Christmas Project

My family started a new tradition this year that I absolutely loved! Every year in my family we all get to open one present on Christmas Eve and it is always without fail...pajamas. I know several other families that do this tradition as well and I love it. BUT this year in place of Christmas Pajamas my parents at Thanksgiving time gave each of us kids and our families (but since I don't have a spouse just me) $50 and with it we were supposed to spend it on someone else for Christmas that we know was struggling. As soon as I got my money I knew exactly what I wanted to do....

When I was student teaching in the Fifth grade I really immediately was drawn to this little girl...her name is Lupe. I talked to Lupe a lot everyday and even though you aren't supposed to have favorites...she was definitely one of mine. She told me all about her family and talked to me a lot about anything and everything. This is a little of her story.

Lupe was born in Mexico and lived there until she was about 6 years old. When she was 4 her dad became really sick. He moved to America because he knew that he could get better care here. They could only afford to send him though, so Lupe her mom and all her younger brothers and sisters stayed in Mexico. Her Mom in Mexico, and Dad in America, worked as much as they could in their circumstances until they saved all they could to move the rest of Lupe's family to America. It was pretty much their whole lives savings. They got here when Lupe was 6 and she is now 10. She is the oldest in her family. When she first moved here NOBODY in her family spoke any English at all. She started in school and struggled for a long time because she didn't know any English and she couldn't get any support at home really because her parents don't know any English either. Lupe is one of the sweetest little girls you will ever meet. She has so much life in her and is such a hard worker. She is now the top of her class, speaks great English (even better than some of the kids that have lived in cedar all their lives) and is one of the top readers. She is an amazing little girl. She used to come up to me and say how worried she was how she would do on a test because nobody at home can help her study and she didn't fully understand something so I would work with her a lot one on one to try and help her. She always got top scores. Her parents still don't know hardly any English at all and she basically is the translator for her whole family. She has a lot of responsibility in her family but is such a good example to everyone. I know her family struggles financially a lot so I wanted to at least help her out to have a Christmas that she deserves. In the things I got her there were a few things she could share with her brothers and sisters but I think I would like to get something more for her whole family soon to help them ALL out a little more. It felt so good to be able to help out a little. ... Oh and thanks Bryan for being the knock and run guy. Here are a few pictures from what I got her. (we were supposed to document our experience and tell about it..that was part of the deal). A few of the things I got for Lupe for Christmas.

Me with the Christmas gifts all packaged up!

I hope you enjoyed!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!