The hardest decision of my Life

Recently my mother died, that was so hard for me and my family. She was sick the two last weeks, and she was in the hospital. All the family stayed with my father, sister and my brother; and they helped to watch and care for her. They took turns to watch her. All her sisters and brothers helped to care.

She was in Mexico, but I was in the US. I wanted to be with her, but I made the decision to stay here for my legal situation. Every day when I was talking with my father or my big sister, I was asking if she was better, but she wasn't better.

Four days after the first problem from my mom, the doctors said my mom had pneumonia and that's not good for my mom. After twelve days, she died.

Two days before she died my daughters and me talked to her by the phone, and she was sleeping because her brain didn't work, but when my Uncle Pedro (her brother) put the cellphone near her ears, she opened her eyes and my daughters and I talked to her. I don't know if she believed all what we promised and said, but when we finished, she closed her eyes and she slept again.

We together gave to my mother a beautiful Memorial, (all of them together, but not me). I was making that decision with the support and by support of them, that was so hard for me. We don't know if that's fine. I'm thinking when we have to make what's the best decision, it is the decision where you can put all your love.

I wish with all my heart she is better now, because she was so sick not only the last days, but also her last years.

Memories

When I came from Mexico my country, I brought some pictures of my family. In the pictures are every party that we had. Those pictures are very important to me because when I see those, is to remember old times when I was a child. I remember the faces and the clothes that we wore. Those pictures make me feel almost to cry and sad, but I like to see it. Every time when I go to Mexico, I would like to bring every thing that I see, but it is hard to do it. Finally, here where I live I am glad that at least I have my pictures that make me feel happy.

WHEN MY SON WAS BORN

One of my happiest moments in my life was when my son was born. I was 18 years old. It was a happy moment for Agustin, my husband, too. That morning in Fresnillo Zacatecas was very beautiful hot day when my son decided to come at this world. "Be calm," my husband said, and at 9:30 my son was born. Everybody heard his first crying. That day my life changed. That moment I knew one of reasons for coming into my life. Before that I felt so scared, but after my son was born, all changed. Now I'm a brave and better woman. I don't know how my husband felt, but he looks like a new father. Agustin changed his son's diaper, than held and rocked him. He looked like entirely the happiest man. When this memory comes to my mind, I feel so happy. Now we will go for the third child. We can't wait to feel all that moment again. I'm sure a special moment will pass again.

MY FAMILY TRADITION

When I was a child, I learned so many things about my family tradition. I was told about many things that I could not do. My parents and grandparents told me not to eat fish and animals and not to worship idols instead of GOD who created the universe. But, when I grew bigger I noticed that my family tradition / some other tradition was killing me slowly, but I proved everything to be false. Now that I know that I am supposed to eat fish, some animals for meat and worship GOD who made me instead of idols. And also proved that tradition is not a good thing; it is a man's opinion to confuse mankind.

Unforgettable Moments

My son and I came to USA from Mexico and brought a special blanket. This was a beautiful gift from his grandmother. Then it was very important that I brought it because helped my son feeling better in the time of journey. At that moment my son was eight months old.

Now I have other son who uses the blanket. Sometimes he said me, "Mom, this blanket was Obed's but now it's mine". Before the blanket was new, with radiant colors and a little thick. Today it's of light colors and thin. Nowadays my children sometimes fight to use it.

Some things that apparently are simple things finally are the best things and make better moments.

THE FIRST BOYFRIEND KISS.

DO you remember that?
HO HO HO! you don't want too.

I believe it, at the same time it is funny, gross, excited, sad; I felt the same.

I wish to remember the pretty moments,because a kiss good or bad is a "great memory".


Maybe the other person could remember you, but perhaps not! It's not important to me if the other person remembers or not. I do. I'm laughing trying to figure out, What I did wrong or normal?

Don't get lost! Let me explain.When I had my first boyfriend twenty years in the past.We didn't kiss,just talked, walked, listened music, got together.

When the time came, he asked me for a kiss, I said, "Tomorrow". The next day I called my cousin Any. She was older then me. In a hurry I asked her, "How do it?"

This girl was laughing at me, but finally she showed me how, with an ice pop.
It was very easy and funny.


I can not forget it!

The Most Important Person

The most important person I miss from my country is my mom. Her name is Martha. When I was in Mexico, we slept together until I was 20 years old.

After that I got married and came to the United states. Although my husband Marcos is a good man an every time he is helping me to be good, the transition was so difficult.

My mom and I were very close, she never did anything without me and I never did anything without her.

every time she supports me in all my plans. I don't see the moment, I will be again with her a give a big hug.

She is one of most important people in my life. That is why I miss a lot my beautiful mommy.

WHAT IMMIGRANTS HAVE TO SUFFER

On December of 2007 my family and I had an awful time. My uncle Jacinto had to go to Mexico. His grandmother, which for him was his mother because she raised him, was in critical conditions.

After spending twenty two days with her, she got better so he decided to come back to his family that stayed at Colorado Springs,Colorado. Jacinto had to come like other immigrants. When he arrived at the border of Nogales, Arizona Jacinto contacted His wife Hortencia and told her he was OK. Jacinto told her that he will be calling her before he tried to cross the border.

The days passed by and he didn't call. Hortencia and the rest of the family started to get worried and despairs. It was already five days we didn't know anything about my uncle Jacinto. On the sixth day most of the family was at Hortensia's house when the phone rang.

Every body stayed quiet. Hortencia answered. It was this guy saying he was the coyote that he had kidnapped Jacinto and he wanted six thousand dollars and if we didn't pay the money he was going to torture him and then he was going to kill him. The guy was calling two to three times a day. At first we thought it was the truth so we asked the coyote we wanted to talk to Jacinto, but he always refused to let us talk to him.

After talking to the kidnapper we started getting clues. Every time this guy called he said something different.

We decided I was going to fly to Nogales, Arizona to see If I could get any information about Jacinto. There we were when the phone rang. It was Jacinto saying he was ok. He was already at Phoenix, Arizona. We all started crying of happiness because he was alive.

At the end when he arrived to Colorado we had to give him the bad news that his grandmother passed away.

After living this experience I think life is too short. We need to appreciate what we have and always live the days like it's the last one...

The Christmas with Family

Christmas always is pleasant for me when I am with my family, my children and my husband. They are the reason for my life. I am so lofty and happy to have them.

Not only at Christmas, but every day of this time of the year, we procure some fun. Especially when my daughter and my son, nine and five years old respectively, are on school break.

Always we are busy doing things like: Making decorations for our house. Also a pinata, cookies, cake, tamales, presents and write the list for Santa. We talk about if may be Santa will pick only one of the things from the list. And if we don't have a chimney, how will Santa come into our house? Besides we have time to take a rest and watch T.V. Similarly we eat, play, cheer and just joyous the time that we spend together.

The most important thing of this time is to be together with family all the time.

My Great Name.

I never thought about changing my name. But at this moment, I can think in a compound name for the names of my mom and dad.

I would like to have the name " Manely ". My mom's name is Manuela and my dad's name is Eliseo. That is the reason.

When I was first a mom, I thought, if I have a daughter I will give her a name original and special. It is why I like a compound name. But at this moment, I have two sons and I can't do this. I think this sounds good only in girls.

In the future if I have a daughter maybe I will give her the name "Manely". Because my name is Claudia and my husband's name is Pedro and these names can not be united so good.

THE HAPPIEST MOMENT

When my oldest daughter Christina,was three years old. That summer I took her to the swimming pool every day. She was so tiny and precious, entertaining herself in the water. There were groups of children in the water, all taking swimming lessons.

I decided to put her in swimming lessons also, because she was afraid of deep water.
In the very beginning she was terrified with fear. Little by little each day, her fear went a way. She had more confidence in herself and more interest in swimming,and how to float around the water. She was through with all the swim classes.

Many years later, she was the youngest lifeguard to graduate her red cross training. She was very dedicated to her swimming. In later years, she joined her high school swim team. After that she swam for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY swim team, swimming all four years.

I'm so proud to be her mom. She has achieved many goals through out her life.I'm sure there are many more to come.

My Last Two Weeks That I Didn't Go To School.

This new year, my family and I started a new year's resolution. My husband has a new job in Colorado Springs.In his new job, he needs to take his own car, and I didn't have a car to come to school.

These past two weeks that I wasn't able to come to school, I missed my friends,the teacher, and the computers too. I was sad, but whe I called mi friend Araceli I was happy and said,"Don't worry, soon I will be back at school".

When I stayed home, I read the scary books of my son's school. As I sat alone in my home during a quit time, I thought there were noises and shadows, but it was only in my mind. I prefer reading stories in the Reader's Digest magazine and read about an important hispanic journalist, who has lost her husband to cancer.

So there you have it. This is what happened during my two weeks when I didn't come to school.I read and read, and mi imagination went wild!.

Now I'm happy! I'm staying here again, so that I can be with my friends and teacher. I'm excited to learn more, set new goals, and to finish my GED.

My Favorite Place

When I was a child I just had a favorite place where I enjoyed to hide myself. That special place was under the sink in the laundry room.

We lived in the 3rd floor in a creepy old building in Lima, Peru. The 3rd floor was the top of the building. It only had 2 bedrooms, a small living room, a bathroom, a little kitchen, but a large laundry room with no ceiling on it. Only old people were living in there, my siblings and I were there only kids in the whole building. We were not supposed to make too much noise. Then nobody complains.

One day, when I was 5 years old, I got in trouble with Mom, because I didn't want to get dress change. I was supposed to take a shower and wear another dress. However, it was something that I didn't want to do. I was very obstinate, when I didn't want something and I still am. At that time, I was so upset and I just wanted to disappear. I ran out to the laundry room. Then I saw that under the sink was a good place to stay in for a while. Everything there had the clorox odor. Nevertheless, that place was so special for me. I just went there anytime, especially when I was in trouble with Mom or Dad. I enjoyed being there playing with my puzzles all the time.

Later on my brother saw me what I was doing under the sink and he wanted to stay with me. However, the place wasn't big enough for both. Besides that, he made too much noise.

Finally, I got discontented because I felt that it wasn't my place anymore.

Happy Day

Since I came to Nicaragua, I felt a strong desire to eat something sour. It is something very normal for me because I love to eat sour food. I ate 3 lemons with salt everyday, and I was eating a lot of food.

All of these things made me think that I was pregnant. My sister said to me, "You have to do a pregnancy test immediately!" I didn't want to have false hope.

The next morning, my sister and I visited a medical laboratory, and a nurse took a sample of blood in order to know if I was pregnant. It was at 8:30 am, and the result would not be ready until 2:00 pm. It was a long time for me.

At 2:00 pm, I picked up the result. Inside my sister's car, I opened the envelope. I could see the word: POSITIVE. My sister and I began to cry and laugh; we were very happy.

I couldn't believe it because I had been waiting for this moment for almost 2 years. My husband, my daughter, and my whole family were very happy for me. Now I am full of grace and love.

Touching The Paradise

I want to tell you the most thing that I miss about my country. I miss the tradition, the weather, the food, and the people. However, the thing that I miss most is the beach. My family house was very close to it. And every year in the summers, my families, friends, and I went to the beach. The second reason I miss the beach is because when I saw it, I felt part of it. I like the sound of the tide, the mist in the evening, the dew in the morning. I can remember the sand massaging my feet, the sunrise in the morning and the sunset reflected in the water. There is my favorite place where I had a lot of fun and beautiful moments.

Tattoos

After I got my first tattoo on my birthday I fell in love with them. My first and favorite is my mom's name. I decided to get her name because it was the only thing worth getting on my body for the rest of my life. I just love her so much. I don't know where I would be right now if I didn't have her in my life throughout all these years. With all the love, care, confidence, and advice she has been giving me all my life is the best thing I could ask for. To me tattoos are very creative and an admirable way to show people how much you really love them!

"MY DAD"

My Dad was the best father of the world, but now he's dead. When my father deceased, I was 15 years old. I remember the day when he died, my dad was in his bed, he was good. I said , "I'm going to school Dad, see you in the afternoon!", and he told me, "God bless you daughter." These are the last words may father told me. In the school my teacher said my name, "Ofelia you need to go outside." In this moment, I felt something in my heart. Again she told me, "You have to be strong." When I listened, to these words, I started to cry and cry. We went to my home, where I found my father in his bed, but now he was sleeping for all time. He never opened his eyes. I love you Dad, and I miss you soo much.

My Bike

When I was five years old I got a fantastic blue bike for Christmas. It was the first bike of my life so I needed to learn how to ride it. I was so happy, and in a few hours I was riding my bike because I learned so fast.

My friend Gilberto and I rode our bikes all over the clamorus neighborhood. One time I was racing and I fell. I hit my fore head and my mama took me to the hospital because I had blood all over my face. I had to rest for two months, but I was not scared to ride my bike again.

After that we rode everywhere and it was time to go back home. The first thing I did was clean my bike like in the car wash and it was ready for the next day. I had my bike for four years.

Here is one of the millions of memories of my life.

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone, and a special welcome to the new students who will be making their first posts very soon. I look forward to reading all of your personal narratives here. It took an enormous amount of work for you to get your stories ready to publish-you should be very proud of them. Write On!

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