christmas 2007.

gift-giving.

i've recently become very frustrated by much of what comes as a result of gift-giving. i won't get into the details of what has really put me over the edge in this frustration. and i am not just talking about christmas gift-giving. don't get me wrong...i absolutely love giving. i easily become so wrapped up in trying to find just the right gift for each person that i probably waste a good bit of time debating and deciding, walking circles around a store in contemplation before i make the move and bring the item to the counter to pay. i truly enjoy it - but of course part of what makes it enjoyable is the opening and upwrapping of that gift. the other part is that it is a gift - it is not something i have to do, but something i chose to do because i want to.

i think we've lost just that. we've become so controlled by the giving, feeling like we have to give. feeling like we have to spend a certain amount, we fill wrapped boxes with junk that the receiver certainly doesn't need. isn't that a huge slap in the face to every child (not limited to just children though) in our world who would give anything...and usually does give everything - their life...for even just $1.00?

i am not without fault - i know i'll spend more than i need to this year on family and friends that i love and care for. that is why i've decided to do something different next year. i'm not exactly sure what i'll do - whether i give the money i would usually spend to an organization like world vision, new hope, or the like. there are some gifts that i won't stop giving - to hilario's children, hileudy and adrian. their gifts fulfill needs, not unnecessary wishes. and i can't say that i won't buy anything for anyone, especially my nieces/nephew. i invite you all to rethink your giving...maybe not this year since those presents are mostly bought and wrapped, but in the future.

"be the change you wish to see in the world." ghandi

LinC in NYC.

a few photos to capture a few of my favorite moments:

the infamous oprah.

andrew trying to look like a wax figure.

"one love" bob marley.

a fellow met fan, lauren, with david wright.

the tree, of course.

stronger.

"Work it harder, make it better,

do it faster, makes us stronger,

more than ever, never over,

our work here is never over."

those are the words of kanye west in his now popular song "stronger" - those particular lines are played in the background continuously. for some reason, i really like them, as i also like the song.

and just to include a picture, not because it relates, but just because...a picture with kristen lindsay with her former basketball coaches, laura king and myself. basketball, coaching, stronger...i think they do relate.

feliz dia de pabo.

a few years ago, probably my first thanksgiving while working at the nursery with my dominican co-workers, when asking how to translate "happy thanksgiving" to spanish, (i knew the "feliz" but i wasn't sure of the thanksgiving part, aside from some form of "gracias") they told me what i included as my title, feliz dia de pabo (translating literally as happy day of turkey). it works, but there has to be something better. yet, i think it is appropriate for a nation that has probably become more consumed by the turkey and eating than by the giving thanks. i mean, who can blame them? much of this nation is so defined by the individualism of the culture that who is there to thank for getting us where we are but ourselves? and the spanish in our nation correctly interpret the emphasis on the turkey and the eating, naming it "dia de pabo".

**Just as a side note, i looked up the english to spanish translation on http://www.ets.freetranslation.com/ and they translate it as "accion de gracias feliz": action of thanks.**

i could go on and on with a list of obvious things that i am thankful for: a new job (despite how much i loved the nursery, it was time to move on), a good recovery by my mom, beautiful nieces and nephew, etc etc. i of course am thankful for many things great and small. but the photos below are a representation of what brings such joy and contentment...


meet hilario escona. (now i have a feeling i've included this photo before...forgive me, but this is my blog isn't it?) hilario is one of these nicest, hardest working, funny guys at cedar hill. hilario made it very difficult for me to leave cedar hill nursery - not because he didn't want me to go, though he didn't. though each of the guys made me feel like one of them, hilario considered me family. he proudly told our customers that i speak "professional spanish" (that must be said just as he does for it to truly capture him...more like "fessional spani"), hilario considered me half-dominican.

now, steven peralta (my co-employee, elvis' son). i don't have a lot to say, other than how adorable he is. its a cute picture to illustrate the point of this blog: what i am thankful for.

what i am thankful for this particular thankgiving 2007, (not that i am more thankful for this than say my mom's health, recovery, and testimony of faith) is my ability to communicate in spanish. i don't say that in a self-promoting intention. i say this because the ability has opened up so many doors for me. it has allowed me to create real and lasting relationships with several co-workers (such as hilario). they add a whole new dimension of joy that puts a smile on my face just thinking of the memories. the fact that i now am a customer of cedar hill nursery is an added blessing - i look forward to the big greeting and welcoming bear hug from hilario and the others.

disturbances.

i do not want people ready this to misunderstand my blog (my title) and think that i am a negative people, disturbed by many things, can't see the positives in anything. then again, chances are that if you are reading this you already know my personality and know that isn't the case. so let me just move on...

a few things yesterday that disturbed me, on different levels:

- on the phone with my boss, who must have been asking me a favor and giving me instructions, but by the sounds in the background was obviously distracted. caught up in the moment and the busyness, ends the conversation with "love ya." now, i am not disturbed at him saying this because he is my boss and it grosses me out. no. i am disturbed at how frequently people (not limiting it to my boss) throw such words out there, and obviously aren't thinking about it or really feeling it at that moment. it obviously came out of his mouth becauuse of the habit of saying it at the end of a phone conversation with his wife. now that's nice and all - but is it just that, habit?

- a second item came to my attention while driving back from grabbing lunch. a woman in an SUV coming towards me, turns left (her right) onto the intersection road. because of this turn, i am aware that she is smoking in the car, and i see a little girl (presumed to be her daughter, though my point is the same no matter what relationship they share) in the seat behind her. now yes, both the window of the woman and the girl were wide open (but maybe that is another concern on a somewhat chilly day). nonetheless, it reminds me of the popular commercial on tv lately - kids with smoke coming out of their noses/mouths. many people still don't realize the harm in second hand smoke. or maybe they are just too selfish (some call it "addiction") to care.

- teen drivers. i could leave it at that, but i won't. i am appalled at the way teens (high school students) drive. not only the type of car they drive....mommy and daddy's 2007 mercedes, etc etc....but the way they think thay are just untouchable. all in one day, i saw at least 3 what could have been very serious accidents, all the result of immature teen driving. and when you catch their reaction after the factor, its smiles and laughter. maybe i wouldn't be as disturbed by this if i hadn't just had my third car accident since july - note, none of which were my fault. but i support my brother-in-law the PE teacher who wants to start a campaign in regard to this issue.

i am done venting. and yes, another blog entry without photos.

living in Christ.

a.k.a. "LinC". and its about to consume my life (not a bad thing). let me explain...i recently agreed to be a youth leader to the high school group called LinC. it has taken a while to actually reach the point of involvement and feeling part of it, but i think we're getting over the hump. yesterday morning i had youth leader abuse training (striving to prevent any abuse situations, know how to deal with suspected abuse, etc). then a quick leaders meeting to follow. tonight - a regularly meeting with the kids. be there at 5 to "set up", kids come at 6, home by 9ish. we reviewed the schedule for the next coming months. another meeting, trip to nyc, christmas party, breakfast leaders meeting, regular meetings, snow tubing, etc etc. and yet it still sounds very exciting to me. perhaps i'm still in the "honeymoon" stage. my current task - to get some kids who don't now typically go to come and check it out - both from the church i go to, other kids i might know who aren't really involved in a youth group, others from the community.

i think what is important to remember in all of this is to keep in mind what the real goal and focus is. its not about numbers. so when i am told to invite and remind kids of meetings, i do so willingly because i know that my interest is not in getting as many kids there as possible, and that's it. my goal is to create an opportunity, an experience, for these kids to (to steal a phrase) live in Christ. i pray that God will guide me (and all those involved) in this new challenge, to keep Him in sight always.

life is about to get very busy - i feel it in the air. in addition to the routines in my life that are now normal (work, family life, bible study, volleyball on wednesdays, etc) i also start my second year of coaching middle school girls basketball. another item of excitement for me. i am not a fan of just filling our lives with "things" just for the sake of being busy. but when these things are so meaningful and worthwhile, and if Christ is kept at the center, i am open arms.

this all to say, if you want to talk to me or spend time with me, you better schedule an appointment - my windows calendar is filling up quickly. (sarcasm, of course)