Wedding Plans Part 2

Well, things are coming along. I went home to Fresno in December and purchased my wedding gown and a few other things. Well, I didn't purchase it, but it was purchased. The pictures that I have posted are not of the gown that I chose. It was a lot of fun trying on the different dresses and having family and friends there with me. Toward the end, though, it did get tiring. I was definately ready to go before I got to the last dress that I was to try on. Which, by the way, is the one that I chose. We spent four hours there at David's Bridal.


















I was also able to find a couple to be the MC's of the reception and a friend to make my veil. The MC's have also offered to purchase the flowers for decorations.

Well my desire was to marry in the States so that I could change my last name, but I have just discovered that it will cost $455.00 to apply for a fiance visa which is what David would need to cross the border into the U.S. So I think that's out. I heard that I would have to jump through more hoops for me to get married here than for David to get married in the States. I will soon find out what those hoops are.

Wedding Plans part 1

Just a quick update on how our wedding plans are coming. We have decided on a place, I think. We will know for sure in about two weeks. The time of the ceremony has been a topic of more discussion than I care for. I think I'm going to lose that battle, but I guess it's not that big of a deal. I have created an invitation style that I really like. I've decided to make them myself. It will be a lot of work, but I'm sure it will be fun and I have plenty of time. We still have not found all of our wedding party. Some people, like my brother, are not so easy to get a hold of. Then there are the others. Not from LOST, but those who are not part of the wedding party, but are truly essential to making May 3, a special day. I'm always thinking of something else that I need someone to do. Picking bridesmaids dresses is not a task that I am enjoying. Finding a style is hard enough, but then to find it in my color adds to the difficulty. I can find what I think is the color, but is it really? It's hard to tell over the internet. I did register with JC Penney and Williams - Sonoma. Williams - Sonoma was fun because it's kitchen stuff and I like to cook and love to bake. I had registered on a honeymoon site, but decided not to go with it.
So speaking of the honeymoon...I have been looking into some places. I found one that I was pretty excited about, but found out today that it is no longer available and I didn't like the alternative that was offered. I'm waiting to hear back about another place. Well that's all for now. I have literally spent all day on my laptop and I need to call it a day.
God bless,
Kimyco

Day of the Dead

So yesterday was Day of the Dead. This is a major holiday here in Mexico. Some Mexicans feel that death is a special occasion because the soul is passing into another life. Plans for the celebration are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. On November 1 and 2, families usually clean and decorate the graves. Most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas, or offerings, which often include orange marigold flowers. In modern Mexico this name is often replaced with the term "Flor de Muerto", Spanish for "Flower of the Dead". These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings.

Toys are brought for dead children , and bottles of tequila or atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave. In some parts of Mexico people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. These offerings are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto (bread of the dead) or sugar skulls and beverages. The offerings are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased. Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the offering food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivity, they believe it lacks nutritional value. I have visited an altar that was built in a home in El Zorrillo. They even had a basin of water and a towel for the deceased to freshen up before partaking of the food that was put out for them. Pillows and blankets are also left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey.

I mentioned that I have visited an altar that was built at a home, well, some families build altars or small shrines in their homes. These altars usually have the Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Virgen Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, and scores of candles. Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar praying and telling stories about the deceased. In some regions, celebrants wear shells on their clothing so when they dance the dead will wake up because of the noise. Some will dress up as the deceased.

Public schools also build altars with offerings, usually leaving out the religious symbols.

Government offices usually have at least a small altar, as this holiday is seen as important to the Mexican heritage.

Interesting.

Pig Out

This month I was able to fly to Sacramento CA and participate in a missions conference at Valley Springs church in Roseville. It was a three day event that started on Friday night. There were several missionary speakers. Some from Africa, one preparing to pastor in Tijuana, Mexico, and others. There was another room set up with tables where we set up our displays and greeted people as they passed by. We were able to give them pamphlets, business cards, prayer cards, verbal information, and some showed videos. On Sunday, the last day, they brought in a whole roasted pig. The body of the pig was cut into little chunks and we were provided with toothpicks to sample the swine's carcass. It was quite yummy!

I had the privilege of staying with former Ensenada Outreach Center missionaries, Barney and Sally Jones, whom I had not seen since the summer of 2005. It was great to get to spend time with them. On Saturday night I was kidnapped by two former interns Kayleigh and Brittney, both from the Sacramento area. It was fun seeing them and hanging out.

My flight there and back was open seating. When I boarded to come back home there was an open seat about four rows from the front that had two women in both the window and aisle seats. I was going to go further back, but thought better of it. So once I was seated I whipped out my "Brides" magazine and started flipping through the pages. The lady in the window seat took out a small pad and a pen and started to write something. She wrote a question asking me if I was getting married. So that started a conversation between us. It turns out that she and her husband are missionaries for Silent Word Ministries. She is my age and her name is Kim. Oh! That reminds me. I met a girl at Valley Springs named Kimiko. Cool, eh? Anyway, I really enjoyed chatting with Kim on the plane. I felt a connection between us and kind of hated that the flight had to end. We exchanged information and have been in contact since our returning home. She's from Nashville, TN. Hi Kim.