.the.christmas.post.

yes yes, everyone does one... so lets do this thing



Merry Christmas...

its another intresting Christmas for me this year...I havent had a traditional Christmas at home with my family in years...litterally.

hmmm,

Christmas. sure, I know the true meaning...but if were all bieng honest, I think the true meaning got just a litte twisted somewhere for all of us...


3 Christmas´ago i was here, in South America...wierd eh? I was in Ecuador...and all Christmas day consisted of was diaper changes and therapy....and umm...animal crackers?...but only if the orphans behaved.

this year im in the poorest, most corrupted country in all of South America, and a greater part of the world. .Bolivia. its unbeleivable here...the poverty is obscene...all these kids want for Christmas is a boliviano (about 15 cents) to turn around and give right to their parents. they walk around with ttheir hands out saying...give me a gift for navidad! - shaking a little gift wrapped box with a slit in it... bare feet, torn clothes and distracted eyes...they would really rather be playing with friends.

I was walking down the sidewalk after calling my family last night, and I watched all of the families settling down for the night in their blankets on the street, families huddled together in the small corners that werent bieng pounded by rain...and im not talking a few people...im talking one block, probably 20 mothers, dads and kids or babies...
sometimes I see a little street kid just standing there with his hands on his sides, watching with wide, SO sad eyes, as a family more fortunate all get ice cream, laughing and playing together.
family...whats that to these kids? from the moment they are born, they are basically employees...

Christmas isnt Christmas this year, I dont need it to be the stereotype that some people see, I want it to come and go, and have people continually trying to do good to others. this morning I was in a cab with a little empanada and a little boy came by asking for money, his mamma looking on while she nursed a baby...I had NO change...so I offered my empanada...he snapped it out of my hands and it was gone almost instantly. it broke my heart. forget Christmas.

just .be.good.to.eachother.

.Christmas is about Christ, I think thats what he would want as well.

I hate Christmas music. im not a fan of decoration, the whole season throws me for a bit of a loop...its been a few years since a traditional Christmas at home..maybe next year I need one of those, and these ugly bah humbugs will get out of my system. my familt usually tries to do something service oriented for Christmas, my parents DO get Christmas, im blessed to have a relationship with them where I know they love me across the world...in another country this Christmas. I know they trust my judgement, and im glad they know that I love them. im SO excited to see them in a week in Argentina...show them everything...explain how I have been feeling this last while, without pictures and written words. I.cant.wait. - but i wish I could show all of you. take you down the street with me and tell you to keep yoru eyes up, for fear of you crying at the sights on the streets.

I hope everyone has a good Christmas. enjoy your families and friends close to you. love your kids and make sure they know it...but make sure they know...that they are blessed. so blessed.



Hija and Rachel here...saying Merry Christmas...Feliz Navidad amigos...



its almost a new year






.R.and.H