Patience running dry

I was asked by one of my students..."Miss Zermeño, you need to have more patience with us." Now that was a wake up call for me coming from a 8 year old. I'm embarrassed to say, one of my students told me I needed to have a little more patience. For a second there, I thought I was the student. The child that need to be correct on account of bad behavior. Wow! It is sad to hear it come from one of my students. I do admit it. I wasn't having a good day...perhaps it was because I didn't have coffee that morning...or was it because I was really craving Starbucks but having Starbucks drains a teacher's wallet. Whatever the case was, it's just really an excuse. There shouldn't be any in my profession. That is what I do teach these little children the core subject- get them excited about Science, help them learn the English language and pride them of our own. Teach them how to write in cursive...and inspire them with mathematics problems...and express the importance of being good citizens. Aha...they taught me a lesson. What...lead by example!
So my patience is running dry! I guess I have to refuel. What you ask? Rest, deep breaths...and a cup of coffee!

La Parroquia

La Parroquia de la Asuncion is the largest church in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco! The church I believe I read was finished in 1798.










Another picture!




The main entrance to the church.





El jardin in front of La Parroquia de la Asuncion.



No, this is not near a beach...sorry. Rather, the trees in the plaza or jardin in front of the main church in Lagos de Moreno. It was really cold outside but the trees were as green as could be.

Mi Familia

This is my grandmother with her daughters. The lady in the middle is not my grandmother! She is my aunt, my father's older sister. It just so happens that she has more gray or should I say canas than my grandmother.



These are my cousins Toño, Lupillo, and Vale. Lupillo is really a distant cousin but also carries the last name Zermeño. Funny huh! (Lupita and Lupillo) I guess you could say he was named after me! Haha!



My aunt Antonia and cousin Luz.

Mis Primos!

Silvia, Eduvijes, Lorena, and me.


Tia Marcela, Rolando, and me.


This is my brother Rolando. You guys didn't know I had a brother did you? Well, it is a long story! Actually Rolando is my cousin but I love him as if he was a big brother! He is only eight days older than me!(I know, he looks old, huh?) Rolando was in Mexico visiting as well for the holidays. He and his wife live in South Sioux City, Nebraska.

My cousins: Cecilia, Beatriz, Rolando, Silvia, Juan Valentin, and Luz

Acostamientos

This is a tradition called Acostamiento del Niño Dios. We begin by praying a rosary with singing and additional scripture readings. As show here in the picture, the children present their baby Jesus to everyone present. In this case there are five Niños Dios. Each couple sways/rocks them every one joins in prayer and singing before laying them down in the Nativity Scene. The acostamiento usually occurs after the Posadas. The Posadas are the celebrations the nine days before the 24th of December (Noche Buena). The Acostamientos usually during December 24-30. This is the true meaning of Christmas...the celebration and rejoicing the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Grandmother

This is my grandmother Beatriz Cruz viuda de Zermeño! Yes my dad's mother. She lives in Cañada de Mena (ranch) near Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco. She celebrated 84 years of life in July 2006. She is such a wonderful person with a huge heart and a tremendous memory. Incredible story teller! She can tell you something that happened 70 years ago and tell as if it happen yesterday! Why is it that I forget what I did last year?

Mi Abuelita has to be one of the strongest people I know. She has encountered many obstacles in her life and still manges to remain strong and positive. She finds God's grace in every situation. It is so beautiful to hear my grandmother speak about life...about things she has experienced and the people she has met and our course my grandfather who past away 7 years ago. The past three Christmas' I've spent it in Mexico...SHE is the reason why!

Christmas in Mexico

This is Leti! She should have kept her eye on the road instead of looking at the camera! We were driving in Mexico! Actually, the interstates were pretty good for the most part.



This was the third consecutive Christmas I have spent away from home. I went to Mexico to visit my paternal grandmother. I hitchhiked my way there...kidding! The Camarillo's were kind enough to let me join them on that 16 hour trip to San Felipe, Guanajuato. Mr. & Mrs. Cam drove their truck as we followed close behind in Leti's car. From San Felipe, my cousin picked me up and we went to Cañada de Mena where my grandmother lives.