Focus on Mexico Blog

We all have special memories of Christmas that make us think about what we can give to others and not so much about what we will receive. A day or so before Christmas, we were all meeting and discussing what we were going to be doing over the holidays. Ana looked at us with that special look only she can sometimes have and said "I would like to share something with you that is very special to me."

She opened her purse and took out her wallet and went directly to a piece of paper folded very carefully in a special pocket. As she unfolded the paper, she shared with us a very special Christmas story that she is allowing us to share with you.

A few years ago she was working long hours and very hard in order to give her twin boys a good Christmas. However, even with the extra work, she had very little money to spend on presents.

She bought all she could afford and decided that it was time to discuss with the boys where the presents really came from...that it was her who bought the gifts, not Santa Claus or the Infant Jesus. Her boys seemed okay with what she told them, and they opened what presents there were, and after a while, they all went to bed. When Ana awoke the next day, she found the note (pictured above) from one of her sons. I have attempted to translate the note as best I can, and hope it conveys the feeling we saw as Ana explained what it meant to her:

"Mommy Merry Christmas

Thank you for the ball. This letter is to give something very special for you

1. You told us that we would not receive gifts if not from you.
2. The gifts are not the meaning of Christmas but the love and all that that lives inside.
3. This year I am grateful for the time you give as I know you are very hard-working, although I don't get to see you.

Merry Christmas Mommy

From Emy For Mommy"

Ana carries this note with her always to remind her that the true meaning is not what you give or can afford to give, but what is given from your heart and with your love.

We are very touched by this story, because it also reminds us of the true spirit of Christmas...that it is the love of family and friends that is the true gift of the season. We hope you have had a wonderful and special holiday this year.

Husband and wife, DeAlonna Kirk and Roger Smith told her 72-year-old uncle they were going to find him a wife in Mexico. He had lost his wife a short time ago, and they had been trying to talk him into going on the Focus program with them. When he decided not to go, they said they would look for the perfect person for him.

Well, after arriving for the March 3 program, it didn't take them long to discover that "perfect" person, and that would be Ana Kabande, our lovely Program Director.

Ana is beautiful inside and out, and after spending many days in her company, DeAlonna and Roger knew they would love to have her as a family member. So they made up a sign and gave it to Ana to hold on our last wonderful night at La Tasca. Jerry, where are you? Ana's waiting!!

Ana had a birthday recently...July 5 to be exact. Due to some unforeseen events and as much as the Focus staff tried, we were unable to get together with her on her birthday or even within a few days of the occasion. So we decided to celebrate it at La Tasca during the July program. We thought it would be fun with everyone being there.

And, to tell the truth, it actually worked out better for us. Marie and I had decided we wanted to go in together and get her some hearts that she had seen at Marie and Ray's house. She liked them very much, but we had trouble getting up to Tlaquepaque to get them. Therefore, since we were taking the group to Guadalajara on Sunday, July 15, we decided to get them at that time. Knowing that it was going to be difficult hiding such big items on the bus, I told Ana that Marie wanted me to pick up some more hearts for her. The tree they were hanging in was so big, the three hearts she had there were lost! Well, that was the plan anyway.

Marie told me how to find the store in Tlaquepaque (right across from Sergio Bustamante), and since I had my 'story' all set, I told Ana about needing to buy them while we were there. She even pointed out the store to me before we went to eat at El Adobe.

After eating, I went to the store, and lo and behold, there were the hearts that I needed sitting on the counter. I said to Bill, 'these are what I'm supposed to be getting." The owner overheard me and said, 'yes, we have been waiting for you." I said, "Excuse me?" She said she had been told I would be coming to pick up the hearts. I then said, "oh...Marie called and ordered them in advance?" She said, 'yes, Marie called!" I thought that was pretty cool and it made my job a whole lot easier! I silently thanked Marie for her foresight!

I paid for the hearts, and we got them on the bus...everything was fine and dandy...a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. I got home and called Marie and thanked her for ordering the hearts for me. There was dead silence on the other end of the line...she had no idea what I was talking about, which perplexed us and then got us both tickled thinking about the poor person who came to the store expecting to pick up her hearts! Oh well...

We had such an exciting time setting the surprise party up...when I think I used to handle big conventions and events,, I didn't know why I was getting so stressed about making sure things went smoothly for Ana's birthday. We ordered a cake from La Tasca, and Ray was going to ask Roberto Cerda to sing the Happy Birthday song to Ana that night....

Call it what you will...a fairy godmother (godfather?), the good fairy, or the Law of Attraction, our delightful program director, Ana Kabande, has certainly got it going on!! Her sons, Emilio and Fernando, started going to the Loyola School in San Antonio in 2007 and have been enjoying it very much (and learning so much more!), but Ana was struggling as a single parent to come up with the monthly enrollment. She prayed to God, and for extra good measure she used her Focus Creation Box and put in it some of her hopes and wishes for her children.

Lo and behold, when she went to the school recently to pay the subscription for the next month, some very kind person, who wishes to remain anonymous (fairy godmother!), has not only paid for the entire 2008 schooling for both boys, but had also thrown in the enrollment for the 2009 school year too! She is overwhelmed with gratitude at the kindness of someone she cannot thank. "I want to say God Bless You to my friend. You make us very happy and you make my life much easier," she says. Ana also added that she is so grateful now that her sons will receive the good education they need to succeed.

The whole Focus team wishes to add their thanks to this most generous benefactor. I got tears in my eyes when I heard it. It was so overwhelming to think that someone has given the gift of education to two wonderful young men (who, I might add, turned 12 today, February 1!).

You are a kind and giving soul!

At birthday celebrations, once assembled guests finish singing the lovely words of the traditional song, "Las Mananitas" and the candles have been extinguished, the guests begin chanting "Mordida, Mordida, Mordida!" (Little bite, little bite, little bite!)

For NOBs (north of the border), unused to Mexican tradition, it's the unexpected "face in the cake" moment. The guest of honor is obliged to take the first bite of cake without using utensils or their hands---just leaning down to take a bite out of the cake. Then, usually, strategically positioned behind the honoree is someone else ready to slam their face into the cake when they lean down. It also usually means that is how big of a piece of cake you get to eat. For a more complete explanation about the mordida, click here to read the blog "Mayhem in Mexico".

Ana is merciless when it comes to the mordida...every time she does it to a participant, we say, "Ana, no tip!" But it doesn't stop her! On the February 23 program, one of our favorite alumnis, Terri Hensley, happened to select Manix restaurant for her birthday celebration. Unlucky her! That happened to be the night (Tuesday, February 26) that the Focus on Mexico group was there! Wouldn't you know it, Ana struck again. After helping Terri to make her wish and blow out her candle, Ana very gently (yeah, right!) helped her take her first bite! Remember Ana...trust broken is very rarely regained! Thank goodness Terri has a GREAT sense of humor and took it all in good fun. Everyone enjoyed it, and of course, we have the pictures to prove it. We hope she enjoyed her cake...we're equally sure no one else wanted to share it! Happy Birthday, Terri...thanks for 'letting' us join in the celebration!