A Week of Birthdays

Growing up, I always appreciated the fact that my birthday was in February. Christmas was over and January can be such a gloomy month in Kansas City, that having my birthday to look forward to (and during the school year when I was with my friends!) was such a treat. And, as my friends and family know, my mother made my birthday a national holiday, and even though I am now considered a senior citizen (just having celebrated the 37th anniversary of my 25th birthday!), I still turn into a 12-year-old when my birthday rolls around.

Well, February must be a great month for birthdays, because we celebrated five of them in a week during out last program.

Ana's twins Emilo and Fernando turned 12 on February 1; one of our participants, Diana Romell had a birthday on February 4; Marie's birthday is a national holiday in Mexico (February 5 is Constitution Day!), and my birthday was on February 8. We had a wealth of parties and cakes to celebrate the occasions.

Ana is merciless when it comes to the mordida hough...every time she does it to a participant, we say, "Ana, no tip!" But it doesn't stop her! For a more complete explanation about the mordida, see the blog Mayhem in Mexico: http://www.focusonlakechapala.com/2007/12/mayhem-in-mexico.html.

And, I have to say, I believe my celebration on the last day of the program at Casa Bullock was one of my Top Ten birthday celebrations. It had cascarones, a pinata, two cakes and lots of photographs. I couldn't stop laughing. And, again, if you don't know about cascarones, you're missing out on a treat. Here's a blog you might want to read--- Cascarones for Luck!: http://www.focusonlakechapala.com/2007/09/cascarones-for-luck.html

I hope you enjoy this photo journal of all the birthday fun in February, and for those who are also celebrating a birthday this month, Feliz Cumpleanos!!

Click here for more pictures of the Week of Birthdays

Click here to see the other memories and pictures of the Feb 2 thru 9 2008 Program group..

Ana's Angel

Call it what you will...a fairy godmother (godfather?), the good fairy, or the Law of Attraction, our delightful program director, Ana Kabande, has certainly got it going on!! Her sons, Emilio and Fernando, started going to the Loyola School in San Antonio in 2007 and have been enjoying it very much (and learning so much more!), but Ana was struggling as a single parent to come up with the monthly enrollment. She prayed to God, and for extra good measure she used her Focus Creation Box and put in it some of her hopes and wishes for her children.

Lo and behold, when she went to the school recently to pay the subscription for the next month, some very kind person, who wishes to remain anonymous (fairy godmother!), has not only paid for the entire 2008 schooling for both boys, but had also thrown in the enrollment for the 2009 school year too! She is overwhelmed with gratitude at the kindness of someone she cannot thank. "I want to say God Bless You to my friend. You make us very happy and you make my life much easier," she says. Ana also added that she is so grateful now that her sons will receive the good education they need to succeed.

The whole Focus team wishes to add their thanks to this most generous benefactor. I got tears in my eyes when I heard it. It was so overwhelming to think that someone has given the gift of education to two wonderful young men (who, I might add, turned 12 today, February 1!).

You are a kind and giving soul!