrote in detail everything he has to do in his dorm, but he still does not understand. We have been trying to work very hard with him. But he is not doing his work at all, I even sat down with him to teach him math one on one, but he cannot seem to understand how things work in Casa Hogar. Elizabeth and I had to discipline him the only way we knew how, and I swear it was one of the hardest things to do. It made me not want to have kids for a long time to know that I made a child cry through discipline. I do not know how my father raised 5 kids. Because I don`t want to have to discipline them, but I know that it is necessary.
Then an hour later our kids who we thought were asleep we found 3 in a bed with a nightstand on top and they were trying to change the light bulb. Again we had to discipline, and it was not fun. But the good thing is I have the support of Elizabeth, and as this week has gone on we have learned the importance of discipline, and it is getting easier. But I now know how much I do not want kids of my own for a long time.
This experience is still the best decision I could have made. Although this is my "job" to take care of all these kids, I do not see it as a job. It is just a part of my life, and I enjoy every moment here in Mexico, even thought it seems like everything is more difficult to do, it is still the be decision I could have made here. I am happy to have allowed God really guide me to where I am in my life, because nothing has been this easy for me. I just allowed him to take over, and my life here is as perfect as it can get. I am finally HOME.
Then an hour later our kids who we thought were asleep we found 3 in a bed with a nightstand on top and they were trying to change the light bulb. Again we had to discipline, and it was not fun. But the good thing is I have the support of Elizabeth, and as this week has gone on we have learned the importance of discipline, and it is getting easier. But I now know how much I do not want kids of my own for a long time.
This experience is still the best decision I could have made. Although this is my "job" to take care of all these kids, I do not see it as a job. It is just a part of my life, and I enjoy every moment here in Mexico, even thought it seems like everything is more difficult to do, it is still the be decision I could have made here. I am happy to have allowed God really guide me to where I am in my life, because nothing has been this easy for me. I just allowed him to take over, and my life here is as perfect as it can get. I am finally HOME.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Week 3
One more week down, and with very little problems. We had a great week, the kids were exceptional, and Elizabeth celebrated her 22nd birthday. Although I was down with a cold, Elizabeth and I managed to get our kids to school on time, to estudios and everything else. I hate being sick in Mexico, I am never sick in Florida, but for some reason, Mexico is not liking me right now. But After much sleep this week, and Penicilin I am starting to feel better. Although I had a cold, with a slight fever, it felt as though my throat was being ripped out of my neck. But I resorted to my dad´s cure of gargling salt water. And it already feels better, thank you Dad. After gargling the water for 1 day my throat is healing.
Our kids went all week with out fighting which we were very proud, and then today two were in the dorm fighting over nothing. But we still had a great week. I got to teach Josué his times table and it was very rewarding. He is in Third grade, and I am not too sure how he got there. He is my biggest challenge, he is constantly talking in school, forgetting everything, not doing his homework, and we are constantly having to go back to the dorm for him. But hopefully he will get the hang of it. On a good note he did finally understand his multiplication facts after me working with him for an hour.
In celebration of Elizabeth´s Birthday we had cake and Coke for the kids and let them stay up a little late to watch a movie. They thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was worth it, even though it took them 30 minutes to fall asleep. The more time I spend here in Mexico the less I miss home. Even though I was sick, I still loved every minute of being here with my boys. Each day I learn more and more about myself and these kids. I do not consider this my job, I just believe it is apart of my everyday life. These kids are absolutely wonderful, and they are changing my life, one day at a time.
Our kids went all week with out fighting which we were very proud, and then today two were in the dorm fighting over nothing. But we still had a great week. I got to teach Josué his times table and it was very rewarding. He is in Third grade, and I am not too sure how he got there. He is my biggest challenge, he is constantly talking in school, forgetting everything, not doing his homework, and we are constantly having to go back to the dorm for him. But hopefully he will get the hang of it. On a good note he did finally understand his multiplication facts after me working with him for an hour.
In celebration of Elizabeth´s Birthday we had cake and Coke for the kids and let them stay up a little late to watch a movie. They thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was worth it, even though it took them 30 minutes to fall asleep. The more time I spend here in Mexico the less I miss home. Even though I was sick, I still loved every minute of being here with my boys. Each day I learn more and more about myself and these kids. I do not consider this my job, I just believe it is apart of my everyday life. These kids are absolutely wonderful, and they are changing my life, one day at a time.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Back to Yesterday
Ok so yesterday was crazy if you read my blog I must continue with what happened becuase it was quite comical. Ok so Elizabeth, Julio, and I went for a run and I wanted to lead the way. Well about 10 minutes into it we ended up in a ditch/canal of trash and of course we wanted to keep going so we did, and laughed the whole way.
Then we came back and stretched, and Elizabeth got in the shower only to find that half way through we ran out of water. And we are still without water today. So we got to take showers in the boy´s dorm which are not so clean. Then after school we had two kids get reports from school for fighting one of which is suspended for today. And he is now sitting in a room doing work all day. And the kids from the morning fight one of them got into more trouble so I made him hold my hand all day for everything, he hated it.
But on a good note I got to eat Subway and I learned how to drive the Eurovan, which was an adventure. I had Elizabeth telling me to clutch and Julio shifting for me. But I got a hang of it rather quickly. And today is Friday so after 6:00 we will no longer have kids till Sunday, and tomorrow we get to ride horses. Yay for the weekends!
This post was from yesterday, but it rained and our Internet went out, Man I love Mexico!!
Then we came back and stretched, and Elizabeth got in the shower only to find that half way through we ran out of water. And we are still without water today. So we got to take showers in the boy´s dorm which are not so clean. Then after school we had two kids get reports from school for fighting one of which is suspended for today. And he is now sitting in a room doing work all day. And the kids from the morning fight one of them got into more trouble so I made him hold my hand all day for everything, he hated it.
But on a good note I got to eat Subway and I learned how to drive the Eurovan, which was an adventure. I had Elizabeth telling me to clutch and Julio shifting for me. But I got a hang of it rather quickly. And today is Friday so after 6:00 we will no longer have kids till Sunday, and tomorrow we get to ride horses. Yay for the weekends!
This post was from yesterday, but it rained and our Internet went out, Man I love Mexico!!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Another day in Casa Hogar
So my 12 boys have been great they listen as any 8-11 year old would, they do their homework, and are good in school. So this morning we took the kids down to go to school and we were a tad early. So I went to make 8 copies for my morning prayer, and Elizabeth was eating cereal. As I come out of the office I am summoned by Chio with boys yealling at one another and 1 kid crying with a ripped backpack. Yes, there was a fight in Chicos B so I took all the fighthing kids to the side listened to what happened. And so I was stuck with a kid who had no backpack, and school was about to start in 5 minutes and two kids who I had to discipline. And of course we only had girl backpacks. So as punishment I made the two kids who ripped the other kid backpack the girl ones to use for the rest of the week, found a new one for the ripped one. And let Elizabeth handle the rest. All of this at 7:40 a.m. this is why I love it here, everyday there is something new and exciting going on.
Then I got to go to Church across the street Elizabeth and I refer to it as "The Ole Biddy Church." So our homily today was 35 seconds long. But there is still always a message to be learned in it. But the women in the mass, is why we call it "The Ole Biddy" Church. Every Tuesday and Thursday we attend mass there, and the same women are there as well. And every mass they sing really loud and over one another. And then when it is time for Intentions they just yell out what they feel needs to be prayed for, and every day it is the same Intentions, and they are always praying for Priests and the sick. And They also cut one another off. It is funny to hear them just jump in on someone else´s Intention. They also say all the prayers really fast, as if it is a race with the other Ole Biddys. The mass always puts me in a good mood, sometimes when I cannot understand what is going on (or there is a fight at 7:40 a.m.), I know I can always count on the Ole Biddys to put a smile on my face. And so it begins my Thursday in Casa Hogar.
Then I got to go to Church across the street Elizabeth and I refer to it as "The Ole Biddy Church." So our homily today was 35 seconds long. But there is still always a message to be learned in it. But the women in the mass, is why we call it "The Ole Biddy" Church. Every Tuesday and Thursday we attend mass there, and the same women are there as well. And every mass they sing really loud and over one another. And then when it is time for Intentions they just yell out what they feel needs to be prayed for, and every day it is the same Intentions, and they are always praying for Priests and the sick. And They also cut one another off. It is funny to hear them just jump in on someone else´s Intention. They also say all the prayers really fast, as if it is a race with the other Ole Biddys. The mass always puts me in a good mood, sometimes when I cannot understand what is going on (or there is a fight at 7:40 a.m.), I know I can always count on the Ole Biddys to put a smile on my face. And so it begins my Thursday in Casa Hogar.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Sad day in Casa Hogar
This is us in Durango on our first long hike, where we all ended getting drenched by the storm, that quickly turned into hail. But it was worth it and I got to enjoy my first waterfall, which litterally took my breath away.
Durango will always hold a special place in my heart it is where I got to litterally walk in the clouds, visit a Mexican Hospital, play two on two soccer, and loose miserably to two 16 year old boys, and see God in the faces of 28 boys.
On a sad note, Yako our faithful watch dog passed away. He made sure every stranger who walked into the gates of Casa Hogar was barked at. After being a faithful dog of Hno. Genaro he is now watching over us in heaven, may he rest in peace.
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