Turtle Sandbox

Today was a wonderful day!

Aunt Jenni and Jean-Marc bought a Turtle sandbox for Orlando for his birthday a couple weeks ago.

Lando, Lady Goo-Goo, and I played in the sand all day. Well...Lando played and Lady tried to eat it by the handfuls. Ha! But it was BEAUTIFUL outside and we had tons of fun!

Mammaw even came out for 2-3 hours. She couldn't understand why we were outside (which presented some interesting conversation) but it was wonderful just to have her outside with us.

Help from Politicians?

So while watching WATE 6 Evening News I was very surprised to see a story that was on a lady who had apparantly received un-fathomable help from Congressman Duncan in reference to the lack of care taken by immigration on her childrens' applications for residency.

http://www.wate.com/story/14440563/new-citizen-gets-help-with-kids-citizenship-applications-in-knoxville

The gentleman relaying the story states that her waiting issue was handled and solved within four hours after reaching Duncan who apparently handles the same types of issues all the time. Wow. It's wonderful that they can have such an influential politician speak up for them as before they were merely like the rest of us going through tons of immigration stuff..Four hours. That's hard to even imagine something going that fast with USCIS.

With us, Senator Alexander has been more than helpful through all this....I did speak to the immigration representative in his office yesterday when she called to inform me that she sent another Congressional Inquiry yesterday morning for our I-601 backlog. She did state that the response should hopefully include how much longer we have to wait for an answer and more on the Pending Status. I can not even express how thankful I am for the Senator's great support!

Conversation of the day

Mammaw:Where's your husband? Did he kick you out?
Me:No. He's in Mexico. He has to stay until the government tells him he can come back. We're trying to get him residency.
Mammaw: Our government wouldn't do that. Take a man and separate him from his children... I've never heard of them doing something like that.
Me:Yeah, it didn't used to be like that.
Mammaw:Why would they do that...? Mexico is part of the United States.
Me: New Mexico is part of the United States. He's in old Mexico. The country.
Mammaw: Well let me tell you...You'll be lucky if he comes back. He needs to be up here taking care of his children. Where is he?
Me:Mexico. The government wants him to stay there until they look through some papers.
Mammaw:Humph! You don't even have a husband.


Bless her heart.

The Biggest Dream

If there is one thing I would tell people coming out of high school-go to school before you have kids!!

As I have to wait until the kids are sleeping to do school work, it really makes things difficult. I keep thinking if I try in the daytime they’ll get used to it but it seems like there’s constantly something needing Mami’s attention.
I know it will be worth the struggle in the long run so maybe the real solution to this stress overload when dealing with homework deadlines is just sitting back and re-visiting the bigger dreams that will be more attainable when I have a degree..So here goes..
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to someday have some land and start/direct a camp for children who are abused/neglected. I want to hire a psychologist and art therapist. Also provided at the camp would be horseback riding lessons, lessons to learn possible work traits (roofing, construction,etc), and instrumental classes. Since I’ve wanted to have this camp for so long, I really think that it’s something I need to keep pushing for rather than seeing it as unobtainable. I want to help change the future possibilities for all these kids out there that have had a rough start and may not have a support group that every child deserves. But let’s face it…as of right now I don’t have the knowledge to even know where to begin to fulfill such a dream…Much less know how to fill out papers for government funding grants or even all the disclosures needed to protect such a program when dealing with high-risk children.
Sooo…time to write my essay for Cultural Anthropology..In other words-Time to push through..Time to keep moving forward..
One day I want to say I feel truly successful and have somehow overcame all the stumbling blocks that could have possibly kept me from any true calling or positive impact I could have on others in the same situation..
Guess it’s time to start on that homework……

Orlando's 2nd Birthday Party

Gretchen

Well, normally I'm not too partial to Gretchen Wilson songs...However, I heard her new song on the radio the other day and I have to say I was impressed..

It's called 'I'd love to be your last'. I love this part--

"When I wake up tomorrow I'm gonna wrap my arms around you
And thank my lucky stars I found you
Cause I know your heart has so much more than anyone has
Touched before, and nothing matter more to me than that" - Gretchen Wilson

This is one of those times when I am so thankful to say I can enjoy all different genres of music. (prime example for all you country music haters!) :) Yeahh, it's sappy but I suppose we all could use some sappiness every now and then!

I do like country music lyrics..normally classic but dang!- Gretchen really stepped up this time!

Feliz Cumpleanos!

Since we are leaving in a couple weeks and Orlando and Dyana will both have their birthdays within the next month or so, Chucho and I decided to throw them a little party here before we head out. However, getting ready for the party was a bigger fiasco then I had ever imagined. But a FUN fiasco! Haha. Chucho made a trip to the city(3.5 hours one way) to get the cakes and other items this morning. Then we spent awhile blowing up balloons and tying them with twine to hang all over the house. (And by me I mean-Chucho) And all the while the neighbor lady and my mother-in-law were busy in the ‘kitchen’ making Tamales..

I know it may sound nuts but the biggest adventure for me in the whole preparation was actually inviting the people. With Chucho gone to go purchase the Tres Leche Cakes, the inviting was left up to me. With Dyana in tow, I grudgingly walked out the front door with my 11 year old sister-in-law who promised her maternal supervisors to make sure the inviting process went smoothly. Following Lupita and the neighbor boys, Pancho and Boti, I gathered what little courage I had left and went to the houses that their fingers pointed to, with a sole purpose to invite people. And that’s what I did! And I can’t even believe how accomplished I felt!! It seriously takes a lot to walk around a town in another country, invite random people to a party for your American children (who most likely are lucky enough to have a lot more than the guests), and all the while maintain composure while doing exactly as 11-year-olds tell you to. Ha! What a task!!

Anyway, the party was wonderful. TONS of people came. We made over 200 jello cups for the kids, over 200 Mole Pork Tamales, around 50 Pineapple Tamales for the kids, and some lovely hot chocolate. Normally the highlight of a birthday in the US (I know for me) is opening the presents..However, after eating all the tamales and cake (that female hispanics expect to maintain normal intake) it is impossible to think of such things.. And I think that’s perfect. In fact, I think I’ll have Tres Leche cake for breakfast too!!

However, I am left to wonder…Is it common knowledge that birthdays in other countries are so extremely different? Or is such knowledge only able to truly be understood after being in the midst of all the menial preparation tasks? I mean, I always knew festivities and celebrations were different but I never thought of the little things when dealing with preparation..Such as-jello instead of ice cream. (As only the lucky few have refrigerators)..This is just a small difference though in comparison to the rest of the party. I suppose what really matters is the babies had fun, all the kids in town who came had fun, all the parents had fun, and everyone goes home with a VERY full stomach. Seriously, what more could a person ask for in a birthday party?!