Christmas and New Years.

Christmas and New Years

What can I say. We are so spoiled. On December 23 we took off to Palm Springs to join the Smith's as well as the Kamps for a few days at the Oasis. Certainly true to its name. It was almost a surprise with the exception of at least one person daily blowing it on skype, email or in person for the weeks leading up to it. The ones still in the dark had rather stunned responses that shifted to picking up where they left off within seconds.

Our little dog jack has found a loving Mexican family to care for him while we travel, when his furry self is less than acceptable or it is unsafe for him. They truly love him and even have popped by to visit him since our return.

Our visit with the Smith's was natural, relaxed, and thoroughly enjoyable like no time had passed at all, and it was our pool in the back yard all the kids were swimming in. Michelle, as you can imagine, had scoped out every deal and cool thing to do and amazed me with the energy to do them with a broken toe. Christmas eve was spent at Joshua Tree National Park where the Kamps met us. Ron in certainly part billy goat, a contender for energy, but a questionable influence on boys who want to compete with his rock climbing skills(lol). My motto was pray and then don't watch. I managed to photograph some amazing photos that I will treasure, from such an incredible place with incredible people.

On Christmas day we went to L.A. as there was no room in the Inn (Oasis), where we had Christmas dinner at Denny's and it was actually quite satisfying minus the rainstorm on the way back to the hotel that had us all tucked in for the night.

Boxing Day otherwise known as Rob's birthday, we went to Reality Church, and then to be tourists on Hollywood Blvd, followed by Santa Monica pier.

It was a full day!

The next day we would part ways, with us headed back to Mexico and the Smiths to begin their long journey home. Hard to say Good bye even if it is only for a few months.

So many thoughtful blessings from home that took the sting out of our arrival back to Mexico, with the culture shock of Palm springs to the poverty of Mexico that had us reeling to adjust.

Crossing the border is a testimony of answered prayer as our van was loaded with gift boxes that had arrived from Riverside Calvary Chapel as well as our personal provisions for the next 2 weeks. The approach is uneventful until you pass through a lane that issues your fate... green you go and red you go to secondary for inspection. As you pass through the gate that says "nothing to declare" you gulp, visualizing some dank cockroach infested jail, deciding prayer is probably better, you open your eyes and you are thrust into the insane convergence of what seems like 32 lanes into 4 lanes at 60 miles per hour, as if passing with a "green light means boot it." Even if you get the green light there is the possibility of the "wave", an official gesture that issues you to secondary. How on earth you would even notice while trying not to get hit by other drivers is beyond me. Quite frankly we were not sure if we saw the "wave" or not.

This all becomes very nerve wracking when you hear sirens in the distance coming from behind as you navigate your abrupt turning lanes dodging wondering drug addicts along a dark unlit scenic road to Rosarito. In the distance we see many police lights and traffic backing up, feeling some relief that it at least is not about us as we drive into the mess hearing what sound like fire crackers going off in the distance. The exchange of a glance between Rob and I where we both were thinking gun shots?, but saying little. Just then we hit a pot hole, our van goes dead. Really!? Is this what my ole heart needs? Yes, apparently a reminder to not cease praying.

To summarize, our van starts, we pass the congestion which was road construction, the police apparently just fire up the sirens when they want to pass everyone quickly and the "gun shots" were probably just fire crackers preparing for New years. That is a Mexican Welcome!

Back home in Rosarito Victor still in the south and Sonia visiting her mom I was grateful Rob stayed with us as the New Years Celebrations began. I had no idea. Fire crackers that sounded like pipe bombs, people drinking in the streets, whoop'in and holler'in with bonfires on every corner gives you the vibe your in a foreign third world country... hey wait a minute... right... that is now home.

The New Years was rung in by a skype call with friends praying with hearts of gratitude for the year past and filled with hope for the year to come while wearing, snugglies, sitting on a heating pad, drinking Tim Hortons. God is so good to us.