My Mama's birthday

It's my mama’s birthday today and if she was alive she would be 73 years old. I missed her so much very much. I know I will grow old wondering what if she was still here what we gonna be doing together, if she likes to come here in US or she would stay in the Philippines for her grandkids. Then I would think she would have a good life ahead because I will pamper her much and let her vacation to places she wants to go. Me and hubby was talking about it we just wished she was still alive. But the fact is that she isn’t and that makes my heart ache and long for her. I might be in age but still I feel the same thing as ever before she left us like a baby longing for a mothers loved and touched. Happy Birthday Ma!! Missed you so much and love you so much!

A short story to everyone:

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
"Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."
Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
"Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it's life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
"You will simply call her, 'Mama.'"

Yesterday, I was yelling and laughing and jumping up and down hubby had to cover his ears because my US passport arrived. I couldn't believe it's already here after two weeks after I applied. Waz gani ko kapanudlay when hubby took this picture hehe.

A tremendous weekend...

Hello friends I am so back here after a very tremendous event this weekend. First of all last
April 23~~Thursday...was my loving husband's nth birthday!! I asked him the day before his birthday if I would prepare dinner or what. He told me not to prepare or cook anything or buy anything, he just wants us to have dinner at Blind Fish restaurant. So I told his eldest daughter to contact everybody and just meet at the restaurant at 5:oopm. At 5:00pm sharp we arrived at the restaurant and I could see he was so ecstatic all his children came with their wife/husband, his bestfriend/cousin who has a parkinson disease came with his wife too, and his one and the last Uncle came with his wife and their son with his Korean wife came too. Over all there were 25 people came and he was so happy about it. I am so thankful for all the blessings, good health (which is very important) that God showered to my husband. We retire that night with a simple prayer and a smile to our face.
April 24~~ Friday... for two days we had the best weather. It was not too hot nor cold it was just perfect so I decided not to do any computer business thing rather enjoying the warm weather outside. So I did a little spring cleaning here and there, checking my plants if they are sprouting new buds, checking my three peach trees and I asked my hubby to cut some trees that I don't like (box elder tree). After he is done cutting it was time for me to clean up and gather all the little and big branches and put it in my little John Deer tractor and put it in the fire pit. I never was done cleaning actually I still have so many things to clean up in our backyard, frontyard and sideyard jeez!!
April 25~~Saturday... I woke up a little bit early, I cooked immediately a binagoongan na baboy and pakbit to take with me to my friends house for it was time for our movie weekend get together. Hubby was already at his son's house helping him transfering all his things to another house so i was just all alone at home. I did some vacuuming, while cooking and chatting to my niece (multi-tasking moment). That morning the sun was shining and it is kind of another good day for Michigan. After lunch time the sky became dark and started to have wind. Unfortunately, I didn't check at the weather channel I was caught too suddenly because I was in the shower when the STORM hit our area!! The wind came right on us with a 70 miles per hour speed!! I was alone at the house and I was so scared I could hear a thumping loud sound, from everywhere! I came out from the shower and wrapped my body with a towel and I ran around the house trying to figure out what is going on. I tried to figure out where those knocking thumping sound came from. When I looked at the bedroom sliding door I saw our huge tall evergreen tree slump at the back of my CARRRRRRRRRRR!! Yes the huge evergreen tree was uprooted right there and as I continue to looked around I saw this huge branch from the Willow tree slump at the south side of the house almost hitting our house. I continued to look around our two garbage can that I stacked up at the back of our house was already across our neighbors driveway!! What scared me the most the electricity went out almost immediately. I was all alone.I couldn't use our house phone because it is VOIP, thankfully I just finished charging my cellphone but I was kind of worried to call my hubby because I was thinking he might be on the road or on the interstate highway and with the storm it is very dangerous for him to answer his cellphone. But I did call him and leave a message. He did came home before 3:oopm and he saw what the storm had left us. We checked right away the car if it was hit totally thankfully the tip of the branches is the one that hit the back of my car, and the big branch that almost hit the house landed just few feet from the house leaving a big hole on the ground. After hubby found out that everything was just fine except that we already don't have an electricity he brought me to my friends house for our get together date. When I came home that night some area had an electricity and some don't. I was already almost to our house, and everything was so dark, when my friends husband told us that it looks like we had an electricity. I already figured it out that hubby started the generator. Today hubby was so busy with his two sons who help him hooked up this huge wiring to the big generator at my MIL's house. While I was also busy picking up and raking the branches that fell down from the Willow tree. It takes me hours to raked the whole front yard I had blister on my right hand but I am so glad too that the front yard looks clean though I still have to work for the side yard and the backyard. Right now our whole house is generated by a generator that is why I am able to update my blog even if we don't have an electric power in our area at this moment of time. Here are some of the pictures:
Before the big generator was hooked up I cooked our food (my rice and heated the binagoongan na baboy) and boil water for coffee this morning with my emergency stove. I stacked up 20 ounces can propane just because of the purpose like this moment (sudden storm or hurricane). Overall, hubby and I are thankful that my car was not hit in the middle or else that would be a big problem, then the huge branch didn't hit the roof or the south side part of the house that would be a big problem too (financially), and we still could enjoy the tv, internet connection, refrigerator and freezer because of the generator. God is good!

A wonderful Wife I am, Will become a Mom soon TAG!

A Wonderful Wife I am, Will Become a Mom Soon! 

Got this wonderful tag from Madz a Bol-anon like me. Madz, message me that I have a tag so I immediately grab it because I like the tag. The tag is about being a wife and a mother or soon to be mother. I can be a very good wife but I doubt it if I can be a soon to be a mother. For the fact that I am beyond my age but I still could see myself as a mother to my nieces and nephew. So I think I have the right to answer the parenting style because even if I am here in USA I see to it that my nieces and nephew are in their best behavior or else.... And besides before I also dream of how I am going to discipline my kids (if I have one) we also talked about it with my husband and I even found out that I am the one who is a disciplinarian but cool char!! Anyway, here are my answers to this tag.

RULES:
1. Link with the person who tagged you.
2. Copy above images.
3. Post this on any or all of your Blog/s.
4. Answer the two-part questionnaire following these Rules. (Feel free to elaborate your answers. For questions 8 - 14, post only the one (1) which you believe best describes your choice.)
5. Share this with at least seven (7) friends on your Blog Roll.
6. Come back to Living A’ La Mode (DO NOT CHANGE THIS LINK PLEASE.) and leave the URL of your Post in order for you/your Blog to be added to the Master List.Master List: 
7. Have Fun!

~ Parenting Style ~ (Reminder: I am basing my answer to how I discipline my nieces and nephew when I was in the Philippines so here it is.)

1. Do you exercise full or minimal control over your child’s / children’s behavior?
- I take a minimal control because I like them to be smart and sometimes let them know that if you don’t know how to control yourself you will pay the consequences. 

2. Do you expect your child / children to obey 100% or let her / him / them do what pleases her / him / them? 
- I want them to obey 100%!! I’ve lost my parents when I was in my 20’s and looking back I found out that all what they told me, advices me, are 100% right. I’ve never regretted a single bit on how they disciplined me although at those times I feel like I was choke hmmm part of growing up huh. And so to my pamangkins I want them to obey 100% because there are no parents who will bring their kids to devastation no one!

3. Do you welcome discussion or you simply set rules? 
- I do set rules then discuss why there is a rule that is being set. 

4. Do you reprimand?
- Yes I do but if it is too much and the wrong doing is being done repeatedly then punishment will be lead out. 

5. Do you use spanking for punishment?
- When I was in the Philippines I did it with my pamangkin but I regretted it I don’t know I felt bad after. 

6. Do you use some kind of a reward System for motivation? 
- Oh yes, specially if they make high grade, do something that I could be proud of. Just a trip to Jollibee and a kiss and a hug will definitely be remembered forever. 

7. Do you enjoy being a Parent?
- To my nieces and nephew I do. 

8. Are you a hands-on Parent or do you have a full-time Nanny?
- In Philippines I had a nanny who take care of my pamangkins but even if I am thousands of miles away I see to it that everything is fine and well with them. 

9. At what age would you let your child make simple decisions for himself / herself? 
- At anytime or age. Parents are just here to guide them and show that they are valuable and loved. They have to decide of themselves at an early age. 

10.Do you and your Husband have the same Parenting Style? 
- We had this discussion before with my hubby, and I found out that I was the one who is a disciplinarian while hubby is the cool one. I am the one who might spank and will reprimand and hubby is the one who has the ability to talk and be cool as a means of disciplining hehehe. It was a very good discussion between us couple because we both found out how we were disciplined when we were kids too that resulted of how our parenting style is. 

~ Wife Style ~
11. How long have you been married?
- Been happily married for 4 years and 4 months now but I’ve known my husband for 7 years and 4 months. 

12. How do you feel about being a Wife?
- I feel great and blessed.

13. What has been your typical sleeping attire since you got married?
- A pajama’s if it is cold or shorts and a white shirt.

14. How do you show how appreciative you are of your Husband?
- I always give him a kiss, a smile, a hug and say often the words Thank you! And I often told this to him “you are the best on the west, east, north and south” and then we just laugh together. 

15. What do you do when your Husband annoys you? 
- I make a drama, I make faces, I also annoys him but he just laugh at me he thinks I am joking with all my antics. 

1 6. You are buying or planning to buy your first house as Husband and Wife.
- We already owned a house though it is not a mansion but a decent house to live in. 

17. How does your house look like at the end of the day when Hubby gets home? 
- It depends on my mood but I was trained that the house should be cleaned before we go to sleep so I do cleaned it up. It is different when you are discipline to do things that you are told by your parents. I may not like to clean up kasi hapon or gabi na but it is part of me nakatatak na sa buto so I had to clean it up hehe. Though hubby told me a million times not to do it because may next day pa naman but jeez yun nga nakatatak na sa buto. But since couple lang kami with no kids around di naman mahirap dampot-dampot lang. 

18. How do you feel about running a household?
- I love it!

19. What is the sweetest gift you have given your Husband so far? 
- My love and my commitment to love him and cherished him forever. 

Now I am passing this tag to all my friends who haven't tag yet...please grab it and let me know.

Posting my Awards and the 100 truth about me..

Best Blogger Award 2009
I would like to thank for Ms. Bobbelle for giving this Award TAG for me. Wow I cant believe i got this special award. Belle is my blogsphere buddies and she is currently living in Manila. Thank you Belle for giving me this award I really appreciate it.

Now i will pass this award tag to: Mary, Janz, Beth, Weng. And to all those blogoshpere buddies please feel free to grab this award.

BLOGGER FRIENDSHIP AWARD

I received this award from Meryl. Thank you so much for including me again. I really appreciate it.
The rules are so easy:
1. Place the logo / banner on your blog.
2. Add a link to the blog who gave the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Add links to the blogs that you have nominated.
5. Let them know by leaving a message (shout) on their blogs.

International Blogger Award:

Be a proud member of the International Bloggers Community!
Rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Copy the image above, the rules and the questionnaire in this post.
3. Post this in one or all of your blogs.
4. Answer the four questions following these Rules.
5. Recruit at least seven (7) friends on your Blog Roll by sharing this with them.
6. Come back to BLoGGiSTa iNFo CoRNeR (PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THIS LINK) at http://bloggistame.blogspot.com and leave the URL of your Post in order for you/your Blog to be added to the Master List.
7. Have Fun!

Questions & Your Answers:
1. The person who tagged you: Amiable AMY
2. His/her site's title and url: http://www.amiableamy.com/
3. Date when you were tagged: April 13, 2009

The blogger trophy award:This award was given to me by Meryl (proud pinay)
I really like this award and it felt like I just walked the red carpet wearing a Coco Channel dress and a Manolo Blahnik shoes and a purse made by Hermes oh diba bonga!!

The 100 truths
1. What’s your real name : Mary Kim
2. Nicknames: Mary, Kim, Ging (my mother only called me by that nickname)
3. Relationship Status: Married
4. Zodiac sign: Aries
5. Male or female or trans gendered? Female
6. Elementary? Ozamis City Central School
7. High School: Immaculate Conception College now (La Salle University)
8. College: Immaculate Conception College now (La Salle University)
10. Hair color: black brown
16. Height: Hmmm 5”
17. Do you have a crush on someone? no
18: What do you like about yourself? all of myself
19. Piercing: ear
20. Tattoos: none
21. Righty or lefty: Righty.
FIRSTS :
22. First surgery: never had one
23. First piercing: Ears.
24. First best friends: My husband
25. First sport you joined: soccer softball
27. First pet: a dog
28. First vacation: going to my maternal parents town
29. First concert: I consider the Journey as my first good concert
30. First crush: William Martinez an actor in the Philippines

RIGHT NOW:
49. Eating: Done
50. Drinking: Done drinking water
52. I'm about to: finished this long questions
53. Listening to: Ave Maria radio
55. Waiting for: my laundry to be done
YOUR FUTURE :
58. Want kids? Oh yes
59. Want to get married? I am married
60. Careers in mind? A philanthropist, a financial guru, a consultant of management, a psychologist, a speaker
WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX? :
68. Lips or eyes: both
69. Hugs or kisses: both
70. Shorter or taller: taller
71. Older or Younger: older
72. Romantic or spontaneous: both
73. Nice stomach or nice arms: both
74. Sensitive or loud: both should be in moderation
75. Hook-up or relationship: relationship
76. Trouble maker or hesitant: hesitant
HAVE YOU EVER :
79. Kissed a stranger: nope
80. Drank hard liquor: yeah
81. Lost glasses/contacts: yes
82. Broken someone's heart: I think so
88. Had your own heart broken: oh yes but I manage to stoop down and collect the pieces
85. Been arrested: no way
86. Turned someone down: yes
87. Cried when someone died: Definitely
88. Liked a friend that is a girl? Is there a malicious intent to this question???? Like a friend that is a girl, of course specially if that friend is good natured.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
89. Yourself: most of the time
90. Miracles: oh yes everyday we see miracles
91. Love at first sight: I guess
92. Heaven: yeah
93. Santa Clause: oh yes
95. Kiss on the first date? I guess lol
96. Angels: yeah
ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
97. Is there one person you want to be with right now? sure is
98. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time? Nope
100. Posting this as 100 Truths? Okay!

Feast of Divine Mercy

It's one week after Easter Sunday and for the Catholics today is the Feast of Jesus Divine Mercy to all of us HIS children.

This week, the whole of Christendom once again commemorates our Lord Jesus Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. It is a time to reflect over how we have lived our lives as Christians and how we have followed the example set by Jesus. It is likewise a perfect time to repent for our sins, return to the Lord, and be blessed with His overflowing love and eternal mercy. The Sunday following Easter Sunday is also a fitting time to recall how merciful the Lord Jesus is despite our sinfulness, as we celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy.

The Feast of the Divine Mercy was established by the late Pope John Paul II (who coincidentally died on the vigil of the Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005) on April 30, 2000 on the occasion of Blessed Sister Faustina’s canonization. The Feast is dedicated to the Devotion to the Divine Mercy and is celebrated on the first Sunday following Easter. In the Philippines, there is a National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Bulacan which is a popular destination during Holy Week for people doing Bisita Iglesia, and for others fervently praying for personal intentions and healing.

The liturgical readings of the Second Sunday of Easter affirm the appropriateness of the Divine Mercy Sunday: “They speak of the blood and water that was poured out from the Savior’s heart and about the sacraments of Baptism and Confession and about His mercy.” The Gospel of the Day also speaks of the wonderful things that Jesus did on the day of His resurrection during His first public appearance.

Similar to all other celebrations in the Church’s calendar, certain preparations are to be made before the Feast of the Divine Mercy. In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus willed the Divine Mercy Sunday to be preceded by a novena commencing on Good Friday. Each day of the novena will bring to His mercy a different group of souls and shall be prayed for penance and absolution. Aside from praying this novena, believers are also admonished to confess, receive the Holy Communion and pray for the intentions of the Pope in order to be granted plenary indulgence. In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus encouraged believers: “Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind…will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.” (Diary of Sr. Faustina, 699)

It is our hope to have shared something to ponder upon – something that would enlighten our weary hearts. At a time of seeming uncertainty, reflection and appreciation of the Divine Mercy is a timely and flourishing source of Jesus’ redeeming grace.

Saturday: Cris Baby shower

Yesterday I attended a baby shower for Cris, it was held in her house and Sharon was the host of the said special event. Anyhow, as usual if Pinay's gathered together food are over-flowing and karaoke is the finale of it all. The weather was really good for the past 3 days Michigan was blessed with a warm weather which actually we need. We don't care about snow anymore we've seen a lot of it. Back to the baby shower, it is kind of surprise for the soon to be parents of what gender would the baby be because when Cris had her ultra sound the baby just curl up and didn't show it!! LOl! And so another Fil-Am baby is going to be born and that means nadagdagan na naman ang mga guapo at guapa na mga bata dito sa Amerika, of course mga nanay eh mga PINAY!! Here are some of the pics.

Proud to be US Citizen...

......Yep today I am officially a US citizen wohoo!! After the Oath taking hubby and I went to a post office to apply for a US passport. Right now I am so kind of tired and sleepy so got to go friends, just wanting to share my happiness to all. Good night and God bless us all.

Lunch Box

I was inspired to share my experienced about lunch box after I read Clarissa entry on her blog. My experienced happened 3 years ago when my step-daughter and I went to a school for a caregiver course. I was so naïve and a first timer so the first day of school I woke up early and prepare my BAON. I cooked rice and menudo for my lunch and brought water for me too. Talagang excited na excited ako ang gara pa nama nang lunch box ko rubber maid. My step-daughter picked me up and off we go to the school. Our lunch time came I was hungry at the same time excited because I am going to ate my rice and menudo. But to my surprised walang tao sa room na dapat doon magkainan, nobody brought their lunch or baon. They all went out to buy their lunch at Taco bell, McDonald, Wendys et all. I didn’t knew what to do honestly my step-daughter who also didn’t brought anything told me that we might as well buy our lunch at the nearest fast food. I told her I have my baon with me I have to eat it here but if you are alone in that room parang ang lonely2x nang feeling. So we went to KFC. That experienced opened my eyes that I guess nobody cooked here in America except to those who are health conscious people. We are living in this culture where fast food is convenient and people started to rely on them. 

When I get home I told my husband about my ordeal hehe, he was laughing but I told him I guess I will just eat a lot at breakfast and wont eat at lunch time I don’t like going out and buy those fast food kind of stuff. 

I remember when I was young before my grade school, I used to come with my mother.  As a  teacher in a remote town people love to pamper teachers so sometimes at lunch time we have fresh sea foods and a newly cooked saging or camote brought by some parents. It was in that time though that I had this experienced of eating rice and some food wrapped in banana leaves wow it has a good aroma. That time napagisip-isip ko na, na yang banana leaves is their lunch box while me and my mama's baonan is plastic made in China (unhealthy).  And they wrapped fish cooked with vinegar in a mango leaves.  My mama also told me when she was young that her parents will wrapped her baon or lunch in a banana leaves and inside is  rice with a piece of fish. What a very simple life then!

Sexting...

I first heard this word while listening to my favorite radio station the Avemariaradio.net . I was like what is that word all about? Well the word sexting comes from two words from sex + texting = sexting. I looked at it in the dictionary the word doesn’t exist yet. Upon listening to the radio anchor it is about girls who are of course minor age not even a teenager yet but has a cell phone with camera took picture of their naked body and send it to their boyfriend or friends. So the sexting was conceived!!! It was like child porn but it was not taken by another person but the girl itself. The bad and the saddest part is that the state of Vermont is thinking of making it as legal? After I heard that from the radio anchor I was like WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE PEOPLE!! I could think of my two little nieces back in the Philippines, yes they are deprived of material things like fancy toys or cellphone but for me they are in the right place. Napag-isip2x ko lang the parents here in America is pressured to so many things specially disciplining their kids because some laws allow this kids to do it. The world is getting too difficult but if parents go hand in hand set foot the rule and become the role model I think the kids won’t go wayward. 

Happy Easter!!

Last night hubby and I went to attend the Easter Vigil at St Anne Catholic Church. The mass started at 8pm and ended around 10pm. Today, I get up at about 8am took a shower and started to cook. Oh yeah, hubby wants to have an Easter celebration at home just like what happened last Thanksgiving day, so it is my first time to cooked huge turkey last Thanksgiving and now a huge chunk of ham. But I made it through....I cooked some dish that is pretty common to american palate and I made pancit behon and my specialty for the day is seafood with white sauce. The pictures are in my other blog Manangs Kusina. Got to go I need to chill out...HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE!!

Blood letting...

Hubby and I attended the mass yesterday Good Friday, the mass was very solemn and when we are in the part of the Venerating the Cross, the priest told the parishioners to line up jeez I was standing waiting in line my tears just run down my cheeks I get so carried away. I am basically a sentimental person, I remember my mom told me that I am a “kapayason”. Remember how a papaya tree when pricked, the sap automatically run down just so easy? And that is me, a light drama or a heavy drama as long as there is this heavy nice dramatic dialogue I guarantee to anyone I am already crying. What happened at the church was a mixed emotion, I missed my pamangkins, brother and sister, I missed my parents, I am happy that hubby and me attended the mass, and I am so thankful of everything. After the mass, at the church function hall there was this Red Cross Blood donation. I told my hubby I wanted to donate my blood and it is not new to me I donate blood from time to time when I was in the Philippines. I signed up and waited, when it was my turn to be interviewed (because a nurse will ask you several questions) it turns out that I can’t donate YET a blood because I’ve been in the Philippines a year ago. The nurse really take also her time to call the CDC to checked the places I’ve been because Malaria is undetectable in the blood. So since I was in the Philippines a year ago I can’t donate at this time but I can donate a blood next month. Hubby didn’t understood it hehehe he thought that there is no questions about anything I said there is a lot of questions because it is a blood that you have to give. So my desire to give blood yesterday was preempted which is kind of sad but thankfully I knew that next month I can donate my type B+ blood. 

Why my desire to donate blood:

1.My first experienced in donating blood happened year 2000. My co-catechist was on labor at the hospital when her mother told us that she need some blood. We are at the meeting at that time which is a good thing because all the catechist was there. She used some of the blood at the hospital blood bank, but she doesn’t have money to pay for it, so she agreed that whatever blood she used she will pay it for another blood which the hospital agreed. Her mom told us who is willing to donate blood will come with her to the hospital so they could repay what they used and to her surprise almost everybody came with her including our priest. I know some people are not so used with needles or hospital thingy but while we are there we had fun. The nurses were amuzed  at us because when they started to take blood from us we were singing praise and worship song to the Lord hehehe good thing to get rid of the fear!!!

2. I had a friend whose daughter was sick of Leukemia. They were in well known hospital for a check up and that time her daughter was in advanced stage. I was in Cebu at that time too so me and my friend went there to helped take care of her daughter. I saw how the daughter was being injected in the spine and how my friend cried so hard I feel the pain of both the daughter and the mother it’s the scene I couldn’t forget. I see how the red blood go up and on top of the machine the red blood separates with the white blood I never knew that at all!! I don’t know what was the name of that procedure but it amuses me so much I could just wonder. The other hard part of the whole incident is when the nurse or doctor will asked us to looked for a blood jeez, we walked and ride a jeepney looking for blood. We go to red cross, looked for people who like to donate, it was very tiring. But if we can find one it is glorifying!! At the end my friends daughter didn’t make it she died very young. 

3.Two years ago, my niece got sick of Dengue fever we were chatting on line and she keep on telling me that she had a fever and her stomach was aching. Until it was Saturday, when I received her text message that she was admitted in the hospital and the doctor said that she had a Dengue fever. I was shocked I knew many people who got sicked of Dengue and didn’t make it. I get paranoid thinking of her condition so I told her not to worry but do what the Doctor advised. The Doctor also told her to asked the family to looked for a grass called ‘salingkapaw” boiled it and drink it like a tea. She took some of that salingkapaw tea, but she also need some BLOOD of her type, and the Doctor said her platelet ( I didn’t knew what is platelet if there is white or red) keeps on dropping which is not a good signed it has to increased and not dropped. My niece has this different blood type, they were not able to find it in the blood bank so my brother looked for people who does has the same blood type of my niece. Thankfully with Gods grace they were able to find two people, at siguro alam naman natin sa Pinas it is not free so my brother paid for them and brought them to a restaurant. 

Blood is very important and with my experiences I don’t hesitate to give my blood to help other people. I never put in my mind that it is painful rather I just think of the people who will be happy and relived when they got your blood surely their lives will be prolonged because of just a mere giving of a pint of blood. Happy Black Saturday to all!!

Good Friday: By His wounds we are healed

Sentenced to die on the cross, Jesus was made to suffer the worst type of punishment reserved only for the worst type of criminals.

Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus was scourged, beaten with rods, and a crown of thorns pressed into His skull. Aside from the extreme physical pain He endured, Jesus must have felt so alone seeing Himself abandoned on the cross by almost all His apostles, save for His mother and three women, along with John. After a few hours of agonizing emotional and physical pain amid the jeers and insults of those who came to witness His humiliation, Jesus expired.

Pilate had publicly heralded Jesus “King of the Jews’’ no doubt to irritate and annoy the chief priests and Pharisees. Ironically, it was this very title “awarded’’ by Pilate to Jesus that gave Him and the Romans a reason to consider Jesus a threat. Jesus had answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world …’’ So Pilate said to Him, “Then You are a King?’’ Jesus answered, “You say I am a King …’’ (Jn 18:36-37). On the other hand, the Jews expected a Messiah who would come as king to establish God’s reign for them. They wanted, therefore, a political leader who would free them from tyranny and foreign domination. Little did they understand what kind of Messianic kingship Jesus claimed to have.

Jesus’ only power is the power to attract, to draw us towards Him and not to force Himself on us. If for Him, “there is no sorrow like my sorrow’’ (Lam 1:12), it is because Christ on the cross is God who continues to suffer in love despite humanity’s continued refusal to be loved, our withdrawal into ourselves from our union with God who has become like one of us.

It would be hard, indeed, to see the cross of Christ as a sign of victory if we are not able to realize that it was not just the mere endurance of the suffering of Jesus that saved us, but rather the love and forgiveness of Jesus that is the source of our salvation. Jesus’ act of sacrificing His life was full of compassion, which in its simplest terms means to “suffer with love.’’ We can find no greater proof of God’s love for us that the willing sacrifice of His Son Jesus who died on the cross for love of us.

The cross begins to make sense the very moment we see that love is more powerful than anger, hatred, and death. The cross of Christ, far from being a decoration or just an external badge of identity, is the very substance of our pain and struggle. It tells us there is hope for us even at our very worst and seemingly trying and helpless situations. It extends beyond us both ends of the scale: It measures our life and gives meaning to it.

Maundy Thursday

Holy Thursday is the most complex and profound of all religious observances, save only for the Easter Vigil. It celebrates Christ’s institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacerdotal Priesthood and commemorates Christ’s never-ending love for His disciples, most of whom would desert, betray, or deny Him a few hours after that gathering.

In His Last Supper, a celebration of Passover, Jesus is the self-offered Passover Victim, and every ordained priest to this day presents this same sacrifice, by Christ’s authority and command, in exactly the same way: “Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying. ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’ ’’ (Luke 22:19-20)

For many centuries, the Last Supper has inspired great works of art and literature such as Leonardo da Vinci’s popular Last Supper in the 16th century, Joey Velasco’s Last Supper which featured street children, the glorious stained glass window in Chartres Cathedral, and a reminiscence called Holy Thursday, by the French novelist Francois Mauriac, written in the 1930s.

A special mass is celebrated in all the cathedral churches of the world on the morning of Holy Thursday, participated in by the bishop and as many priests of the diocese as can attend, because it is a solemn observance of Christ’s institution of the priesthood at the Last Supper. At this “Chrism Mass,’’ the bishop also blesses the Oil of Chrism used for baptism, confirmation, and anointing of the sick or dying.

The evening Holy Thursday Liturgy marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the sacred Triduum of Holy Week, which culminates in the Easter Vigil. In His desire to show both the worth God ascribes to the humility of service and the need for cleansing, Jesus decided to first strip his outer garments and wash the feet of His apostles before partaking of His Last Supper with them (Jn 13:3-5). It is this cleansing on the part of Jesus which gave this day of Holy Week the name Maundy Thursday.

If the Eucharist is the place where the Lord washes our feet, daily life is the place where we ought to wash the feet of others. We must follow His example both at the altar of the Eucharist and at the altar of life.

Yesterday Wednesday:

Our chanced to have a birthday dinner date happened yesterday. We went to Applebees for a quite dinner, we chatted and exchange jokes, and talked about how time flies. I shared my childhood story that some stories my loving husband knew it by heart already but some are new to him. Oh well for 43 years of age I guess I have so many stories to tell it is like saying "been there than that" adage. We didn't stay longer at the restaurant because I was thinking of going to the mall which is just across the road. We were at the parking lot when hubby found out that one tire is flat. Good thing that Belle Tire store is just right next to the restaurant so hubby drove there and told the salesman to changed the 4 tires. It only took minutes for them to change the 4 tires and off we go to the mall. Here are some of the pictures:

More birthday cake!

This morning my hubby singsong to me this words "how's my 43 wife doing"and the way he sings it makes me laugh and laugh it was so funny I enjoyed it. I told him I am 43 but feeling young and gorgeous!! Nothing change really it is only a number though I just feel so good about myself that never I have felt this way when I was in my 20's and 30's.

As always every Tuesday is our family brunch. We arrived a little bit late since we had to picked up my SIL and her husband at their house. It was snowing so hard it is like winter and not spring jeez I don't like to think that my birthday was snowing so hard, a year ago I was in the Philippines on my birthday enjoying the summer there. We arrived at the restaurant Deb, Tim, Fran, were there already, though not everybody are present because of the weather but still everything turns out fine I received some cards with gift card inside and this live plants called Campanula, a donut with 3 candles on top. It is so cute and colorful I couldn't help but eat it right away. Then came one of my SIL and her husband who brought another cake for me. They sing a birthday song for me hehe too old for that huh but they did so I blushed. They were so eager to hear my story about what happened in my interview how it goes and everything. They congratulated me on passing the citizenship interview I was so relieved too that everything was just so easy. I am so happy to be part of my husbands family they are just so loving and kind people. Never did I experienced any prejudices or hear negative words against me and because of that I am so thankful and considered blessed in so many ways. Hubby always told me you came to the right family and he is right!! Here are some of the pics taken this morning:

It's my 43rd birthday today!!

April 6, Monday:Yeheyy today is my 43rd birthday and it's my US citizenship interview in Detroit. Thankfully I passed the interview yohooo! This morning hubby sing to me a Happy Birthday song inside the Greektown casino-hotel.

April 5, Sunday:

Sunday was Palm sunday, after hubby and I attended the mass we immediately headed home since I am going to attend a baby shower for my step-granddaughter at a church function hall. It was raining already but the outcome of the party was really good. People are still coming inspite of the heavy downpour of rain and more relatives where there too. Around 5:00 pm I went home my step-sons called us that they are going to have an early Easter dinner since next Sunday they are going to New Jersey. So off we go and it was in that dinner that hubby was told and my SIL also called that we'd better go down to Detroit that night since a snow storm is coming and they don't want us to be stucked in I-75 or meet an accident on the way to the INS in Detroit. We checked-in at Greektown casino-hotel jeez I was so shocked there room rate is $249 + 15% tax a night!!! I told hubby that we are going to find another hotel but he insisted to stay so we stayed for a night. The room was nice but the bed is what I like most it has a california size the whole night I had a hard time finding my husband and it is very comfortable I slept like a baby hehehehe.

April 4, Saturday:

I was invited to a party last Saturday, it turns out to be a surprised birthday party for me and Angel. I am so grateful specially to Jonna and her husband who host the party and all the pinay friends who celebrated with us. All the effort is truely appreciated and the memories will be engrained forever!! Cheers for that.

So that is how busy I was the whole weekend specially today. But I am so thankful I am done with my US citizenship interview. When we arrived home the snow is so deep I was so sleepy but still managed to get a picture hahaha. Hubby was so busted because he suppose to have a surprise birthday party for me with my family at a restaurant but since the weather is so nasty and some had to travel for an hour to come he had to call them one by one that the party is postpone lol. I was in the bedroom about ready to take a nap I could hear phone ringing all the time. Well I do appreciate the thought hon so much but for now the weather is not cooperating anyway everyday is a birthday we could do it some other day when the weather gets better. Snow in spring time how is that for a change!!

April showers bring May flowers...

April shower brings May flowers!!! Yohoo rain is here, it rained the whole night and today I guess it will rain the whole day too. I just hope that it would not get too cold because if it happen snow will follow and I don't need snow. I can't wait to see flowers around and green grassess and my vegetable garden.

Yesterday, hubby and I went shopping at the mall. I first went to a dollar store to buy a $1 bag and I found out that they have a .97cents cute baby books so I bought 5 of them. My step-granddaughter specified in her baby shower invitation that instead of giving a baby shower card it is better to give 1 book for the baby, and I found it very cool. Because usually after reading the card some will throw it away or keep it and never to be read again. But a book it will wait until the baby start to read. AFter dollar store I went to Kohls and found a very good discounted clothing for babies. I was drawn to the girls stuff they are just very cute and pretty but I have to looked for boys stuff hehe since my step-granddaughters soon to be baby is a boy. I found out too that when it comes to boys, there is not too many to choose from specially the colors. Boys had only brown, blue, green, colors unlike the girls it has tons of pretty colors around. After shopping at Kohls we proceeded to the big mall we looked around bought some things browse some and ended getting hungry. We went to Joes crab shack and I had an awesome dinner with broiled seafood platter, while hubby had maui mahi. I was so stuffed when we get home and found out in the porch that the reishe DXn RG/GL is waiting for us.

Anticipation...

Yesterday, I recieved this package from DXN Reishi coffee through UPS. I was so excited because I ordered it last week and it takes them at least 5 days to arrived, well I guess because the shipment fee is not that expensive though. Anyway, when hubby opened it up I found out that the RG/GL capsules which I ordered was not inside. Hubby asked me if I ordered it I said yes because it is right there in the reciept or invoice. I immediately called their office and thankfully the one who answered me is so nice enough you don't want your blood to boil hehe. She asked me some information that I could find in the invoice and she told me she is going to call me the next day to confirm. The next day, I recieved a call from her and she said that they are going to mail the RG/GL capsules that I ordered. So everything was settled then and I hope today it will come since that is our lifeline to a good healthy body.

Yesterday, again I recieved the cellphone that I ordered online through FEDex ground. My contract at Sprint for one year was up and I decided not to renew. I browsed the internet what is the cheapest cellphone I found out that virgin mobile is the cheapeast one. I browsed there plans and I decided to get the $6.99/a month, prepaid .10 cents a minute, no contract, as in no hassle, I only set in my account a certain amount so they could immediately add it up if my prepaid card is low. It is one of my cost cutting that I made, my nice cellphone that hubby gave to me two Christmas ago I gave to him since his cellphone is so delapidated -wink-. His contract too will end up this month but I told him to retain his number and company but I will transfer the contract from two years to just a year and make changes of the minutes allowed for a month. For now he had this 900 minutes that cost him around $60/ month but as I checked on the bills every month he doesn't reach to 500 minutes used in a month. Cost cutting is very necessary this days and cellphone bills should be lowered stingy me!! I don't want now to pay a cellphone bill for more than a $100 a month jeez usa na na ka sako nga bugas sa Pilipinas. Since I got my cellphone yesterday I haven't heard it ring yet because the only person who knew my new number is my hubby and also it is prepaid it is not for chatting. If I like to chat for hours then I would used the home phone then which is very cheap too.

Last night, I was looking at the mangoes that I bought last Sunday. They looked so pretty and ripe but I know for sure that they are not sweet rather they are sour eh they came from Mexico. But then later on I decided to try and make mango float, as I peeled the mango and taste it I was never mistaken they are sour. How I long for the Philippine mangoes they are just the best in the world!!! In other words, my heart was not into it because of the mango but hubby heard me doing something at the kitchen so he came up and watched me that then changed my heart. Though the mangoes are sour but my hubbys gesture change me it became so sweet. I think it was my first time to make a mango float because hubby has a lot of question about this dessert and I also let him help me arranged the graham cracker and everything. This morning I took a little piece and taste it, it is sweet and it was good though. I kept it chilled the whole night and this morning I transfered it to the freezer I hope the cream will get hard so it would not become too saucy when I sliced it.

We had a windy day yesterday and today according to the weather forecast we've got a sunny day (i hope so). Hubby agreed to me (at last) that we are going to plant my climbing america roses today, jeez they are sprouting like crazy they are ready to explode (I told my hubby hehehe), or because I talked to them every morning how pretty they are and how excited I am to see the first flower. Still crossing my fingers I just hope today will be the day. 

1 week ago