Christmas Celebration

Sue's crowd

LyA & their Great Teacher


Las Maniwis


Here is all the crowd at the Xmas celebration, thanks to all of Sue's class members to be enjoyable. Merry Christmas to every body.

The Balloon Dog

I was out all day. In the evening I went to take a nice hot shower to get ready for my night out. As I was washing all the shampoo out of my hair, I started thinking. "I wonder why my lights were on in my house when I got home." All of the sudden, I heard my dog going crazy. I jumped out real fast.

I'm on the third level, I looked downstairs to the second level, as my dog was looking at the first level. My dog was barking, growling, and his hair stood up. I tried to tell him to stop, but he would not listen. I thought, "Thank God my son is on the third level with me." I snuck downstairs to where my dog was.

At the corner of my eye, I saw something moving. I almost passed out that's how scared I was. I was ready to grab our gun to protect my family. Since I was so scared, I froze.

I took another look.....

My dog was protecting me from a Spongebob Squarepants balloon! Man I started laughing. I bought that balloon for my son because he was not feeling well. My baby loves balloons.

I will always know that I am in good hands because my dog will protect me from anything, including a balloon.

Christmas with my family

There are about thirty family members sitting in an oval. We are all in the living room. The age group is two months to 80 years old. The adults are sitting in chairs, and the younger kids get kicked out of the chairs, for the teenagers to sit in. The teenagers have sat on the floor for years. It was time for them to finally get a chair. I was thirteen at the time and finally in a chair.

My grandma is now standing in the middle saying a prayer. Then she said, "Lets get started with the gift exchange." She took my uncle's hat off his head, and she put numbers in it to pass around. Everyone took a number. We started with number one of course. A gift exchange is where eveyone grabs a present when it's their turn. there is a catch however, whenever someone grabs a present, and the person who goes next likes the gift that they got,that gives them permission to take the gift. Then that person has to choose another gift.

One year my seven year old cousin knew what a gift was and wanted it. However, my older cousin got it before she did, and she started to cry. It was her favorite bird chirping clock. When it was her turn she ran over and snatched the clock and
said, "Mine! pick another gift!!" Everyone laughed, so did my little cousin.

When the gift exchange was done everyone received hot cocoa. The adults put peppermint schnapps in theirs, while the younger kids got marshmallows. We all sat around the tree and sipped our hot cocoa.

We also enjoyed the family members we were with. I will always remember this Christmas when my cousin got the clock she always wanted. Also as the time I actually got to sit in a chair instead of on the floor.

My Skin Color

When I was a little girl, kids and adults in Mexico, hurt my feelings when they called me "NEGRA". They laughed at my color. That bad experience made me feel sad. At that time, I didn't understand why the people did that to me.

I remember when my son Dario was born. The people came to my house to see the baby's color because they thought he would be dark like me. You can believe so? I had to fight every day with them, but guess what? when I came here and the white girls told me they would like to have my color because they have to be in the sun for a long time, or pay to get some color on their skin.

When I saw black and white people together I just understand that I have to be strong, so now when the people try to say something bad to me I just smile and ask for respect! I'll never let them call me NEGRA and hurt my feelings again. If they do I'll tell something back to them. I don't think that is good to do because no matter what color, nationality, or religion you are, we are humans.

We have feelings, we live over the same earth and under the same sky,right? We always have something to share with the others.

LITTLE MIRACLE

The life gives to you gifts that sometimes surprise you.

When I knew I was pregnant for a second time, I felt a tremendous happiness.

My husband and I were trying to get pregnant since the last year, and we were a little sorrowful because nothing happened. We both had many desires to have another baby, but it was passing one month, and then another..., and... nothing. I don't remember how many pregnancy tests I did myself, but it was several.

Until one day I decided: "I'm not going to feel sad or anxious anymore. Always exist a purpose in life and the baby will arrive at our lives just in time."

And so it was! One month later I was pregnant. I was like if all the universe was conspiring with me to realize my dream. I couldn't believe it!!! I was looking at the pregnancy test for a long period and asking my husband: "Is it true? The test has the two lines on it, right?" "Yes," he told me, patiently. "This is true. We are pregnant."

Wow! At that time I felt so many emotions, because I had been waiting for that moment for a long time; and suddenly, there we are, pregnant!
We are expecting a beautiful boy.

My husband, my son (today he's 6 years-old), and I, we were waiting for this little angel. And finally, he is inside of me. Growing every day, and making us happy with his presence.

We are waiting the blessed and joyful moment when he sees the light of the world for the first time, and we can see it, too.

I believe now that the miracles take this exact form; they come in the precise time. Never before or after. My little miracle did exactly that. He came to me in the right time.

Fighting with the Ink

I will always remember the day when I decided to find a job.I was 16 years old.

I dressed up with a blue mini skirt, white blouse, and high heels.
I got my friends together. We were six, and the search began.

We rode the public bus to a place surround by factories and restaurants.
After filling applications in every place around us we got tired, so we decided to find a place to sit for a little while. We saw a park where guys were playing basketball.

We were dressed up pretty, and we were at the age of flirting, so we decided to sit by the guys. We sat on a bench close to them, and I started chewing the end of my pen. Just then the ink leaped all over my face, neck and my pretty white blouse.
There were not restrooms around us, and we did not have any Kleenex or anything I could use to clean my self. Meanwhile the guys saw the incident, and one of them took off his shirt and gave it to me, so I could clean up.

I was so embarrassed that I cleaned my self, and gave the shirt back with out even thanking him.

Finally I started walking leaving my friends behind, and I never looked back.

My husband and Me

This story started in 1994, when I was just 16 years old and was studying the high school.

One ordinary day; early in the morning, our teacher came into the classroom and told us, "Attention class here is a new guy in our class." He was seated in back quietly and wore sunglasses into the classroom. Finally he stood with vain expression and said: "Hi, my name is Angel".

I looked at him thinking he really looks so handsome but vain also. Anyway he was in our class now. The days in school ran normally and he needed past notes, so he asked me for them. He copied all my notes also my style of notebook; therefore, we started to talk about ourselves and; consequently, started a beautiful and great friendship.

For the next few months we began to be partners, friends and confidants. Literally we were together all day. Early in the morning we were in school, next we did our social service together. Also in the night we talked on the phone several times. The inevitable succeeded. We got engaged!

Four years after that, we got married. And we are still together, with five beautiful kids.

The Dark

There are many things in this world that we fear whether it's something supernatural, the unknown or losing someone we love. Ever since my second sister Guadalupe passed away, I have been terrified of the dark.

It all started 10 years ago. On March 3, 2000, my mom gave birth to my sister Guadalupe. She was born in Denver, Colorado, at the General Hospital. My mom was happy to see her, and so was my dad and I. Then the doctor told my mom and dad that my sister had a problem in her heart and in her brain, and that she wouldn't live for too long.

He said it was better to just leave her at the hospital. We were all sad, crying, hugging one another. The doctor also told us that we had to baptize her right away because she did not have much time.

The following day we had her baptized at the hospital. There were 8 people in the room and my sister. The priest, her 2 godparents, the doctor, my parents and myself. The room was small, the walls were colorless and the 2 big windows on the side. The doctors had my mom dress my sister up in adorable little pink dresses. They took a couple of pictures of her in them.

Later on the doctors told my mom and dad we could take her home. They really disagreed to let her go, but my parents just couldn't stand seeing her there around machines and doctors. Everything was going perfect because she had been with us for 3 months already. We even started doubting what the doctors had said about her dying so soon.

Suddenly one day it happened! You know that feeling you get when you sense something bad is going to happen? Well that's what happened to me. I was nervous, shaking and just felt sick to my stomach, I knew something bad was going to happen. That day was cloudy; the sky was gray. It was a sad day.

My mom, dad sister and me went to Home Depot to buy some wood. My mom was holing my sister in her arms. She had her covered with a warm, pink blanket. My mom kept checking on her to see if she was OK. Then she was going to check again to feed her, but she noticed she was pale and cold. My mom cried, and I ran to get my dad. We rushed to the hospital, but the doctors gave us no hope in her coming back. She was dead.

We did what we had to do. We had a funeral at our house. All our family and friends went. They were all coming in the house with flowers and hugging my parents crying, telling them how sorry they were. There were around 50 people or more that day. We all just sat down praying and looking at my sister in her small white coffin in the living room. I just left to my room and cried.

That night after everybody left, I tried to get some rest. No matter how much I tried to fall asleep I couldn't. All I could do was stare at her crib and imagine her sleeping in there or just crying in the dark. She had a Minnie Mouse crawling doll in her crib that if you touched it it moved.

Then I noticed she started to crawl. I was so scared. So I got the screwdriver my dad kept in my room and walked up towards the crib and pick her up. I opened her and noticed a battery was missing. I knelt down to the ground and cried, wondering if it was a sign. That maybe she was still with us. I ran to the living room to go be by my sister's side. Everything was dark, then I heard her cry and I turned and glanced at her and it was as if her eyes were open half way, I started to shout, "She is alive!"

My mom and dad came running to me and picked me up and held me close to them. I told them what happened and they cried too telling me she was gone and not coming back. Then I tried to sleep in my room, but I couldn't, so I slept with them from that day forward and up to now I have to use a nightlight.

The next day early in the morning we got ready to go bury her. Again family and friends joined us all wearing black- such a depressing color. When that was over my parents noticed I wasn't OK. So my mom and dad got me a psychiatrist for a couple weeks to help me with my sister's death. She never did.

One day she left to another state. And I was left the same.

Alone in the dark room with so many memories.

A different tomar

I don't have a tomar , but I've something that makes me feel with faith, safety, confortable and hope. It is God , my bible, and prayer. Some friends gave me my first bible 7 years ago. I keep it beneath my pillow. I like to read it before I sleep. I learned many things that have impacted my live. When I have a problem or worry, I try search for answers, praying to God how to exit my grief. for me, my tomar is God, prayer and the word of God. This is the vitamin of my heart and my soul that makes me feel with faith and hope.

On the Radio!

Listen!

and leave a comment on the KRCC website, if you want.

the pakul

Ok, so yeah, the pakul is a "men's" hat, but that doesn't mean we can't have some fun!

Part Of Me

What pleasure it is to remember the place and the moment when my mom gave to me a ring on my 12 birthday.

It was at San Joaquin Mexico, In a very humble house.
When she called me to give me the present, she was standing up in the room very close to a petaquilla, and on the top of it was my present. On the wall in front of us was a picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Around the room were three beds, my mom and my dad's bed with a pair of pillows with a crown of purple and yellow pansies she embroidered. In the center of it said. With blue CAPITAL LETTERS." TE QUIERO MUCHO ESPOSO MIO". "I love you soo much my husband". On the other side of the room were my brothers' bed, and the bed my two sisters and I slept in together.

You know what? very close to it was my blue suitcase saving my first communion book, my rosary, some clothes and my red velvet handbag with a little currency.

My mom always made our birthday very special with very simple things. But that day there was a ring, a strong ring, it can stay with me all my life.

Who could imagine she will die six months later? It's why to me to wear my ring it's very significant. I never take it off, I don't see it like a tomar. It is part of me, part of my mom, something she touched.

When I see the ring around my finger, It's like if my mom is surrounding and embracing me, protecting me with her essence, her warmth and her sweet smell. It makes me feel comfortable, secure and safe.

Letter to Greg Mortenson

For the person who has the courage to try change the world, Greg Mortenson:

I'm in English class doing my best to learn and speak this amazing language, but sometimes I feel lost and confused; however, your book has shown me any dream in possible if you really want.
I have five kids, and three of those are in school. One day, they told me something about the pennies and a new school in the mountains. Sincerely I didn't listen, I just gave them the money with a "well if it's for a new school it's ok". Now I understand they were telling me about the "Pennies for Peace" and now I know the entire story about "the new school in the mountains" and the hard work that to entail.

Three Cups of Tea is a wonderful and inspirational story; therefore, make me feel more motivated to earn my goals.
If you could to build a school in Korphe of course I can speak English and be a teacher in the U.S.A
Thanks Greg.

MY SPECIAL TOMAR

Well I wanted to tell you about a Tomar I have. It means everything to me. It's nothing big really, just something small, but worth a lot to me. It is a picture of a little saint my mom gave me. She gave it to me before I left Mexico and came to came to Colorado. I was only 16 years old. She told me to carry it with me while I was on the bus and everything would be ok.

So I did as I was told. I prayed to make it here and I did. I remembered what my mom told me and it made me happpy. I now keep it inside one of my purses, the same purse I was wearing the day I said bye to my mom and dad. I can still remember I was crying when I was getting the tickets until I got to Denver. I really felt as if the world was ending right then and there.

All I was thinking was what did I do? I had left my family when they needed me more than ever. Who was I going to lean on when I needed a shoulder? Who was ever going to give me advice like mom and dad? Who was going to love me more than them? Million of questions ran through my mind and the answers... where? So I got the image out, and cried in the bathroom of the bus station like a child. Then I remembered my mom again. She wouldn't be next to me, but I would have great memories and they would always be in my heart.

I realized, that if you want something in life you have to let go of those you truly love, because that's life and nothing is ever fair. So my Tomar means the world to me because I have memories of my family when I look at the image. It also has a prayer in the back. Only Catholic people belive in Saints and my mom is one of them, but thats good I guess because she cares about me religion or no religion.

everyone has a story to tell....

what's yours?

Check out this website about the Six-Word Memoir project. Make sure you watch the short video it's on the right side of the page.

There's even a book by teens.

Now: write as many six-word-memoirs as you can or want in your composition book.

Then choose your favorite, and post it in the comments.

(bonus points if you can find the run-on sentence in my post!)

Getting the Spirit of Learning

It happened fifteen years ago. When I decided to leave the last grade of high school; because, according to me, I didn't need it.
I had a great job; therefore, I had two cars, lot of "friends", lot of parties: I was popular! My Dad always said to me: "Son you should save some money for the your future"; nevertheless, I didn't pay attention to his words.
Few time after that, something happened. My work contract was over, and the money began to decrease; therefore, my "friends" flew away, and I had to return the cars because they were illegally owned, then I had nothing, except by my self. After the deception, frustration or depression, I was walking around when I saw a school, and some rare force pushed me to enroll in the classes to finish my high school, and I did it.
At this school I met the love of my life; my wife, and she gave me the strength to keep outstanding about everything. Now I got the joy to learn anything; however, I realized there is no wasted time, instead; there is a chance to learn about the mistakes, and do the things in a better way.
Currently I'm a professional with a spirit of learning; however, looking for the success in this great Nation, but first of all, I need to upgrade my knowledge about this wonderful language.

How did I got my tomar?

When I was 10 years old my mom gave me a bracelet. I call this bracelet my "lucky charm".My mom lives in Mexico.That's why she gave the bracelet to remember her everywhere I go.She
gave it so I won't so lonely,sad and to keep up with everything I wanted to do.

Now that I came to Colorado Springs alone without my family when I was 17, it makes me unhappy.I'm trying not to feel like that because I think about my family a lot.I came to the U.S.A. to help my family by working really hard so I could send them some money to Mexico.

Also, the reason that I came here is to finish high school and graduate.The bracelet(lucky charm)that my mom gave me I carry it with me always.I never take it away because it makes me feel like my mom is by my side telling me what's good and what's bad.

Eventually, I feel her hugging me whenever I feel really bad.So my bracelet(lucky charm), it really means something special to me that I can't even explain.That's how I got my tomar.

HIS FIRST GRADUATION

Yeah! He did it!!! I'd be moved for one of the greatest feelings a mom can feel: PROUD. I felt like a peacock with widespread feathers. My son did it! He had his first graduation in his little life: "his graduation from the kindergarten".

This year at school that has passed, was full of challenges for him. It was hard because we had only a few days in Colorado when he started the school with no English for him and I only knew the fundamentals of English, just to communicate simple things to others.

Through the year my son and I were learning together the language with so much effort for both. But when the days passed, then the weeks and months, he felt a little more confident and secure, because he understood the teacher. And of course, I began to see a big change in him and in me, too.

Together, we undertook "The trip to the school life". Now, I look backward and see my child like a brave little person, because he did it great. Nevertheless my child didn't know the language; except "yes" and "thank you", he learned so fast the idioms. That's why I'm so proud of him.

Things that happen when you don't think twice

When I was 19 years old I decided that I needed a vacation, and I went to Mexico.
I left my family behind in the USA.
I spent one month just partying, and drinking with friends. That is all I really wanted to do. I just wanted a get away pass.

On my way back to the USA I got stopped by immigration. They questioned me, took my visa away, and I got sent back to Mexico. When I was back I noticed that I didn't have anything. I didn't leave just my family behind. I left my life. I felt lost and all could think about was my family, because all I have in Mexico is my Grandmother.

It was really hard to think about not seeing my parents for a while. I never realized or appreciated how much I needed my family until that day. Also I thought about how to get back to the USA. I wait in Mexico for two more months, and I came back to the USA. On my way back I dealt with lots of obstacles. I wasn't a citizen, and I lost my visa, so the only way in was illegal. I tried different ways until I was finally with my family.

I used to be a brat and complain about everything. But now I understand that my behavior, and my way to see life wasn't going to take me anywhere.
Until now that same bad decision is getting in my way, because I got married with a USA citizen and I can't get the famous green card.

Wow!

While searching the Internet, I found some amazing videos!

Try this one!

And this one!

There's even a music video!

Chapter 6 - Hard Way Home

In order to practice the art of FLUENCY while reading, I gave you all a section from Chapter 6 in Three Cups of Tea to practice, and then read aloud to the class. I was so absolutely impressed with your expression and pronunciation! I enjoyed listening to you, instead of you listening to me! :)

Let me know if you would like to do this activity again. This also looks interesting. Hmmm....what do you think?

In addition to FLUENCY, we also practiced VOCABULARY. Before reading Chapter 6, each group discovered the words they did not know in their text, and then had to figure out a way to teach them to the class. Here are some photos from that day!

Three Cups of Tea

We have been reading Three Cups of Tea in our class. Here is a picture of one of the schools that is being built, thanks to Greg Mortenson. Click on the photo to see it even bigger!

If you would like some more information about the book, you can go to Greg Mortenson's website and look around. There are also some great photos!

He even has a blog!

When browsing through a blog or a website, make sure you take time to really look and read.

I was wondering what your feelings were about the book so far, or about any thoughts you have from looking at the links above.

Leave your thoughts or feelings in the comments!

COMING TO AMERICA/IMMIGRANTS

This topic is very interesting for me, especially because I am one of them.
The truth is even when a lot of Americans dislike us, mostly of us are good people, who come here with endless desires to progress, to succeed, to get a better status and at the same time to contribute with the economy and development of this wonderful country.

Besides, the hardest and sadder thing for us is to deal and see when people from here try to underestimate and mistreat us just for the simple fact to be LATINOS. When you first come here it is already a cultural shock and we have to add to it, the displeasure and apathy of many americans out there.

Even when I haven't had a personal experience about it yet, I hear about it very often, and I really think that they can't understand that we have rights and duties as they do, even when we weren't originally born in this country. It is more than unfair to have to wake up every morning always thinking who and when will we be rejected today?

By the way, not all the Americans think the same way about Latinos, many of them are cool and opend-minded to respect and accept minorities and foreign cultures without any kind of prejudice or hate feelings at all.

Hopefully this hostility toward us the Latinos could disappear or at least be minimized in the future to live in a better environment here in THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA.

Miss Sue and friends

How are all of you?
I miss being with you in class. I am staying home as much as I can. I am wating for eye surgery. I have cataracts in both of my eyes. It takes time with the mlitary hospital for the surgery. I am very uncomfortable because my sight is not clear. It makes me have headachs and dizziness.
I hope every one enjoys the beautiful spring


Kisun

Have you ever eatten the brown rice ?

Now, my children bring some money for lunch in school. That way is too easy for mom.

I was in elementary school, it had many funny memories. At six o'clock in the morning, my mom cooked fresh white rice and some of side dishes, like vegetables,fried egg or ham, for my lunch box.

Then mom put lunch in the box made of steel. In winter, every class had a big charcoal stove in the center of the classroom. Many students wanted put their lunch box on the stove because that kept it warm. Whoever sat around the stove they should change the box's position often. If they didn't, whoever's lunch box was closest in the stove, would have to eat rice changed to brown. It would be burned.

This is one of my funny memories in childhood.

99% Chance

Well it all started with this show I watched on t.v. called Myth Busters. It was about a couple of years ago. It was a show about germs in your toilet bowl. Let's just say you have all your stuff that you use in the bathroom (like me) . Someone comes over and uses your bathroom and they flush with the lid open. There is a 99% chance that the germs that just got released are flying around and landing on your toothbrush, makeup, hairbrush, what ever it is, it's there. It always creeps me out when other people use my bathroom. My daughter says I have OCD. That may be, but I will always have the best bathroom in the house. I hate using the public bathroom because there are no lids to close. I have to open the door to flush, so I can get out before it all comes flying back at me. Are there any public bathrooms that are clean and have lids?

Killing Time

When I was about nine or ten years old, I used to dream about driving a car.
I didn't have very many friends, I was pretty shy,but there was this one friend, and he had hookups around the town so we use to make go-carts out of Big Wheels. They were not Motorized so I became the pusher.
They said I was the fastest so we would have races, and we would always win.

I remember even making a make believe car in the backyard of my house. I sat on the ground leaning up against a pole, and made my own car sounds. My sisters would just laugh at me, but they told me later on in life that I sounded just like a race car, and they were impressed at the sounds I made. I would be out there for hours sometimes. But I thought it was the greatest time I ever had.

GOOD FRIENDS

FRIENDS!!!!.Sometimes you have a lot of friends.
But who are your real friends?.
They can be your partner at school,
or your neighbor when you were a child.
To me, in my opinion a real friend is a person who is always by your side.
Not only in the good moments.
A good friend is someone to listen to you when you need to talk,
when you are sad , when you are happy,
when you are sick , when you are healthy.
A good friend is a peson that you can trust.

My Son is Tough!

After my husband just got back from Iraq, my son decided to be a dare devil. My husband as you know was gone for 15 months, and the whole time my son was being very good (At least in this way of which I'm going to be explaining). Obviously kids do get into mischief, but like most kids, my son has never tried a death-defying act.



My son is nine years old, and he loves to skateboard. For Christmas he asked Santa Clause for a skateboard, a skateboard ramp, and then of course he started collecting the little miniature skateboards as well.



Well after he received these things, he did pretty well riding on it. Then last Wednesday night he thought he would surprise his whole family. I get a knock on my door telling me that Anthony (my son) had fallen off his skateboard while coming down the skateboard ramp.



When I ran down the street, it seemed like eternity. The road seemed like it was getting longer and longer, but I finally made it. By the time I got there, there was already a M.P. (Military Police), and she had already contacted the ambulance, and firetruck. When the ambulance came they loaded my son in the vehicle. We got there in five minutes.



As soon as we arrived at the hospital, they sent him directly to X-ray. When we returned from X-ray, we waited for three and a half hours, just so the doctor can either tell us it's broken or not. When the doctor saw us, he asked my son sarcastically, "Do you think your foot is broken?" And Anthony replied jokingly, "Yes!!" Then the doctor said, "Well Anthony you are right!!" Anthony looked at me, then I looked at my husband, and then my husband looked back at the doctor. This was a chain reaction! We all three said, "WHAT!? Is it really broken??" The doctor said, "Yes you did really break it! You broke your first metatarsal." Then Anthony looked at me and his father and said, "My first bone that I broke", with a smile.



That is why I say that my son is tough! Nothing seems or seemed to phase him, he is a straight trooper. I think he is more excited about getting his first cast, but when he got it put on yesterday, he made this comment that made me laugh. He said, " Mom I don't know about this, this cast is feeling like a Four-ton truck!!"

DIA DE SAN JUAN (Day of Saint John)

Mexico is full of traditions that make it so special. Traditions that make it feel like everything where you live had its own life.

In the town where I lived (San Buenaventura, Chihuahua), has a peculiar way to live it and one of the most fun traditions for us is "El dia de San Juan" (the day of Saint John the Baptist) that is June 24th.

For people that don't know, at the Catholic Church this saint was the person who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

So, we make this day our own way. A lot of trucks take a ride to the river next to town and fill up with water all the buckets, barrels, tanks, and everything they find to carry up of their trucks.

In the afternoon, the action and the entertainment begin. All the people start a "Water War", watering to everyone on the main street.

It is a day where the adults return to their childhood and the children enjoy the adults.
It is the day that all problems are forgotten.
It is the day where the people feel ALIVE again... because that day they can taste the happiness they forgot through the years.

Books

Christopher Paolini. Did this name sound familiar to you? I hope that your answer was "yes". He is the author of my favorite books. Eragon was his first book, He was 15 -year-old when He started to write. When I started to read this trilogy I couldn't stop reading. Other of my favorite writers is Dan Brown. I like how he mixes the history, the science, with the fiction. I read other writers that I like so much too, but they write in Spanish. One of them is Arturo Perez-Reverte. Some of his books are translate to the English version. Other that I don't remember his name but his book name is Diablo Guardian (Guardian Devil). This book it's about the life of a 15-year-old girl, it's an interesting history. I read a lot of different writers that I don't remember they names right now. I love to read because I can see every detail in the scenery that the writer described and I see the protagonist's facial features. I can feel the emotions and the adrenaline that the writer expressed in every word. My favorite books are history, fantasy, and fiction.

'' IMMIGRANTS''

The word '' IMMIGRANTS'' to me is kind of hard because a lot of people in U.S.A.
think that we come here to take away theirs jobs for less money.

Some people think that we are terrorist, that we just want to destroy what they have.
The word ''IMMIGRANTS'' is a fancy word because the racists use more the word
'' WET BACK ''. In my experience, some people have called me this,
but they don't know us so they stereotype us.
Yes we are all immigrants in some way.

Thats what makes us different.We don't think and act the same.
We are all humans. We have a brain. We have a heart.
Every person is responsible for they own actions.

To be an immigrant is very hard. First when you come over here, it is a new country with a new language, new food, new traditions.
So imagine how hard it is when your children get sick and you are afraid to take them to the hospital because you are an immigrant.

If you don't speak English, they treat you like DIRT!!!!!.
We came here to have a better life for us and for our kids.
That's why we left our own country, our family and our traditions.
We are people with hopes and dreams. Not only ''IMMIGRANTS''.

ESPERANZA

My story began in October 1976 some days before I born.

My mom told me that when she was pregnant and about to give birth to me.Around the last days before I was born. My mom and dad had to travel to a city like five or six hours outside the city that we lived. My mom told me when they were over there she felt contractions and they couldn't find a hospital. They had to go back to my city to the hospital. My mom and I we were
in the ambulance from there to Juarez Chihuahua. We took like five hours.

My mom was very grave because she suffered hemorrhage and she lost a lot of blood.
The doctor said if we arrive to Juarez alive it will be a miracle. The doctor said to my dad that my mom could die, me or both. My dad spent a lot of hours waiting in the hospital. He said that he was hoping everything would be good for everyone. He knew that I was a girl and he said if my daughter is still alive I will call her ESPERANZA.

Now I'm 32 years old and I'm glad to hear my story and I'm really appreciate that GOD put in my little body life.

Being A Soldier's Wife

Opposite of most wives - I'm one of the women that married my husband before he joined the military. My husband and I met as high school sweethearts; he was 16 and I was 15 years old. Well, to make our lives interesting we decided to get married before graduating. So we did. After about six months, he decided to join the U.S. Army, and that is where my life of being a " Soldier's Wife " began.

During Basic Training and AIT, he was stationed in Kentucky. This is a schooling program to make sure the soldiers know their specific job.

After graduating from this school, we went straight to Germany. This is where we had our first baby; the 12 months later we had our second baby. We were in Germany for four and a half years.

Then in 2003, we moved to Colorado, and we were so happy to be back stateside. We have lived in Colorado for six years. In these six years, my husband has been deployed to Iraq three times:
The first time......... ( April 2003- March 2004 )
The second time.....( November 2005- December 2006 )
His third tour over there was the longest tour that he has done...... 15 months long!!

Wow, I don't know how I was able to do this, but I did! ( December 2007- February 2009)

My husband has served the military for 10 years from November 1998 to present, and he has just re-enlisted for another six years. This summer we are leaving Colorado to go to a different duty station. So being a soldiers wife is challenging everyday, yet it is worth it.

I am so proud of him, and what he is doing for our country. Our children look up to him, and thank him everyday for doing what he does.

Too Close For Comfort

I remember a tremendous comfort I felt, after my daughter found a little piece of root.

It was eleven years ago.

We already had plans to move to the United States, but that was impossible for me, because first, I had to be, see and breathe at a place I lived so happy with my family when I was a child, before my mom died.She died when I was twelve years old, and I am the oldest of six.

There is a beautiful place I remember! Every summer my dad made a circle fence with barbed wire, just in front of the river were two big wanavana trees. Those were around five feet apart from each other, those made the arc of the door.

In the circle was only one room to sleep, the kitchen was under the trees, like camping. Some times my brothers, sisters and I were eating and we stood up and ran to jump in the river. It was so fun, unexplainable.

At that time, before we came to the U.S.A. I lived in Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico.

My kids already knew about this special place for me, and they wanted to be there too. We took a bus from Guadalajara to Talpa, then other bus from Talpa to Llano Grande, then a truck to the river. When we arrived there, my kids said, "Where is it mom? Where is it?"

"Do you see those big rocks, and those trees?" I said, "There it is!" My kids started to run to be first. Just gotten there my oldest daughter, Lili, bent down and said, "Mom see, look I found it!" It was an amazing dried root, but it is like a circle, it grew back around in it self. I never saw something like that. For me it is very special. It is like a symbol, made together by my mom, my daughter, and me. It's why when we came to Colorado I could not leave it behind. I did not care if I didn't have room in the luggage. My priority was to bring my root.

It is always in the living room, reminding me of the power of God, my childhood, from where I am and who I am.

CHANGE OF LIFE

When I knew I was pregnant I had both feelings, fear and happiness. Fear because I didn't know how I could be a good mom and my life will be transformed for ever, and happiness because I'll be able to discover it.

All the nine months of my pregnancy were too hard, because I was very sick, with nausea, dizziness and a high blood pressure that kept me on bed almost all the time.

When I was ready to labor, something happened that I couldn't have a natural labor, so it was a C-section. I'd been tolerating so much pain, but when I saw my baby for the first time, I forgot it all.

I spent four days in the hospital and I didn't recover my health for a long time.

It was 5 years ago and today I'm so happy to have a son like this. I love him so much and he's the purpose for my life. His name is Gabriel.

Music teacher

I was a good student all of my school years. I was quiet and calm always. I wasn't smart enough to study. I was an average student. Science and music were my worse subjects all of my school years. These two subjects were under average always. I couldn't even open my mouth to sing. I never had any trouble and no teacher picked on me except one. The music teacher was unhappy with me and she told my home room teacher, and she gave me a warning the first time. The music teacher complained that I made too much noise in the music class room. I couldn't understand why she complained. The second time, my home room teacher gave to me punishment. I still didn't understand what was wrong with me. After that, I sat in a chair by myself and I didn't talk to anybody in the music class room, before and after class. I was always alone and paid attention to my behavior in the music class room. It wasn't easy, but I wanted to fix that problem. I was totally alone all of the last semester in the music class room. I was in shock when I got my report card. It was the highest grade I got in all of my years in school! I didn't have any communications with any teachers, home room or music. Some times, I think about that situation and I ask myself,"Did I really make noise in the music class room?" I still don't know, but I fixed that problem.

wow!

I am impressed with all the posting that happened in my absence last Thursday!

Here's a little assignment for you today, if you so choose to do it. We have learned a plethora of new words over the past two weeks. (What do you think "plethora" means? Can you figure it out from context?) :-)

I'm going to list some of them here. Choose one or two and write sentences using that word in the comments. I'll be happy to look them over for you before publishing if you would like.

crouched
indistinctly
strode on
untrodden
flung
glaring
quivering
suffused with
wailed
pattering
malice

Have fun!

Search for a cure

I was in a good condition physically and emotionally when I started the school year. My memory was very sharp, and my brain worked almost perfectly. I had fun and enjoyed reading books, finding new Vocabulary words. I thought I recovered totally from last year's physical tragedy. I had a bad cold a couple of months after I started school. I rarely catch a cold because I am taking zinc. I had a bad cough and I worried about my teacher. She is in chemotherapy. I didn't want to give her my bad cold, so I dropped out of class until Christmas vacation. I tried many different ways to stop coughing. First, I searched for good food to get rid of the bad cold and cough. Next, I bought many different kinds of medications. I am on medication for high blood pressure, so I have to be careful of cold medicine. I tried many different ways to stop coughing, but it didn't work out. I saw a TV commercial for cough medicine, and I feel that the medicine works for my cough. Finally, my cough stopped after I took that medication. I could go to school after Christmas vacation. I noticed I had high blood pressure after a couple of weeks of school. I am fighting my high blood pressure many different ways. I don't want to see the doctor for high blood pressure, because many medications make me worse. I hope I will find a natural cure, so I won't have bad side effects.

Kisun

" Accidents "

Well - where do I start? First off being the age that I am now - growing up was pretty easy. There are a few things that haven't happened to me.

1. Never had any childhood diseases:
Like Chickenpox, Measles, or Mumps.

My mom tried putting me around kids that had them, but I just didn't seem to want to catch them.

2. Never had any broken bones.
( Knock on Wood)

3. Never had any operations.....yet!

4. Or Stitches of any kind.....
Until now -

My first pair of stitches - just so you guys know - my pain tolerance is Zero! If there is pain - there is me wailing like a little baby.

To start off my story, needless to say on Wednesday my day changed for the opposite -

I guess people learn from dumb mistakes - and let me tell you, I was being DUMB. I was using a dull, rusted, razor blade on my car trying to take off the emblem from the side of it. Well, I was doing pretty well...... until the end. When I turned around I must have sliced my finger, because when I turned back around, I saw a lot of blood. And a piece of the top of my finger was just hanging there! Disgusting! Yuck!!
I rushed to the hospital to see if I was o.k.! The nurse came into the room after about an hour saying, " You won't need anything, but just a band-aid." I was relieve, because I was told by my husband that I might need stitches, so I got a little worried. But when the doctor came in, the first thing she said after seeing my finger, " Oh yeah, you are definitely going to need stitches! " I said, " What?! " And I explained to her that this has never happened before. She told me, " It's not going to heal right if we don't use stitches! " So, I agreed. But let me tell you - the shot that the doctor gave me to make my finger numb was so much worse than slicing my finger!

Go Steelers!!!

6 time super bowl champs is what I think of when I think of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was born and raised here in Colorado but born a Steeler fan. Everyone ask's me why iam a Steeler fan and not a Bronco fan when I was born here. It begins with my dad who also was born here but has been watching the Steelers since the early 60's. My dad gave me and my brothers a choice on who we wanted to cheer for. My whole family is Bronco fans we had to have something to argue about so thats why I chose the Steelers.

People tell me iam one of the biggest Steeler fans they've ever met. You go to my house and theres Steeler stuff every were from my Terrible Towel,closet full of jerseys tradeing cards pictures,etc...... but my most prised possesion besides my wife and kids is my autographed football by the 2006 Steelers. My cousin was in Pittsburgh and was at a game against the Broncos. He had gotten me a football signed and brought it back to me were it sits in a glass case my dad made for me.

The schedule came out for 2008-2009 and I was shocked to see that we had the hardest schedule in the NFL. It kinda had me worried but as we got through the season with only lossing 4 games I wasn't to worried. We made it through the playoffs beating the Chargers and the Ravens advancing us to the Super Bowl against the Cardnials. Man was I excited to watch my team go to the super bowl, It was going to be history in the making. The Steelers with 5 super bowl rings trying to be the only team with 6, and Cardinals who have never been to the super bowl ever.

Feb 1 came around the day of the big game and I knew it was going to be a good game with both teams playing there hearts out. The first three quaters the Steelers had the bame in there pocket until the Crads came back with 3 touchdowns and a safety to put them in the lead with 45 seconds left in the game. Man was I on the edge of my seat nervous as heck. But then all of a sudden Big Ben our quaterback takes us down the field with a game winning touch down to Santonio Holmes our reciver in the corner of the end zone. With that win we are the only team in NFL history to have 6 Super Bowl rings. Go Steelers!!!!!!!!

Dinner table

I remember as a kid my dad and I would play cards at night at the table, and he would always win the game,the game we would play was solitaire.

I don't know how he did it but it was pretty crafty. I have to say it was awesome that we would play in general, Because my dad was not into people yes even his kids if know what I mean.

He had a hard child life so he became mean and hard to deal with, so for him to take the time to play cards, it was not common to see him in this mood, but we had fun playing.

One of the things that he somehow was able to do in a card game was end up with all the aces, he did it every time, I think it was a skill that he had. it would drive me crazy so I would just deal with it.

My dad has pass since but that will be in my memory for the rest of my life.

''FRIENDSHIP''

My story today is about, how my friend helped me.
When I got separate in my first marriage.
She was my neighbor beside my friend.

The night we didn't have a place to sleep .
I was my self with my kids and their clothes
but she help me, she gave to me her other aparment,
also she gave to me plates,cups,forks and the most important thing,
her friendship. I always be grateful for everything that she did for me and my kids.
Her name is ''YOLANDA''

'' BLOOD ''

I will never forget my blood, for who I am here. I am grateful with my parents for giving me the life, the bood. I know now how they felt. At this time. I am a parent too.

And I understand why they're always trying to protect us. Our health, our life. No matter how young or old you are, or how mean or good person you are. They are always going to protect you. Like I do now with my kids, to take care of them because they are part of me, part of my life. They are my blood , my present, my future. So my message is just be GRATEFUL.

'' A SNOW MEMORY ''

I remember when I was a child.
We were living in Chiuahua, Mexico in the mountains.
Every winter we were waiting for the snow. My mom always in the summer time she colleted the most firewood as she could use in the snow time.

And also our house didn't have windows. So to keep our bodies warm she would burn alot of wood in the chimney and we would fall asleep like a little babies.

Also my mom always made for us an '' ICE CREAM '' using snow, milk and sugar. we loved the snow like that. the taste was like a piece of heaven to me. We didn't know before about a real ice cream .
Now over here I like the snow . But not to eat. I like to look the mountains, Specially when the snow is falling. these mountains, look like the mountains in my town.They are always green like a beautiful garden in the spring time.

" A Snow Memory"

I remember when I was little, and for me to see the first snowflake, was like opening my first Christmas present. Exciting!! I ran to the window, asking my mom and dad if Christmas was here. I thought Santa Clause was coming to town. The more and more it came down, the more I got impatient. Even though I didn't want to be patient, I knew I had to.
I asked my mom if I could go outside to play in it. The moment she said I could, I shot out the back door like a bolt of lighting.
The first moment when I touched the snow, it was soft and melted away like if it was on a hot day. I didn't know what to do. My hands turned as numb as if I sat on them all day. I had to run inside and warm up by the fire, like I was in the middle of no where trying to stay alive.
It was awesome, but like any child, who doesn't like the snow? Especially when there are so many things that you do in the snow: Build a snowman, have a snowball fight, and make snow angels. Lots and lots of fun!!

SNOW

I had been here in the United States since August 2006, an I had never seen snow at that time. I really thought that it would be the cutest thing ever, and it was, but just if you can see it falling down from your house's window or playing outside with it. After that, I think it is as scary as a horror movie, especially if you have to drive on it, and your car slides all over the icy ground like a skating figure.
I still remember that day as if it were yesterday and I still feel in a "BLIND ALLEY" like I felt in that moment when my car slid. It was and will continue being one of the scariest moments in my entire life.

Snow

I always like snow. Sometimes, early in the morning, I look out side and find there is pure white and clean every where. It looks like a different world. I feel like there is no trouble, no arguing, no harm, no sickness. There is only peace, peace, and peace.
It is a different story when I am driving in the snow. I try to stay at home as much as I can. If I have to go out side, I am driving like I walk, step by step. Even though, it is a little hard to drive in the the snow, I still love the snow.


Kisun

A Snow Memory

I remember when I was ten years old coming back to Colorado Springs
from Pueblo it was as if the world was coming to an end. People on the
highway were slipping like a banana peel was on the ground. We saw all
kinds of car crashes, so my mom decided to drive slow and carefully.
It took a long time to get back to Colorado Springs, but we made it. Right
when we were just five minutes away from the house, a car almost hit
us, but my mom held her horses and got home safely. That's one
memory I'll never forget.

my life has changed

Man......Have you ever found out something that changed your life? well I have! SO to get to the point of my blog I found out that my girl is ten weeks pregnant. She told me a couple of days after she found out. She thought that I would be mad. She was scared to tell me so when she did I didn't want it to be true.because I really didn't want a kid...Now that I have one on the way!!(July 30 of next year).I have to get my self together.I decided to go in to the Marines. So I can make sure that my kid has a better life than I ever did. That's why I am here now. That's my change to the people that care to read this blog.

(p.s open to names that mean something)

SNOW

A long time ago when I was a child, I saw pictures with snow or movies were the snow is falling like the rain. It was extraordinary. In my country it is very rare to have an event like this. Especially in my city, because the weather most of the time is warm. The time when I came over here it was amazing, I got shocked. Never imagined that one day I would feel the coldness of the snow. It was very soft like the dew in the morning as the sunset in my city. The sunset in my city is fresh and cold. I loved to watch the snow when it is falling because that looked like a rain of cotton balls. And when the floor is full of this, the view is like a cloud when no one stepped on it. In the night it looked like the day. I love the falling of the snow. It was a wonderful experience to know it.

The Black Friday

Each year, every store has a big sale after Thanksgiving. Usually, the stores are opened normal days and times, and have sales. Recently, a let of stores opened up at unusual times. A lot of the people are crazy about that. Early in the morning, the time for the good steep they go shopping before the stores open. It looks like the they are very excited and greedy. The shopping day after Thanksgiving, called "Black Friday," one employee died when he opened the door. Many people broke the doors down and ran over him at Wal-Mart in New York.
It is a very sad story. I don't like the stores marketing this kind of sales that incite the action of mass groups of people.

MY BEDROOM WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

This is my bedroom story.
My bedroom was little. My mom, my grandma, my brother, my sisters and me.
We were sleeping in the same room.
The room was special because when it rained in the summer, My mom would always cover my brother up with a piece a plastic over his blanket. so he wouldn't get wet from the rain leaking from the ceiling on his side.
I also remember when my sister Brisa would always get in trouble for taking her cookies to the room,
she wouldn't eat them right away,
but would wait for everyone to fall asleep and then eat them,
she would make noises like a mouse.
I now realize all of the special memories that the bedroom held for me.
I will never forget my bedroom when I was a child.

Singing

Singing is a big part of my life. I'm in a band at our church, and some of the members are teenagers except for me and one of my daughters.

We travel to other churches and perform live. It's exciting because these kids are awsome to work with, they bring out the youth in me.

Basicly what we sing is rock-roll. We change the words of worldly songs to christian, I have to say it's alot of work but we have a blast doing it.