It's Christmas at "Take My Hand Daycare"

Touching Lives - Part 2

This past Saturday, Debbie and Dean came down to spend the day with the children.  They try to do this once every month year around.  On this particular Saturday, they had the kids building houses of Lincoln logs and decorating Christmas cookies - what can be better than that!

I know this was a first for most of the children and they surely put their whole heart and soul into it.

Encouragement from an adult is always a good thing.

Suggestions from a friend are Ok too.

The results were beautiful!

But the process was the best!

Tuesday, December 22nd was the Annual Christmas Party at the house.  Children who used to come to the house are invited along with other young friends.

Brother and Sister

A young man who is growing like a weed.

These two have become fast friends.

The pose says it all, "Okay, bring on the party, I'm ready!"

Nicole has friends for made friends for life while staying at the house.

To add to the day, there was a state inspection of the facility.  These two wonderful ladies are helping us to meet regulations and interpret the rules.  P.S.  We did good!

A donated bike went to this very deserving young lady.

Peggy and Dick came down to enjoy the day.

A boo boo yesterday didn't keep this young lady from enjoying the bike today.  She took home a bike, also. 

Ready and waiting...

Conversation with dinner between Mike and a young visitor who is an important part of the family.

Nicole also engaged the young in dinner conversation

Chicken nuggets, Peggy's great jello stuff, chips of choice and cheese sauce... most were very happy with this Christmas Dinner.

It is important to dress up for a party - these two had special coats.

This gal has become a beautiful young lady right before our eyes.

These two are still way interested in frosting - cake is ok, but frosting is fabulous!

I'm missed this face.  He no longer comes to the house but you could tell he felt right at home.

When the elf made an appearance, they knew it was time for presents - yeah!

These children are being taught such good manners; they applaud when others get a gift even if they haven't gotten one yet.

They wait until all have a present to open theirs.

Looks like this elf has something up her sleeve...

They seem to enjoy the anticipation.

And then it looks like Christmas with children everywhere - in two seconds the wrappings are off.

All too quickly, some had to head home.

Others checked to be sure they had seen everything.

Love this picture of Delia... it is as if she is saying, "Gracias for a good day, Dios'"

And then it was time for the annual Christmas photo.  Lots of people, lots of smiles, a few clowns... just like families everywhere.

  
As we adults did what we adults do, a child grabbed my camera and got these pictures.

Thanks to all of you who donated everything that went into this Christmas celebration, from the food to the gifts.  May your Christmas be as merry and as bright as the one at "Take My Hand"

In the new year, please make a special effort to listen when God whispers and to respond when He nudges.

Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year

Touching Lives

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you who have donated time, money, clothes, books, fabric for quilts and book bags, rice and beans, hats, pencils, pens, toys, bikes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, hair combs and brushes, notebooks, beads, and anything else I may have forgotten.  In the last week, with your contributions, you have touched the lives of over 500 people.  Think about that number for a minute.  That is more men, women, and children than live in Winterhaven, California where Pilot Knob is located.  That is just about the number of people who live in Kasota, Minnesota.  That is a lot of people. 

On December 8th, Mike and I spent the morning putting out all the donated items and in the afternoon, a group gathered in the Clubhouse to fill the bags for children.  Thank you to the all the people who sewed the bags this year.

There was a long line of donated goodies to fill the bags.

Anyone want to start now and crochet washcloths?  We had three left over.

You may not think of hats, mittens and scarves when you think of Mexico but they are being put to use this year.  The last month has seen lows in the upper thirties - very cold weather with no heat in your home.

Lots of people from the park came to help - Thanks to all of you!

This is only a portion of the 250 bags that were then stored and taken in to Mexico in small batches.  If you bring in too many items of value at one time, they charge a fee.  We were lucky and only charged $20 one time.

After everything was safely stored at the house in Mexico, the clothes needed to be sorted.  Kim and her family came to the rescue and spent the better part of a day working on this massive project.  Sorting is important since there are four stops and you want to have some men's, women's, and children's clothing at each stop. 

A big blue tarp was laid out and the work began.

Everyone was hungry and wieners and chips filled the bill.

While the sorting, packaging and labeling continued, some took naps - that is Kim's son Jack on the sofa.

It was a cold day and covers felt good for everybody.

At last the task was completed and the bags were ready to be loaded in the vans the next day.

It was a tiring day.

The next day was the Annual Outreach.  It started out in the low 40's when we were loading the trucks and vans.  When we arrived at the first neighborhood and saw the smiles, it was all worthwhile.  Louise donned her Santa hat as she handed out warm quilts to the ladies.

Donna and Jerry and Carol and Ralph are all Minnesota people who live in the Mesa, AZ area in the winter.  They came over for a couple to days to help us out.

Sharon from Nebraska and Mary from Minnesota enjoy the smile of "Old Maria" from Algodones.

The hats were quickly put on!

Lines formed quickly for bags and toys.

We reconnected with Michelle; she thinks she is too old to come to the house...

Joe and Debbie handed out stuffed animals to all who wanted them.

When hands get full, it is time to reorganize.

All those clothes were closely scrutinized before selections were made; only what fit or could be used by family members was taken.  This always amazes me as used clothing can be sold for good money in Mexico.

Lupita was along to keep order.

Pastor Jesus joined us this year and gave a short message and blessing at each stop.  Our hope is that his church and others from Yuma will work together to do the Outreach next year.  Pastor already does weekly and monthly visits to many neighborhoods to bring good news and necessary food.

Loving hands reaching out and touching lives - that is what the day was about.

This young man got one of the few soccer balls collected this year.

This little girl who is handicapped physically was the lucky recipient of this toy lovingly donated by Carla's kids in Fargo, North Dakota.

These two old men warmly greet each other although neither speak the other's language.  That is Domingo, the brick man, with Jack.

This big boat went to a deserving young fellow and he wouldn't let anyone else touch it.

Dick took lots of photos while Peggy handed out bags of candy.

Not sure how this little one got two bats and balls but he sure loved hauling them around and having his photo taken.

Our third stop was new to us; it is a location visited by the Pastor on a regular basis.  That is cotton growing off in the distance.

This lovely lady hitchhikes over 15 miles into town and sells asparagus and other crops on the street corner. I met her when I bought asparagus last year for pickling.  She calls asparagus "Mexican Viagra".

There were many people in this small farm community.

That is a house and barn combined.  Lady was proud that she had just finished her washing.

Goats watched our every move.

Terry and Marge in the background seem to be on the lookout for more toy "customers" while Ralph and Mary are checking to see how many quilts are left for the last stop.

We left "the ranch" with a very happy little boy and an empty blue tarp.  I encountered a worn out looking older man by the clothes and asked, using sign language, if he needed something and he pointed to his jeans.  I went looking, found two pairs of 38/20, took them over to him and when he saw the size, I saw the smile - exactly right for this man.  It is those times that I am most blessed - what joy it is to be the conduit. 

Looks like the crew is about ready to head back down the country road and back into a town for our last stop which will be our biggest stop.

All of these trucks and cars held the volunteers and all the donated goodies that bring smiles.

We pass fields where crops are being harvested.

And then we are surrounded.  This is a location we have done before, but Pastor takes us to a much smaller area and the crowds seem to multiple. 

As the last of the quilts, and bags and toys and candy are dispensed, I am fortunate to be able to see the smiles, the results of many volunteers and many people who donate touching lives.

And then, all that is left is the annual photo of all of the volunteers.  A big thanks to all of them and to you for making his day possible.  And thanks to Kim, who took the photo, so I could be a part of it.