Yesterday we went to our first gathering with COFLAC (Central Ohio Families with Latin American Children). It was at Jeffrey Mansion in Bexley. Every month a group of people who have adopted from Latin America bring there kids together to play and have fun. Collin was still a little young but the older kids seemed to have a great time playing so I am sure he will love it when he gets older. We got some good play time in while we were there. It brought back a lot of memories since I was there pretty often as a kid. It still looks the same-it's a beautiful place. If you've never been there you should check it out.
We had a very eventful Halloween. Mommie and Collin went to a fun party at Amy's house
and then Mom and Dad got to go to a grown up party thanks to Nana. Trick or Treat was fun. Mallory and Collin went around to a few neighbors then off to Nana and Pops to trick or treat with Brylie and Kahlen. Poor dad only got to spend a couple of minutes with us until he got called back to work. By the time we made it back to the house all of the kids were asleep so there are no pictures of all the cousins together in their costumes-too bad!!
My soapbox about the Advent Conspiracy
I came across this video on another blog. I have to admit I only looked at it for entertainment value. I assumed with a title like that, it had to be some wacko conspiracy theory and who doesn't need a good laugh. Suprisingly enough it really touched me and made me think. It didn't grab my interest because of it's religious value, because that's not really my thing. I am not the type of person that flaunts religion or believes in pushing your beliefs onto others. It touched me because of it's human value and because it shows me how quickly I forget.
When we were in Guatemala it was truly a life changing experience for a myriad of reasons, only one of which was bringing home a baby! We saw poverty that we could never imagine in this country. I remember thinking when I was there that despite all of the stress of the situation, I was more at peace than I had ever felt in my life. Among other things, there was no pressure to have more...there was nothing to have. People just lived their lives. Families worked together, lived together in cramped housing-if they had a roof over their heads at all-and they were happy! We were forced to enjoy eachother without our "creature comforts" and I loved it. I now remember hoping that once we got home, I would never lose that idea that we don't really need much at all. I realized our society makes us think we need more but we really don't. And after watching the video it makes me realize that I have failed miserably.
I had made up my mind that in order to honor my new found attitude and our sons heritage, we would sponsor a Guatemalan family every year so that they could have food and heat and their children could go to school-things we take for granted on a daily basis. For some reason I can never seem to find the money to do that- BUT- I can find the money to buy coffee every day, sometimes several times a day, Collin will see a room full of gifts on Christmas morning, I can go out to eat, I can do whatever I want for the most part. My priorities have gone right back to where they were before I experienced Guatemala and it makes me sad. That is the reason that I am posting the video in a permenant spot on the blog, so that I am constantly reminded, not only during Christmas but all year to give PRESENCE to my friends and family not PRESENTS and to give back to something that I feel very strongly about. I don't write this to push Guatemalan charity or any charity but to encourage anyone reading this to slow down and take a look at your life and see what means the most to you and see where it takes you.
