My walk home in the rain from Spanish Class

The man holding his notebook over his pregnant wife's head.
The reflections on the wet ground that inspired my creative photographic mind.
The second look from the skinny, tall man, who moved into the road to let me by.
The giggling plaid attired school children in red tights running to their car.
The elderly couple squeezing in closer under one umbrella, with a youthful smile in their eyes.
The music in my ears.
For the woman wearing that wonderful smelling perfume.
Fresh bread.
The feel of the soft rain on my hands and face.
The orange glow that fell from every direction.
The bearded man who looked like my husband when we first met.

All these things made me smile.

Change

Just the word change is too much for me right now.  I am all changed out.  I have loved this adventure of moving to Spain.  New home, new ward at church, new language, new friends, new culture, new weather (although it does feel like British weather right now with all the cold raininess).  The list is endless.  They even drive on the other side of the road here.  I have to remember every time I cross the road so I don't get hit by a bus.

We have recently experienced Three Kings Day here.  The children here have their gifts delivered to them by the three wise men while they sleep and they open them on the 6th January.  The night before they have a big parade (which happened to be down our street, right outside our front door, very useful).  The kids all bring a bag and people in the parade throw sweets and toys to them.  There is a fun, festive atmosphere and my kids loved it.  Although they loved it, and enjoyed the parade we did not embrace this tradition.  We still had our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as we would have back in Wales.  The three wise men did not visit our home with gifts on the the 6th.  I think some changes need to be done slowly, or not embraced at all.

I finally finished reading The Life of Pi by Yann Martel and the character Pi discusses change as his family plan to emigrate to Canada.  He asks the question why would we do this?  Force ourselves into the discomfort of change?  Because we believe it will take us to a better life.  We will benefit from it.

So we sat in family home evening and I asked each of the children to say one benefit of moving to Spain.  It was not easy for all of them as some of the kids are finding this move very difficult.  But in the end each one came up with something.  The benefits already have been huge and we have only been here a few months.  So although our family have invited enough change that would take a lifetime to get used to.  We are enjoying some of the benefits now.  Sigh.