I Give Thanks!

I am going to play catch-up from my blog-reading and blog-writing as well.  The weekend was a lot of fun.  The retreat went really well; it was a short half day retreat to help the candidates who are receiving Holy Communion and Confirmation.  We talked about the Rite of Acceptance and how the church as a community accepts them all and welcomes them.  

My hubby and I ended up spending the afternoon and night with our future 19 year old god-son.  He is a young adult, but a big kid at heart.  We were invited to a birthday party at our future compadres' house.  The weather felt great with 70 degrees in the air and slowly dropping.  I was able to sport my new grey Mudd boots, too.  The party was outdoors, and the cool air felt so nice! Just cool enough to wear a light sweater, but warm enough not to shiver.  


The best part of the birthday party was the family getting together.  There are eleven kids in all in the family so that created a big crowd, but then tias showed up with their kids as well, so it was packed!  We had a blast.  I truly admire big families and the love among them.  That's my goal - to have a big family, so they are inspiration to see how well they get along and well they fight in a playful way ;).  


We ate some pork dish that reminded me of posole only it was covered in a dark red gravy and filled with a rich flavor.   Rice and beans accompanied the main dish.  On every picnic table, the ladies placed warm corn tortillas wrapped in aluminum foil.  Everyone was so giving and welcoming; I truly experienced that with the Rodriguez family. 

The mom made a tall Spiderman pinata that was nearly as tall as the birthday boy, let me mention, the birthday boy just turned 26! He wanted his party though and he had it, con comida, pinata, y el pastel tambien!  We listened to loud Mexican music like Los Tigres; they played a version of Las Mañanitas with a little bit of banda!  


Here's the funny part about the pinata, ya sabes que era tan grande!  So the kids DID NOT hit it; the adults did.  At first, my husband and I were suprised, but then the laughing started among everyone.  Two of the guys jumped on the roof so the rope was swung between two houses, and the Spiderman twirled around, up and down, side to side!  The adults had a hard time hitting it.  I even had a chance to hit it, because la mama insisted.  My hubby hit it hard about three times as well, and we were all waiting for it to bust.  It took a long time though; I began to wonder - what's in that pinata? bricks?  


By the time, we got our candy, they were broken in half from all the hitting, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.  The final part of the evening were sweet chocolate cupcakes that resembled rats!!  The best part was what la mama told me.  I said, "hay que lindos, los pastelitos, para los ninos."  She responded, "No, para la familia, y somos familia."  I beamed with thanks for her words.  I wanted to hug her right at that moment and say "thank you for accepting me, just the way I am."  

The irony of our weekend was that here we are, accepting our future god-son into the Catholic Church as a rite of passage, but my hubby and I both felt accepted into his family with their giving hearts.