Introducing you to the familia as seen on my “top friends” on Myspace. Have at it, send for the request…if you haven’t already.

My Wife, Sons and Angelic

My Sis and Fiance Johnny Mr Beans

My Niece

First Cousins

Second Cousins

If I forgot some of you, I apologize my computer has had its day.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Alliance Helps Needy With School Supplies

By Polly Summar
Journal Staff Writer
“My kids are Catholic,” said the man answering the door at a La Loma Vista Apartments unit late Monday afternoon.
But that’s not a problem for Daniel Arellano and his youth volunteers with Hope for Youth Alliance. Canvassing the apartment complex, the group is simply looking for kids who are going to need backpacks and school supplies when school starts. It doesn’t matter what faith they or their parents are.
“Their faith is not a wall for us,” said Arellano, founder and president of the alliance and an associate pastor at The Rock Christian Fellowship.
The Hope for Youth Alliance has targeted five lower-income neighborhoods in Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties and is going door to door this month finding the names, ages and schools of kids who need backpacks, from kindergarten through 12th grade. Six area banks have pledged their help — Century Bank in Española, Bank of America in Española, Community Bank in Española and Santa Fe, Zia Credit Union in Los Alamos and Española, Los Alamos National Bank and Valley National Bank in Española — and the alliance is also looking for individual donations of money and supplies.
“One local bank has an anonymous angel who has provided most of our needs for kindergarten through fifth grade,” Arellano said. “She’s dropped by over eight bags filled with supplies.”
Arellano knows that a filled backpack won’t solve all of a kid’s problems but said the alliance’s mission is to help kids succeed emotionally, spiritually and academically. He believes that being prepared with the right supplies for school is a start. Arellano said he’s read figures that a third of American families will not be able to afford school supplies this year.
His wife, Esperanza, operates the private academy at The Rock and has helped prepare lists for the various grades of what a backpack should hold, and the alliance has also contacted various schools for information.
Arellano comes by his interest in kids naturally.
“I have a heart for troubled kids,” said Arellano, 29, “because I was a troubled kid myself. I’m a graduate of the New Mexico Boys School.”
He describes bouts with truancy, drug use and incarceration.
“At the age of 13, a probation officer introduced me to Christ, and I started attending church and from there I started a whole new journey.”
Gradually working with kids at The Rock, Arellano was selected to attend a 15-month leadership initiative.
“That’s where my vision and my calling solidified to working with at-risk youth,” he said. With the creation of the Hope for Youth Alliance, a 501c3, Arellano now speaks to juvenile probation officers, local church and works with “some of their most incorrigible kids.”
The Hope for Youth Alliance has no paid staff, but Arellano’s salary is covered by the church as an associate pastor.
“Alongside my work as a pastor, I am doing this,” he said. “All our monies are generated for specific programs. Potentially, we’d like to be a premier mentoring organization.”
With many members of the group wearing T-shirts saying, “Got Mentors?” they say they like canvassing the neighborhoods.
“It’s pretty nice because we’re helping people,” said Daniel Martinez, 14.
In just 20 minutes of work on Monday, the some 25 volunteers had a list of 58 kids at the apartment complex who need backpacks. Arellano estimated that among the five neighborhoods, some 400 kids will need the filled backpacks.
The Alliance members will distribute the filled backpacks on Saturday and Sunday during parties in the various neighborhood with hot dogs, sodas, games and puppet shows.

See the Article here online

Thanks to those of you who have been praying for our family. Yesterday we completed our home inspection with CYFD. In just a few days we (Panch and I) will be licensed foster care parents in Rio Arriba County. Our hope is to become adoptive parents….

On any given day in New Mexico, nearly 2,500 children need short or longer-term foster care. If you have ever considered making a difference in the life of children…fostering or becoming an adoptive parent is a sure way to be a difference maker. For more info on becoming a foster parent, please call your local CYFD office or call 1800 432 2075

How can you help?

As a foster family, you can provide:

+Temporary care for children who are abused or neglected or who need help for other reasons;
+Protection from harmful situations;
+Structure for the child by encouraging and rewarding acceptable behavior;
+Nurturing by helping the child experience new social, cultural and educational opportunities;
+Assistance in preparing the child to return to his/her home, to live with relatives or to be adopted.

Can you choose the child you foster?
As a foster family, you choose the age, gender, ethnicity and needs level of the child or children you care for.

How can you become a foster family?
You can qualify to become a foster family in New Mexico in about 4-9 months if you are:

+Healthy
+21 or older
+Able to provide space for a child
+A New Mexico resident
+Willing to attend parenting classes
+Willing to undergo a home study
+Committed to caring for an loving children

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

These are photos from our annual family trip to White Rock Overlook Park.

Enjoy.

The Homeboys -Adullam Project Mens Home

The Homegirls- Beauty for Ashes Womens Home

View em all here

These are some of the first shots with my new Canon EOS Digital Camera. Today we are off to our annual 4th of July get-a-way, the overlook park in White Rock, New Mexico.

Please stay tuned for more pictures later this evening. More like this one here

Please pray for our friend and brother Juan Romero and Family who are mourning the loss of their daughter and sister of Monica Romero who was struck by a car in a hit and run earlier this week.

A funeral service will be held at St. Annes Church in Santa Fe, NM tomorrow (Saturday, June 20 at 10:00 am.)

Source: ALB Journal North

These are 3 of my 4 bros in-laws.

I visited The Candy Man music store in Santa Fe, NM last week and brought them along with me, while I was checking out the Latin Percussion corner the Trio-From F-B (Anthony, Angel and Joshua) assembled themselves in the Acoustic Guitar section and put on a little jam session. Employees of CM said, “wow, check that out”, echoing,… “doesn’t any one have a camera”-and I sure did! These are future faithful customers to the Candy Man Strings and Things.

Obama hits the nail right on the head!!

Kudos to Barak Obama

“Too many fathers are missing from too many homes and too many lives, they are MIA, AWOL, they have abandoned their responsibilities, they are acting like boys instead of men. Because of this, the foundations of our country and families are falling apart. Any fool can have a child, and that doesn’t make you a father, taking responsibility for that child makes you a father.” BO 2008

AMEN!!

Thank God for my Grandfather Estevan Arellano (My mothers dad) who raised me as his own son. I am grateful that he filled the void of this young boy who grew up without the blessing of a father. Because of my own father issues, I am committed to my 3 sons, and am dedicated to and connecting fathers to the fatherless. This is what heals me from my father wound.

“It takes more than sperm to be a father…it takes a man to  be a dad.” Daniel Arellano

Note: This is not an endorsement for Barak Obama. Although, I stand to agree with him on this note.

Related post here

Monday Morning Podcast featuring Larry Acosta. If you missed this years Living the Legacy UYWI Conference, over the next few weeks I will try to post up these podcast from the General Session.

 

 Legacy Unwritten:Larry Acosta [38:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Pictured in this photo is my sister in-law Consuelo and my older son Uriah with his guitar. This was a Christmas program. (He is around 4 yrs old). He used to drag that acoustic guitar everywhere! I am still trying to find the original picture.

Another meet and great session of my immediate family.

Introducing my Nephew JAY and Niece Nessa, and the newly addition is Diamond.  She’s got tight curls and very dark skin..she part Puerto Requena. These are children of my Sister Laura.

+Related Post- Please meet more of my family here

This is Malachi’s first funeral service, he helped me officiate tonight at Devargas funeral home.

He was well dress in his “Pastors Jacket” as he calls it, and looking like a cool dude in my shades.

(Laura, Me, Cindy, Mom -Theresa) Cousin Eileen and Son Manny (Rt)

My Niece Diamond and Nephew Anthony.

Photos from Pismo Beach, California

Cousin Eileen and Her Husband Butch Cater a Santa Maria style BBQ.

View the full set here

Myspace connects us again.

Today I was surprised with a new Myspace friend request. I introduce my blogosphere New Mexico family and friends to my first cousin Patricia (Rosita). She is the daughter of my aunt Patsy, they live in Georgia.

For family who read this blog check her out on myspace here

Pictured Below: Rositas older sister Irene and I with grandpa Estevan. Picture taken in Tujunga, California. (LOS ANGELES)

Above Los Naranjos- Pictured here is Pastor Mike and Gloria with their 7 of 8 adoptive children.

Los Arellanos

These are from the Mothers Day Set Here 

Time does really pass us by. I was looking through old storage and found all these great pics.

Enjoy.

+View more here

More like this here

From the getgo I believed that this show was not a great idea…its definitely not for those who are not authentic and have a struggle with integrity.

Hey everyone, just want to introduce you to my baby sister Cynthia Valadez.

Myspace sure does have a way of getting loved ones, old friends etc, back in touch. She lives in Chino, California. (Shes Engaged Fellas!)

Haven’t seen her since she moved out from moms home in Santa Maria CA.

+If I would of had a girl….:( , she would be looking something in between these two girls. (My Little Sis and My Wife) Pretty Beautiful!!!

Today was the season opener for my two sons; Uriah and Elias. We have 7 More weeks of Basketball. It was a was a tough first day for both the Lobos and Rising Stars. Here are a couple of Pics from today. Elias is #24 Red Jersey (above Photo) and Uriah # 24 Blue Jersey. (Photo Below). All but one of the games will be played in Espanola, NM. All EVCA teams will play in Albuquerque, NM at the Thunderbirds Arena at the Tingley On Feb 23, 2008.

Pictured here is Elias Arellano #24 with Lobos Basketball team mate Loui.

Uriah Arellano #24 with the Rising Stars Pictured here going for the ball in todays first game.

More pictures like this here