From the Top of My Head to the Soles of My Feet

This weekend I helped my sister in law with a huge wedding she was doing the flowers for. This one was one of the biggest wedding she has ever done. It was also different in that all the arrangements were done in floral foam. I have never worked with floral foam before, and so I was a little more than intimidated by it. But, my sister in law totally put me in charge of the two hanging flower arrangements that went at the alter....I told her she was crazy, because if they turned out bad it's the one thing everyone would be sure to see! But she knew what she was doing, because as it turns out, I'm not half bad at this flower arranging stuff!!

(I still think they look like they belong on the top of a casket, and not on a pillar or table....but not bad for my first time, right?) 

I've been bopin' around to this song today. :) 

Only One Word Comes to Mind

I have always loved the verses in the Bible where it talks about these massive creatures standing around the throne of God crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty"

I love it in the book of Isaiah, chapter 6 because this is where Isaiah's guilt is cleansed with the coal to his lips and he is given a very specific call.

I love it in the book of Revelation because whenever the creatures give glory, honor and thanks it causes others to fall down and worship.

Somewhere along my way I heard that we will one day join those creatures and cry Holy! unto God.

You can call me crazy.
You can think I'm weird.
But I have ALWAYS looked forward to that day!

Today, I'm singing this!

As a Man Thinks in His Heart, So is He (Prov 23:7)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

declares the LORD.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and 

my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Oh God, I want to know your thoughts. I want to know your ways. Teach me them. I want to think like you think. I want to walk the way you have planned for me. In every situation and circumstance in my life, let me think like you. God let your presence rest over my mind today. Let me hear your thoughts! Open my ears to hear you. I want to hear you. Open my eyes to see you. I want to see you. I want to KNOW you. Teach me your ways!!! Teach me them so that I can walk in them all the days of my life. Let me hear your thoughts. I surrender mine to yours today. I surrender my plans, my hopes, my dreams, and the way I think about them all, to you, and you alone.
Be glorified in me. 

****update****

After posting this, I found myself reading in Philippians,
in The Message version,
chapter 2 verses 5-8: 

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

God, You're a funny guy.
Thank you.
Show me,
Teach me,
More.
I love you.
<3

"Everyday I'll awaken my praise, and pour out a song from my heart"

I cannot get this song out of my head this morning.

I cannot stop thinking about how the Bible says
God inhabits the praises of his people.(Psalm 22:3).

Some versions even say he is enthroned in our praises. 

I may not have been through as many trials as some. 

I may even have many more trails that
I cannot even fathom
that will catch me off guard. 

No matter what happens,
I want this to always be my anthem,
and purpose in my heart to make it so.

~You are Good~

Your kindness leads me to repentance

 Your goodness draws me to your side

 Your favor calls me to be like you 

Your favor is my delight

 Everyday I've awaken my praise and pour out a song from my heart 

You are good, 

You are good 

You are good and your mercy is forever 

Your kindness is forever 

Your goodness is forever 

Your mercy is forever 

Chalice

Thankful

"The seeds of depression cannot take root in a grateful heart"

Sometime last year I heard this said somewhere and I liked it so I wrote it down. It wasn't until recently when I was looking back through my journal for some encouragement that I stumbled across it again. I haven't really been able to get it out of my head.

There have been a lot of things pulling at me and weighing me down lately. Even more so since the start of the new year. Seems like every little thing that goes wrong is just one more straw on this camel's back, and I'm starting to wonder if the next one will be the one that breaks it.

The more I think about it all, the more overwhelming and depressing it all is...

And then I remember this quote. And I find myself identifying all those things big and small that try to pull me down--I realize those would be my "seeds of depression". I don't want those to take root in my heart! I've lived enough depressing days to know that's not where I want to remain.

How do I break this vicious cycle?

I love what Philippians 4:4-7 says (Amplified)

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit).

The Lord is near [He is coming soon].

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

I love it! It's so simple! I have to rejoice in the Lord! I have to find SOMETHING to be thankful for. I have to let my mind rest on those things. When I feel like worrying, or that knot of anxiety starts to grow and twist and turn in my stomach, I just have to remember to take it to God with a grateful, thankful attitude...THEN God promises to leave me resting in His perfect peace. And not only that, when I have presented my petitions to God with thanksgiving, he promises to guard my heart and my mind. Wow. What a great God I serve.

Now to start a new list of things big and small to be thankful for....

Lord, help me to take this knowledge that you have given me the ability to understand, and apply it to my life that I might walk in Your wisdom with peace of heart and mind.

I need you Jesus.....

You are the source of the life

I can’t be left behind

No one else will do

I will take hold of You

I need You Jesus

To come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There’s no other name by

Which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

I will follow You

Desperation Band

Rescue

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In Season And Out Of Season

I forget how much I really do enjoy blogging.

I have been feeling like it's time to blog something again. I think the feeling comes mostly from the fact that the 2nd anniversary of when I lost my job in Mexico was this past week. I really thought I had a lot of good stuff to say about it, until I realized I blogged about it last year, too. (If you scroll down a little ways, you'll find it....)

So, blogging about it again, well, that's just lame.

Or is it?

At times, I must admit, my heart still aches for the life and people I left in Mexico. I still don't understand why things had to happen the way they did. But that's ok. I don't have to understand it completely, or at all. I just have to trust.

As I have been reflecting this week on the past two years, one verse keeps coming to mind.

2Timothy 4:2 (Amplified)

"Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching."

I think when I lost my job, the opportunity for change, and to go home wasn't favorable to me, or convenient or even welcome. I didn't want it. I endured a lot of heart ache because of my stubbornness and unwillingness to let God take me in a different direction.

Things happen. Things change. Sometimes, they're good. Sometimes, we have a difficult time seeing how they could possibly be any good. But through it all, we have to keep trusting our awesome life-planner, who really does know what He's doing! 'Cause, after all, He does work all things for GOOD because we love him.

God, help us to be prepared for when you bring change. Help us to see, and seize every opportunity you give us, whether or not we can see it as favorable or convenient. Help me to trust You more in every area little and big in my life. You are a good God. There is none like you.

Amen.

People are Messy

As I sit here trying to think about how to best describe the past few days in the right words it's challenging.

All I can come up with are these three simple words:

People are messy

We are a crazy emotional lot, sometimes easily offended, easily angered, and not as forgiving as we should be. We hurt easily, break easily and probably more often than we'd like to admit, we lose our way just as easily.

Just this past week I've encountered the postpartum mother, who is doing her best to keep up with all the little ones while crazy hormones do their thing in her body.

I've come across the friend who for whatever reason is more easily offended at this point in time and just needs to be loved, reassured, and maybe even given a bit of "tough love" to help them through to the other side of this.

I've been run over and completely thrown for a loop by a friend, who though they meant well, said some very hurtful things. And while God has graciously given me enough insight to know that what they said was fueled mostly by fear and selfishness, it still stings like slap to the face or a sucker punch to the gut.

And that's just to list a few of us messys that are out there. I could go on.

It makes me ask God, why do you continue to love us so much when we clearly don't deserve it? Why are You so patient with us??

And you know what he said to me?

One word:

Potential

He sees us not just where we are, or how we are. He sees our potential. He sees the awesome plans he has for our lives, plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Plans for a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).

And while we're still mucking through our everyday muck He's right there loving us ever so patiently. Waiting for us to turn to him as our source of every need, physical, emotional, spiritual, or what have you.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for loving us so much! Thank you for all the potential you see in me, and for not giving up on me. Thank you for promising that, You who began a good work in me, will be faithful to complete it. And help to know that even when it doesn't look like it from where I'm at, you're still working in me and in those around me! Help me to see the potential you see in others, so that I can love them like you do.

You are an awesome God.

Amen

C2 5k Day 1

My treadmill is broken. It's a very sad thing. I love my treadmill. I prefer to run in the privacy of my home as opposed to on the street or the gym. But alas, it's broken, and has been for quite some time. The good news though, is I have the part! I just need help fixing it.

Broken treadmill or not, I'm not going to let that stop me from my newest exercise goal routine. :)

Have you heard of the recent fad Couch to 5k? I actually heard about it over a year and a half ago, but never paid much attention to it.

For those that don't know, it's a 9 week program that gets you moving and running at least 3 times a week until you reach the goal of running 5k. It's really pretty cool. You can go out to iTunes and download free podcasts for each week. There's a narrator that tells you when to walk and when to run.

Today was my first day trying it. I was able to run 5 of the 8 one minute segments of running. It's not that great, I guess, for some, but for this couch potato who has been horrible in eating and exercise habits, I feel awesome about it. I know that by the end of this week I'll be able to run all 8 one minute segments without a problem.

My mental mantra this morning: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Jehovah Jirah my provider, He provides the strength I need to see this through to completion!

God is so good.

Can't sleep...I think I'll blog...

There are so many random thoughts rolling around in my head tonight as I lay here in my bed tossing and turning thinking about how early I want to get up and knowing full well the longer I'm awake the harder it will be to get up....

It's time to start making changes in my life. Spiritual, physical, emotional. The whole bit. And for the first time in over a year I feel ready, energized, and willing to start making those changes.

Over a year ago I lost my job. And that's when my "world" came crashing down. I absolutely loved my life up to that point. My job wasn't exactly stress-free but life outside of work was so satisfying that it made up for the sucky-ness of the job. But that's not the point.

When I lost my job I desperately tried to hang onto life as I knew it, even though deep down I knew the time I had left in the place I love most was quickly running out. Besides trying to process through the emotional crisis that comes with losing a job I also had to re-adjust living back in the states, in my parents house. Not only that the situation at home wasn't one I wanted to be apart of either, stresses with my brother and his family, a nephew born with a serious physical condition shortly after I arrived back. I was devastated.How could I have failed so miserably? What had I done to deserve this? WHY GOD WHY??? People telling me, "Well you know you're here for such a time as this...God brought you back for a reason" .... I knew he did, but at the time I could only respond with "God brought me back so I could be miserable?" You see, the ache in my heart was too great to be anything but hurt at God for the way he decided to move me.

This is the horrible condition I've been in for the past year. Hardly able to cope with life as I now know it. Feeling lost in a desolate wasteland. What the heck was God doing? Why the heck am I back here???

Until recently I haven't been able to see much past this huge pain in my heart. Each day just going through the motions, putting up a bold front, clinging to little shreds of happiness from my "former way of life". Honestly it's been miserable.

But God is really so good to me. He's been here with me through it all. Patiently waiting for me to stop asking, "Why???". Patiently waiting for me to turn to him for my comfort and not food or friends or tv or what have you. Patiently waiting for me to want to know Him more. Patiently. Waiting.

So here I am. Like waking up from a bad dream that lasted way to long. Here I am. Ready to stop asking "Why????" and ready to come before his throne of grace and let Him heal my hurting heart, ready to let Him show me what it is he is preparing me for, to show me what it is He desires most for me.

What has brought me out of this cloud I've been living in the past year or so? I think the fact that it's been a year and I'm still in the exact same place has something to do with it. I don't want to be stuck walking in the same sad cycle year after year. It's time to move on.

In January my pastor always calls the church to a fast. This too, I believe, has been key in shocking me back to reality. It's the little effort I made toward God that has started a slow snow-balling process into wanting more of him.

Since that fast, I can honestly say, my desire has been just to know God more. Slowly (I could probably even say VERY slowly) I've started making little changes in my daily habits. Trying to wake up a little earlier just to spend time with God. Reading my Bible a little more. Finding books that encourage me in my walk. Putting God first in my day before checking Facebook, my email, and chatting with friends online. Baby steps in the right direction.

And now I'm ready to take it a step further. I want to really know God more. I want to live a Spirit-filled, disciplined life pleasing and acceptable to God and God alone. I want him to be what I crave the most, more than friendships, more than family, more than ministry, more than food.

And that's my next step. Putting food in the right place in my life. As you can imagine, having my heart ache and break for so long the thing I've tried to comfort myself with the most has been food. Giving it a higher place in my life than God. God forgive me.

So here's my plan.

I just read the most amazing book, Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeusts. In her book is all about her journey to know God better as she practiced putting Scripture to use in the area of healthy choices in what she ate. She really didn't say anything new that I didn't already know, but reading that book, I believe, has been the catalysis for launching me further in my walk with God.

These quotes right here are just two of many that I have highlighted in the book:

"How do you grow close to God? I answered, "By making the choice to deny ourselves something that is permissible but not beneficial. And making this intentional sacrifice for the sole purpose of growing closer to God. After all, Jesus Himself said, "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" Luke 9:23"

"After all, remember the ultimate goal of this journey isn't about making me a smaller sized person but rather making me crave Jesus and His truths as the ultimate filler of my heart."

And so that's where I am, folks. I want to know God more. And I am, from this point on, making intentional sacrifices for the sole purpose of growing closer to Him.

This means, for a while, no more Dr. Pepper (0r other carbonated beverages), no more sweets, less of the high calorie, more of the good for you foods.

This also means a more dedicated approach to exercise. I am actually starting a running program couch to 5k. In 9 weeks I can be running 5k! That's only if I stay consistent on leaning on God to help me keep up a more disciplined lifestyle. And I know, he will as long as I'm willing.

I hope that if you happen to read this, you too are encouraged in your journey to know God more. I also hope that this is the first of many more posts that proclaim God's goodness to me in my life!

The Whatever Rule

Today I have been challenged by what I like to call the

"Whatever Rule"

found in

Philippians 4:8 (Amplified)

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

What are you doing?

What are you thinking?

What are you watching?

What are you listening to?

What are you speaking?

Does it fit into the "Whatever Rule"?

What a challenge!

yikes! it's been a while!

Well, it's entirely too late to do any real blogging tonight!

I will leave a quick update, for anyone who might happen to still check this!

I no longer live in Mexico :'(

It's been really hard to come to terms with that fact, but God is so good. And so patient with me. I know he has an amazing plan, he's just waiting for me to come around and see life from his point of view--I'm getting there.

I moved back sate-side end of January of this year.

It's been hard finding a teaching job.

Thankfully I did find SOMETHING.

At a day care.

But it's totally where God wants me right now. So it's all good.

I recently took my test and became a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God.

I'm waiting on God to open the right doors as to which direction I should go next.

I love my family.

God is good.

That is all.

Hello. Goodbye.

It's really hard to believe that summer is already over! Well, living in Mexico it's practically always summer-time weather, but what I mean is that school is starting again already :( The kids come back on Monday!! Where has my summer gone??

I remember now...one week here in Durango "resting" two weeks in the states (1 wk in Texas, 1 wk in KC), one week back in Durango going out to the camp grounds everyday, two weeks of rest and cleaning the house, and then last week, in-service and another youth camp....yep that's how the summer went. So fast.

I have been singing more with the worship team. It has been somewhat of a challenge. I'm still not as confident in my abilities as I should be I think. But I'm going to keep at it and see what happens.

God has been doing some crazy good stuff around these parts, moving and working and bringing freedom to people's lives like never before.



One Thursday night I had a slumber party with some of the girls from church. It was pretty fun, and relaxing. It's neat to see how God brings people together at the right time.

Here is Grecia, Dulce and me .... like at 4am :-P
Also at the party were Oly and Alejandrina :)




School starts on Monday. My goal is to keep this more up to date (as always) we'll see if I can make that happen!

Tengo Miedo

Recently we've been having more drive by shootings, and shoot outs between the bad guys and cops.

This past week, on Wednesday actually, a friend and I were driving home from the movies when we passed a bunch of cops and a couple of taxis. Were like what happened here?!? But we kept on driving (you never stick around when there are a bunch of cops...and this is why). As it turns out not 15min before we passed, some taxis had a little fender bender. As they were sorting out the details with the police, two guys drove by and opened up a couple of rounds on everyone at the scene but mostly targeting the police. The police officers were shot in the back (and are ok I think) but the taxi drivers (three in all I think) were killed (two on the spot and the other one just died today) :-S. Here's the ironic part, the shooters where driving fast, hit a bump, flipped their vehicle and died....

Tonight there was another shooting in the neighborhood of a friend and the police wouldn't let people leave their houses.

Last week, when we were all out at the fair grounds for a concert, in the neighborhood where my church is located (and just around the corner from a different friend's house) there was a shoot out between cops and the bad guys. That night my friends couldn't return home cuz the cops had blocked off that entire area. I've driven past and seen the bullet holes in the building.

Crazzzy stuff.

Please pray for my safety, and the safety of everyone here in Durango. Mostly the danger is with the cops. They're the targets. However if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time (like the taxi drivers).....

Oh my! How time flies!

Apparently I'm really bad at keeping up with this blog.....I think I lack inspiration due to too much busy-ness. Its really hard to believe that I've been living here in Mexico almost a whole year now (August 1 marks one year!! Wii!! Party at my house!)

This year has been more challenging than I could have ever imagined it to be. Full of ups and downs. I think the most challenging part has been my job. Unless you've been here, you really cannot imagine what it's like adjusting to not only living in a different culture but working in one. Yes, I work at an "American" school, but it's totally run by Mexicans :p. The challenges that I've met there were not something I expected. It's definitely been a chance to grow and change how I think.

More surprising than the challenges I have faced so far are the many blessings God has been throwing at me. I am incredibly blessed with an amazing church, full of so many good friends. I absolutely love living here and wouldn't change it for the world!! God has also opened the door for me to do something I've ALWAYS dreamed of doing, but I never ever in a million years thought it something I could possibly be any good at doing!! :p That is singing on the worship team at church! I still don't think I have a great voice, but what I do have I give to the Lord to use as he will :)

I think that's all the reflecting I'm gonna do for now :p

It's getting kinda late, and there's a bunch of dirty dishes in my sink that really should be washed!! hahaha

Let's see if I can stay a little more consistent with this blogging business!!

:)

Moments in Mazatlan

This past weekend I had a three day weekend. My friend from work Jeannine and I decided to plan a little get away...to Mazatlan! The idea was to spend two and a half days relaxing on the beach. Unfortunately, the grandmother of my best friend passed away as I was arriving to Mazatlan. After talking with my friend a couple times I decided to return to be there and help in any way. However, I did spend a pretty fun 10 hours in Mazatlan.

After a very long 8 hour trip on the bus, full of turns up and down the mountain, without much sleep, we arrived to find a very cloudy and rainy day in Mazatlan. As we set out to the hotel we told the rain: Rain, rain, go away! (It didn't so much work) When we arrived there it was too early to check in. We left our things in a secure area and went to explore and find some breakfast. We hadn't walked very far when I made a grand discovery:

Needless to say, I was thrilled. Of course I had to wait to get something because it wasn't open yet. So we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked some more. And it was starting to sprinkle, and then it was starting to rain and mist more....so we decided to stop for breakfast. The only place open was a well known restaurant called Panama. They had a lot of cakes and breads in the windows and the menu reminded me some of an Ihop.

After we ate, we decided to walk around a bit more, despite the fact that is was raining. We found our way to the beach just have a look-see and walk. I, of course, took off my shoes and walked in the water :). I managed to collect a few cool looking rocks. We started tiring of walking in the rain and decided to head back to the hotel to see if we could relax in the Jaccuzi while we waited for our room to be available. To our surprise we were able to check in early! We then went to the room and crashed for a couple of hours hoping that the sun would come out to play.

After a refreshing nap we decided to hot tub it since the sun was still not out completely. After 20 minutes in the "hot" tub (it really wasn't hot at all) I convinced Jeannine and Ana that we should go to the beach and that it wouldn't be too cold. There at the beach Jeannine just laid out on her towel, trying to convince the sun to come out. Ana came in the water with me for a little bit but was scared of the waves, so she stayed close to the shore. I went deep and had a blast jumping through the increasing waves.

All of these pictures I stole from Jeannine, because I forgot to take out my camera while I was there.

When we decided to head back to the hotel I called my friend in Durango to see how he was doing. I knew then after hearing his voice that I couldn't possible enjoy myself any further there in Mazatlan while he was suffering. Before heading back to the bus station I did manage to go to Starbucks!

This was the taxi we found to take me back to the bus station. The bus station was a good ten minutes away from the hotel, and on an open road, with fast cars. It was a little scary, but part of the Mazatlan experience, I'm told.

And those were my moments in Mazatlan.

Hello :)

Howdy there blog world! I bet you thought I forgot all about you. I haven't. Life's been crazy busy, and I forget to tell you about it. :s Sorry.

Let's see what's new in a nutshell? Mmm...
My days are pretty full. I teach Monday through Friday, usually having stay late until four for meetings, planning, and Spanish class. I'm currently taking guitar lessons at a little music school. Everything is in Spanish, and surprisingly enough I'm getting along fine in the classes. I've also been going to worship practice at church since the beginning of December. Azael the worship leader tells me it will be soon when I can actually start singing on Sunday mornings (he's been saying that since December, but this is Mexico and that's how it goes). What else? Oh yes, in the young adults group (we have our services every Saturday) I was made the treasurer. Also I'm part of the multimedia team and I help with the projector and easyworship so we have the words to the songs being sung every Saturday. :) Oh! and I recently helped a little (as much as I could) in a drama we put on for missions Sunday or something.

Last month the young adult group and the youth got together to do some ministery at the general hospital here. The youth put together one drama and we put together two human videos. In true Mexican form, we didn't practice/learn the videos until the day before/day of. But it went well. We also handed out food to the people who were there waiting to get in, or waiting to see family. Teams also prayed with anybody who wanted it. All in all it was a pretty good afternoon. We had a HUGE turn out of adolescents show up to help...
Here are some pictures of that day!

Here we are praying at the church before we head to the hospital.

Here are some of me being beat up by demons in the Wake Me Up skit and me being a demon in the Everything skit.

I love this last photo. All of us demons were trying to keep Ale from getting back to Jesus, and finally he comes in and stands there, and we're still trying to get to her but we can't...so powerful!

We're not all work and no play here. :p Quite the contrary :p For Valentine's Day the young adult had a special dinner. We all dressed up nice and exchanged chocolates. It was a fun time. Probably the best Valentine's day ever. Why? 'Cuz it was just fun! Not many couples...well in fact there were only two couples (out of like 40 people). :p Also there was a big emphasis on friendship and the guys taking care of the girls like princesses...with no strings attached. It was really a pretty cool message that was shared. I had a great time, despite the fact that I was feeling a little under the weather still.

Here are some photos from that night :p

Everybody...almost :)

Me and Pavel :)

Me, Janeth, Caro, Dani, Rafa, Jorge, Edgar, Juan Ramon

And that's all for now. I hope someone still reads this. :p

Goings and Comings

I've been meaning to post stuff for a while, but everytime I've been inspired to say something I've had other more important things to do! (Like get caught up on my grading!!!)

December has been a very busy month! There has been something to do every Friday so far! So many Christmas parties and Posadas! Unfortunately, I keep forgetting to take my camera to some things!! But, I do have some new pictures!

The first Friday of this month, I think it was, the school where I work gave us, the teachers and staff, a traditional Posada. At a posada you drink ponche (a type of hot fuit punch it's very tastey) you eat tamales and have a pinata! Also you re-enact the "Posada" which was when Mary and Joseph were going from place to place looking for somewhere to stay. They sing a song while doing this, and everyone in the party participates....it's very interesting!

It was a lot of fun breaking the pinatas at the posada......all the teachers diving for the candy and scrambling over it like little kids!!! Not to mention the sheer thrill of taking out all your agression and frustrations on those poor pinatas!! :p
Here you can see Julia really wacking it!! And everyone else taking their chances to get the candy!!

The next Friday there was another Christmas party that the parent association of the school threw for the teachers and staff. I didn't go to that one however, because I was previously invited to a different Christmas party with the ladies at church. I forgot to take my camera to that one!! :( But it was a lovely time! We had salad and spahgetti and apple pie, brownies and no-bake cookies for dessert! (I made the brownies and no-bake cookies! I've really started enjoying baking a bit more here....I don't know if it's cuz I'm board or if it's just my domestic side break free ;) )

It's really beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. My favorite part about Durango I think is how much they decorate for Christmas!! It really is the best! Two Sunday's ago there was an official lighting ceremony at Parque Guardiana. Pavel, his mom, a friend Jeannine from work, and I went to see the festivities. Later we met up with Griselda, another friend from work. Then Jeannine and Griselda left and we met up with Dani, and her sister, and Mariana. You can kinda see all the lights in the background. There were sooo many people there that night we decided to leave. We went to Cucurumbe, a local coffee shop. Pavel's mom left, but we met up with Juan Ramon and Edgar. It was really nice to be inside the coffee shop and drinking hot chocolate. Good times.

I went another time to Parque Guardiana to see the lights. This time I went with my friend Caro. It was soooooooo COLD!! We bought some yummy warm drink that I can't remember what it's called right now, but it's a very typical drink to have this time of year! It was very tastey. We walked through the park and enjoyed the lights. We also enjoyed walking through the town of Bethlehem they have set up....You can actually walk through some of the houses. It's very cool. I hope to go back to Parque Guardiana a couple more times before I head home for Christmas!!

"Oh little town of Bethlehem..."

One other event I want to tell you about is when Marcos Witt came to visit our church just for one day. He is a pretty well known in the Christian Latin community. He has produced several cds and I think he's the pastor at Lakewood's hispanic church. His parents were/are missionaries here to Durango, and he's now like over the church here that I go to. I don't really think he's all that big of a deal...but the people here were like crazzzyyy about him. I mean he's cool. Love his music, he's a great speaker....but man they were like idolizing him!! Caro made me take a picture with her and Marcos too!!





Last, but not least, here's a couple more photos of me and my friends! After the service Caro got really picture happy and was taking pictures of everyone.....so here are two of my favorites!

This one is me, Azael (the worship leader at church), his fiancee Giovanni (he just proposed like a week ago!! It was really cool how he did it too!) and Tonio.

This one is me, Pavel, Tonio, Juan Ramon, and Caro. God has blessed me with some great friends!!

I have another Posada on Friday, this one is during the day and with all my students. There might be another Christmas party of the youth at church Friday, and Saturday is a Christmas concert that a couple of my friends are playing in, and another christmas party possibly at church......

SUNDAY I COME HOME!!! wooo!
It's a 20hr bus ride from here to Houston....
but taking a bus is a heck of a lot cheaper than flying!
I'll try to post again before I leave for home!

Tengo Un Nuevo Sobrino!!

Congrats to Mathew and Katherine!!

On Friday, November 14, 2008, my new nephew, Ethan Paul was born!!! He came into the world weighing in at 8 pounds 14 ounces!!!

I really wanted to go home this weekend! I have a three day weekend and everything!! Pero no tengo dinero! MI VIDA Es IMPosSiBLe!! ajajajaj.....No te creas!

So, here are some pics, later I may get to skype with my brother and sister-in-law and the new little bunndle of joy.....that will have to do until I get to go home for Christmas!

Awe...what a cutie!!

Hailey and Noah meet their new brother Ethan Paul :)

Baby Ethan and his grandpa!