Shaving Cream?

This weekend we celebrated Mexican Independence Day. We went to a little area called Chapalita to eat, shop, listen to the grito (Mexican shout out to all the dead presidents and heroes of the revolution), and watch the fireworks. It was quite the display. I've never seen fireworks explode so close to the ground....and all of us. I saw a few of my students and was shocked they actually wanted to say hello and take a picture with me in public. :) Apparently it is customary here to spray your friends, in public, with shaving cream until they are drenched. We (the six of us who went to Chapalita) laughed at and quickly moved away from the teenagers who participated in this festivity. When we returned home, we learned four of our roommates decided to try this custom out for themselves while celebrating at Las Aguilas. Silly Girls. Pictured: Jacque covered in shaving cream (word on the street is..... she started it), Rachel and Cinthia displaying the "viva" sign, Tara with her flag.

New Friends

No matter where I live or go, God always gifts me with great friends. In college I had some of the best friendships and experiences with my roommates and classmates. Friendships from high school grew and now I have two great friends (who know my deep, dark secrets :) ). When I moved to Colorado, God always made sure I had fabulous friends for work and play. He especially blessed me with friends at Harvest.....whom I miss greatly! Now, in Guadalajara, He has come through again. My roommates are fun and adventurous which comes in handy when you are trying to explore a
new city, country and language! I have two great neighbors who love to watch movies and old episodes of tv shows I enjoy......veggie buddies! Now, as I seek a home church in Guadalajara, I can only imagine the friendships God has waiting for me! I am praying that all of us Americanas at Lincoln find a church that God has intended for us....a place we can call home and in which we may become involved. What gifts has God repeatedly supplied for you??? Have you ever thought about it??? (Hello to all of my God friends.....I miss you and look forward to a future of stories to share......)....pictured....Me, Jacque and Rachel out for a night on the town!

Reading Buddies

Today my sixth grade class ventured across Circunvalacion Sur from the school to visit the students in Jacque’s pre-first grade class. It was introduction day. Jacque and I paired her 13 students with my 18 students last night (some are two sixth graders with one pre-first student). The kids had a great time drawing pictures of Me and My Buddy. It was great to see my students….who aren’t always the most responsible…..act with such maturity around the cute little (but mischievous) pre-first graders. Jacque and I both hope positive relationships will grow from this weekly experience. If anything, it gives the sixth graders an opportunity to step up and excel at something in their day and it allows the pre-first students to practice their English (some know only a few words and phrases) and hang out with a cool older kid. We just realized we should have taken pictures today to capture this moment of goodness. Hopefully we will have an opportunity next Tuesday at “Buddy Time”. (picture uploaded two weeks later...what a group!)

Tacos Bob's

So Joy, Tara and I have tried twice to eat at the supposed best taco stand in Guadalajara. We have decided that Bob must be on vacation because each time we tried to go the "restaurant" was closed and each time we ended up eating at places that definitely don't help the pants to fit. It seems that unexpected changes are regular occurrences in this city.....ummmm......country (Viva Mexico!). As I think about all of the plans and events that have been suddenly changed or cancelled, I realize this could easily be compared to God's plans versus our plans. How many times do we dream up plans for our lives without even thinking of God's plans or without praying for direction? I know I do it all the time. I create some big idea of my own and then am disappointed (stupidly) when God sends me in another direction or tells me to forget about my "plan". For some reason, I see God's plans as the destroyers of my frivolous ideas. Instead of embracing His unexplainable and wonderful plans for my life, I whine and mourn the loss of something that was never mine to begin. If we would just give our control over to Him to begin with we would be allowed to be blessed and experience the joys of obedience. So what if I didn't get to eat the tacos I had dreamed of for two days. I was able to spend two great nights with two wonderful girls.....eating the most ginormous Dairy Queen Blizzard and laughing at the insanity of Mexican Drivers. Could Tacos Bob's really beat that?