Home Sweet Ecuador

One of my favorite movies growing up was the Wizard of Oz. I remember watching it on VHS when I'd spend summer days at my grandparents. That and Milo and Otis, along with Rainbow Brite. Oh, I loved me some Rainbow Brite (see the shining light, yes I'm gonna take ya to Rainbow Brite) Sorry. Anyway, back to the Wizard of Oz, we all know the magic ruby red slippers, three taps and say "There's no place like home." And ta-da, she's back in Kansas again. Well, there have been many times in the last 2 and a half months where I've wanted to tap my heels together and go somewhere else. Where you ask? Ecuador.

Now, most of you know that our friends, Glenn and Marilyn, are doing mission work in Ecuador. They've been living a town in northern Ecuador called Otavalo since February. Marilyn is teaching English in two of the villages near by and Glenn keeps her in line. :] In July we went on a mission trip to Ecuador, though I haven't blogged about our trip there and our experiences (that's what this blog is about) I've been thinking about it a lot. I'm flat out jealous of Glenn and Marilyn because they are in Ecuador. Ok, ok, let me take you back 2 years. This time two years ago, Daddy and I were getting ready to make our first trip to Ecuador. I didn't know what to expect seeing as I had never been out of the country before (I don't really count the 3 hours spent in Pregresso, Mexico an "out of country" experience). We packed our bags, lightly, since we knew we going to have to bring back a lot of gifts. It was an exciting time. When we arrived in Quito (the capital) it was around midnight and we weren't sure about anything. It was dark and the only thing we saw from the plane looked like the bottom of a well with shiny pennies in it. (It was gorgeous, don't get me wrong). Once we got through customs, there was a man standing there greeting us, he introduced himself as Victor. I didn't know who he was but he shuffled us through the airport and to a bus. We put our things in the storage space and climbed in. We then met Blanca, she was the Executive Director of FEDICE, the non-profit we were working with. We drove the 2 hours to Otavalo (only about 60 miles or so away) and arrived at our hotel. The rest of the week was filled with shopping and painting and smiling and loving. I became attached to a little girl named Nellie, she was about 4 or so but she looked like she was 2. She followed me around the daycare center everywhere I went. On the last day in Caluqui, the village had a dedication service for the daycare, there were lots of villagers there and I felt comforted in the fact that I had helped this small village that I may never even see again. I said good bye to Nellie and wondered if I would ever see her again. I cried. To see how these people lived and the smile on their faces because I helped build a place for their small children to go was one of the best feelings I had ever had and I was happy. Genuinely happy. And I was in love.

Near the end of 2009, the adults had a meeting and exchanged some emails on where to go this year. I voted Ecuador first. I couldn't wait to get back there. Well of course, Ecuador won. So on June 30th we were to set off again on an 8 day Ecuadorean trip. This time I made Mom go. She didn't have a choice. So the three of us anticipated this trip for months. However, right before we left, I got caught up in some issues (See Getting a Divorce). It was the perfect time (and worst) to get out of the country, to run away from these issues and my life in the States. I needed a break. We got to the airport early, where Mom and I decided to have Maudie's (YUM) and a margarita before our plane ride to Houston (the alcohol came in handy when we missed our connecting flight in Houston). After flying from Austin to Houston to Caracus, Venzuela to Bogata, Columbia and FINALLY into Quito, I felt like a little piece of me was home. I remember going out into the main part of the airport and seeing Blanca there waiting. I was happy again. That week was one of the best weeks of my life. I almost didn't come back. We worked in another village near Otavalo and the people there were all the same. They didn't know us but they loved us. We visited Caluqui one afternoon as we pulled up there she was, my sweet Nellie I hadn't gone a day without thinking about. Just like it was two years ago, she followed me around the daycare center. She showed me her little brother. When it was time to go, she walked up the hill with me, I asked where her house was and she pointed towards our bus. Once we got to the top of the hill, I asked again. She once again pointed to the bus, I told her that I was going on the bus. After a long hug, she walked around to the other side of the bus and started up the hill. How I wanted to stay longer. She would walk a little ways and then turn around, I waved and she waved back. She did this two more times before our bus left the village, the last time I blew a kiss and waved. I was started to cry again. I think about her everyday. How amazing it was to be in Ecuador again. I couldn't get enough of it. I banned myself from the internet that week (good idea, I didn't want my US life interferring). I didn't need the internet that week anyway, I was focused on helping the people of Cachimuel. But I was there, home again in Ecuador.

Since then, I've come close to selling everything I have and moving down there. I might have to wait until January though considering most of my things are in storage. Anyway, I look forward to the day I will return to the beloved country of Ecuador. For then, I will be truly happy.

Anyone have a pair of size 9.5 ruby red slippers?

Nellie and I. July 2010.

Modern Day Jesus

My blog is called Confessions of a Fat Kid, it seems like I should be talking about "losing weight" or "stuffing my face with every sweet thing I see in sight when I'm upset" or my "secret food obsessions". Take it or leave it, I've only had this blog for 2 and a half months so those things haven't really made it in here yet. I've always been a fat kid (it's cool, I'm ok with it). Since I was a kid, I was always bigger and taller than the other girls in my class and most of the boys. And anyone that didn't like me or that got into an argument with me would pull out the fat card. Real cool guys and real original. It's so easy to make fun of someones outward appearance when you're mad at them. Truth is...it doesn't/didn't hurt me. I've heard it since I was 6. My mom raised me to love myself the way I am. The way God created me. If God wanted me to be a size 2 then he would have made me a size 2 (sorry AJ). Sure you can argue with me that it's ME that controls my body, which you would be right partly. But this is how God wanted me to be. I never really struggled with people not accepting me because I was "fat", thanks to my AMAZING personality. (Watch the movie Fat Like Me, staring Kaley Cuoco). I was somewhat popular in school I guess, I know you're thinking a popular fat kid how can this be? I had a lot of friends in a lot of different "cliques" (if you will), I didn't care if they were band nerds (because I was, hahaha), athletes, goth or just a nerd in general, I liked everyone. That's how I was raised, to accept everyone as they are. It was ok with me if someone didn't want to be my friend because I was a fat kid, it was their loss. I'm pretty amazing, if you ask me (and almost everyone else). But like I said, I never not liked someone for their outward appearance.

Today at church our fine preacher, Tim Tutt, told a story about a woman he knew who grew up in Georgia (he told the story better than I'm about to). She died recently at 91. I hope I live to be that old, however I wish it would have been born at the beginning of the 20th century. Yes, I am envious of people like Dorothy Cook (the friend Tim spoke about), PE and Dotty Casey and everyone else born before 1920. He said that Dorothy worked at the pharmacy the town she lived in and she would address envelopes to the townspeople to remind them of their tab there (tab; like a bar tab, I assume). She would address the envelopes "Mrs." or "Mr. So and So". One day while she was addressing the envelopes, the owner of the pharmacy noticed she was addressing all the envelopes "Mrs." or "Mr. So and So"; he said that she was not supposed to address the black townspeople with titles, they were just "S0 and so". Well Dorothy Cook, waited for a minute and then basically told the owner that she was going to address everyone "Mrs." or "Mr. So and So" whether he liked it or not. Dorothy Cook didn't care whether someone was black or white. There's someone else we know who didn't care either. Jesus.

Jesus was a man who let anyone be his friend, he let everyone come to him. Children. Lepers. Even sinners. Now, as Tim talked about Dorothy cook he also mentioned the preacher in Florida who was planning a Quran burning. While listening Tim's sermon this morning I thought WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE THESE DAYS?! I mean, seriously. Between banning gay marriages, making fun of fat people and Quran burnings, people are ridiculous. This preacher in Florida is ridiculous, yes there are "bad" Muslims in this world, but not all Muslims are bad. I mean...really, I'm just flabbergasted at the fact that a Christian preacher would say this, let alone schedule for a burning of another religions holy book. It's people like him that make Americans and Christians "look bad". Just like I said about Muslims, not all Christians are bad. This preacher has obviously lost his mind, who does he think he is? Who do a lot of people think they are? There are things that Bible says we should and shouldn't do. Like we should love our neighbor as ourself or that we should not eat pork (hmmm, I definitely had a sausage biscit this morning AND sausage for dinner :/). Love your neighbor as yourself. Huh. Why is this so hard for people to understand let alone for them to do? This goes back to what I said about people making fun of me for being a fat kid, that's not love. Banning gay marriage, that's not love. Burning another religions holy book, that's DEFINITELY not love.

So, where is the love here people?

Here's How I See It

As we all know, I LOVE football. And since football season has officially started, thank God! I've decided to blog a bit about some hot topics.

1. Reggie Bush
Oh, I love me some Reggie Bush. He is a great player and great to look at. Unfortunately, my good looking football love has come into some trouble surrounding his senior season at USC. This makes me very sad. It's been all over the sports news for the past two weeks, that he was ineligible his last year at USC because he was "accused of accepting money and other benefits". Mind you this was in 2005, we are now in the year 2010. So 5 YEARS AGO, Reggie Bush supposedly did this. Hmm. That's interesting that it took the NCAA 5 years to figure this one out, I mean we're not living in the 1980's here people, word travels faster than that. According to "The Experts" that aired on Tuesday, one of the men said not to punish Bush, but to punish the NCAA for taking 5 years to figure this out. Look, if he did what they said yes, it was wrong and against the rules but hey, Bush kicked ass that year. Some say that if the Heisman is to be stripped from Bush, they would award it to Vince Young. I mean he did come in a very very distant second, but would you seriously accept an award by default? Especially, surrounding these circumstances? All in all, we know that Reggie did deserve the Heisman whether he was eligible or not. Shame on you NCAA for not keep a closer eye on your athletes.

2. Brett Favre
Will you PLEASE retire already? Now, don't get me wrong. He was a great player, in his prime and yes, they ALMOST made it to the Super Bowl last year. And he did come back to win this year. HA. Really, do you REALLY think you're going to win the Super Bowl this year? None the less even MAKE it there? If tonight's game against the Saints is any indication of how the rest of the season goes you can kiss your Super Bowl dreams good bye. I mean you already won a Super Bowl once and then went back the following year and almost won. Is that not enough for you big guy? I saw the pictures after the NFC Championship game last year, ouch. Are you going to let that happen again this year? I mean, 10 mil a year to stay retired was a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. Anyway, good luck with your Super Bowl hunt, it'll be going on for a long time.

3. Boise State/TCU
I gave a speech last night on why college football should have a play-off system. Two good reasons, Boise State and TCU. Now the reason you've seen these guys in BCS bowls is because they were ranked in the top 12 and their conferences are non-AQ conferences. What is a non-AQ conference you ask? These are conferences that DO NOT automatically qualify for a BCS bowl. Now, the automatic qualifying conferences are: the ACC, SEC, PAC-10, Big Ten, Big Twelve and Big East. BSU and TCU are not in these conferences, so they do not automatically qualify. What makes an automatically qualifying conference, but of course, strength of schedule. We all know the conferences listed above are pretty tough, between SC, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama and those damn t-sippers that's some pretty stacked competition. However, just because the BSU and TCU don't have strong conferences and go undefeated doesn't mean they shouldn't get the chance to play for a national title. Look, if I was Hawaii or LA Tech (sorry meg) I'd want to be playing my best game against these teams. I mean, hello, just last Saturday Texas traveled to Houston to play Rice and (barely) beat them 34-17. Hm...who wanted to win that game more? Just because the teams in their conferences are unranked doesn't mean they should go into the game as an "easy win", ask Ole Miss or Kansas. Ok, the NCAA Men's basketball tournament (yes, I know they want to add more teams, that's completely pointless friends), they place the highest seeded team against the lowest seeded team and then go from there. How many have you seen those high seeded teams lose a heart breaker? Yeah, every March right? I mean I've seen some heartbreaking bowl games too (USC vs TX, Boise vs OK). But I mean what's wrong with a play-off here people? It would show who TRULY deserves to be National Champion. If you're ranked number one all season then I want to see you prove to ANY team whether they're ranked 3 or 64.

4. AJ Green
Ok, so he sold a used jersey for some money and got suspended for 4 games. Ouch, Georgia that's going to hurt. But! He's a college kid and they'll do ANYTHING for money. I mean, look can't he give the NCAA half of what he made and call it even? I know, I know I was just talking about them taking five years to figure out Reggie Bush's situation but come on, lighten up here people. It's not like he sold the jersey and bought drugs with it. I don't really think a 4 games suspension is necessary. Just give him a little slap on the wrist and have him return the money.

November, where are you?

I was born November 15th, 1987. Yes, I am comfortable disclosing my age to you because I’m not old and/or 30. As I grew up, I learned the best people were born in November and/or the Scorpio “time frame”. I also learned two very important things: go to church on Sundays (but leave as soon as possible if the Cowboys had a noon kick-off) and watch Fightin’ Texas Aggie football on Saturdays. Well I can proudly say I’ve been doing both for the past almost 23 years of my life. Yes, Mom you can be proud of me for actually doing something consistently for that long (I know I didn’t really have a choice for the first 15 years of my life). Everyone knows that November is the best month for football, mostly because it’s Thanksgiving. If your family isn’t watching football on Thanksgiving y’all ain’t Southern and y’all sure ain’t American! Thanksgivings were always at my grandparent’s house when I was growing up, we’d watch the Cowboys in the afternoon and the Aggies at night, that’s a true Texas Thanksgiving y’all.
Now here’s the “twist”, I was born and raised in Austin, Texas. I’ve lived here my entire life, except for those three …interesting semesters at THE University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. Well if you’re from anywhere you know that the University of Texas is housed in Austin. Ugh, the horrid sea of burnt orange during the fall makes me want to toss my lunch. I mean this isn’t a bashing of Texas here, but come on people. Burnt orange really? I mean everyone knows nothing good comes after the word “burnt”. Burnt eggs, burnt toast, burnt coffee and especially burnt orange. Let’s just say that color is definitely NOT in my color wheel. But you’re probably asking yourself how is this girl buried in the world’s ugliest color an Aggie? This is where I’d like to take time to thank my Uncle Curtis for attending AND graduating from Texas A&M University. Without you, well it doesn’t matter I’d never be a Texas fan anyway. People ask me why I’m still living in Austin if I don’t like Texas, I respond with my uncle went to A&M. Their response, “Ok, so?” ok, so I’m an Aggie. That’s how I was raised. I mean some people don’t have a choice in being a Longhorn, that’s the only football team in Austin. We’ve never had an NFL team here, another thanks to Texas. Heaven forbid someone comes along and take the attention away from y’all. Well my choice (or raising, thanks to Curtis) is to be an Aggie, live in Austin, take the trash talking and continue to support the Maroon and White.
My daddy made me a shirt my first couple of Thanksgivings that said “ATMy house for Thanksgiving dinner we have Bevo burgers.” It was soon passed down to my little brother who wore it for a while, and then was retired to one of the 274 boxes we have in storage. However, a new generation has been born into the family and the Bevo burger shirt is going to make a come back this year. My Aunt Kim is definitely going to appreciate it considering everyone on her side of the family is a Longhorn. Thanksgiving is going to be interesting. Makenzi is going to about 8 months old so we can stretch the shirt out for a couple of years, don’t worry Kim it will be better next year when I make her matching overalls.
Some of my favorite childhood memories consisted of going camping in the fall. We’d get our 7 inch TV out with the bunny ears and try to find the Aggie game wherever we might be camping. If that didn’t work we’d just listen to it on the radio. Yes, kids, the radio. Sometimes we’d even watch the game on mute and listen to the live broadcast on the radio. That was only when Brent Musberger was announcing, ugh! those were the worst! Especially if he was announcing the A&M/Texas game, we’d ALWAYS listen to the radio then. We all know you’re a secret Texas fan, Brent, you’re not fooling me, that’s for sure. And it was a shock to see you announcing the Alabama/Texas game last season. Wow, didn’t see that one coming.
In most ways, being a November baby is pretty rockin’ if you ask me. The only bad thing about Novembers, you have to wait 11 months for another one to come around!