Countdown to Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  Love, The Toler Family

This time last year, we were making our grand Christmas tour of the Southeast!  We drove from Texas to enjoy time with family and friends in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.  It was a whirlwind trip, but we have such great memories from it.  Towards the end of our trip, my anxiety levels began to rise and the thought that we wouldn't be spending Christmas with our friends and family for several years was a bit overwhelming.

Fast forward a year and here we are about to celebrate our first Christmas in Mexico.  My goal this year is to start setting up some new traditions for our family so that we can all make new memories while holding on to the ones from years past.  I want our kids to appreciate the traditions of the culture in which we live while still enjoying the traditions of our culture from back in the States.  Thanks to Pinterest, I think we are off to a good start!

Tradition #1 - Our Christmas tree- Even before we left the U.S., I found a craft where you make a Christmas tree out of felt (originally designed for toddlers so that they would leave the "real" tree alone).  What a great idea for a family who needs to keep their belongings to a minimum.  I pictured us making felt ornaments, decorating the tree, and then rolling it up at the end of the season.  Thankfully, the kids loved the idea and I think it turned out great.  The lights don't always stay connected to the wall, but it works well enough!

Our Christmas tree complete with gifts thanks to the Homebuilders Sunday School Class from First Baptist Dallas! 

Tradition #2 - Our Advent Calendars - Kieran has been looking forward to December for several months now.  I knew that we needed an advent calendar to help avoid the daily, "Is it Christmas yet?" question.  I also wanted an advent calendar that would encourage us to experience Christmas in Mexico.  Again, I found a neat advent calendar on Pinterest that uses a mini muffin pan (since I don't have an oven, I figured I might as well us it for something!).  In each muffin spot, I put a slip of paper with an activity and an advent Bible verse along with two pieces of candy.  Some days the activity includes reading a Christmas book or watching a Christmas movie.  This weekend, we are going to see the Christmas lights downtown and enjoy a Christmas concert Sunday afternoon.  The kids have already enjoyed breaking open a Christmas piñata and making Rice Krispy treats.

Making Rice Krispy Treats.  We used jello powder with a little water for the "icing".

 Tradition #3- Our Christmas Pajamas - In the past, I've tried to get the kids a new pair of PJ's for Christmas morning.  I went shopping and found that the selection of Christmas pajamas was very slim and a bit pricey (the only thing I could find in Kieran's size was literally a heavy fleece Santa suit!).  Instead, I bought the kids some white long johns and we are going to attempt to make some tie-dyed snowman PJ's this weekend!  Hopefully, this new tradition will not be a bust!

Tradition #4 - Our Christmas Morning - Right now, we are really not sure what our Christmas morning will look like, but I imagine the excitement on the kids faces will be the same no matter what country we are in and the joy of spending the day together as a family will be just as sweet.  Thanks to modern technology, we will probably be able to spend the morning "together" with our family in the States via the webcam and Google chat.  It will not be the same as being together, but we are blessed to have this connection.

Kieran (King Melchor) and Elyse (Little Star) in their first Christmas Pageant

 As we wrap up our last few days in school, we look forward to having some "down" time to enjoy celebrating the birth of our Savior.  We are praying that you, too, will be blessed with this time of celebrating your own traditions with your family.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año! 

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Last night, we went and saw a performance at a beautiful cultural center in Puebla.  It was called, "Una Voz de Paz" - "A Voice of Peace".  There were hundreds of singers, actors, and instrumentalist playing out the life of Christ.  It was absolutely beautiful, but, at the same time, it was difficult to talk about, sing about or even think about peace after what happened in Connecticut this past Friday.  There are so many families in that community and around our country who are feeling anything but peace right now.  Everyone I know is talking about hugging their kids a little harder.  Every time I got frustrated with my 7 year old this weekend, I felt guilty and wanted to grab him up and just snuggle with him.  How do we find peace at a time like this? 

While we were watching the performance, it came to the part where Jesus was on trial before Pilot.  After the crowd yelled, "Crucify Him", they marched him off the stage.  Slowly, one lonely cross came down from the ceiling.  Kieran was sitting in my lap and I realized that he was crying.  I whispered to him asking what was the matter.  He looked up at me with red, tear filled eyes and said, "Why did Jesus have to die like that?"  Suddenly, I was the one with tears in my eyes.  Unlike some portrayals, this play did not even do a graphic demonstration of the crucifixion....just an empty cross hanging from the ceiling.  I reminded Kieran that the cross was not the end of the story.  Jesus died for us, but then he conquered death and came back to life and is still alive today.  The happy ending was coming. 

But that still leaves the question, "WHY did Jesus have to die like that?"  The answer is because of our sin.  Why did those beautiful, innocent children and teachers have to die this past week?  Because of sin.  We live in a broken world.  We live in a society where it is perfectly acceptable to show violence, blood, sex, affairs, bad language and disrespectful kids (and adults) on prime time television and even on so called "kids" channels.  However, it is taboo to show families praying together, going to church or even displaying good moral values because we might "offend" someone.  Why should parents have to do research before taking their children to see a "kids" movie?  What does it say about us as adults that Hollywood thinks it needs to put at least one or two bad words or sexual innuendos into kids movies to make them entertaining enough for the parents.  We can talk about changing gun laws or putting more safety measures in schools, but the truth is something has got to change in our society before we can find real peace again.  In order for our society to change, we have to change as individuals.  WE have to start making better choices at home.  What kind of music do we listen to?  What movies do we watch?  What TV shows are playing on our television sets?  Peace has to begin at home.  Everyone is outraged by the shooting last week, but are we outraged enough to make the tough changes that need to me made?  Are we willing to unsubscribe from cable tv?  Are we willing to throw out those "Mature" rated video game that cost $50?  Are we going to turn the channel off of a song with a bad message even if it has a good beat? 

Most importantly, are we willing to get on our knees and pray everyday for peace to return?  Are we willing to love our neighbors who don't act very lovable?  Are we willing to be friends with someone who is different than us?  In times of tragedy, most of us feel overwhelmingly helpless, but there are so many thing we can do to help heal our broken world.  I'm ready to find that peace that Jesus died to give us.  Are you?

Silent night.  Holy night.  

All is calm.  All is bright.  

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.  

Holy infant so tender and mild.  

Sleep in heavenly peace.  

Sleep in heavenly peace. 

Kieran fell asleep in my arms near the end of the performance.  Now that is peace...

"We are certainly blessed"

After several months of searching, we finally have a family vehicle...a 2007 Ford Lobo 4x4 to be exact.  We needed this type of vehicle to get around in the rural areas of Mexico where the road can be very rough.  After Kris tells me the story of his 11 hour day today, I'll do another post with more pictures in the daylight.  For now, I thought I'd send you the series of text that I received from Kris today to give you a glimpse into this process!  Thanks so much for your prayers!  As Kieran said, "We are certainly blessed!  This is sweet!" 

He left at 9:30 this morning...

1:30 pm - "It is going to be awhile.  We are at the place where they make sure it is not stolen.
1:51 pm - "It is not stolen."
1:53 pm - "Next step, go back to lot, then bank"
1:57 pm - "At the last place I asked Rubisel if it was going to take long.  He said yes.  It takes a long time to buy a car."
2:59 pm- "On way to bank. Say a prayer.
6:10 pm - "They are working on it now" (from the tire place)

Kris finally got home around 8:30 pm.  It was a very long day for all of us, but we are "certainly blessed" by what God has provided for our family.  It was even more than we prayed for. 

Thanksgiving Crafts

Thanksgiving Cup -  Kieran's Idea

This is Kieran and here's what you need to make this cute Thanksgiving cup.  You need a plastic cup, brown paint, brown construction paper and a yellow marker, scissors, glue and a black marker and white paper.  Now let's learn how to make it!  Get the plastic cup and paint it.  Then let the paint dry.  When the paint is done drying, cut out some feathers like the picture.  And, then glue them on.  If the glue doesn't stick, then I would put some extra tape to stick it onto the cup.  Then cut out a circle (about a medium size circle).  Then get some yellow construction paper and cut out a little triangle.  Next you cut out two circles with the white paper.  Then with the white paper, cut out a little hat.  Next, you color the bottom part with the black marker and then make a little line with the yellow marker.  Do the top black.  Oh and I forgot to mention, for the eye balls, do little dots with the black marker.  Finally, glue the face and the hat.  The hat goes on the top of the head.  The head goes on the front of the cup (not in the middle of the cup). 

Our Thanksgiving Tree- We have lots more leaves to add! 

Mi Casa es Su Casa

Home Sweet Home

On May 23, two months before we left for Puebla, I posted a prayer request on our Facebook page asking everyone to pray for our housing situation in Puebla.  We knew no one in Puebla, and we had no connections to the city.  The Spanish school I was planning to attend said they could help us, but their price range for apartments near the center was higher than we wanted to spend.

So we prayed, and many of you prayed with us. Fast forward a couple of weeks.  Kris and I were finishing our final week of classes at GIAL and our parents were visiting to help us pack up our belongings...still no leads on places to stay in Puebla!  I had so much on my plate at the time that I tried not to "waste" any stress on worrying about that, but I have to admit that a bit of...concern crept in every now and then.  The next Sunday a couple in our class told us that they had a friend from Puebla and that he was going to come to church with them the next week.  We were excited about the possibility of making a connection.  The following Sunday we met Rubi.  After the introductions he asked, "So, do you have a place to live in Puebla?"  We said no and that we were still looking.  He said, "I feel like God has sent me here to help you with that."  Well, who are we to argue with God!  He told us that his parents still lived in Puebla and that he would call and ask them to start looking for a place for us to stay.  We exchanged email addresses and left it at that.

Over the next couple of weeks, Kris and Rubi exchanged emails.  Less than a month before our departure date, we still did not have a definite address in Puebla.  Again, we asked for prayer from my home church which we were visiting in Florida.  The same day, we received an email from Rubi saying his parents had found a house for us.  All we had was an address, a picture of the outside, a very reasonable price, and a promise that it was in a good area with easy access to downtown.

We arrived in Puebla late in the afternoon of July 24th.  Rubi's family met us (and our LOAD of luggage) at the bus station.  They graciously took us to our new home to drop off our belongings and then took us to their house for a wonderful dinner.  We kept having to remind ourselves that these people didn't know us.  They were so welcoming!

Our kitchen- tight but cozy! 

Our home had some basic furnishings (a couch, chair and two beds), but our kitchen came with only a kitchen sink.  Over the next couple of weeks, our sweet family took us around town so that we could get all the things we needed to make this house our home for the next 6 months.  We've had to make a few adjustments.

Kieran and Elyse's room. 

Elyse, for example, sleeps on an air mattress and I'm learning to cook using only a stove top.  We take our laundry to the "lavandaria" across the street where they wash, dry and fold for only about $1 per kilo.  I don't mind letting someone else do my laundry as long as I remember that it takes about 2 days to get it back (any last minute laundry is washed in the kitchen sink and hung out to dry!).  We can find just about anything we need in Puebla.  Home Depot, Walmart and Costco are just a short bus ride away.  However, we know that we are only going to be here for 6 months and do not want to invest too much time or money into adding the things we now consider luxuries.

Our dining/play/tv room

Our living room

We have a playground across the street where the kids love to play and meet new friends.  About a week ago, Kieran said, "Mommy, after all this unpacking, I finally feel at home."  We are so blessed to have this house and are so grateful for God's provisions.  

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain."

Psalms 127:1 (NIV)

The Big Picture

The easiest birthday cake I've ever made!

I'm a detail person.  I like making lists and trying to keep everything in order.  Kris, on the other hand, is a big picture kind of guy.  Details are not so important to him.  He often laughs at my list (in a nice, supportive way, of course).  I think that is why our marriage works for us.  I make sure the details get put in and he makes sure the details don't overwhelm me!  Did you know that our God is both a God of details and a God of the big picture?  He knows the numbers of hairs on our head and yet he created this universe.  When we can't seem to get our little details under control, He is always in control.  Even when tragedy strikes and OUR "big picture" is blown out of the water, HIS big picture is intact.  I have been in awe these past few months as I watch God's hand in our lives.  There is no detail that has gone unnoticed by Him.  I seriously don't know why I worry so much. 

Earlier this week, it was Kieran's birthday.  In my mind, I was thinking about the party that Kieran wasn't going to have with all his friends from back home.  He has really missed those friendships.  But guess what?  God knew.  My details were a part of HIS big picture.  The day before Kieran's birthday, we went to pick him up from school and this precious little boy Carlo stuck his head out of the classroom window and said (in Spanish), "Hey, are you bringing something to school tomorrow for Kieran's birthday party?"  Kris and I just looked at each other with blank expressions.  We hadn't really thought about bringing something to school.  Kieran's teacher is pretty strict and we really didn't think that was an option.  I looked at Kris and said, "maybe we should ask."  So, Kris asked Kieran's teacher who sent us to the school director for permission. After all the proper approvals, Kieran's teacher said, "Great.  I'll tell all the parents not to send lunch tomorrow."  Lunch??  What??  I was thinking some cupcakes or a little snack.  Oh no, parties are serious events here.  So, thanks to the advise of another mother, we decided to bring hotdogs, chips, apple slices, drinks, and ice cream.

Kieran's new friends at school

Kieran's Class

The day of Kieran's birthday, we showed up at school with all the fixings.  Kieran was beaming!  All his classmates had made him cards and many of them brought presents.  The class sang their version of "Happy Birthday" and then the teacher marched him around the room so they could all throw confetti on his head.  Everyone ate and laughed.  One kid said, "This is the best party!"  At one point, Kieran called me over to his desk and said, "Mommy, I love this school because all the kids are so nice!"  Wow, what a break through!  School has been such a challenge this year for Kieran (being new and all in Spanish that is) and everyday was a chore to get him to want to go.  Kieran made a connection with his class and teacher on his birthday that probably wouldn't have happened if little Carlo had not put his head out the window that day. 

Enjoying his birthday lunch at school

While I was sitting around worrying about the details, God was putting together the pieces.  While I was trying to fix the problem, God was turning my problem into His solution.  Thank you, God, for loving our children and for knowing the big picture for their lives.  What a mighty God we serve!

Kieran and his teacher

Expect the Unexpected

New Braves Hats!

Yes, that is the theme of our lives right now.  If we've learned nothing else since moving to Mexico it is to expect the unexpected and today was especially unexpected!  Like most Sunday mornings we woke up extra early to get ready for church.  Normally, we ride to church with a family that lives nearby.  They work with the youth and have to be there by 8:00 a.m.  So, as usual, we were ready by 7:30 (more or less) to get out the door.  For some reason, our family did not come this morning.  We decided that we would try to save some money and take a bus to church instead of a taxi.  However, we've never taken a bus and were not sure exactly which bus to take.  Kris asked the guard at our neighborhood gate and he told us his best guess.  All dressed and ready for church, we walked about half a mile to the main road to catch a bus.  Just to be safe, Kris even asked the bus driver if the bus was going to this particular part of town (near our church) and he said yes.

About 20 minutes into the trip (it normally takes about 20 minutes by car to get to church), Kris and I both realized that we were not anywhere near the church.  We noticed that we were actually heading out of town to another community about 30 minutes outside of Puebla.  The driver asked Kris again where we were heading and at this point he told us that the bus was actually NOT going anywhere near our church.  We're not sure where the breakdown in the communication happened, but, nonetheless, we were not going in the right direction.  So, we decided to change our plans and stay on the bus.  We ended up getting off near a big outdoor Sunday market, buying some fresh fruits and veggies and hot tortillas, and then watching a parade complete with marching bands and giant paper mache puppet-like characters (and of course my camera battery was dead).  Kris and Kieran found Atlanta Braves baseball hats and Elyse got a pink Nike hat for about $7 total.  On our way home, we stopped at an Italian community (yep, right here in Mexico) known for their cheese making and ate a delicious thin crust pizza for lunch. 

This was the parade we happened upon!

We saw some amazing views of our local volcano and some real cowboys riding horses down the road!  At one point, Elyse said, "Hey, weren't we suppose to be going to church?"  Yes, we were, but we praise God for the extra family time and chance to experience His amazing creation up close and personal.  This evening, we sat down as a family and watched the service at First Baptist Dallas on our computer (Elyse was very excited to see her Sunday School teacher in the choir).  Maybe this "unexpected" day was God's way of preparing us for different ways of worshiping Him.  We will not always have the option of attending a "formal" church service once we get to the village and need to get use to going with the flow. 

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." ~Proverbs 16:3

P.S.  Did I mention we managed to lose two wheels off Elyse's stroller?!?   I think we may need to upgrade to the all-terrain version!