Hello December!!

"I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring."  
                                                                                                                       ~Liz Armbruster

Only more than 20 days 'til Christmas, "the most wonderful time of the year," and I cannot think of a better way to start this month by seeing the smiles on people's faces, specifically children's...

Devin and I with Buddy the Broncho

You guessed it. I was talking about being a part of the 19th annual President's Club Christmas Party!

I don't call myself a "sponsor" simply because it sounds too important and formal, and I am nowhere near that. I, instead, call myself the "lucky one" who gets to spend time with another human being. The little boy I was fortunate enough to be around for two hours was Devin, Devin Cheeks from West Field Elementary School. He is a sweet 8 year-old African American boy who, at first, was very shy and quiet, but we got to know each other and everything became so natural.

Don't get me wrong, the reason why I specifically stated his race is because I think he is special in his own way. I have no right to be racist because I myself is considered a minority. I love inter-cultural activities, and I am so glad I was given the opportunity to get to know Devin.

Children are so precious! People normally say that kids are cute until certain ages, and then they become annoying. For me, this is not entirely true.

At a younger age, all children think the same way. They laugh, they play, they get jealous if they see someone gets better toys, they cry when they are upset, and so on... Life to them is just a series of events, and all they do is just enjoy and react to them. Children don't know the differences between Black and White, Asian and Caucasian, rich and poor... They treat everyone the same way, and that's what makes them so cute and precious.

Until they grow up a little more and start understanding what WE tell them or what WE talk about. They start picking up bits and pieces of conversations and start developing their own ways of thinking. That's what make them change. They go from not knowing the differences to noticing everything, and from that moment on, WE start thinking that they are different, so we call them annoying.

Why? Aren't we the main reason they are thinking that way? We really have to stop blaming everyone else for things that go wrong and start taking responsibilities. Personal preferences are private and should not be changed, but we can start from stop judging others the way we do now. People differentiate themselves not by the way they look, but by who they are perceived to be, by how much care and love they show... by how "big" their heart are, and children should know that.

Back to the Christmas Party, sorry, I tend to get carried away like that, in case you haven't noticed...

Devin was the sweetest kid I have meet in a while. To be honest when I signed up, I was hoping for a little girl because they are generally just sweeter and easier to get along with. However, I was, once again, proven wrong.

He did not talk much at the beginning, always had that "quiet" smile on his face every time I asked him a question, then answered and went back to being silence. It took him a little while to loosen up and started having fun. Then, he was a completely different person. He wanted to try everything that was there and do everything that was possible. When it comes to jumping in and having fun, he was always one of the first. However, every time he turned around and saw me, he smiled, a smile that says "oh, here you are..." that really warmed my heart.

Buddy Broncho and Devin

Hockey lesson? Yes, please!

Time for some SOCCER!

He and his cool UCO tatoo.

Precious smile! So glad I got to know you!

Playful and active, but he also is such a thoughtful boy, too thoughtful for a little second-grader. While every other kid was doing crafts to bring home and decorating cookies to eat,... he did as well. But on top of making what he had planned to bring home, he made ME a bracelet and decorated ME a cookie. Yes, he decorated a cookie, not for himself, but turned right around and gave it to me "This is for you..." I think I don't have to tell you how that literally melted my heart... I have not felt such an influence in a while since I last saw my baby brother... and this just brought me right back to where my heart always longs to be, in the middle of my beautiful home with the people I love so deeply.

<3

The event was created to help give underprivileged children a good time and Christmas presents according to their wishes... But today, not only Devin, but also I, myself, got some great gifts... I got a tasty and beautiful-looking cookie, a colorful bracelet, and more than anything, I got what my heart's been missing... I got the warmth it needed to be simply happy with what I have...

Thank you for making me smile and being my inspirations, my little friend!