THE BIG CAR SHUFFLE!!!

Anyone who knows my dad knows that he does not like to shop....EXCEPT FOR CARS!   My dad is famous for saying "Anticipation is greater than realization!"  And he really believes it!!   He started about 3 years ago "anticipating" buying a new car!

He has searched high and low... been to every agency both in El Paso, Chihuahua city and here!  In fact, he has been the Chihuahua TWICE just looking at cars!   Frank and I took my mom and him a couple of weeks ago and went to 8 car dealerships and then back to some of them a second time!  (Did I mention that this guy loves anticipating??)    Well, after checking out every make and model imaginable... he finally settled for this one!   A new Nissan Altima!    The anticipation is OVER!!!!

My dad is also someone who loves to "share the blessings,"  so once he had his new car.....

 the big car shuffle began !!!

  

 My dad traded my sister, Trisha his light blue 2004 Dodge Grand Voyager, with 126,000 kilometros for her maroon color Dodge Town & Country 1999 Mini-Van with 348,000 kilometros.   

Next in line for the blessings, my dad swapped me my 2000 white Dodge Intrepid
with 147,000 miles for his 2000 Ford Lincoln with 33,000 miles!
As they say on Facebook, "My daddy whipped my ride!"

This is Rosa... she is practicaly a member of the family!   She has worked for my mom and me for over 30 years!   There were enough blessings to share with her too!

She inherited Trisha's maroon mini-van!   You cannot imagine how much she will appreciate owning her own car!   She has either walked or road her bike to work her whole life!!

My dad gave me the assignment of teaching her to drive and making sure she got a drivers lisence!   We have been driving and driving!   She is actually pretty good for someone just learning to drive!   Today I parked both my cars on the street and made her practice paralell parking between them!   When she got her lisence she was beaming from ear to ear!!!  

And last of all.... my Dodge Intrepid is being sent to live at my dad's house in El Paso, Texas for my mom to use when she is shopping in the good 'ol USA!  And so... my dad buying a new car has blessed the lives of 3 other people!  

We are so happy and thankful but now we worry....

"What will dad "anticipate" now????

WE ARE SOOO BLESSED!

On our early morning walks, Chris, Lynnette, Jennifer and I often go past where these Indian workers that Uncle Ron brought up to help with the harvest live.   We usually see about 6 women with a bunch of kids sitting on the dirt under this tree.  We figured they must be the "nursery leaders" for the day.  What a simple life these women lead, barely surviving with the bare necessities!   One day we took some Chocolate Chip cookies to share with their nursery group!   On this particular day we had a bunch of little toys gathered from around the house.  We stopped under the tree and began passing a small toy out to each of the kids!

At first the children didn't know how to react but then they began to holler for the other children to come over...  which they did!   Thankfully we had enough toys for each child to have something with a few things left over!

This woman was happily doing her laundry in this cement sink... and hanging it to dry on the fence!  When I was a child my mom used to tell me, "Poor people have poor ways." (Notice the trash on the ground.)  It doesn't cost anything to pick up the trash.  I wonder if they just don't notice it or they just don't care.   Either way, it doesn't matter, I'm sure Heavenly Father loves them just as much (and possibly even more) than he loves the rest of us!

Many families sleep in a bunk house all togther and have one kitchen between them all, where they cook and eat.  They also share  communal shower and out houses.

They are very shy and seemed to me to feel very uncomfortable with us around!

It made me sad to see this baby laying on a piece of cardboard!

 I'm sure her mother does the best she can to provide for her child!  These people are hard working and spend long hours in the hot sun every day!  It seems unfair that so many of us have so much and some have so little.  I imagine our Heavenly Father will hold us accountable for what we didn't do, but could have, to make their lives more bearable!  I feel extremely grateful for my many material blessing when I see the way these people live!  I am so blessed!

Independence Day in Mexico

Today in Mexico we are commemorating 200 years of Independence from Spain and 100 years since the beginning of the revolution that began in 1910 and toppled the dictator, Porfirio Diaz!

Last night we were invited to Colonia Juarez for a watermellon bust and to watch their fireworks show! It was a great time! It was fun to get out of the house and visit with people I don't see that often! We sure appreciated their invitation!

I know that Mexico has had more than it's share of problems... with the drug wars, murders, violence, extorsions and kidnappings, but we have been very blessed during the past year.   Looking back a year ago we were living in constant fear... (at least I was!)   Bro. Meredith Romney had been kidnapped and returned, Bro. John Robinson had been assaulted and shot... and a few months later Bro. Marshall Turley would be kidnapped.  Two De la Cruz brothers where shot down and murdered as the sat in front of their house late at night.   Bro. Barrera was kidnapped at work and beat pretty badly before the ransom was paid and he was returned to his family, and many, many other people who I did not know personally were killed or kidnapped. The "Forces of Evil" could literally be felt in the area!  In an attempt to help the members of the church find peace and comfort in our lives our Area Presidency sent out a letter, asking us to do these 5 things:

1. Attend the temple more often.   We all say that we want to live with our Heavenly Father in the Celestial Kingdom after we die.   If we don't do all that we can in this life to go to His house, how can we say, or even hope to live with Him in his house throughout eternity?
2. Study the scriptures DAILY individualy and with your family until it becomes a habit.  We were also invited to read the entire Book of Mormon before General Conference in April.
3. Pray every morning and every night... individually AND as a family.  Pray that your children will be protected from the evil that surrounds them and pray for the guidance of the Holy Ghost as you move through your life.
4. Fast and Pray on the first Sunday of every month.  In your fast, pray for the leaders of the government that they will be guided to make the right decisons for the welfare of all of Mexico.  Pray for the members of the church that they will feel the desire to be obedient.
5. Share the gospel with others!   The best way to combat evil is to share the gospel.

  As members of the church, I think we ALL tried really hard to do these five things!  After all... we were desperate and very humble!  A year later now... things really have calmed down in our lives.   Things have improved tremendously!  We are beginning to relax and feel safer again!   Along with that... at least for me, I have slacked off in doing some of these things.   As a couple, we don't study the scriptures as consistently as we used to.   My prayers don't feel as sincere as they did back then and I have missed a couple of months fasting!  Although I feel VERY grateful for the protection that has been over us...(I thank Heavenly Father daily!) I am slipping in my worthiness for His protection!  I hope that I am the ONLY one falling short!  I hope that we do not need more reminders of where our safety lies!   And so, this Independence Day, I am so thankful for the blessing of living in Mexico.  I LOVE the Mexican people!  I love the freedoms my children grew up with!  I love the life style we enjoy!  I love the financial security Frank has been able to provide living here.  I love that my parents and brothers and sister all live within walking distance!   I love the members of our Ward and Stake.  I love having a temple very close!  AND... I love this country inspite of it's hardships and trials and pray that I will once again dedicate myself to doing these 5 things with obsessive devotion!

¡¡¡Viva Mèxico!!!

Happy Birthday, Frank!

Today Frank and I received  our AARP cards in the mail....

(American Association of Retired Persons!)

right on Frank's 57th birthday! 

 Is that depressing or what??

Don't know whether to laugh or cry!

But I have to say that my husband is a very YOUNG looking 57 year old!

In celebration of Frank's birthday I want you to know the things I love about him!

*  I love his fun sense of humor!  He keeps me laughing!

* He treats me with dignity and respect.

* He enjoys life!

* He has lots of friends!

* He is a good father!

* Also a good provider!
* He is generous.
* I love his family.
* He is forgiving.
* He seeks first the Kingdom of Heaven
* He holds and honors the Priesthhood and uses it to bless me and our children.

* He works hard at his church callings

* I love his willingness to share our material blessing to bless the lives of others.

* I love that he ENJOYS going to the temple!

* He is an all around great guy and a good man!

Happy Birthday Frank!

May we celebrate many, many more!

Love ya!

Remembering 9-11

Don't know how kids raised in Mexico turned out to be such patriotic Americans but I am proud of them!

Preston hung his American Flag this morning in remembrance of 9-11!
The only flag I see in the neighborhood is hung by a boy raised in MEXICO!

It was 9 years ago today that I was laying on my couch watching the "Today Show" with Katie Couric when all of a sudden there was a news flash that a small airplane had accidentally crashed into one of the twin towers.  From there things escalated as we learned that this was no accident at all but an act of TERROR.  I remember watching live as the second airplane crashed into the other tower.  I frantically woke Frank up... called my family and told them to turn on the TV!   Frank and I sat watching in horror, minute by minute as the tragedy unfolded before us!  We literally sat in front of our TV for 11 hours straight that day!   The news coverage was horrifying!  The buildings falling to the ground, people running in terror!  The dust clouds billowing down the streets!  All of it is still vivid in my mind!

I remember the days that followed with the members of Congress, Pres Bush and Vice President Chaney standing on the steps of the Capital building singing "God Bless America!"  The Spirit of unity and love for this nation was so impressive!   The feelings and talk of returning to God that followed these awful days!  The memorial service for the people who died in this act of terror!   Although they were horrible times, they brought out the best in the American citizens!  I live in Mexico and love it here but I am also an American citizen.

I am saddened when I watch the news broadcasts today and see the great division that has come between the American people.  This is a great nation with blessings and opportunities offered to it's citizen like no other country in the world!  In the media, I seldom hear talk of what a wonderful nation the United States of America is!  It is sad that it takes a tragedy to bring these things to our remembrance.

I hope that the USA does not need another reminder of how blessed they are and what a privilege it is to be a citizen of the United States of America. 

GOD BLESS AMERICAN.... LAND THAT I LOVE,

STAND BESIDE HER, AND GUIDE HER,

THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE!

We should all try daily to remember the many blessings that are ours because of this great nation and pray to our Heavenly Father to guide it's leaders and citizens in righteousness!