It has been awhile since I have been on here. But it just seems that there is very little time to sit and reflect on the day. First off Elizabeth and I have come to realize that Tuesdays are going to be the toughest day of the week for us. And we thought Thursdays were weird, but no it is definetly Tuesdays. So yesterday 3 boys came home from school with reports, and after 3 reports the children are suspended or asked to leave the school. If the kids cannot got to our school they cannot live here in Casa Hogar or something close to that. It all just depends on the child. But it was a really bad thing that all the kids got reports. Then we have our new child Alejandro, and man is he a pistol. His answer to just about everything is a cuss word or NO. Hopefully his attitude will change because not only is he rude to Elizabeth and I but also the Brothers, which is not acceptable. So anyway Elizabeth and I have to remind ourselves of all the wonderful things we have in our lives here to get through our Tuesdays, and we just laugh ourselves till we hurt.

On another note Elizabeth and I had to do a presentation to a school and tell them about being Missioners. Well first off I have a hard time with the word missioner, because I see myself as a volunteer and not so much a missioner. But anyway it was a great experience to talk about what has brought me to this part of my life, and how my faith has grown. And of course the first questions out of the kids mouths were, "Tienes novio?" Elizabeth and got a huge laugh yet again. But it really was a new experience because I usually do not go around telling people my story about my life and especially not in Español, but I am happy I went and shared the a part of my life with others.

Today we had our first futbol game here in Casa Hogar with the Grandes and it is very exciting. To see them play in a field of rocks and tall grass I remember watching the guys at St. Stanislaus play and how amazing they were, but they have nothing compared to the boys of Casa Hogar. For staters the boys here do not use shin guards or cleets. And like I sid they are in a field of dust, dirt, rocks, and really tall grass. They are all very talented players and could take on any high school futbol team in the US. But now I am off for a nap I have had a long day, and another tomorrow, because I am going to Monterrey to get my stuff for the race on Sat. Yes I am running a 10k on Sat please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

More Things I love about Mexico

11. When it rains there is no Internet, and not just in Casa Hogar I mean the whole city.
12. While driving I have noticed there are NO lanes, people just go where they want.
13. Walmart is NOT the same as the Walmart in the States.
14. Hamburgers always, always come with Ham on top.
15. Work out clothes are an anomaly.
16. Roosters live next door, and we are in the middle of the city.
17. Oh when it rains here no one goes outside, the city becomes a ghost town.
18. There are only 6 radio stations the perfect number for Presets in the car.
19. There is no Pepper on the table ever, only Salt (which is essential in my diet now).
20. The fruit and vegetables taste delicious because they are without pesticides.
21. Everyone here seems to know everyone else or they are all kin.
22. We have the most beautiful Sunrises and Sunsets, it really looks as if God is breathing life onto the Earth each morning as the sun comes over the Mountains. And at night there is a blanket of pastel colors he uses to protect us from harm, they are breathtaking.

As the years go on I will continue with more updates but for now I am sure you have the idea of how much I love Mexico and all its little quirks.

Viva Mexico

There are just some things about Mexico that I am learning to love so here they are and in no particular order...

1. Every three or four days I have no water.
2. All sliced meet is jamòn.
3. Laundry detergent is used as hand soap, dish soap, and cleaning soap.
4. Pinol can probably cure cancer they live by it.
5. There are about 10 numbers needed to place a phone call depending on who and how you are calling.
6. Every grocery store also sells Televisions.
7. There are millions of speed bumps.
8. It is perfectly acceptable to have 9 people in a VW Golf.
9. The refrigerater is not for food just a place to put magnets.
10. Time does not exist here.

I have a lot more to share but right now I am off to la lavanderìa.

Tears and Most Importantly Laughter

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.

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.

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.

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.