jibber j.a.b: A Stroll Through the Neighborhood

On Monday we took the SMCA kids on an outreach though our neighborhood. Last year our candy canes were such a hit that we decided to hand them out again this year. It was such a beautiful sunny day... 70 degrees in December! This Michigan girl could get used to this kind of winter! :) While we were out strolling (haha right... as if it was that peaceful) through the neighborhood I was once again amazed that this is indeed my neighborhood and this is my home. The sights and sounds have become so natural to me. I took a few snaps while we were out to show you where I live... in this neighborhood that is vibrant, colorful and full of life!

Quick group shot before we head out!

When we left our property we ran into Oben, a precious boy who lives next door.

This is the street that I live off of...

Here is the little tienda... Coka Lite anyone? :)

This woman saw us coming with our Candy Canes and got so excited. She said she remembered when we came last year and that she had saved her Candy Cane and story! I was so encouraged by this sweet woman.

When you walk down the streets where I live you will see a heartbreaking mix of extravagance and poverty.

Bougainvilleas are everywhere! I love the splashes of color!

Anybody home...?

A woman up the road recently lost her husband, so we brought her family some extra special Christmas gifts. They loved them!

They are so beautiful!

One of the most common things around the neighborhood are the wide assortment of roaming animals.

Dogs...

Roosters...

Goats... ya know, the usual!

This goat seemed to be all tangeled up, poor thing! Or so I thought... I was soon told that he was in Time Out because he had been naughty! This struck me as very funny, so I had to take a quick picture!

One neighbor wanted to give us something in return for the Candy Canes, so he plucked a few lemons from his tree... did I say lemons? I meant to say GIANT lemons!! This one was as big as Sofia's head! When life (or a generous neighbor) gives you 10 giant lemons... make lots and lots of lemonade!

So those are a few of the sights around my street. I hope you enjoyed them! I know it sure doesn't look like Christmas time, due to all the sunshine and summer heat, so I thought I had better leave you with just a dab of Christmas cheer...