Estrella's House

Estrella Rojas was only two years old when her life was ended by her mother's boyfriend. (View her story at http://cachidalgo.org/estrellas-house/  ) Formed out of The Children's Advocacy Center of Hidalgo County, one of a larger network of centers committed to protecting children from abuse and neglect, Estrellas's House was established in her memory.  Estrella's House is a safe haven with a child-friendly, non-institutional environment providing a place where young victims can tell their story without fear of repercussion.  Ralph and I recently visited Estrella's House to deliver a small cash donation on behalf of our Telecom Pioneer volunteer organization.

Estrella's house averages approximately 1,000 children per year between the ages of 2-17 years.  To date, their facility located at 525 W. Wisconsin in Edinburg, Texas has served approximately 14,000 children.  Their first year 241 children passed through their doors.

We were greeted by Victoria Medina, Executive Director and Kristy Hallock Meyer, Community Outreach coordinator.   

Left to right:  Diana Garza, Victoria Medina, Ralph Garza, and Kristy Meyer

Kristy graciously gave a tour of their facility whose entrance belies the facilities size.  This June, Estrella's House will celebrate their fourteenth year and will be holding their annual fundraiser February 22, 2014.

The poster somehow didn't show up on my blog.  You can visit Estrella's House on Facebook.

Ralph Garza, Little Estrella's New painting, Kristy Meyer

If you or your employers and/or organization is looking for a good cause to support in 2014, think about supporting Estrella's House.  They're in need of cash donations but you can help also by supplying them with donations from the list below:

The tiny hands in the photo are hand prints with names of the children served at Estrella's House that you'll
find throughout the building.  It's something Estrella's House does to make the children feel welcomed and not feel like they're alone.

Note:  The Telecom Pioneers, are a Volunteer organization and service club made up of US and Canadian telecommunications industry employees and retirees. 

Two great quotes for 2014

“The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There's only one moment for you to live, and that is the present moment”

― Gautama

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Albert Einstein

Yep, 2014 is here!

People were popping what sounded like bombs in our neighborhood last night.  We were over at our forever bff's home, Dee Dee and Leo Rodriguez just down the street from our home.  Just minutes after midnight the lights went out.  We all laughed except for the little ones.  Hearing the loud kabooms and sitting in the dark was scary. Dee Dee and her daughter, Laura, lit candles throughout the house.  I called AEP and was put on hold but a recording said lights were out in Laredo, Mission and in our area in McAllen.  What?!!   Welcome, 2014!!!

But it didn't phase us.  The candles gave the house a glow - gave me the warm fuzzies.  Being together in the "glow"...was priceless!

I was kept on hold the whole time and never got to speak to anyone before the lights came on so Ralph hurried home to check on the pups - we couldn't get inside because with the lights out the garage door does not work.  I left my purse at home and our house keys were in my purse.  Peggy Sue and Sugar were probably terrified because they hate firecrackers and this year's firecrackers were especially loud.  We laughed at ourselves because we normally take the keys to the back entrance for instances such as this one but this time we did not prepare.  Ralph found Peggy Sue and Sugar scared but safe, located  the keys and came back.

We continued celebrating.  And that's when I realized - this was different...

Any other time, I would have been hysterical knowing that my pups were freaking out and I couldn't get to them.  For some reason I wasn't.  I knew they were in a safe place, alone, but safe. Another time and place, I would have rushed home as soon as the lights came on.  I didn't.

Earlier in the day I commented to Ralph that in spite of the fact that we want to change, create change, or encourage change...we still do the same thing.

"Isn't that "insanity,"  I asked him.  "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting change?"

"So what do you think?" I said.  "Changing just a word, a gesture,...a thought - things we do without even thinking,  Think it can make a difference?   Let's try it."

Normally, Ralph will just nod and agree or disagree, depending on what we're discussing...this time he spoke and agreed.

That was different.

But in truth, I didn't notice it...but I think the universe did.

And the changes continued into the evening, at first they were subtle then the differences became distinct.  I was present to the moment.  I felt different.

Oh, JOY!!!!

Ralph and I celebrated by going to mass this morning.  Different from the last few years..

I understood Father Louie - Different!

Prayed for all our family and friends - before recalling was for immediate family and friends  - with so many family and friends on Facebook I am more involved with so many - we're more present to each other than ever before.  Different!

I like this!

I noticed that I write mostly about the past or things I have experienced...I have difficulty writing about something that hasn't happened,  or making it up.  And it hasn't been easy lately but I'm going to try.  I think its because I believed that putting things in writing was just as serious as the spoken word and that kind of power is scary.  The universe is listening...

But I am not alone - I never was - it just felt that way....different.

Am I making sense?

I'm done...for today, anyway.  I'm going to stop now and enjoy the marvelous dinner my hubby is making for us.  I am enjoying my day...present...

2014 is off to a great start...PRESENT!!!

And THAT is a great GIFT!