Lucky to Have You

I have been told, on more than one occasion, by friends and family, ¨Those kids are lucky to have you.¨ Although this is very kind for people to say, I have found something else to ring much more true: I am very lucky and BLESSED to have these kids. If I look back on my life one year ago, I don´t think I could imagine the happiness and fulfillment I feel now.

This morning, I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to check chores. Every day, our kids get up around 4:45 to 5 a.m. to shower, eat breakfast, and do chores before leaving for school at 6:30. Everyone does their part; it is like a well-oiled machine. As I sat outside in the dark, I looked around and took a moment to count my blessings: Here I was in the middle of Mexico, with a cool breeze blowing on my face, being greeted by hugs and smiles (and maybe a few tired yawns). Instead of stressing about my next deadline or preparing for a client meeting, I was concerned with making sure each child had a hug and left with a smile on his or her face.

I think I like the change. No...I am amazed by it.

I know I have always had the pull to volunteer abroad. Just ask Amy, one of my best friends who studied abroad with me in Spain. After college, I tried to drag her back abroad, only to be greeted with her applying to grad school. Not knowing what else to do, I applied as well for Mizzou´s 4+1 program and took another year for school. It ended up being one of the best decisions I have made, but the idea that I needed to go back abroad and do something for others still tugged at my heart. It was as if I couldn´t shake it; it followed me every place I went.

Three years into the working world, this desire still persisted. If I had really taken time to slow down and evaluate (don´t laugh, Mom), I would have realized this was probably God telling me this was His will. I am coming to realize that He does put the drive and desire to do something good in our hearts. And, if we follow Him, we will be met with peace.

We will also, if lucky, be met with sleepy grins, hugs, ¨buenos dias,¨ and maybe even an ¨I love you!¨

Mexico: The Good, The Bad...And The Very Ugly

It is time, again, for a Mexico Top 10 List.

This list is brought to you courtesy of the Mexican Army, the cook at NPH, and The Club.

1. You know you are safe from drug lords when you see a caravan of Mexican military personnel riding on a truck with AK-47s in one hand and a Popsicle in the other.

2. Ketchup: It is apparently a great condiment on pasta with cream sauce. Thank you, Doña!

3. Another Mexican culinary delight? After a dinner of Costco cheesecake, we had a dessert of shredded carrots with salt, lime, and hot sauce. (The kids flocked to it like roaches to our sink.)

4. Apparently your car will not get stolen here if you use The Club. Yes, the '80s are still kicking here.

5. Some people here think you can "catch" diabetes...

6. Teachers can dress as the like. This may or may not include tight white leggings (you know, the ones with lace on the bottom) and a top that looks like you are going out for a night on the town. True story.

7. People are not very aware of carbs here. Case in point: Friday lunch. Rice, beans, and fried potatoes. One kid got a baguette and made a sandwich of rice, beans, and fried potato.

8. Sometimes I see more cockroaches than I do kids. Is that a problem? My cockroach-killing skills, however, have drastically improved.

9. I have been seeing "punto de reunion" (reunion point) signs painted around town. I kept thinking, "Wow, before we had cell phones, they must have been really concerned about people being able to find each other." Um...turns out those signs signify where to go in an earth quake. Yup, that's right. My IQ is quickly dwindling here.

10. They close the office for Mother's Day. That's right! Any excuse for time off!