So I have some serious updating to do... right now bullet points details will come later!
Since the Iron Bowl...
I got another job working with a scuba shop that is literally a block and a half from the house! I love it so much, it's very laid back, and I get paid in cash! (probably illegal but we'll cross that bridge if we get there!) They are giving me a lot of responsibility in designing the shop. This is also an awesome way to help me learn spanish because they only speak a little bit of english. The main owner is Mexican, the other two owners/investors are Italian. I'm getting a double dose of language thrown at me everyday and I love it! (I'm also helping them learn English!) It's a fun new adventure and Ty and I thought, why the hell not. It gets me out and about, I'm already in 3 weeks much more confident and speaking more spanish, and I get some extra walking around money (as papa would say!) I promise to put pics up soon!
Loved watching Auburn beat South Carolina in the SEC Championship! It was such a great game!! Ty unfortunately had to work but I recorded highlights via my camera (terrible quality but it's the thought that counts right!?!)
A few days after winning the ship I found out Mom, Steve, Dad, and Patti all worked their magic and got Ty and I tickets to fly to pheonix, a hotel to stay, and tickets to the REAL ship Janurary 8-11 to watch Auburn take on Oregon as our Christmas gifts!!! Super pumped!!!
Flew back stateside for cousin Lauren's wedding in Huntsville! It was such a wonderful trip that truly went by WAAAAAAAAAY too fast!!
Cam Newton won the Heisman!
I got back this past Monday and caught a bit of a cold/flu crap so I took Tuesday off from the scuba shop, luckily Ty was off as well, and relaxed all day AND put up our first Christmas tree as a married couple! I got so incredibly emotional because it was ours! One more memory for us to share. When you get all caught up in the miniscule things in life, you kind of forget what you are even doing it for. Happiness. I know for a while I couldn't find it because I was lost. I knew I was happy with Ty, our families, the dogs, work, but still something was missing. I just wasn't Happy with myself. I believe I have found it here in Cabo. Small, thoughtless acts of kindness can be found everywhere because so many people here have only that. Barely enough money for food, rent, utility bills, clothes, yet they still manage to walk around with a smile on their faces, say "buenas dias," and go about their day. What's amazing is that the people who have poor attitudes and outlooks on life, are those who have the multi million dollar homes, the yachts, the fancy cars. They are the ones who are miserable.
I guess it's when you put life into perspective, what's really important, you find your happiness, which brings me to why this post is called "Christmas Miracle."
This year for Christmas Ty and I are only doing small, funny gifts! Saturday we only work half a day at the shop so after a little siesta and a few chats with mom, the Thaxton crew, and Gainor crew, I went off to the mall to get some ideas! After going into shops where the clothes were just ungodly expensive and not really that cute, I found a store called 100% Mexico. I figured, why not and went in. It was amazing all the culture that was in such a little store. The owner was full of life and was talking to everyone that walked in. I found myself in the ornament section of the store and couldn't take my eyes off a few specific ones that were truly symbolic to the past few months we have lived here in Mexico. For example, one ornament I found was a broom that had a tiny basket attached to the handle and at the bristles were tiny cups. It reminded me of our day to day sweeping the house, and hand washing our dishes (that sometimes pile up to a rediculous mountain.) I found another ornament that was the simple traditional design but had 2010 bicentennial written on it. How perfect since we experience such a historic part of Mexican culture on September 16th as Mexicans everywhere celebrated 200 years of independence. The last ornament I saw was a beautiful angel, so simply made wearing the traditional Mexican dress, symbolizing the many fiestas we have attended and cultural gatherings in the square a block from our house. I realized that these little moments are some that we will get to share with our children and grand children one day and what better way, then every year at Christmas time. The time when family is so important.
Sometimes though you forget how fortunate you really are. While I was in the store I started talking to the owner. You know the normal "rush" talk, how are you, where are you from, how long have you lived here, what do you do. It's the what do you do question that sparked the beginning of a little Christmas Miracle. When the owner found out I worked for the radio station his eyes lit up like an Arbol de Navidad! He shared a passion with me about rescue. Rescuing children in a local community here in Cabo from pain, violence, and neglect. Sending them to shelter where they are properly taken care of but they eat, sleep, play, everything solely through donations. His store is taking donations for the children living in this shelter which is called Casa Hogar.
As a football fan, he also is involved with a flag football league, which is designed to get children off the streets, away from commiting crime, getting pregnant, and finally having an outlet to be a 7, 8, 9 year old kid.
After looking at him pour his soul out over this cause, I knew right then and there that I had to do something. I have said forever that my position on the radio has never and will never be just a job, about any kind of fame, it's a way to change lives and educate. Lives of those in the community I am serving and hopefully the education my co-workers and I provide will continue through out the state and who know maybe one day to the government.
I eagerly told him I would be more than willing to help by getting him on air, sharing his experiences to others, but more importantly, get him to spread his knowlege and drive to our spanish speaking community. We as Americans are truly lucky (though some think other wise) to have the freedoms of an uncorrupt government (also questionable to some), a terrible education system (in some areas), and so many more opportunities to succeed. Once you start to get into these areas where people are living on top of each other, sick, and most importantly uneducated, there no other feeling you get (selfishly) than greatful. Greatful to have a family that cares about you and your well being, greatful that you have been given the necessary tools through a good education to not only make a life of your own, but improve the lives of others.
I am more than excited to get started with this project. To get these children the care and love they need by Christmas time and beyond. I'm hoping I get approval from my boss at the radio station to have this man on the show with Dr. McAlister and I Monday, if not Thursday!
It just now hit me, all those summer afternoons learning routes with Elias may actually pay off. All the nights where we stayed in the front yard, pass after pass until he ran it right, I ran it right, he threw it right as did I, it had to be perfect before we went inside. Funny how little moments come back to you at different times in your life and sad to think so many children in and outside of Mexico don't expereince moments that at the time seem small, yet are truly impacting. It's a very interesting world we live in for sure!
If i'm lucky who knows maybe I'll get to one day coach these kids! Everyone knows that a girl from Texas can throw a football even in heels if necessary so I think it's time to spread the love to Mexico! Don't you think!?
As I went to pay for the ornaments, the man, who was almost in tears, said, "you know, I was supposed to be closed right now, I just happened to keep the store open for those other people interested in the art on the wall and then you walked in. I know these things happen for all the right reasons, so please let me do this for you, let me pay for these because the help and more importantly hope you are about to give to these children is priceless." After trying to give him money for about 5 mins, I graciously accepted his gift and left the store feeling Happy.
Feliz Navidad
