I must admit, I am competitive. Don’t challenge me to a game of Scrabble and think I won’t pull out the word “xenial” to garner a triple word score and then gloat. Although I am not wholly athletic, that doesn’t mean I am not going to pull out all the stops just to beat my competition mercilessly, if at all possible.  And while I try to maintain an air of decorum with my opponent, I have been known to break out a Deion Sanders-like touchdown dance when I win, even if it is just checkers.

I guess this competitive streak is what lead me to believe that I could go-kart race and just burn up the track, even though I haven’t been in a go-kart in many years.  Some friends from work all went one evening to an indoor race track, where the cars reach top speeds of 45 miles per hour.  No sweat, I thought, especially since I learned to drive on the freeways of San Diego, and I used to change my clothes while driving.  How difficult could it be to whip around a track in a little motorized version of a real car?

Our racing group consisted of three guys and three girls, of which I was the oldest by ten years.  I figured I had experience, competitiveness, and a sense of adventure on my side; instead I should have called my insurance agent.  All was well the first race, which consisted of fourteen laps.  We all started to feel the groove of the track and the rush of adrenalin.  By race two, the contest was heating up, and the trash talk between the guys began to increase, and I could feel the contender in me rise up.  I felt it–”the need for speed”.  With races one and two under our collective belts and only a few injury free collisions thus far, we geared up for our final race.

All started off well, and I was gunning it to better my lap score.  I took the turns as sharply as I could, and thought this would be my best race yet.  I was wrong.  As I rounded a turn, I went all “Tokyo drift” and slid decidedly into the red and white barrier (pictured above).  My car went under the barrier, lifted it up, and pinned me in the go-kart.  As the track personnel ran over to free me from my predicament, I watched the blood trickle down my hands, and I tried to put on a brave face.  My entire right arm was locked in the barrier, which had to be lifted off of me by the track workers.  Damn!  So much for my best time…

Diana, another racer from my group, also had a mishap and hit a wall.  Defective cars, I thought to myself.  Racer exhaustion, I pondered internally.  Certainly it had nothing to do with my racing skill, or lack thereof…

While my body was certainly banged up and my right hand, with all its cuts and scratches, looked like I had gotten into a bar fight, it was my ego that was the most bruised.  I wanted to keep up with the boys and had epically failed.  Visions of losing countless childhood contests of skill, athleticism, and might to my older brother came crashing back, much like the wall that landed on my arm.  But then I thought, I gave it a shot and really had fun doing something I normally wouldn’t do, so that can’t be an epic fail.  The more I thought about it, the better I felt about the whole situation, soreness and all.  So I crashed into a wall–at least I made the effort, and that is how I want to live my life.  Now on to cliff diving…

Every year my husband and I search for the free or discounted Easter Bunny and events related to the Easter Bunny.  Pictures are becoming more and more expensive if you have them done with the mall bunny.  For those of us on a budget and willing to sacrifice a little time to get a free or cheap picture, I have a list of some local cheap or free Easter Bunny pictures and fun family events.  All of these events are ADA accessible and are true family events.  Enjoy!

Desert Ridge Easter Bunny -Free!  They give you a card with a number that you can download the picture on your computer.  You won’t have an actual hard copy when you leave the Easter Bunny, but you will be able to download it for free to make your own pictures.  Even better!  The schedule is on their website and I recommend that you come early as people tend to line up quickly.

14th Annual Spring Celebration -March 31st.  9-12 pm. This event in Buckeye has an egg hunt, pictures with Mr and Mrs Cottontail, crafts, egg decorating, games, and food.   They have the egg hunt split into age groups, so I recommend checking their website for times.

 Surprise Spring Eggstravaganza – April 7th.  9:30 am-12 pm.  Mr and Mrs Bunny will be there, egg hunts, face painting, clowns, etc.  Like all of the egg hunts, they have it split into age groups.  Check the website for specific times.

Dolly Sanchez Memorial Easter Egg Hunt -April 7, 2012.  8-12 pm.  Candy hunts, family scavenger hunts, Mr and Mrs Bunny, crafts, inflatables, puppet shows, train rides, petting zoos, etc. will be available at this event in Peoria.  My family goes to this event every year and it gets better with age!  The candy/egg hunts are done by age groups, so you will need to check the website to make sure you arrive on time.

Chandler Family Easter Celebration – April 7th. 9am-12 pm. There will be egg hunts, easter Basket give aways, displays, interactive amusements, coloring contest, and minimal charge pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Bunny Business Easter Egg Hunt -April 7th, 9:30-11:30 am.  Paradise Valley.   Valley Presbyterian hosts this annual community event with egg hunts by age, bonnet contests, crafts, cookie decorating, and a free contintental breakfast.

Easter Egg Hunt at Enchanted Island -April 8th, 10 am. They recommend that you arrive early because you have to register in order to participate in this free event.  All eggs have some prizes in them and there are also grand prizes.  Pictures with the Easter Bunny will also be available.

Hope Covenant Church’s Easter Egg Hunt – Aptil 8th, 9 am.  Chandler.  There will be egg hunts, door prizes, free breakfast and other activities for the children.

This is just a small list of activities that are going on in the greater Phoenix area and free or discounted pictures with the Easter Bunny.  Your child will enjoy this time of year since it isn’t so hot yet.  Have fun!

Image courtesy of Netty Riggs

This last weekend I had a chance to go to my first Market on the Move event. This is an event that you can go and get 60 pounds of fresh produce for a donation of $10. I heard about them in a local facebook group, but they have an Event List on their website.

The idea is that they rescue food and redistribute it around the valley. I am a little unsure how the food is rescued and what from, but everything there seemed to be really good. What they have always varies, but this last one had green and orange peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and summer squash. They also had a huge box of oatmeal bars as well.

It took me awhile to research and learn how to freeze and use all of my food, I don’t buy much fresh produce usually. I was able to cut up, blanch, and freeze the peppers. (Learning to make stuffed peppers is on my to-do list now.) I skinned and squashed my tomatoes before freezing them so I can make spaghetti sauce with them later, and I made some zucchini bread. With the scraps I also tried making vegetable stock and used it in chicken and noodles. It tasted really good! It was hard work, but it made a ton and was much cheaper than what I would buy at the store instead. Now I just have to find something to do with the summer squash. I think plenty of baby food is in order.

I have to say, I won’t be cooking that much at one time until summer is over. It warmed up the house a bit more than I enjoy. I hope that the next batch of produce has a bit of fruit in it, because I would love to get more smoothie ingredients stocked up in my freezer! I hope there is a Market on the Move coming up near you! I’ll be going again the second Saturday in April!

For the past two weeks, courtesy of my employer, I have been residing Deep in the Heart of …you guessed it, Texas.  It has been a fun adventure and I have had the opportunity to learn a great deal in the process.

Many people, myself included, may have the misconception that Texas is a place full of wranglers and cowpokes.  There’s the belief that everyone has a Texas twang and that their conversations are peppered with “y’all” and “fixin’ to”.  Some may have the perception that Texas is still the wild west and tumbleweeds blow through town.  I had been to Texas previously, but my prior concept of the state has been radically changed.  There’s no “dusty trail” to hit; Texas is positively cosmopolitan.

Downtown Dallas

Now, granted, when I visited this state before, I was always in a small area of Houston and I didn’t stay for very long.  In these two weeks, I’ve travelled through Dallas and Houston, Garland and Plano, with even a small stop in Ennis.  Texas has green grass and tall trees (even if many of them died in the drought)–nonetheless, they are real tall trees; somewhat of an anomaly in downtown Phoenix.  The topography of Texas is flat with some wide open spaces, but the big cities themselves are modern and clean.

I have learned that Texas has many freeways and while driving on one, you’d better get out of the way, pardner.  The left lane is not designated for passing; it’s desiginated for speeding and tailgating.  In addition, the majority of drivers in Texas apparently cannot operate the “blinker” or “lane change indicator”, even though I am pretty certain they are standard on all vehicles nowadays.  Also, the standard of measure for a “car length” in Texas is equivalent to how far the driver behind you can get to your bumper without actually touching!  When I looked in my rearview mirror and it read that objects are closer than they appear, I realized there was no way the massive truck right on my tail could be any closer than it appeared.  However, to the truck driver’s credit, everything really is bigger in Texas.

If you’re planning a trip to Texas, come hungry.  There are so many restaurants in the area that if you stand in any downtown intersection, you’re bound to hit one when you toss your ten gallon hat.

And the people…polite, friendly, and fiercely proud of their state.  If the fifty states were high school students, Texas would win the “most school spirit” award.  They love their Cowboys.   They fly the state flag in their front yards.  They paint their house numbers in state colors and logos.  If you are looking for a sign that you’re in Texas, you don’t have to look very far.  The people of this great state aren’t cocky; just confident that theirs is the best state in the union.  Hey, you don’t mess with Texas.

While I have enjoyed my immersion in all things Texas, I miss my family.  Work is work and I will do what I need to in order to support them, but it’s hard to be away.  When I SKYPE my son, Daniel, and he starts to cry because he misses me, well, you couldn’t make me stay any longer for all the yellow roses in Texas.  Texas may be beautiful and very liveable, but Dorothy Gale said it best:

“There’s no place like home.”

The Centennial Celebration in Arizona is literally a once in a lifetime event.  Most states in the US are older than us, so this is a unique experience.  Although the actual date was last month, February 14^th, there are a lot of celebrations that will continue through the rest of this year.  Since most families are in the midst of making plans to travel this summer, I put together this list of celebrations around the state that are accessible for special needs children as well.  Enjoy!

Frontier Days 125th World’s Oldest Rodeo -Prescott.  Parade, rodeo, pagent, art show and dances are just some of the activities that are a part of this event.  June 28-July 4, 2012

“Our Little Corner of Cochise County 1912″ -Sierra Vista.  Museum of life in Sierra Vista 100 years ago.  It runs through Dec. 31, 2012.

100^TH Apache Country Rodeo & Parade“100 YEARS: OUR WAY” -Springerville.  Parade, pancake breakfast, skateboard competitions, art walk with wine and cheese reception, vendors, bicycle racing, etc.  June 29, 2012 – July 4^th, 2012.

8TH Annual Daisy Mountain Veterans Parade – Anthem.  The largest veterans event in the state.  The theme for this year’s parade will be “The Wonders of Arizona”.  November 10, 2012.

Fort Verde Days - Camp Verde.  Jail-A-Thon, Crafts, Vendors, carnival, parade, vintage baseball games, etc.  October 12, 2012 to October 14, 2012

Historic Route 66 Fun Run – Activities take place in every community from Seligman to Topock/Golden along route 66.  Various activities in Kingman, BBQ in Peach Springs, Gun Fight in Oatman, etc.   It’s a great family event.  May 4-6, 2012.

There are so many events all over the state through the end of this year that I could keep going.  If you wish to see a complete list of the official events, go to the state official site.  It not only lists the official events, but it has a calendar and the signature events that will have the Governor and other state officials.  Most of these events are accessible to special needs children and all of them are extremely family friendly.  Enjoy Arizona’s Centennial Celebrations!

Note:  Some of the event websites need to be updated.  I am not responsible for websites that are not entirely updated for this year.  All events were official event notices supplied by the state.

Spring Break is almost here and you still don’t know where to go!  What if you don’t want to spend too much money and flying is out of the question?  How about a road trip for an Arizona Spring Break?  I have compiled a modest list of things that your family would enjoy doing and is also special needs friendly.

Montezuma’s Castle National Monument - This is a great historical stop for families.  It’s ADA accommodating and special needs children love looking at the ruins.  It’s a great short walk and there is plenty of wildlife around.  When we were last there, there was a lizard sunning itself on a rock.  The special needs adults that we were with us thoroughly enjoyed it and my son loved looking at the lizard.  It’s a small fee to enter the park, but it is worth it.

Tombstone -It’s a little bit of trek to get to this site, but history buffs and kids who love a good shoot out will enjoy this town.  Pretty much all of the attractions have some sort of fees associated with them, but it is worth it.  Be prepared if you have wheelchairs or strollers for some rough terrain but it wasn’t too bad once you get used to the wooden walkway.  Most of the events are ADA accessible in some capacity.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum -This is a great museum for kids as it explores the various creatures that live in the habitat.  The terrain is a little rough as most of it is outside on an unpaved walkway, but they have made everything pretty much ADA accessible including the restrooms.  If your child has never seen Arizona wildlife up close, this is a great place for it.  Tucson also has other great activities, so this could be one day on your trip.

Rawhide – This is a cute and quaint 1880s town replica.  It was an amusement park when I was a little girl and was moved to this location.  It’s free to go, but be prepared to pay for the attractions.  It isn’t paved, so the walkway isn’t always flat.  They have a stage coach ride, train ride, petting zoo, and several shows on the main street that demonstrate how wild the wild west really was back then.  It really isn’t an all day event, but if you needed a quick stop along your way to Tucson this is great.

Flintstones Bedrock City -For those of you who remember The Flintstones, this is a cool town that is a replica of the cartoon city.  I remember going to this when I was young and on our way to the Grand Canyon.  It’s not going to be your top of the line amusement park, but it’s a quaint and quirky stop for your kids.  Not everything is ADA compliant, so be prepared.  If you like funny pictures with your family and a walk down memory lane, then this would be a great stop.

Dinosaur Park - This is a pretty cool park that has many dinosaurs crafted by local artists.  If your child loves dinosaurs, this is a cool park.  It’s $5 per car and you can drive through the exhibits.  It’s a great opportunity to get pictures of dinosaurs for your child’s scrapbook and it’s a fun activity for your family.

Meteor Crater -The visitor center has a myriad of activities for your family to discover about meteors and science.  You can take tours of the crater and view the crater from the visitor center.  It is ADA accessible and has an official Apollo Space test capsule.  The movie and the exhibits make it a great excursion for a family.

These are only some of the standard or quirky sites you can see in Arizona with your family.   There are a lot more out there that will accommodate special needs kids, but this is only the beginning.  Have fun on your Arizona spring break and enjoy the time with your family.  Kids grow up too fast!

Phoenix mothers know they need plenty of indoor places for the kids to play in the hot summer months. Imagination Avenue is an indoor play and party center designed for kids up to early elementary school age. They are a shoe free play center but you can grab a free locker for your purse and shoes at the gated entrance.

Inside you will find a 3,500 square foot play area. In the center is a gated area for the wee ones under two years old, surrounded by a mini track for push cars. There are 9 play houses in the child-sized town which includes a Schoolhouse with chalkboard, Boutique with costumes for dress-up, and Hospital with a little patient bed. Kids can work at the Home Depot or Bakery and shop at the Market.

They can visit the House with a cute little front porch area or even spend some time in the upstairs Jail. At the Fire Station they can dress up as firemen, policemen, or take a ride in one of the push cars.

Imagination Avenue also has an area for kids to play with mini cars or put on a puppet show. A separate room is devoted to books, drawing, and puzzle play.

If all of that activity builds up their appetite, take them to the Café. They have highchairs, Little Tikes benches, and tables. They allow outside drinks and snacks so feel free to bring those sippy cups!

Imagination Avenue is a great place to hold your child’s birthday party. A semi-private party allows the play area to be opened to the general public but there will be a room for just party goers to enjoy pizza and cake. Private parties are held after normal business hours.

Visit them on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. for story time, free with admission, or register for their Family Art Time classes Mondays at 10:00 a.m. Sessions usually run for six weeks and drop-ins are accommodated if space permits. They will probably be doing a craft or something special to celebrate Valentine’s Day so head over there on February 14th!

Be sure to follow Imagination Avenue on Facebook to get notified of their daily deals. Visit their website for hours of operation and more information.

Attention Moms! Imagination Avenue offers free WiFi so bring your laptop! Just don’t miss too many of the “Mommy, watch me!” moments. Too soon they grow into teenagers who want to know, “Why are you looking at me?”

This time of year is perfect for families in Arizona to go out and play.  In other parts of the country, they are huddling indoors and trying to stay occupied so they don’t go stir crazy.  Welcome to opposite world!

My husband and I try to take our son to events that are not only family friendly but also accessible to those who have special needs.  Not every event is good for kids who are special needs for a variety of reasons, but you know your child and what they can handle.  Here is a list of some local events that are happening in the next few weeks.  We have ditched some of our household chores to make sure that we attend some of these as well.   Yes, baseball fever is in the air.   I hope you find this helpful to plan your family outings!

D-Backs FanFest -February 11, 2012, 11 am-3 pm at Chase Field.  The event is free but parking downtown is at a premium so expect to pay something if you drive.  They have a special signing session for children 12 years and younger that is free.  If you don’t bring anything for them to sign, they will have color photos of themselves that they will sign for free.  There will be all sorts of opportunities to meet current players, coaches, alumni and sportscasters along with activities for the whole family.  Be prepared to wait in lines though as this is a popular event.

Arizona Centennial Baseball Celebrations –February 3, 2012, 5-9 pm at Peoria Sports Complex.  This is a free event with free parking!   They will be celebrating 100 years of Arizona Statehood with baseball activities, entertainment, fireworks, etc.    We love going to this sports complex as it isn’t too big and it doesn’t get overly crowded.

Padres and Mariners fields open for pitchers-  It’s a free event.  Each team has a different time table for their opening, but it is a great time for kids to be up close and get autographs of their favorite players.  Check out the website to obtain the correct schedule for each team.

Camelback Ranch Fan Fest – March 3, 2012, 9-1 pm with free parking and free entry.  This is another great event for families that is free!  There will be players there to sign autographs and plenty of activities for the family.

Bicycle Safety Rodeo –January 28, 2012, 9am -2pm, Free event with free parking.  This event is for kids ages 5-12 years.  Motorcycle officers will inspect bicycles and assist them as they ride through patterns with bicycle education.  If you bring your own bicycle, you will receive a free helmet.  (3,000 available while supplies last.)   For more information, contact Ofc. Kunde at (623) 773-8053.

Peoria Farmers Market and Sunday Arts Stroll – February 26, 2012, 9 am-1pm, Osuna Park.  This is a great place to buy locally grown food with the added luxury of having the food trucks to prepare great food.

One for Water 4-Miler –March 10, 2012, 8-11 am, Rio Vista Community Park, 8866 W. Thunderbird Rd. Peoria, AZ 85381.  You can participate by running the 4 miles or just watch and enjoy the family fun festival with food and kid friendly activities.  There is a life size toilet mascot that runs as well.  If you are looking for a quirky event, then this is probably a great one to visit.

These are just a small portion of the events available to families and these are mostly or all free.  You might need a little extra cash if you want to purchase food or various other items.  Most of these events are generally ok for special needs kids.  You just need to watch if they are over stimulated.  We usually limit our time on the longer events so that we aren’t too tired either.  Enjoy your time in the sun because our cool time of the year flies by quickly!

Generally, when you think of a fun place to play in the snow, Arizona doesn’t exactly spring to mind.  That is is one of the most appealing aspects of Arizona, however; you can hike in the desert in the morning and be in the pines, skiing by afternoon.

With a few days of the holiday break left, my crew all piled into the family vanster and took a trip north, to Flagstaff, Arizona.  Accompanied by Ryan’s girlfriend, Brooke, and Shannon’s friend, Emmalee, we ventured to an unknown snow spot.

So where is this fabled snow in Arizona?

It was a brisk 35 degrees when we arrived at Wing Mountain.  We unloaded our plastic sleds and saucers, ready to embark on our Arctic adventure.  Daniel showed no fear as he climbed the smaller of two hills and careened down the slope on his toboggan.  The smile frozen on his face was a combination of excitement and a cold blast of air.   His first ride down was thrilling enough to send him running up the larger of the two mountains.

My first attempt down the big hill was an exciting start to my day.  I gingerly boarded the plastic sled with trepidation, only to be sent hurtling over the glistening snow.  On the way down, I lost not only my hat, but my dignity.  I tried to gracefully stop my plastic rocket, however, I came to a stop in a wet, slushy mess.  Although I wound up with ice in my jeans, the adrenaline I was feeling quickly melted that ice away.

Shannon and Emmalee had fun riding tandem down the hill but, being typical teenaged girls, decided they wanted to scope out the area for cute boys.  They wound up taking a break from the slopes to play in the snow in the wooded area directly behind the summit of the sled mountain.  I joined them, with Daniel, and we engaged in a snow ball fight.  Emmalee must have been practicing her fastball because she beemed me smack in the side of the head!  Now my glasses were filled with snow to match my jeans!  As Emmalee attempted to apologize, she and Shannon had a difficult time squealching their laughter.

While overall it was a really fun day, we did have a few setbacks.  Emmalee lost the bottom of her boot and all the snow got into her shoe.  One of our saucers cracked.  And poor Brooke came close to suffering a mild concussion when she was taken out by a wayward sledder.  Nonetheless, we overcame the icy patches of the day and enjoyed our family adventure in the frozen tundra that is Arizona.

His Christmas Spirit is palpable.   While many people are struggling to find their “inner elf” at this time of year, he embodies the spirit of the season.  He’s on a very special mission, as he has been for the past 33 years:  to be Santa to those less fortunate.  ”It really feeds my soul. I will admit, though, that sometimes I wonder if I do it more for them or for me.  I struggle with that.”  Regardless of the reason, many people are happier as a result.

It all started when he was in college at the University of Arizona.  His father had just passed away and his mother decided that instead of buying an expensive casket to bury her husband, she would use the money to honor his memory.  She told her son that she wanted to build a house for someone; her son scoffed at the idea.  “All I could think about (when she said she wanted to build a house) was why it wasn’t feasible, ” he explained. “Logically, I thought about buying the land, getting the permits, all of the obstacles that would prevent her from building this house.”  He returned to the U of A for six weeks.  When he returned home at Christmastime, he learned the house had been built and that his mother just needed him to complete the roof.  “I learned from my mom that when you seem to have insurmountable obstacles in your path, nothing can stop you when you doing something good for someone else.”  And so, in 1977, “Santa Claus” was born.

It started with one truck.  He, his brother and his mother made the trip on Christmas Eve, just over the border to a small town littered with cardboard houses.  Children ran through the dirt streets in the freezing weather without shoes.  Some of the houses had gaping holes filled with various clothing items to keep the elements at bay.  While it sounds like a less than cheery spot to spend Christmas, this modern day Saint Nick said, “I always find my Christmas spirit there.”

The tradition grew.  What started out as one truck in 1977 has blossomed to a convoy of ten to fifteen trucks each year.  All the family members are involved: brothers, sisters, wives and husbands, children, nieces and nephews and a smattering of family friends.  They bring bags of food containing staples like peanut butter, rice, beans, canned goods and potatoes.  (“They love the potatoes,” he smiled).  They bring candy bags for the children and toys and stuffed animals.  He spends all year searching garage sales for beanie babies and other toys to hand out.  One year, he recalled, he actually dressed as Santa Claus and it made for a memorable year.  His truck got stuck in the mud just over the border and he had to get out and push the vehicle, in his full Santa suit.  Two older gentlemen witnessed his plight and called out “Use the reindeer, use the reindeer!” to him in Spanish.  Once he was able to get his truck moving again, he stopped at a small shanty and asked the woman if she had children.  She invited him inside and motioned to the blanket that was hanging to separate the room into two.  A small boy pulled back the blanket and he stood in a state of shock as he looked up at Santa Claus standing in his house.  It was a memory that has stayed with ”Santa” all these years.

“It’s always important to make sure they always get something,” he asserted.  Oftentimes, if the members of the Claus Crew run out of toys and food and candy, they will literally give the clothes off their backs.  He recanted a story of the time his niece was handing out candy and noticed that one of the recipients was without a jacket, even though the weather practically demanded one.  “She took off the jacket she was wearing and handed it over,” he said with pride.  Another fond memory is of another young niece, then about age 3, who went along for her first trip.  Before they embarked on their long trip down south, she found a large candy cane that she confiscated as her own.  No amount of prodding or coaxing from her family members could separate her from this candy cane and she proudly walked around with it in her firm grasp.  As they made their way through the tiny town, handing out gifts and candy to the locals, this little girl clung to her candy cane.  When she realized that one child did not get a candy bag, she graciously offered her giant candy cane to her new friend and walked away.  The Christmas Spirit is contagious.

The inhabitants of this small town anxiously await the arrival of the Claus Convoy.  They run after the trucks in an effort to catch the candy bags that are tossed to them.  The Claus Crew will go through several thousand candy bags in a day. Another favorite among the residents are hats and gloves for when the weather turns cold.  And although the recipients have next to nothing, they look out for one another.  When they receive a bag of food or a blanket, they’ll ask that something be left for their neighbor, as well.   “These people will thank you like they won the lottery,” he said.  “The small, dirty faces of the children as they look up at you; they just stay with you.”

The most difficult part of the trek is crossing the border into Mexico.  The rules change frequently and they never know if they will all make it through customs without having to make a long detour to have their vehicles checked.  One year, unbeknownst to the convoy, a customs agent told them that they needed a letter stating their business in Mexico before they could go through.  Since they had no letter, they thought they would have to turn around and head back home.  Instead, our St. Nick took a page from his mother and didn’t let the obstacles defeat him; he wrote his own letter and went through another custom agent’s line!

“You always get back more than you give,” he observed.  True to point, he told a story about his sister and her inability to conceive a child.  After many years of traveling to this small border town at Christmas, his mother heard about a family who had a new baby that they were unable to care for.  The baby was suffering from malnutrition and the family was preparing for the child’s demise.  Instead, the child was legally adopted by his sister and brought to the states to live.

The best part, according to this Santa, is the children, on both sides of the border.  The kids who are receiving the candy and toys could not be any more grateful but it’s the American kids who come away with so much more.  “It reinforces that Christmas is not about receiving material objects,” he opines.  “The kids here certainly appreciate what they have so much more than they did (before they make the trip to Mexico).  They see so many people who do without.  It changes their perspective from what they want and what they really need.”  It’s a family tradition these children have grown up with and they return home each Christmas just to be a part of the Claus Convoy.

As for our Santa, he waits anxiously for Christmas Eve to arrive so that he and his clan can set out on their adventure.  He is as excited as, well, a child on Christmas.  It’s what he waits for all year.  “I love it,” he concedes, “and I love all the lives that have been changed for the better–on both sides of the border.”