Saturday | January 20, 2007

Jiutepeck Parade

There was a Fair/ Parade in our little town today so some friends & I went down to take a look. It was mostly people selling things like a local market fair. A part of the main street was blocked off & there were various stalls selling things from traditional Mexican things to basic house hold items. And of course no fair would be complete without Michelada stands of which there were several.  While we were looking at the various  I could hear merriment & music in the distance. As we got closer to the main square, the music got louder & I could see a parade going by, it turned out to be more than one parade & each one was very different from the other except for the marching band leading each group. Throngs of people were dancing in the streets as various bands were playing their marching tunes. There were groups of people dressed in different bright colored costumes, some I assumed were traditional dancing costumes & others were the local costumes of their ancestors. And of course there were those outlandish ones where you know that, that "lady" ain't no lady. However it was a lot of fun to go down & participate in a cultural activity with the the Mexicans & get to know them better. I was a little shy to start dancing int the street with them this time, maybe next time.
Posted by Vyx at 04:20:03 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Thursday | January 18, 2007

Invasion of the Flies

Last night while attempting to write the next chapter in my book I was annoyed by a constant loud buzzing sound over head. I normally can tune out noise when I choose to, I've even gotten to the point that I can sleep in a noisy room with the lights on when necessary. Not that I like it but can do. I guess I don't need to mention that I come from a big family. But this was getting to be too much, as I paused & looked around I saw several huge flies buzzing around my tiny room. I then look up at the ceiling  & there to my horror around the light bulb were a great mas of what I thought at first were bees but were not. They were huge flies. I can't remember the last time I saw so many flies that that were that huge. I grew up in Asia where there are flies galore but most aren't this big. Grabbing the nearest thing I could use as a weapon against these fiends I went after them with a vengeance but these things were too fast for me, the more I hit the more seemed to pop up out of nowhere. Oh how I wish I were the godess  vishnu with multiple arms but alas I only have two, well two is enough just takes a little longer. After half an hour of going after these little monsters that had wrongfully invaded my room I finished the job, swept the floor to rid my self of their presence & sat down to continue writhing my book.
Posted by Vyx at 04:11:43 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Vacation time

This was the first Vacation I've had in a long time & it has been great. this time instead of going to some far off place I decided to stay home. After all everyone else would be gone so I could have the house to my self.  Being that most things I like to do involve a computer at home I'd have a good internet connection & could also do some of the things I like doing here that I normally don't have time to do. I have had time galore to up date my book which is coming to a close, i think, I never can tell when I get "writer's itch" but yes it is progressing & I think I may only have a few more chapters to go. if any of you want to see it let me know & I'll give you a link. 

A friend came over for 2 days & we spent some time showing her the town. Curnavaca is a beautiful town with great weather, never too hot or too cold. We went to the movies & watch the new movie Storm Breaker a great movie for young teens.  

Taxo

The other day I went with my Mom to Taxo. the famous old town where alot of jewelry is made out of silver. We got off to a semi early start & got a ticket to the 12:00 bus. The ride was great & we passed by some of the plant nurseries where the plants are grown for later sale. Some places were just fields of rose bushes almost as far as the eye could see. I almost wanted to get off the bus there. Well my chance to get off the bus came when the bus began to have engine trouble.  There was a problem with one of the belts on the engine. I went to take a look, it was educational to watch the mechanic & driver at they tried to fix the engine. In the end however after waiting for over an hour in the middle of nowhere we were transfered to another bus & finally reached our destination. I greatly enjoyed touring Taxo, it's a very ancient town with many silver markets. The most interesting place for me was visiting the old Catholic Church in the center square. Talk about a blast from the past, this was a blast from the way past. the Church was finished in 1758 before the Declaration of Independence was signed in the USA. Just the thought that you you were standing in a ediface that was almost 300 years old was awesome. The food in Taxo was delicious. 

That was one of the highlights of my vacation. The advantages of staying home are many but I envy Gabe Rucker getting to hitchike around, too bad it isn't safe for women to to that kind of stuff here in Mexico. When I was lived in Thailand my friends & I hitchiked all over the northern region. 

I'm not exactly sure what will be happening when Vacation is over but i know it will be a busy time so I'm making the most of the time I have now.

 

Posted by Vyx at 03:47:24 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday | September 29, 2005

Life can be ...

Life can be... Happy, sad, hell, heaven, crazy, ironic & a host of other things said or unsaid. Most importantly, life is what ever you make of it

This is one section that I plan to update often  with different things, the said & unsaid. If any of you want to contribute please feel free to put in a comment & if you want I'll publish it for you.  Or if you prefer I'll just keep it to myself. There may also be times when I ask my readers to comment on a subject. Want to make your voice be heard? here's the space for it. I'd love to hear from you.

By the way if any of you out there would like to have backup of what's written here, (I try to change it every week & delete the previous articles) you can contact me at jolie_walker@yahoo.com

And so this is Christmas

And what have you done.... that song has been playing over & over for the last few weeks. It's one of my favoriate Christmas songs & it makes me think of all the things I've done over the past year & the past Christmases.

I can think of so many Christmases where things were planned to perfecction, if you can really plan anything to perfection without Murphy wanting to add his 2 cents, & how things came up that changed things completely but also how things turned out great in the end after all was said & done.

Last year wasn't one of those that was planned very well but was great just because I was with friends dispite everything there was alot of love to go around.

On Christmas Eve we'd gone out to a friends house & had a great time. Now this friend we went to see was an execellent cook & her Christmas dinner was awasome. On Christmas day most of my friend were out of town visiting with their families & I was at home with some friends. Then of all things they asked me if I wouldn't mind making Christmas dinner. I'm not the greatest cook so naturally I wasn't too enthused. Being that it was Christmas day & of all days dinner should be special, not just special but surpurb. My cooking could never in any way match up to the Christmas dinner we'd had the night before. To top it off we were having company. About the best thing I could make on short notice is Shepherds Pie, so Shepherds Pie it would have to be. As I set about cooking I was continually thinking how my mom would be better suited for this task being that she is a wonderful cook & really knows how to make Christmas into Christmas with all the right things for the dinner & here I was practically ruining Christmas with such a simple dinner.

     Well all my whinning was for not. As it turned out the visitors were Argintine & were rejoicing over my meger Shepherds Pie. I was rather baffled, then they explained that Shepherds Pie ( they had some other fancy name for it) was a traditional meal for Christmas where they came from. Here I was complaining that I could't do anything traditional for Christmas & what came out was something traditional after all. It turned out to be a great Christmas & we had so much fun

I love you Pablo, Paci & Family. thanks for all your love & care.  And Cephas & Anita's family as well.

A startling moment

I'm finally back in Mexico! After a great time visiting friends in the U.S. & spending Thanksgiving with them, which was a great memorable time, I crossed the border & borded my bus home. I don't really like traveling alone, but you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. The movies that they played on the bus were good,  one in particular that I liked was "Hotel Rwanda" the story of one man who did what he could & even put his life on the line numerous times to save the lives of people traped in his hotel during the Genoside episode in Rwanda in 1994. I know we're all familar with what happend there & is still happening in other areas of the world that we don't hear about. Watching that movie made me realise that I do live a pretty charmed life & made me pray doubly hard for those who have to face such hardships on a daily basis. While on my bus we were stuck in heavy trafic that lasted for over 2 hours.  I was reminising on the movie & sort of wondering what I would do if I were in a situation like Rwanda. After all you never know when the tables could turn & you could be in a not so great situation or worse, to put it mildly. While all this was going through my head I looked out my window watching where we were not going in the near stand still trafic & was shocked as everything froze for a split second I thought I may be dreaming. Beside my bus was a semi truck that the bus was trying to pass up. The driver of the truck, angered by the intrusion, had gotten out of his truck & was coming at us with a machete in hand yelliing at the driver of my bus. In that moment I prayed for the Lords protection & that He would calm the situation as running was clearly not an option.  After a few moments & some threats the truck driver got back into his truck & we made an atempt to "speed off" if you could call it that. Thank God for his miracles of protection. In all I made it home safely & was greeted with hugs & smiles which made that all night bus ride worth it all. As for the machete wielder... may that be the last time I see of him.

...Glory in the flower

When I was out on my afternoon walk today I noticed something special. I often pass a field overgrown with weeds, flowers, dead branches, trees & what not. At this time of year this field is covered in morning glory vines in hues of rich purple & twilight blue. They seem to cover everything, climing on trees making the average tree a breath taking sight of color & splender. I always love this time to view a little bit of nature & soak the remaining rays of the sun. To day however I niticed something different, one of the dead trees that had fallen down in some previous storm was covered in White flowers. I went over to take a closer look so see what new vine had decided to climb its dead branches but to my surprise there was no vine, the white blosoms were coming from the tree itself. I thought it odd as this tree had been laid to waist for some time. Upon closer speculation I noticed that even though the tree looked broken down a part of it was still deeply rooted in the soil thus giving it life & causing it to flower.

   As I contemplated it all it made me think about life in general how there so many ups & downs in life & there are times when we feel so broken & like there is no life left in us. This year has been a rough one for me with alot of changes & some heart aches that I've been coming to terms with but like the tree I saw today I realised something. That no matter how bleak the outlook or how hard I fall there's still hope & joy if i keep in mind one thing, hang on to my roots & keep them deep & it that way things will look beautiful & life will continue to bloom & for me the roots are my faith. Like the tree that seemed to be dead there was still a part of the trunk hang on to it & I know that there is someone hanging on to me & making my life as beautiful as it is.  And looking on the good side I have a beautiful life & so many things to be thankful for that  the totally out weigh the down sides that come my way. And most importantly, I am loved.

So when ever you feel down just take a moment to relax & you'll see that things aren't always what they seem like in the beautiful song sung by Janis Jopilin "The Rose" ... just remember in the winter underneath the freezing snow, lies the seed that with the suns love int the spring becomes the rose.

Pluto

I know how we all love Micky Mouse & his loveable dog Pluto. Pluto the little rascal who seems to get everything wrong but comes out alright in the end. In the nursery where I teach 4 lovable kids we have a Pluto dog among the children's toys, it's just a plastic little pull toy that barks when you pull the string around his neck. He's the one I give to the little tots when they cry & his lovable bark never fails to produce smiles on their teary faces. Well I guess there are times when we all need a little chearing up even though we're supposed to be the strong ones holding things up. The end of last week was one such day for me. I hadn't been very strong that week, I'd finally come down with the stomach bug that was going around, also known as Deli Belly etc. I had it bad & felt pretty down. And at the worst moment, when I felt like I really couldn't work & I wanted to get a replacement for the kids, one of the babies walks up to me with Pluto & they all came around trying to make him bark & doing all the goofy things they do, trying in their best effort to make me smile.  How could I give up when they wouldn't give up on me. I love you Tristan, Sebastian, Ryan, & Benny.

Just a note I don't agree with the scientist declassifying the Planet Pluto from the Solar system I will miss pluto forever & what every the scientists say about you i will always looking on with you with love when ever I see you.

Some things I've learned

Reciently the last few months I've been un well. In January I had a respritory infection that caused my lung to swell. It's now May & my lung is still swolen a bit but over all I'm doing great. I went to the Doctor & have taken Antibiotics  but this is one of those things that's taking time to heal. I did learn somethings from being sick though.

  • First, take care of your self & listen to what your body is trying tob tell you. If you feel tired take a rest don't just assume it's lazyness & drink  more coffee. Rest when you should.
  • Eat right especially when you're not feeling well.
  • Don't think you're so strong that nothing should affect you. Anything could.
  • You may have things that you think are good for you or ways that you take care of yourself but be open to the advice of others even igf it's contrary to your own.
  • Take antibiotics the way it's perscribed & don't mess with them or the side affects could be bad or worse.
  • Relax & don't worry yourself if you're not better right away, just let things take the time they need to heal.
  • Ask for help even when you think you don't need it. People are there for you & really don't mind. I'm not super  woman & I don't have to be.
  • Be happy with who you are cause you are beautiful in your own light.

Understanding Trials & tests

I know that we all have different things that happen in our lives. Some things are great, Like Christmas & what not & other things that happen are looked on as bad & sometimes even horable at times. The truth of the matter is that everything that happens in our lives however a knock down in may seem to be can be a step upward if we take advantage of the situation & use it as a steping stone. This is something I read from a couple people who had to pass through  serious illnesses that encouraged me alot & I wanted to share it with you.

I understand more extensively now why tests and trials are so necessary, as they truly are crucial to burn away all the nonsense and hang ups that we inevi­tably acquire, once we get too comfortable. I know that without an occasional problem or major mess-up, I become extremely overcon­fident, and these seeming difficulties just help to keep things in perspective. Life might get a bit tough, but as long as I am following God, things can only get better.

 

In conclusion, life is pre­cious, and all those crazy or difficult situations that seem so odd or inexplicable when they take place will be the ones that you’ll remember the most later on. So make the most of ’em, and trust that God has some plan or purpose in bringing them your way.

 

I love this Family! I love what we are doing and what we are striving for! I love the Activated vision! I love the fact that more is being expected of us! I love the challenge! Most of all, I love the witnessing we do, the souls we win to Jesus, and the training we impart to those who are so desperate for the Words!

 

The high I feel as I give that Bible study, as I witness to that poor hungry soul, as I love Jesus intimately, or read His awesome Word, is absolutely incomparable to any other pleasure or feel­ing, whether induced or natural. It’s simply super­natural, and the most won­derful thing about it is that when I stay close to Jesus, that feeling doesn’t depart, and I just stay on that high indefinitely.

 

  The power of prayer, combined with using the keys, works! Praise power definitely works, and is a fantastic aid, comforter, and tool for the battle!

 

 

So never give up, no mat­ter how bad your situation is, and no matter how long you have had to suffer an affliction.  

 

If the Lord can bring me through it all, He can certainly raise you up, no matter how drastic or serious your affliction or problem is. He definitely “dwells in the praises of His people,” and now through all this praise power, key power, and awesome spirit helpers that we have at our aid, there are no obstacles we can’t rise above!

I remember Him

I´ve always loved that poster for one special reason. It reminds me of something that happened a while back. I was at a small outside resturant in what you might call the middle of no-where in Thailand. All you could see for miles was the open road surrounded by beautiful green rice fields, dotted with palm trees. We were on our way home from one of our projects & stopped for a bite to eat at the only resturant around.

There was a lady sitting next us with her son, I guess he was about 2 or so. He was fussing & crying about something. As I was leaving I stopped & gave the woman an enlarged poster of the one at the top with Jesus in it. Then the most amazing thing happened. Her son stopped crying, looked at the poster & exclaimed "Mommy I know that man!" The boys mother was rather puzzeled as she didn´t know the Lord at all being that she was raised a Bhuddist. The boy continued, "That´s my friend, He always made all the children happy & he loves me. He said that he´ll always be with me but I couldn´t find him. He´s Jesus, my friend from a long time ago." The boy was so excited to see Jesus, & kept going on about who Jesus was & how much he liked him. We were all surprised as there was no way he could really know about Jesus being that none of his famnily members had heard about Jesus till we came along.After this we explained to this woman who Jesus was & she prayed with me to ask Jesus into her heart. When we left she & her boy who had been so sad before were all smiles.

I´ve always believed that all children are from heaven & in the possibility that their spirits may have had a previous life there. Who knows? Could it be that this little boy might have remembered something?....
 
Posted by Vyx at 05:06:35 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday | August 31, 2005

Reaching out

I'm involved in volunteer work & have lived on 3 contenents, helping in various projects to help & reach out to others. I don't do this for mainly religous reasons, but because I have a personal conviction that I was put here to make a difference in some way. I am a Christian but have worked with people of all faiths & many different cultures. The one thing I've found where ever I've been that is the same the world over is a person's need for encouragement & love. No matter where people live they want to know they're cared for, especially children. That is one of the things I'm most devoted to, helping underprivalaged Children.

Here in Mexico I've been helping with a project with some of my friends where we feed 100 school children lunch every day.  For some of them this is the only nutricious meal of the day. We also provide their families with food once or twice a month. This isn't as much as we'd like it to be being that we are a non profit orginazation but we all pitch in what we can & have sponsers who help as well.

Below are some pictures of some of my work with the children over the last two months.

Two of the children & I

 

Estevan in a cheerfull mood, you'll never catch him without a smile

This one hadn't eaten the whole day. His mom ran ou tof food & money that day. We gave him something & you should have seen him scarf it down.

My favorite baby, all  bubbles & smiles.  see why I love what I do?

Assisting in a child birth in Thailand

If any of you readers out there are intrested in knowing more about what I do & how you can also be a help & reach out to others, feel free to post a comment or write me at my E-mail jolie_walker@yahoo.com
 
Posted by Vyx at 03:18:23 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday | August 24, 2005

To my Step parents

Yes, I have Step Parents, on both sides of my family & I'm proud of it. It's one of those special things in life that has made my family what it is today. And since today is the Birthday of one of my step parents I'd like to take the time not only to comemorate my Step Dad's Birthday but also to say a little something to those you who have been a part of my life.

     Dad, it was great knowing you & your passing was sad but I know that where you are now you have no more pain. Today is a day to celebrate your life. A life you lived to the full. When you first came into my life I didn't make it that easy for you & my little mind resented your taking my first dad's place or so it seemed. I was young & just didn't understand things at  that time. I still remember the first time I began to accept you. It was that day when mom had gone out & I was alone in my room trying to make my bed. At 4 Yrs. old I figured that I should be able to handel things pretty well on my own. I got so frusterated with it that I started to cry. You walked in & saw me crying offered to help me. You said that I could come to you when ever I needed help & should never be afraid to come to you when I needed something. We ended up having a great day just the two of us. We went to the beach & caught a couple fish. I know things weren't easy for you either. I started to realise that when I started babysitting. One little kid was more than enough for me to handel & it wasn't even my own, naturally it taught me alot. But here you had to learn how to be a husband & Father at the same time. I want you to know you did great at it & you were a great Father to all of us. It just amazed me to watch you the last time I saw you, how you managed everything. That was a family reunion to remember. I wish you a Happy Birthday & I love you.

    Roberta, I think you're a great person & even though I haven't gotten to live with you, I've grown to see you not only as a parent but as a friend. With you things were easyer, I was more grown up & was actually happy to know that my First dad had someone in his life. When I finally got to meet you I thanked God that he had given my dad someone as good as you. You really helped make him what he is today & I don't think he's be where he's at if it weren't for you & your love & faith in him. Warm hugs to you.

   And Andrew, I'm greatful that you've been there for my Mom & my brothers & sisters these last years. Your stediness & love has been tremendous. I know things haven't been that easy for you & having to care for a blended family can be stressful at times but still you never let it all get to you & you keep on loving all of us. Thank you so much for everything.

I've come to know that having a "Step parent" isn't something bad & dosn't have to ruin a family like in so many novels & story books. In so many of them there's this "wicked step parent" but it dosn't have to be that way. It's not like my life is some story book where all's well & ends well. But I can choose the out come too by the decisions I make. For me a step parent is another step in learning to love. And love is what we're all here to learn.

Posted by Vyx at 00:08:56 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Tuesday | August 23, 2005

Art

I enjoy  art even though I'm not what you'd call an artist. However, when I get on the computer, things & ideas just sort of come out of me. Here's a couple things I'd like to share with you.

Woman of the sunset

Welcome to the Light


Moon Light & Valentino

 Dream River


 

 

Posted by Vyx at 00:25:02 | Permanent Link | Comments (2) |

Monday | August 22, 2005

You could hear with your heart

Zion, I know that in this world there were times when you weren't understood completely for who you were, & there were times when things were rough for you. Being unable to communacate with others the way they communicated with eachother was difficult. But you know, you had a special way of communicating that not everyone posesses. And most of all you communicated love to those around you . You always had a way about you that could make others smile & laugh. Not in any way laughing at you, but with you. I always admired your patience with me, trying to teach me to sign & all. In a way you never were really deaf, you just couldn't hear with your ears, you always heard with your heart. When I was young your family became a part  of mine & you will never be forgotten. As sad as I am at your passing there is one thing that brings me comfort, it's knowing that you're happy in Heaven being able to hear all the things that you never could hear down here. Like the song of a bird or the crickets singing at night & all those special things that we down here, who can hear with our ears take for granted. I love you & count it a privilage to have been your friend.

Posted by Vyx at 23:42:22 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |