Another Graduation

Brayan no longer lives at Casa de Esperanza, but he is still a Casa kid.  He is the first one to graduate high school.  Finishing 12th grade is quite an accomplishment in this country.  It was an honor to be invited to this graduation.  I started crying before graduation even started.  That has been the norm for me lately.  Thinking how far Brayan has come, brought he to tears.

As class president, Brayan gave a speech.

After the speech, his mom and I hugged and cried.  Messy cried.

Some traditions are the same in Honduras as in the States.

Throwing graduation caps and taking family pictures afterwards.

It has been an honor and privilege and, most of the time, a pleasure to have been involved in Brayan´s life for the last ten years.

Congratulaions, Brayan.  Now on to bigger and better things.

Graduations

This is always a busy time of the year.  This year certainly is no exception.  There are a lot of graduations this year.

On December 19, Josue graduated from kindergarten.  This was a very special event in a nice place.  Dress was formal.  Everyone at El Faro worked hard to make this a wonderful event for the kids and the parents.  Josue was quite handsome.

Today was Daniela`s ninth grade graduation.  A few years ago, the government changed the law requiring students to complete 9th grade instead of 6th grade.  Daniela was all smiles today.  There were not as many photo oppotunities, but I got some good shots of her.

Olman`s kindergarten graduation is Thursday morning.  Maria is going to that one.  I will be getting everyone else`s grades.  Brayan`s high school graduation is Saturday and Linda's is also soon.

Congratlulations to everyone on these accomplishments.

Despedida

As an American,  from an early age, I learned of the first Thanksgiving.  Today I will tell a story of the last Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is an American holiday, but it is also a Casa de Esperanza holiday.  And, for many years, we have celebrated in a big way.  Preparations have always been an exciting part of the meal.  There was excitement as we  began, but it was bittersweet this year as we all knew this was our last Thanksgiving together.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we felt  we needed to do Thanksgiving early.  Nicole and I chose November 18.  It was both happy and sad as we also called it the despedida para todos (the going away part for everyone).

Friday afternoon I took the cheese, onions and celery up to the girls house.  Everyone wanted to grate cheese and chop celery.  Daniela graciously said she would do the onions.

The onions were strong.  It was not long before Daniela had a tear or two running down her cheeks.  There were tears sliding down my cheeks, too.  I kept saying those onions are strong, but it might not have been the onions that were causing my tears.  I wanted to break down and sob, but I was able to control that.

The cheese graters finished first and moved to celery.  Daniela continued to work alone.  I began doing dishes.  Soon the celery was finished and I did more dishes.  Some of the girls left.  Dani, Ana and I finished the onions.  Dani left when the onions were finished.  Ana and I finished cleaning up.  Then we hugged and hugged and hugged.  Those onions.  They got to me again.

Later, Haley and Emma showed up with pizza.  We had pizza and coke.   Then we began the pumpkin pies and cornbread.

Emma got to use the mixer this year.  She giggled and giggled and exclaimed, "this is so fun."  Haley made the second layer of the pumpkin pies.

Emma went to bed after the first of the cornbread was in the oven.  Haley stayed up and finished the cornbread.  I did dishes and some things and crashed around 11:30.  The alarm went off at 3:00 and I got the first turkey in the roaster.   I went back to bed, but it was not long until Emma was saying, "Grammy, are we going to start cooking soon?"   I groaned and said, "yes, Emma,  We are."  

It was a while before Haley rolled out of bed.  

Emma learned to saute the onions and celery while Haley crumbled the cornbread and biscuits.  They must be the best sauter and crumbler around.

The smells coming from my house were delicious.  Kids were running in and out of my house all day.  Nicole made banana pudding with the girls and cookies with the boys. The first turkey was perfect.  But, there was a heaviness in the air.  

Haley "painted" the second turkey and stirred the white sauce for the macaroni and cheese.  When Haley got tired I stirred two pots at once.

At last the meal was ready.  We all changed clothes.

Those onions were getting to me again.

Denis led us in prayer and then I said what I had to say.  Then Nicole talked.  We opened up to anyone that wanted to say anything.  Three or four of the employees chose to speak.  And Brayan, did too.  

Those onions had me into a big blubbering mess.  The onions were getting to some of the girls, too.

The line formed and we filled our plates and began to eat.  Music lightened the mood.

They even got me to dance.  That was the funniest part of the whole day.

It was a special day.  A special Thanksgiving.  A special despedida.  There were lots of hugs and tears.

Friday Night Football

I grew up in Texas.  And, for those of you that do not know, football is king.  Every high school in the state that can field a team was playing tonight.  Some in huge stadiums, some in not so big stadiums.  In little towns, like Borger, most of the town goes.

I was little when I started going to watch the Borger Bulldogs play on Friday night.  My family went to every home game.  By the time I was in junior high and high school, it was a lot more fun to go with friends than family.

It has been a long time since I have been to a Friday night football game in Borger.  But, I went tonight with Janet and Rick.  I had fun.  The stadium.  The lights. The band. The fight song  The traditions.  The memories.

Many years ago, Tanya and I spent many Friday nights cheering our team.

Shauna came and sat with us, too.

In the section next to us, the class of '77 was having a reunion.  The class of  '74 had our own mini reunion.

Borger did not win tonight.  I think that has been the case many times this season.  I still had fun.

The first game in this stadium was played in 1952.  At the end of this season, 2 more home games, this stadium will be torn down and new stadium built. 

It is kind of sad to see this old stadium go.

I Cried A Million Tears

Twenty  five years ago, the Tindalls moved to Antioch.  Antioch has never been the same.  We were never the same.

In our neighborhood, everyone was new.  The neighborhood was full of kids.  We made friends quickly.  Our church was full of warm, welcoming people.  Again we made friends quickly.  Those deep friendships that last a life time.

As in every place, I have lived there has been some bad things happen, but there are many  sweet memories that were made in Antioch.  Haunted houses.  The food pantry.  Neighborhood parties.  Many, many more.

I have been blessed to be in Antioch since Tuesday afternoon.  The changes and growth are unbelievable.  I rode around with my mouth open saying, "I can't believe this."

Antioch, you were good to me this week.  You have always been good to me.  I have seen one friend from my neighborhood and several from church.  I did not see everyone, but I saw several.

This morning in church, it felt like home.  Even after all these years.  Tonight in church, there was a song service and then ice cream fellowship.  The songs.  The friends.  The memories.  They overpowered me.  During one song, I had the whole row crying.  I thought I might do it again.  I didn't.

Yes, I have cried a million tears this week.  Good friends and good memories do that to me.

Until next time, Antioch.