Mexican Wives' Tales

Every country has their different beliefs and tales that have been passed down from generation to generation. I find some of the Mexican tales to be a bit strange and possibly silly, but then I started thinking about some of our own Wives' Tales and realized they too are funny.
Did you know that someone can give your child "ojo" just by walking down the street? "Ojo malo" or "the evil eye" means that someone has looked at you with a covetous or envious eye and it can cause your child to be sick, unhappy, or fussy. There is a simple cure for this. All you need is a uncooked egg and rub the egg all over the child that has "ojo." After rubbing the child with the egg you then fill a glass with water, and break the egg letting the yolk fall into the glass. If you see little white veins coming from the yolk then your child definitely had "ojo" and is now cured. I have been coming here for six years now and I am very familiar with this belief. At any time one of my children get fussy I expect to hear that they have "ojo" and then starts the juevo rub down. I have to say it works like a charm on Sofia. As soon as they start rubbing her with the egg she is totally distracted from whatever she was fussing about and then is focused on the fact that there is an egg being rubbed on her.
If you are pregnant and there is a full moon out you have  to wear a safety pin near your belly button on your shirt. If you do not do this your baby most likely will be born with some kind of deformity.
Never, ever go outside wet in the cold after taking a shower. If you do, your mouth will get crooked and you will become locked jaw. I have always had a feeling that being wet outside in the cold wasn't a good idea and now I know why.
There are so many other tales that I could share, but these are just a few of the ones that I hear often. I am not a superstitious person but I do find the Old Wives' Tales very interesting. Most of the time I just smile and nod my head when being told what I should or shouldn't do here in Mexico. I mean, what does it hurt to have an egg rubbed on you?
I would love to hear some of the Wives' Tales that you grew up with passed down from your relatives.

Week One is a Success

It is hard to believe that we have already been here for a week. We usually stay around ten days when we come to visit so it still feels as though we are on vacation. Beto has been working very hard to make his mom's house feel like home for us. He painted our room, installed a closet, and bought a new bunk bed. The room we stay in is small but we have it set up in a very functional way. Beto and I sleep on the bottom bunk which is larger than the top and Isaac sleeps on top. Sofia sleeps in her "pack n' play" bed and all our clothes fit nicely in the closet that Beto installed. Since we only sleep in there the close quarters have not bothered me.
Other than getting all of our stuff settled we haven't really don't much more than eat. The food here is amazing. Although they do have grocery stores here most people only buy what they need each day from a neighborhood store or the market. So everything is so fresh. I am trying to learn how to cook by observing and hopefully soon I will be comfortable enough to try hands on. I was hoping that by the time I came back to the USA that I would be slim and fit since we walk everywhere we need to go. I am afraid that will not be the case because these wonderful homemade tortillas can not be good for me.
The weather is quickly getting hotter, but so far it is not too bad. During the day it gets around 85 degrees and at night it cools off and feels quiet pleasant. They do not have central heat and air here but there are a couple of window units in the house. Thankfully our room has one, but we have not needed it. There is also no hot water. I am not one for cold showers so I boil water on the stove and take a "bucket shower." That is what I do for the kids too and Sofia loves it. She fits in the bucket and plays. Isaac enjoys it too. He says, "I have never had a bath like this before."
My Spanish hasn't improved all that much this past week but hopefully soon. Isaac is really wanting to learn, and he is constantly asking "how do you say this in Spanish?" I think he will catch on very quickly.
We are all trying to get the the relaxed routine. Sometimes we catch ourselves rushing for no reason just because we always rushed in the States. Here, I never know the time and forget what day it is. Mexicans are only on time for work and everything else is just whenever they decide to go.
I think I could get use to this…

Bath Time

Isaac and Jordan coloring


Isaac watching Beto's mom make tortillas

Isaac rolling out a tortila

We're Here...

After a very stormy night and morning we left Laurel, Mississippi around eight o'clock on Wednesday morning. I didn't shed one tear while hugging my very upset mother. I think that I am still in denial that I will be in Mexico for a whole year. It feels like we are going on a short vacation. It will hit me in about two weeks and I will be more than just shedding a few tears. My next blog title may be called "I Want my Mommy!"
We stopped in San Antonio Wednesday night and went to Sea World on Thursday. Everyone loved Sea World. I got to pet a dolphin for first time and ride on a huge roller coaster. I used to be in love with riding roller coasters but since I have gotten married and had kids the thought of riding one would make me very nervous. I faced my fears and enjoyed it once I got over the shock. It was a very memorable day for us all.
Friday morning we took our time getting around since we were only a couple of hours form the border. I always get nervous the closer that we get to border because you never know if it will be an easy or difficult process getting permission to cross. This time I double checked to make sure we had all the information that we needed to make the process as easy as possible. You need your passport, car title, a credit card, and license. If you plan on taking a vehicle across the border you have to get permission to do so. In order to do that you will need the title and it has to be in your name. You can not bring a car that does not have your name on the title and they are not lenient. Since we have crossed many times I knew the process and what to bring but it doesn't make it any less nerve wrecking. Thankfully, we crossed with no problems and it was actually one of the smoothest times for us. I know it was because we had so many people praying for us and I am so thankful for their prayers.
It takes a little more than three hours to get to Monterrey from the border. The roads and the views are very nice and it is an enjoyable ride. I am glad that I wasn't the one driving because the closer we got to the city the crazier the traffic. It will probably be a whole year before I get to drive because I have no desire to conquer Monterrey traffic. Once we arrived we were welcomed by several members of Beto's family. Sofia immediately took up to the family and charmed everyone with her sweet smile. It wasn't long that she got into her bossy routine and acted like she was one hundred percent Mexican. It took Isaac a few minutes to adjust but he is now playing and talking to everyone. He doesn't care that they don't understand a word that he says. I love watching him and his cousin that is the same age play together with one speaking English and the other Spanish. They play like as if the understand each other. I can't wait for the day that I hear them both playing and speaking Spanish.
Life is so different here and I know it will take time to adjust. I tried to soak in everything last night while walking around the neighborhood. It may take me a few months for Mexico to feel like home, but I am determined to make the best of it and learn from this experience.

Everything stuffed in our van

Hamburgers- $1.50 Burritos- $1.00 Gorditas- $2.00

Beto's Tia selling hamburgers and burritos in front of their house.

The neighborhood where we are living. This is the front of Beto's Abuelito casa.

The view on the way to Monterrey after crossing the border

Rummage Sale Blessings

This past weekend I had a rummage sale to get rid of a lot of junk that had been accumulating over the past six years. I have one about once a year and after its over with I tell myself that it is not worth it and next year I'll just drop it off at the Salvation Army. Since we had so much "stuff" this time I decided that it would probably be worth my while to have one last rummage sale. I have learned from that past rummage sales that the clothes did not sell well. So this time I decided that I would just give away all the clothes. It turned out to be a wonderful success and I have come away with not only a little extra change in my pocket but with a full heart. I'll share with you the blessings that I received.
I started putting out my rummage stuff on Friday and had a really good crowd throughout the day. I had such a fun time giving away the clothes and enjoyed seeing people stuff their bags and not having to worry about how much they were spending.
A little later in the day a very fragile petite old lady showed up to the sale. She asked me if I had any books and I pointed her to the area where I had put the books. I told her that I didn't have many but one caught her eye and she asked me how much for that particular book. She looked like she had a heavy heart and I just couldn't take even a dime from her. With a smile I told her the book was about a missionary and that she could have it. Tears started streaming down her face and she said "you don't know what this means to me." She further explained that she had just lost one of her dear friends that was ninety-eight years old and she just couldn't get over the loss. I gently hugged her and told her that we would pray for her.
Later in the evening a family showed up which included a grandma, a ten year old girl, 13 year old boy, and their mother. They were a very sweet and gracious group of people and were very excited about the free clothes. Even though there were no clothes in the little girl size she joyously bagged up clothes for her family. I explained to them that if they would wait a few minutes that my friend would soon be bringing a load of rummage stuff including more free clothing. Within a few minutes the new load of rummage stuff arrived and they acted like it was Christmas day. While there the little girl warmed up to me and was starving for attention. She would ask me a million questions just to have a conversation. She even asked if I would like to be her step-mother. I wasn't sure how to respond but I hugged her and said sure. This little girl had a heart of gold and everything that she wanted to buy was for someone else. She grabbed a purse that cost twenty-five cents and asked me to hide it and wrap in a Walmart bag. I did as she asked and then she immediately gave it to her grandmother and said "Look what I bought for you!" I asked the girl if she went to church anywhere and she said that she did sometimes. I told her that our church had a wonderful program on Wednesday nights for her age. She told me "OK, I will be at your house Wednesday night and you can take me to church." I exclaimed to her that was fine but that the church was just right down the road across from Walker's Dairy Bar. She then said "Oh great! I will be there. If I am not there then that means I am sick." After buying almost everything that my friend had just brought over they loaded up their goodies and with big smiles said "we will see you Wednesday."
Almost everything had been sold on Friday and I didn't have much for Saturday. My friend, Tiffany, said she would come help me sell off the rest of the "junk." We didn't have nearly the crowd as Friday and was ready to get rid of the stuff. So we pretty much gave away the rest of it. A Hispanic family showed up around mid-morning and there was an eight year old boy. His eyes got big when he saw the toys and we told him that there was a certain box that contained free toys. He asked his mom if he could have the toys and we chimed in and told him he could have the whole box. He started jumping up and down and told his mom was we said. I don't think she was as excited about it as he was but she did tell us thank you. We loaded her down with clothes, toys, and anything else that we could fit into her car.
One of the last customers of the day told us her story about having five kids dropped off at her house. She has had them over a year now and has done so much for these kids. She already had taken in one child and now has a total of six kids under the age of six. She does have some health problems but takes great care of them. Her story touched my heart so much. It was amazing to hear of someone who has given up so much to help touch the lives of these little ones. She gets no financial or physical gains for what she does. What she does get is six little faces looking up at her, calling her mama and telling her that they love her. I thank God for people like her. She is such an example of selflessness.
I tell you these stories to share with you what blessings you can receive when you just give a little. It didn't cost me anything to give what little stuff I had to these people but oh what blessings I received in return. Everyone of these people now have a special place in my heart and I am so thankful for them. A lot of times we go into something thinking that we are going to help them, but we find out that those people have helped us more.

The Call

February starts an array of emotions for me and my family. Its the month of love but also the month we dread the most. Here is the story leading to my sweet father's death, David Wilson, on February 17, 2002.

I'll start with the weekend of February 9th. Daddy always had some kind of project that would keep him busy. He loved tinkering on old cars, especially Corvettes, and motorcycles. This particular weekend Daddy and I were tuning up his Harley Davidson. I loved to be right by his side and help him. He had taught me how to change my own oil, jump off my car, and many other little things. So this weekend we were changing the oil and the spark plugs on his Harley. He actually let me do it and watched while I figured out what went where. After we were done he wanted to take it for a test drive to make sure it was running properly. He got on the motorcycle to take it down the driveway and didn't put on his helmet. I asked him to put it on and he said "Honey, I'm just making a loop and I'll be right back." I wasn't satisfied with that and so he put on the helmet. I was so thankful that he did even if was just down the driveway. I had already pictured every possible bad thing that could happen without it.

Usually every year Daddy would get my sister and I a little box of chocolate for Valentine's Day. I never really liked any of the chocolates but I always looked forward to him thinking of us. This year he had done something different. He got my sister,Krissy, and I a potted plant and my mom a dozen roses. It was so special and you could tell that he was proud. Valentine's Day that year was on a Thursday and Mom, me and my sister were leaving the next day to go to a youth convention in Birmingham, Alabama. That Valentine's evening we spent packing and getting ready for our trip. Before we went to bed I wanted to get on AOL instant messenger (that was before texting came along) and Daddy didn't want me to. He wanted me to snuggle with him and Mama for a few minutes before I went to bed. I guess to him me being 17 didn't matter. I was still his "one and only" as he would call me. I don't know if he felt like something may happen or if it was just because we were leaving the next day, but he begged to let him hold me one last time. Well, I was pouting because I wanted to go chat on AOL and so I didn't let him hold me. Oh how I regret that moment. I have went back a millions times to the moment that would have been the last precious time with him but I had to spoil it. I would give anything now to feel his strong arms comforting me. I had no idea that would be the last time I would ever see him alive.

The next day he left early that morning to go to work and I didn't get to see him. My mom, sister and I got ready and left with our church for the convention. That night I got to talk to my daddy on the phone. I did get to tell him that I loved him and he told me the same and said that he was already missing us. My mom got to talk to him again the next morning and he told her that he would have the bed warm and ready for her when she got home late that night. They had no idea what horrific event would take place that day.

It was a beautiful day and was perfect for riding a motorcycle. My dad decided to take his out for a spin and enjoy the sunshine. As he was riding a woman came on to his side of the road and hit Daddy. We believe that the was probably dead on the scene but he was rushed to South
Central and put on life supporting machines. While all of this was going on my mother and I were singing and worshiping at the convention. We had just been introduced to the band "Mercy Me" and had fallen in love with their new song "I Can Only Imagine." Mom bought their CD while there not knowing that would be the very song that she would play at her husband's funeral. We were in the middle of singing and worshiping when Stephanie,our pastor's daughter, had received word from her father that my mom needed to call the hospital in Laurel. All of this starts to become a blur to me but somehow I end up outside with her and she explains to me that Daddy had been in a wreck but was still "alive." South Central decided to fly him to Mobile and we took the church bus to meet him there. I still didn't realize or want to believe how serious things really were. Several people from our church was already there and many more people came. I remember everyone telling me that I didn't need to see him because it was not a good thing to remember. I took their advice but I do regret not seeing him one last time. Everyone says "oh, you wouldn't want to remember him like that" but I wished that I could have soaked in everything that was my Daddy; his rough work hands, his smell, his big calve muscles that everyone noticed, and anything that was recognizable.

The doctors explained to Mom that he was brain dead and there was nothing else that they could do. So the next day we had to make the hardest decision of our lives. We told the doctors to take him off the machines. I was praying and hoping the whole time that when they took him off the machines he would prove them wrong and breathe on his own. He died on the Lord's Day, February 17, 2002.

We had a closed casket for the funeral, but I told my family that if I didn't get to see him that I would never believe he was in that casket and I would never believe that he was dead. I had to see with my own eyes. They let me see him and it still didn't feel real to me. I think when people go through something so tragic that your body goes into somewhat of a shock. Trust me, I did my share of crying but felt like I was just going through the motions. I kinda felt like I was on a cloud and was just floating around and listening to people tell me how sorry they were and that there were praying for us. I truly appreciated every one's sincerity but couldn't tell you who came to my dad's funeral. I know that we hugged over a thousand people that came to pay their respects. Seeing the hundreds of people lined up to speak to us and remember my dad did put joy into my broken heart. I had a sense of pride knowing that my dad had played an important role in all of these people's lives. I had no idea that he had such an impact on so many people. I had peace that he had a good life on earth and is now in the presence of the King.

Facts About Monterrey

Monterrey (also known as "Sultana del Norte" (Sultan of the North), is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. It has the second largest metropolitan area in Mexico, after Greater Mexico City, and is the country's third most populous after Greater Mexico City and Greater Guadalajara. Monterrey serves as the most important commercial center in the north of the country, being based to many important Mexican companies and multinational corporations. Monterrey is also Mexico's second largest economy with an estimated GDP of 105 billion. Monterrey is one of Mexico's most developed cities with one of the highest per capita's in the nation.

CLIMATE
Monterrey is known for its hot weather in summer reaching 40 °C (104 °F) or more for three consecutive months, being one of the warmest major cities in Mexico.
Monterrey has a semi-arid climate. Its weather is temperate in spring and autumn and is hot in the summer. The average high in August is 35 °C (95 °F) and the average low is 23 °C (73 °F). Winters are mild. The average January high is 20 °C (68 °F) and the average low in January is 10 °C (50 °F); temperatures below freezing are rare. Rainfall is scarce, but more prominent during May through September. Monterrey is very extreme in weather change, sometimes reaching 30 °C (86 °F) in January and February, despite the fact that these are the coldest months. Most extreme weather change occurs with rainfall in summer, which changes extreme heat to cooler temperatures, and the absence of northern winds in winter, sometimes causing extreme or abnormally high temperatures. Seasons are not well defined, the warm season can start in February and last until September.

FOOD

The most traditional dish from Monterrey is cabrito,kid goat cooked on embers based on the Jewish cuisine of the founders of the city. Other local dishes and customs that perhaps date back to the Crypto-Judaism of these founders are the "semita" (bread without leavening), the capirotada dessert (a mix of cooked bread, cheese, raisins, peanuts, and crystallized sugarcane juice), and the relative absence of pork dishes. Another famous local dish is machacado con huevo.
Carne asada on weekends remains a tradition among Monterrey families. It is usually served with grilled onions, baked potatoes and sausages or chopped as tacos. Locally brewed beer and cola are an almost mandatory part of the weekly ritual. The traditional desserts, "glorias" and "obleas," made from goat milk are both traditional candies from Nuevo León.

Cabrito


"Santa Lucia"

This is the board walk in Downtown Monterrey

Information cited from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterrey

"Vamonos Para Mexico!"

"Vamonos para Mexico, vamonos para Mexico! Vamonos, vamonos, vamonos para MEXICO!" This is a song that Beto and I made up when we first got married and were getting ready to visit his family in Monterrey, Mexico. It simply means; "Let's go to Mexico!"
We have always gotten so excited when it was time to go to Monterrey; which we tried to do about twice a year. The very fist time I ever went to Mexico was on a mission trip and I knew that one day that I would love to experience living in Mexico.
Beto and I have talked about moving to Monterrey for years and it seems the opportunity has finally arrived.
I know, I know, most of you are thinking to yourself, "Why in the world would you move to Mexico?! Aren't they kidnapping everyone and chopping off their heads?"

So here are just a few of our reasons:

1) We want to kids to learn Spanish and experience a different culture.
2) I want to be able to speak Spanish.
3) We want the kids to know and love Beto's family.
4) I want to learn how to cook some of those yummy Mexican dishes.
5) We desire to experience a simpler way of life.
6) We want to get involved with a church there and hope to be a shinning light to his family.

I'm sure everyone has heard the horror stories that are happening in Mexico. And unfortunately they are true for some areas in Mexico and even in some areas of Monterrey. But isn't this the case everywhere? There are areas in Laurel that you wouldn't want to chance after dark but that doesn't mean that we are scared to live in Laurel. There are areas in New Orleans that we know is not a good place to be but we all love to go to New Orleans. Violence is everywhere and we have to choose not to live in fear. The good news is that we aren't going to an area that is high risk.
So, in the middle of March we are packing our van with as much stuff as we can fit in it and starting a new chapter in our lives. I know that I will get extremely homesick because I am a mamma's girl and Laurel is all I have ever known. So, I have promised Beto that we will stay in Monterrey for a year. If I didn't make that promise we would be headed back after a month, maybe sooner.
My goal is to keep up this blog as we experience life in Mexico and share with you this adventure.