Woman’s kids from 5 to 13 years old

Caring

The other children were taken shopping. First, they headed to Bath & Body Works to pick out lotions for Rosas to bring the spa experience home. Each child took turns smelling the lotions and picking one out. Sevenyear-old Raul ended up with lotion on his nose, which brought giggles.

Later they headed to Things Remembered to pick out a charm for Mom that will have all of their names engraved on it.

While Rosas was having her facial, Maria joined the other children, and they split up to shop for one another. Yari, 10, Raul, 7, and Maria headed to Claire’s to shop for Jovana, 11, and Roxanna, 5. Together they picked out a pink purse and earrings for Roxanna and a small stuffed animal and press-on nails for Jovana. Over at Build-ABear Workshop, Jovanna and Roxanna picked out a monkey they named Coco for Raul, a dog named Mini for Maria, and a cat named Ticis for Yari. Roxanna carefully brushed the animals before dressing them in the outfits they picked for the stuffed animals.

Soon it was time to pick up Rosas, who with a shy smile on her face looked relaxed. “Everything turned out beautiful,” she said. “I didn’t expect it at all.”

Nguyen, who said the spa gave her the ultimate facial, had a big smile on her face. “I’m so happy for her,” she said. “She’s my Christmas gift. They deserve this.”

The last stop in the mall was California Pizza Kitchen, where the manager treated the family to guacamole and spinach dip, pepperoni and sausage pizzas, and ice cream sundaes.

Rosas says it was the best day of her life. “I was so relaxed,” she says. “I forgot about the kids.”

The Rosas family still needs rent assistance, tutoring, Internet access and a home phone.

To find out more about the Rosas or to help with an item on their wish list, contact Boys & Girls Club of the Austin Area, 4447199, bgcaustin.org.