trigo y alyamas

In the midst of the photography madness, I guess I've forgotten what time it is.  Christmas season and all that.  I mean, we have our bobo little lights up and I've seen everyone's Facebook statuses and ya know, San Juan DOES have the greatest Christmas donkey on display EVER.   But I guess it hasn't fully hit me yet.

Until last night, when my small group and parents sang Christmas songs to me on Skype.  It was such a surprise that it caught me off guard and reminded me of CHRISTMAS.   That people LOVE me.  That Jesus came here as a little bitty baby.   That I need to step back a bit and take it in.   That my friends literally have fabulous and beautiful children who mean a lot to me (just like their parents do).   Oh it was lovely and made me teary and maybe homesick for the first time in a while.  

And even though I've been completely and totally overwhelmed by the tasks that I have at hand right now, I was floored yesterday to have F. visit me and bring me a pumpkin.   F. is from Flerida,  easily an hour away.   She brought her son with her, who is 3 years old and probably won't walk ever.  And her two year old has the same diagnosis.   And she walked and walked to get to me and carried the little guy (who isn't exactly little) and an alyama (pumpkin) and we sat and  talked for a while and wondered what is wrong with her kids and what the diagnosis is and how hard it is to raise two little boys alone.   And I have no idea what is up with those boys but I know they were hungry by the way they wolfed down the soda and crackers that we shared.    It's just so humbling, how she is GIVING to me.

And this morning- as I was cooking breakfast in my pajamas, another patient walked through the Guesthouse doors to bring me trigo (wheat) and soda.   And again, we sat outside and talked about his diagnosis and how life was and when I could come visit for rice and beans.  And there are hugs and well wishes and "please come to my house soon" and just generally lots of love.   And it's just so HUMBLING, how he is GIVING to me.

This is kinda why I am here, to have and celebrate LIFE with the folks here.  I mean, I have a job and all- I work in the clinic and for Solid Rock and I love it.  I really do.  But when I am talking to F and watching her hold her son...and holding L's hand as he talks about his back...and when I'm playing dominos with Laura and Chino and Monchy on Sunday afternoons...or listening to Nef sing in church...or having storytime with Dan and Kari and Laura.....or snacking on fresh picked peppers that Baby Nicole's family has given me.....or watching some fellas throw DOWN in baseball...I feel like God, in His infinite goodness, has carved out a slice of heaven for me here.    I MISS my family and friends at home- ALOT right now.   I wish I was singing Christmas carols with my small group and running around with my nephews and drinking coffee with my parents and talking about life with them.    I wouldn't even mind throwing wood in the old wood stove and cuddling up in front of the fire right now.  But there is no doubt that the Christ Child has found me here too.  There is no doubt that I am supposed to be here, warts and all, giggling at my Christmas decorating, waiting for the day that we remember the Birth of the Savior.  

Soooo THANK YOU my sweet friends and family stateside...for singing beautifully to me.  For reminding me what time it is.  And THANKS to my friends and family here as well...for giving so luxuriously to me...and reminding me what time it is.    I'm going to try to pay more attention, to be intentional (don't I say that like every other post on here?), to soak in the important stuff.  

In 8 days is the Birthday of the King.   I.  Feel.  Loved.   Thank you.

nik