It's Christmas in El Paso

This morning as I was getting dressed I got a knock on my door. To my surprise, I opened the door to find a UPS man with a box that was quite large. At first I thought it was a package of pillows from my mom but saw that it was from my grandmother - I had no clue what it was.....

Living in El Paso is very different than living in Georgia. The culture here is very Mexican, the landscape is very brown, and the temperature (even now) is very hot. Having been raised in the South, I find myself holding onto and searching for things that remind me of home - even simple things like a big glass of sweet tea. I have learned that there is a special charm in south, one you can't find anywhere else...from sitting on the front porch watching fireflies to the smell of honeysuckle; from football games on saturdays to drinking sweet tea with every meal; from riding dirt roads late into the night to large families gatherings that you can't wait for...the south is where my heart is.

I feel that my family is a pretty typical southern family. We cherish our family and hold tight to it's traditions. Christmas at Grandma and Pawpaw's house is one of those traditions. One, that in my books, can not be beat and if you could come and spend time with my family you would understand why.

Christmas at my grandparents house is magical. It is something that is looked forward to by all...all 17 of us...and for the past 25 years it has been my favorite time. Walking into her house you know that you are at home, that this is where you want to be. The first thing we always do is look at her trees - she usually has 2. And they are gorgeous - I can honestly say they are the prettiest trees I see all year. Her ornaments sparkle and the tinsel shines and you can tell that she has meticulously placed everything so that it's perfect.
And it is....it is perfect.

She hangs a small red bell at the bottom of the tree so that the baby can play with it - because there always seems to be a baby. She has ornaments my mom made when she was younger hanging beside huge glittery bobbles and crystal drops. Santa hangs beside snowmen, and nativity scences glisten in the lights. It is truely something to behold.
As I have grown up Christmas has changed...I am now "Santa" along with the other adults in my family as we pass out presents and sip on toddies - Grandma with her old fashioned, Pawpaw with his scotch. It is a time that I cherish; moments with my family that I hold close to my heart.

(my favorite)

...as I begin to open the this big box I am filled with excitement - what could it be? There are tons of little packages wrapped in tissue paper and bubble wrap. I take one and open it carefully to find a beautiful, glittery, Christmas ornament. Tears fill my eyes as I continue through the box and open more.

Christmas ornaments...like my grandmother's...fill the box. I am overwhelmed with joy and blissfully covered in glitter.

Now, everytime I hang an ornament I will think of her. I will one day tell my children that my favorite ornaments on our tree came from Grandma. And hopefully one day I will send my newlywed granddaughter a box just like this one.

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Blanket for Baby Ella

A few post ago, I blogged that I was crocheting a baby blanket. Well, this is the third time I have attempted to crochet a blanket - so Mikell and my family had their doubts. Especially Mikell, since I had started two for him but never finished. I am more than pleased to announce that I FINISHED IT!!!! YAY! And I already gave it to mom-to-be Emily. I now feel a little 'still' as I sit and write this, not sure what my next project will be. Maybe I'll finish Mikell's :)

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Mi corazon esta en Espana todavia...

Madrid, 2007: The beginning.

We walk around a little more and then just decide to go to the grocery store, buy some food, maybe something to drink and go back to the hotel to hang out.

Chris and I find our way to the wine aisle and we each pick one out based on the ‘coolness’ of the bottle, since neither one of us have heard of any of the brands.

Why yes. I would love to have a glass of wine and talk a bit. Get to know you a little better. Where did the british accent in my thoughts come from? Strange.

Carole and Ross buy some Baileys as does Steph. Dean doesn’t get anything and Sara and Alex buy something to share. Not a couple my butt.

When we get back to the hotel we all pile into the boys room because theirs is the biggest and I realize we don’t have a wine bottle opener.

Chris, we have to find something to open this with.

Yeah we do, I didn’t just buy this for nothing! Let’s go downstairs and ask the front desk.

No we can’t do that! We aren’t supposed to bring any food up here!

Oh yeah, well, hmm.

Let’s go see if we can get into the kitchen.

We go downstairs and can’t get into the kitchen but we can get into the dining room and see that the tables have been set for tomorrow’s breakfast.

Ok so I know what we can do, I say, recalling my sorority days. We can get something to somehow push the cork into the bottle instead of trying to get it out. It works I promise. I’ve done it before.

Chris looks at me with a big smile on his face. I love you already he tells me and laughs.

We grab a spoon and high tail it back to the room hoping we don’t get caught stealing it.

We will leave it in the room so we aren’t actually stealing it he reassures me.

We get back to the room and everyone is there sitting in pajamas just talking and hanging out. Here we are. The spain team. It’s a Kodak moment, one of those that you don’t ever want to forget.

I go into the bathroom with the spoon and push the cork into the bottle and wine sprays out all over me. I start cracking up and Chris comes in with a questionable look in his face.

Be careful when you push in the cork because wine will spray out I say between laughing fits. Look at my shirt! I am soaked!

Chris is laughing and grabs the spoon. I try to stop him from making the same mistake I did but he won’t let me. And red wine sprays everywhere.

I told you! I say laughing.

Oh man! Ah red wine! LINDSAY!

Oh no, don’t yell at me I tried to tell you!

We dissolve into a fit of laughter and clean up the bathroom as well as ourselves.

We are going to be close friends, I can tell. Not because he wants to drink wine with me and talk, but because I already feel like I have known him for years.

We come out of the bathroom and everyone is still there, listening to music, playing on computers, lounging on the beds. We sit and we talk and we bond and we get to know each other.

And we become friends.

We become a team.

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Unemployment has its perks.

Although I complain on a daily, and sometimes hourly, basis that I don't have a job/it's a pain in the butt to find one/I don't know what to do with my chemistry degree, being unemployed has a few perks (being poor not one of them).

The past couple of weeks I have been reading (Pretty in Plaid -HILARIOUS!!!), crocheting a baby blanket, and cleaning and organizing. But my favorite thing so far has been cooking. WHO KNEW?!?!?! I sure didn't. Before I got married I was still in college and did not cook much. Zaxby's was pretty much my menu (oh how I miss thee) and Starbucks was my home. I mean, I felt that I had cooking potential, and honestly was quite nervous when I had to cook our first meal...but I must say I am pretty good at it - and it's fun!

I like spending the time to make a good home-cooked meal. It's kind of therapeutic. I don't however enjoy the grocery store, that is unless I have Starbucks in hand...and then it's not too bad :). I have made all sorts of yummy dishes - bbq chicken pizza, sun dried tomato stuffed chicken (my most impressive feat), ravioli-spinach lasagna, jalapeno chicken, and the list goes on. Last week we had our 'house group' over for dinner and even the little things made me happy....like putting lemons and limes in a pitcher of water. It was refreshing.

Today I debated going to get fast food or just making something here. Well folks, I made something here and it was DELISH!

I kind of had a modge podge of things in my fridge and wasn't quite sure what I wanted. I had just bought tomatoes so I thought a tomato sandwich sounded good - I grew up on tomato sandwiches and they remind me of my grandmother. We used to eat them together on our family beach trips with a glass of sweet tea - and well, nothing beats a simple lunch with your grandmother.

BUT, tomato sandwiches don't really fill me up - ya know? We only have salsa verde doritos (AMAZING - and to all you Georgia peeps, if you want some - I will mail them to you) and I am kinda tired of those...HHHmmmm what to do?

So I made a concoction of sorts. I boiled some eggs, made some pesto mayo, cut up my tomato, baked some french fries, poured a glass of tea and VOILA! A yummy lunch! Made by moi :)

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586

586 families are waiting

These are some of the faces of families waiting for homes. If you look you will realize that these are pictures of birthdays, family outings, graduations, Christmases and weddings. They are of children that have dreams, mothers that only want to give food to their children, and fathers that have promised they will provide for their family. Each of these families has come to us asking for our help; for your help. We are asking you to help us make that possible. Right now there are 586 families who are waiting to receive homes. Without your help they WILL NOT receive them. Each of these pictures tells a story; would you be willing to be a part of their story? ~ Brittany Girle, Team Coordinator

A Message from David...

586 — It is 586 miles from El Paso to Austin, TX. 586 is the area code for the northern metropolitan area of Detroit. In 586 B.C. the Babylonians destroyed the temple that Solomon had built. 586 is typically the number of homes that Casas por Cristo will build in a year and a half…but not this year. With the misrepresentation of the situation in Juarez presented by our national media, the mass number of team cancellations and the lack of new team registrations, the number 586 now has a new significance. At our April Pastor’s meeting we had to tell our Juarez pastors that we would not be accepting new applications from families in need. Today, 586 is the number of families that are on our waiting list. These families are waiting, holding out hope for the promise of a better life, a better home, a better future. Holding out hope that they too can be the beneficiaries of the love of Christ. Over the past few weeks, I have personally led two groups through a build in Juarez. And these builds have been some of the best experiences in all of my time here at Casas por Cristo. Since the added military protection has arrived in the city, the mayor of Juarez reported that crime has dropped by nearly 98 percent. That is a staggering figure and one that I found hard to believe until I saw the situation in Juarez for myself. I saw children playing in the streets and families out in front of their houses enjoying cool nights outside. The atmosphere in the city was one of calm. Tom Hawks, a recent trip member from Salina, KS put it this way: “To anyone who is considering whether they should join Casas por Cristo in building a home in Juarez, please don’t let Satan stop you from doing God’s work. Not only will the life of a family in Mexico be changed, but your life will also be changed. Your faith will be tested, your eyes will be opened and our prayer is that you will be found faithful. Life in Juarez was as normal as in the past. Children were playing in the street, business was being conducted as usual and people were happy to carry on with normal life. The only difference I saw from our past trips was that there were a few more Mexican Army soldiers patrolling the streets of Juarez.” I have also come to look forward to the random military check points. That may sound strange, but let me explain. The people and community of Juarez are very familiar with our ministry and very respectful of our teams. But the added presence of the Mexican military brings soldiers from different parts of Mexico that have never heard of Casas por Cristo and have never seen groups of Americans coming to serve their people. These random check points have become an opportunity for me to spread the ministry of Casas por Cristo and through these discussions, the soldiers are beginning to know us and the love of Jesus Christ that we share. Their impression of Americans is also beginning to change. They are beginning to see people that love their fellow countrymen. In this way, our influence is growing in a very unexpected manner. I also took time over spring break to welcome our first teams that were building in Ciudad Acuña. What a blessing. This community has welcomed us with open arms and is excited about what we are doing. I invite you to come and join us in this quaint sleepy little town on the Mexican border. You will find it to be quite a different atmosphere from the one that you have experienced in Juarez. And at the same time, you will find that very familiar love and appreciation from Mexican families receiving the blessings and provision of Jesus Christ. 586 — it is a number that can be much more than a hurdle…it can be an opportunity. You have the opportunity to change the lives of 586 families. It is still not too late to plan and register a trip for this coming Summer or Fall. Help us to continue to share the love of Jesus Christ. Help us to continue Building Homes…Changing Lives…and Saving the Lost! ~ David Robertson, Executive Director

These families are waiting for YOU! For more information please go to www.casasporcristo.org Help us build homes for families in Juarez, Mexico!

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Dear Texas, If my identity gets stolen, I blame you!

Besides planning the wedding, picking out china, choosing bridesmaid dresses, finding shoes and all the other wonderful bride duties a girl has, she also has the daunting task of changing her name. This has by far been the most ridiculous process I have been through...probably ever.

Let's begin:
Since Mikell and I moved to Texas 2 weeks after being married, I had to wait until we got here to change my name. So, not a big deal right? That's what I thought too.
First up: Post Office
Post Office? Yes, post office. We have to get an address. I go to the post office, stand in line for 20 minutes to then be directed to another line which is a mile long. No thanks. I decide to go back a different day. So I make it back a week later. They give me an address, but no keys to the the box at the apartment complex. First of all, I think this is strange. Whenever I have had an apt, when I signed the lease, they would give me keys to the apt and keys to the mailbox. Not in Texas...you have to register with the Post Office. I now have to wait 2 weeks to get keys and have to go to the Post Office to get mail. Not too big of a deal, just kind of inconvenient.

Second: social security office. I stand in like for about 20 minutes (not too bad) then sit down at the window. I come prepared, with paperwork printed off and filled out, marriage license, license... The ss man hands me the 'proof' sheet to make sure all is correct. I look at it and it says 'Lindsay Hope West' Not what I wanted - I filled out my paperwork for my name to be Lindsay McGrail West. I kindly tell the guy no, this is wrong, I want to be Lindsay McGrail West, and he replies "why do you want to be hypenated?" Hyphenated? I don't want to be hyphenated. I explain to him that I don't want my middle name to be Hope that I want it to be McGrail then he tells me I can't do that. I asked him why and he said because on my birth certificate it says Hope as my middle name. Yes but also on my birth certificate it says McGrail as my last night? He says no, that he can't do that. Sadly I accept and am now Lindsay Hope West. Strange, but since losing McGrail, I feel like I have lost a part of me.
He informs me that it will be 2 weeks before I get my new social security card.

Step Three: Driver's License Office
I go stand in line for about 10 minutes to get a number to stand in another line. I come prepared with paper work filled out, birth certificate, social security card, GA driver's license... I sit and read my book for about 45 minutes before being called to the desk. I hand all my paperwork to the DLO lady and she goes and makes a copy of it, and another copy, and another copy. So now there are approximately 3 pages with ALL MY INFORMATION on them...UM HELLO! Identity theft much? She said the copies weren't coming out right - geez woman, you do this all day everyday. So i proceed to pay her $24, take my picture for my new license and she hands me back a piece of paper and says it's my temporary Texas driver's license. I should get mine in 8 weeks. 8 weeks? You mean 8 minutes right? Nope, 8 weeks she says. So I now have NO photo identification of any sort with my new name on it - for 2 months.

Place Four: Library
Mikell and my apartment is about 5 miles from the public library which I think is fantastic. I decide to go get a library card and book and enjoy the rest of my afternoon reading and drinking ice coffee from Starbucks. Easy enough right? WRONG! I had to argue with the librarian about giving me a freaking library card because I HAVE NO PHOTO IDENTIFICATION! A LIBRARY CARD! OMG!

I now am walking around with a) my stupid temporary worthless piece of Texas drivers license paper, b) my passport with my old name on it, c) my social security card, and d) my marriage license.

Seriously?! Texas - get it together!!

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Pulls!

our apartment is white. hospital white and our couch is beige and all the furniture we have is brown. so needless to say, our apartment is very BLAH!!! i keep telling Mikell we need COLOR!
today i went to hobby lobby (LOVE) and found these pulls which i have now put on some doors in our apt. my favorite one is the bird but its small so that one is going to have to be changed.

what do you think?

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