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!

Olivia's Second White Dress!

Oliva was a beautiful tiny little baby when she wore her first white dress

 the day her dad gave her a name and a blessing!

Today she is just as beautiful in her second white dress!  Livy is pretty as a picture in the white dress that Lita made her for this special occasion! (Notice the pretty little braclet that granny sent her!)

We've been waiting anxiously all of 2010 for the big day that Olivia would be batpized!

Their Stake Baptism day was scheduled for August 28th!  

Lita was so happy (and relieved) that Olivia's dress fit and that she LOVED it!

The whole family is excited and actually ready early so that we could take come family pictures!

Grandp and & Grandma Stebinger are here too!   They aren't members of our church so we were anxious for them to "feel the spirit" at Olivia's baptism!   We were praying that they would!

Olivia's dad explained to her that SHE is his very first baptism.... of a living person!   That makes this an extra special occasion!    There were 8 children to be batpized.   We had a short opening exercise and then one by one each child and their family was taken to the font for their baptism.   Olivia was the last one.  While we sat in the chapel, waiting for her turn, we sang some Primary songs...

Love One Another, I Love to See the Temple, When I am Baptized, A Child's Prayer...etc.

I watched as Livy's other grandmother silently wiped the tears that kepts sneaking out of her eyes and running down her face.   Olivia's grandpa Stebinger also listened intently and nodded his head in agreement to the words that were being sung.  I KNOW they were feeling The Spirit.

After Olivia's baptism, Hayden, Hunter, Tessa and Olivia sang "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus."   Lita accompanied them on the piano.  Then Olivia's Grandma Stebinger gave her thoughts about ways that she had noticed that Olivia tries to be "like Jesus."   She cried as she told about the good example Olivia is to her.  One time when Olivia was staying with her grandparents, they wanted to take her to the beach on Sunday.   Olivia agreed to go with them but explained that she doesn't swim on Sunday, so they decided to do something different.   Later that Sunday they stopped at a store to buy some snacks.   Olivia asked if she could just stay in the car "because we don't shop on Sunday."   Grandpa Stebinger cried as she told us how proud she is of Olivia and how much she loves her!

Livy's mom gave a short talk about the Holy Ghost.... during which she had asked Lita, Big Bear, Uncle Preston and Olivia's dad to share actual experiences in which the Holy Ghost had helped, guided, taught, proctected and inspired us!   It was inspirational to hear the TRUE stories of the different ways the Holy Ghost influences us!   For SURE the Holy Ghost was present, bearing wittness to all of us of the truthfulness of his existence, power and influence!   It was a beautiful baptism and confirmation!

I think Olivia will always remember her special baptism experience!

We will be looking forward to her third white dress when she is married in the temple!

I know that day will be just as special as this day has been!

SUPERIOR CUT AND SEW INTERNATIONAL

When we think of living in Mexico, those of us who were raised here automaticaly thinK of owning land... farming, ranching or growing chile.  It has often been said that we need to be more creative in our thinking when we consider ways to earn a living here in Mexico.  Russell and Kelly have done just that!  While Ashley was here, I took her up to see the Robinson's business... Superior Cut and Sew International!

Their business is well hidden in what looks like an old abandoned building that used to be a grocery store.   From the outside you would never suspect that a big maquila is inside.  Kelly told me that they keep it that way on purpose... so that the thugs around here that like to blackmail businesses into paying them money to "not be bothered" would not realize that there is a business there!   But once you go in through a very unassuming door...voila!  

 They have quite the production going on inside!  

This is the electric saw (don't know what else to call it...) that cuts the patterns from the material. See all the patterns hanging on the wall?

Layers and layers of material are stacked on top of each other so that many pieces can be cut at once!   Pretty efficient, I would say!   When I sew, I cut one piece out at a time!

The Robinson's have about 100 employees who work to cut out and sew the products!  I'm sure these people love working for Russell and Kelly!  There aren't two more compassionate, caring and fun loving people in Dublan!

All of their clients are in the USA.  One of their major clients is Cabella's. They make many different products for Cabella's like these camaflague hunting jackets.  

The products are shipped from "Superior Cut and Sew International" ready to be stocked in the stores. 

This is the warehouse where the boxes of products wait to shipped to the United States.   While Kelly oversees the production... getting contracts and buying the materials, Russell sees about all the importing and shipping into the USA, which I understand is a major headache!   They make a good team!

It's amazing to me that they could figure out and run this business... from finding clients, shopping for material at a good price, making the patterns, producing the product, keeping a hundred employees working and happy, to all the legal stuff for crossing the border and then shipping the products around the various places in the USA!!  I am not much of a business woman myself and struggle just to learn the FamilySearch website for my missionary work so I can not even imagine taking on a project like this one!   Russell and Kelly are amazing people!   Always so upbeat and positive!   Their business is proof of what a little enginuity, hard work and FAITH can produce! 

I hope they make LOTS OF MONEY!! 

The Right Woman for the Job!!!

On Sunday, August 15th, 2010 my baby sister, Trisha, was sustained as the Relief Society President of the Colonia Juarez Ward!  I was not one bit surprised!  The Lord knows where to find a good woman when He needs one!   This woman is PERFECT Relief Society President material!   She can do it all...  cook, clean, raise a garden, freeze, bottle or dehydrate her produce, make hand pieced quilts, sew. lead the music in Primary, teach an excellent class, decorate her house beautifully, landscape the yard and mow the HUGE lawn, listen to your problems,  feed the hungry and visit the sick all at the same time and with a smile on her face, usually while cracking a joke!  This girl is darn near perfect and I KNOW she'll be an excellent Relief Society President!   When I grow up.... if that ever happens... 

I wanna be JUST LIKE MY BABY SISTER!

BIG BEAR'S NEWEST BEARS!

Yes... this is a portait Big Bear and Lita had painted of themselves!!!!   lol!

Actually, it's a Christmas gift from my mom and dad and I LOVE IT!  Big Bear collects bears and plans to leave each of his precious grandchildren a bear to remember him by!  Wherever we go, we are always on the look-out for a new bear to add to

Big Bear's collection! 

While passing through the El Paso Airport the other day, I could not resist this Patriotic Bear who sings "God Bless the USA!"

                    Ashley's little boys loved it and enjoyed singing with the Bear!

Tyson was brave enough to sing for a video clip!

This golfing bear, was purchased when Big Bear attended the
U.S. Open Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach!

 "The dream of a Life Time Bear!"

He's extra special because lots of fond memories came with him!

When you see a unique and special bear....  Think of BIG BEAR!

Maria Bonita!

While in Utah for Derick's wedding, Granny and I got to go to lunch with the Bowman girls!   They were going out to celebrate Marci and Shelly's birthdays and we crashed their party!!    Interestingly, Marci's birthday is on July 11th, same day as Preston's and Shelly's is July 28th... same day as mine! We ate at a place called "Maria Bonita" in Orem and it was pretty authentic Mexico food!!    It was fun to see these people that once lived in Dublan!   No one from the Wesley Bowman family lives here anymore and I want them to know that they left a big whole in our lives!!  
We miss them!

MARY.... WHEN ARE YOU COMING FOR A VISIT!   (People ask me that all the time!)

What shall I tell them???