Day 30

Today´s post wraps up my 30 days of small celebrations. My celebration today is about my independence. I sometimes cannot believe that I live in a foreign country and am raising a child here. I cannot believe that I have a job that I like (most days) and such a great support system here. I cannot believe how my closest friendships back at home have been preserved even though I´ve lived abroad for 3 years now.

I have learned (an still am learning) so much about myself these past 3 years. I NEVER imagined myself living abroad----I never even imagined myself leaving Utah. It´s been hard, but I´m keepin on keepin on. I don´t want to live here forever, but who knows if I ´ll want to go back to the U.S. either. Maybe Canada? Brazil? You just never know!

Enrique and I celebrated 4 years of marriage this week. It´s been quite a 4 years. It sometimes seems like just yesterday we were planning our entire wedding on the spur of the moment in Veracruz, and now here we are living in one of the largest cities in the world 4 years later....crazy. This unpredictable thing called life is crazy indeed.

I have so many goals I want to achieve. I want to write a book and have it published. I want to travel around the world. I want to have another child. I want to give Gabby the best opportunities in the world. I want to own my own business here in Mexico. I will keep working hard to try to achieve my dreams. In the mean time, I am going to keep celebrating the ¨small stuff¨that gets me through each day.

What are your dreams for the future?

Days 28 and 29

My small celebration for days 28 and 29 goes together for both days. Monday I was so stressed about going to get Gabby´s passport on Tuesday. I don´t like conflict and it seems that every ¨official¨thing I do here consists of running into conflict in some way. Sometimes I think it must just be me. Then I talk to other foreigners (and some Mexicans) and I find out that, in fact, it´s stressful to take care of business (so to speak!) here in Mexico.
I was so stressed on Monday I could barely eat. I don´t think I slept more than 2-3 hours last night. I couldn´t eat breakfast this morning and I was running on empty most of the day while we were in the passport office.
We spent about an hour at the office when we were told that they couldn´t read the doctor´s name on one document, so we had to leave and cross the entire city to get another copy from the doctor. We had 2 hours to return and still have a shot. Luckily, and I do mean luckily, we made it back and waited another hour or so before we left with the passport. I just kept looking at it over and over. I still can´t believe we got it with so few problems (and for 6 years this time!). I can´t imagine not having the stress of passport renewal next year.......I am looking forward to it tho! I think that even though that stress will be gone, another stress will fill it´s place. That´s the funny thing about stress. Just when you think it´s gone, something else comes along!

I guess my celebration is about the universe conspiring and working together (along with God answering prayers) to help things turn out well for somebody. We got lucky by getting allowed into our appt. 1.5 hrs early, then we got lucky that we had an awesome attendant the first time who didn´t make a big stink about my name, then we got lucky when the boss gave us 2 hrs to go get the new paper and return to continue the process, then we got lucky when nobody rescanned our paperwork (to make a big stink about my names), and then we got lucky when we actually received the passport! That´s a lot of luck.

However, Enrique was in such a hurry when we returned from the doctor´s office that he backed into a pole and damaged our rear light and the back of the car. When we arrived back home, he was eating a peach and bit the pit by accident and chipped his tooth!

They say bad luck comes in threes. We definitely hit our 3 quota today. But, man o man, look at all that good luck we had today. The good outweighs the bad today for sure! We´ve always got to accept that along with the good comes the bad. I don´t know why those bad things would have to happen to Enrique, especially today, but I guess the Lord never gives you more than you can handle, so I guess he´s up for the challenge!

What ¨good luck¨or ¨bad luck¨have you experienced lately?

Day 27

My celebration is today is having enough. I feel very thankful that we can go the grocery store each week, purchase what we need, and stress out too much. Of course there are times when money seems tight, but we never have to go without what we need. Of course there are things I want (a new living room set, bedroom set, nicer apt., etc...) but we have all that we need. I feel thankful that we can take Gabby to the movies or enjoy dinner out once in a while. I don´t feel like we do without and I am grateful for that. I often get caught up thinking about the things I want and don´t have, but today I am going to remember what I do have and be thankful.

Day 26--Health

Today´s celebration is my healthy family. We have been very fortunate to have a good pediatrician here for Gabriella and she has had good health! Her hemangiomas are going away and her check-ups are always good! We visited the Dr. recently for a check-up. Gabby got a clean bill of health. The Dr. said she´s very tall for her age and right on track for weight. She does need to start visiting the dentist, so hopefully we´ll get her in there very soon!
Here´s to good health!

Day 25

To things working out!
I think all teachers have worked out the kink and we are good to go for the upcoming school year! What a relief!
I think it´s so cool how things work themselves out and things happen how they are supposed to. It´s hard to just follow by faith and know that things will happen as they are supposed to, but usually in the end it all works out!
Here´s to things working out!

Day 24

Thursday was a stressful day. My school sends out proposals each year to the teachers (tells you about your raise---if any--and any other changes they´ve made to your contract). I am thankful that Gabby is going to receive her same scholarship as we were awarded this year. I am working hard each day to give her only the best and I am happy with her in the school and program she´s in.

There are some concerns from other teachers about their proposals and I don´t want to see anyone leave, so I hope it all works out!

Wednesday, Day 23

Today I am thankful for my tutoring students. I love having class one on one and being able to reteach concepts and help turn on the ¨lighbulb¨so to speak. The boy I tutor on Wednesdays has been so quiet (I´ve been working with him for 2 years now) and he is really beginning to come out of his shell! He is having longer conversations in English and boy does he have a good sense of humor! We only have one more class left this year and I´ll look forward to working with him next year, I hope!

:)

Dat 22

Today is gave the teacher´s course. We talked about cooperative learning, the writing process, the 6+1 traits of writing, and writing workshops. The class was perfect. Teachers were participating, asking questions, and most of all, they seemed to enjoy the class. I always dread giving the classes and in the end they always turn out great! I am proud of myself and proud to share the tricks of my trade! I haven´t been teaching too long, but I´m glad I am able to bring new ideas to teachers in Mexico.

Giving the classes also helps me get re-energized and helps me remember that I do LOVE teaching! This is the time of year I, and maybe other teachers out there too, get totally burned out. Now, I hope I have enough juice to finish out the school year strong!

What accomplishments are you proud of today?

Day 21

Monday is the beginning of the work week. I knew this week was going to be busy and boy was it ever! Monday flew by and I rushed home to prepare a teacher´s course I was giving on Tuesday. It was the last course and I was tired. I didn´t want to prepare anything. I did prepare the class, though. My celebration is pulling through something even when you don´t really want to.
We´ll see how it goes tomorrow!

Day 20...Sunday Funday

Sunday Funday over Memorial Weekend. We had a barbecue (hamburgers and hotdogs...all American) and it was delicious! There might not be any smell better than that smokey smell of the barbecue when cheffing up delicious treats!
Barbecuing also reminds me of Utah. Memorial Day signifies the coming of summer, school getting out, and warm weather. Here in Mexico it´s been super hot already and the rainy season is coming. Hopefully, we´ll be headed to Utah in July to see family and friends and hopefully enjoy a few barbecues! I also spent some time thinking of my daddy. How I miss him so! I think he´d be very proud of me!

How did you spend your Memorial holiday weekend?

Day 19....new lives!

I went to a great baby shower today for a good friend here in Mexico. She´s expecting her second child and she just glows with motherhood. She is so happy and bubbly and I am so jealous! Enrique and I have been thinking alot about whether or not we can/should have another child. Of course I want Gabby to have a sibling or two, but we just don´t know if we can afford another child (tuition, clothes, traveling, etc....). I know people make it work, but could we? Having children can be stressful and I feel like we are just settling into our lives here in the big city....ho hum! Will Gabby resent us for not giving her a little brother or sister????? How much more time do we have to decide? I am only 31 after all......

It´s always exciting to welcome a new member into your family! Congratulations Danny and Nicole! Can´t wait to meet the newest member!

Friday, Day 17

Today´s celebration is definitely about spending time with friends. It´s always nice to invite people over and share some smiles and laughs. We enjoyed pizza, beer, and wine at my house and the conversation was great as always!
How boring life would be without my friends!
Who are you thankful for spending time with?