The Item

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit 

     This quote reminds me of how animatedly a friend and I discussed  an item displayed in my house.
At first, I had misgivings, even sadness,  about putting up the said item because how could I, if I was in my right mind,  show something that is incomplete. But after analyzing and dissecting and finding reasons why what happened  happened I didn't think anyone would, or should,  mind or complain.
     And, of course I had planned of changing it.  But while waiting for the right time, I somehow managed to  find  a way of  "completing" the item. 

     And that is why another quote came into mind:

To be upset over what you don't have is to waste what you do have. ~Ken S. Keyes, Jr., Handbook to Higher Consciousness

P.S.While my decision may not appeal to everyone I am satisfied that it was embraced by me and all those involved.

100 Reasons Why I Blog for Peace (96 To Go)

Make your own Countdown Clocks

I blog for peace because I want all the kids in the world to walk without fear anywhere and everywhere.

100 Reasons Why I Blog for Peace (97 To Go)

Make your own Countdown Clocks.

So that my sons will have no qualms in raising their own families.

Caught in a Quagmire

I love my blog layout, that is, until the curious cat got into me!
I was intrigued by the new design template button. And so I clicked!
Then before I knew it I was in a totally "different blog" and I couldn't get back to my original design! I hit Edit to go back several times but nothing happened.  In a panic I called my niece who designed my heading and she couldn't do anything either. Only an 'error' message came out she said.
Of course I had to go to HELP section only to find out that several bloggers encountered the same problem and haven't found, or, been given, any solutions yet!!!

Now I can't feed my eyes on my grandkids helping me in the kitchen as I read my posts!

Is there anyone out there who can help those Blogger engineers or designers or programmers (however you call them) get me back my original layout design?  I will be very grateful!

100 Reasons to Blog-4-Peace

#2--- I blog for peace so that everyone will have a chance to live in a peaceful, happy, tolerant world!

                  









                                                                                   ((Image source: http://www.thinke.org)

100 Reasons to Blog for Peace: Mimi's Challenge

I am starting my countdown to Mimi's challenge to give 100 reasons {(for each of the 100 days until her Blog Blast for Peace campaign)} why I blog for peace.

One reason is because:

Happy Birthday, Manang Purita!!!

First time I met Manang Purita was in 1978 at an Alitalia  sales office in Manila. We were both following up on our itineraries so we could be with our husbands in Africa.  While in Nigeria our families started a  friendship that continues to today and I am sure beyond!
On this your 82nd birthday (July 27th), together with another member of our "clan",  Gloria, we wish you, Manang,  a Happy, Happy Birthday and we are praying for many many many more years of celebrations and togetherness like this.

BTW, she has started a blog !   Check it out!

The Piano

Playing the piano is every girl's dream.  At least that was how I felt when I was a little girl. Almost all my cousins and two of my sisters were taking piano lessons so why couldn't I?  An aunt took it upon herself to enroll me and I was ecstatic.  My cousin and I would wake up early every Saturday morning so we wouldn't  miss the train that would take us some 20+ miles into the city.  From the station we would walk the rest of the journey to our  piano teacher's (who we called Profesora) house.  She was an interesting piano teacher.  Every time I watch Harry's Law, Kathie Bates  reminds me so much of her.  I was amazed at how she could sing the solfeggio note for note.  How did she know that every note sounded so? Even the sharps and the flats?  Even more amazing to me was the way she ran her nimble fingers through the keyboard making me wonder if I could ever reach that level.  Well, I never but I enjoyed every moment of my lessons with her.
Every trip to her was an adventure for me and my cousin.  Each Saturday we would take a different route until we remembered where the dentist's house was, the pharmacist's, even the hairdresser's. We even discovered a beautiful church and were told it was a Cathedral!  More thrilling was when we would go our separate ways to see who would reach the Profesora's' house first!  We were very daring then. We didn't care if we were alone on the street after all, we didn't know anything about pedophiles or child molesters. All we cared for was to enjoy our independence!
Last week my husband and I brought home our very first piano.   I've been looking for one that I could afford and I was lucky to see one advertised in a local penny saver magazine.  It also showed that it had been well taken cared of.  Could it be because  the previous owners were teachers, too?

Where have all.........

"Where have all the flowers gone......."

This opening line from  a  'Peter, Paul & Mary' song will always remind me of my date with my blog today.
I wanted to re-connect so I clicked on a name on my list.  Relieved, happy, cuz Antuken's last post made me angry and laughing at the same time. Then I went to About 70+ and I could picture a friend to the last mole as she was writing the post.
Then I visited my friend from OKIE and her last post was dated 2008!  I felt lost.   I could not "find" her even after trying all the links on her site.  I suddenly miss our exchanges of comments, even laughters, you know, those LOLs.
I tried another blogger friend who, inspite of her suffering from bipolar disorder, manages to inspire many other bloggers, including me. Her last post was also in 2008.  Has it really been that long ago?
I was afraid to click on another name!
Suddenly, a sense of guilt engulfed me!
 
How could I let it happen?  Now I will never know where all those flowers have gone!

If and more ifs.....

If  this blog could complain, it would say: "Why have you forsaken me!"

If  this blog could feel romance, it would whisper: "I miss you terribly!"


If  this blog could physically talk, it would shout: "Feed me. I'm famished!"

I thought retiring would mean more time to do things, only to find out  on a daily basis that the opposite is true.  The rooms are still as they were; drawers and cabinets are still untouched; dusty corners still, well, as they were, dusty, duh!!  And i don't have any answer to my Whys!!!


I am not complaining, lol (as they do it on FB)... just making a point.... hahahaahah

I have a lot to make up for, I know.
Please be patient with me as I resolve to do better!

Jacob's piano recitals

Wonder how the 3rd one will go...... I am sure even better.... ohhhhh, just the grannie in me....
First recital
Second recital

A Precious Portrait

While they all come, getting them all together for a picture is always a problem. One family may have left earlier, or come later, or a family may have one member absent, and oh, so many other reasons I have forgotten to remember! So when a picture like this gets in between shots taken during an affair or event, like their dad's birthday, I consider it precious - short of being miraculous.
..... and for such Hallmark moments, I am very grateful!

(This picture is from Mylynn's camera)

Childhood Memories

A nephew and his wife, from the freezing East Coast, spent a night with us before they started their journey to Down Under. They brought some "pasalubongs" (gifts) for us one of which was a steamed sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf. We call it "suman". The moment hubby unwrapped one and the familiar scent wafted in the air, I was automatically brought back to my childhood!
Isn't it amazing how a simple sight like, color, or scent, or sound can transport you to another "era" in your life?
That "suman" sure did!

My Favorite Things

If you are like me then you must have an item in your house that you just can not let go!
When hubby and I first arrived in America to stay, we had to learn fast so the little amount we brought with us would last until we found jobs. A cousin-in-law introduced us to weekend yard saleing in Beverly Hills where I found a mother-n-daughter frying pans (the name I coined myself). It has become an absolute favorite of mine.
Through the years, we received frying pans as gifts for our birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas. Glass or ceramic pans, non-stick pans, cast iron pans... but I would always go back to my stainless steel yard-sale pan. It never broke on me. None of its finish ever scraped off to give my food unwanted color. It taught me to be patient. I learned to wait until it reached its correct temperature before dropping or pouring any ingredient so none will stick to the bottom. And as long as I remember to soak, rinsing is always a whizzzz!!
If I had a golden friend, this pan of mine is the one!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Forever Thankful

Today I posted my 30th thankful post on my FB and I know I will always be thankful every morning when I open my eyes and every night before I close them, and in between.
Today I am specially thankful that Elizabeth Edwards has her faith to keep her stay courageous and brave all throughout her personal ordeal. She has kept her grace all the time, a very hard thing to do.
I am also thankful for the vibrant colors of fall. They remind me that for every time a gray color comes, reds and oranges and yellows will soon follow to brighten our way.
I am most thankful for my family who will always be there for me and with me... no matter what!
Thank You!

Thankful

....November has 30 days of giving thanks. Each day post something you are thankful for as your status. They say, it gets harder as the month goes along. How long will you last? I bet I can think of at least 30 things. ;) Copy and paste to your status if you want to play.

Today, I am thankful that I started a blog so that I may re-visit what I had been, and still should be, thankful for.
This was my blog entry for my Thankful Thursday meme on 06-26-08.
... We are again blessed with a handsome little grandson. Sarah and Jet named their beautiful child, Daniel Josiah. The name sounds blessed to me, already. We've reached a BIG 40!!! I still can't believe we've lasted this long. Hubby and I are both grateful for the surprise (I am still thinking how I could have missed any clue) dinner party that our children organized. I am thankful that people who are special in our hearts came to celebrate with us. Although I will miss my students' antics, I am thankful that I have one more day to go before I hit the vacation trail again. I don't have to sleep early so I will wake up early. I don't even have to worry about what to wear for the 'morrow. I am thankful for my graduating students most of whom are the first in their families. May they set a successful trail for those who are to follow them. But most of all, I am grateful that our dear friend, Malu, had a 2nd successful kidney transplant last Monday at CSH. Her first was 14 years ago which gave her 9 good years. We hope and pray this one will be-friend her forever. I am thankful for the bloggers that make me think, cry, smile, touch, feel, grow........

A Month of Thanks

....November has 30 days of giving thanks. Each day post something you are thankful for as your status. They say, it gets harder as the month goes along. How long will you last? I bet I can think of at least 30 things. ;) Copy and paste to your status if you want to play.

Telleah, a facebook friend who I met while playing farmtown, had this on her wall this morning and I want to thank her for reminding me that I have to say THANKS to, and for, so many: the Lord who guides and keeps me; the people around and with me; things I see, feel, smell, hear, touch; places I've been to or still dreaming to visit and many many more.
Today I am very thankful for my family for understanding, or not understanding, my quirks.

DONA NOBIS PACEM !!!

Let there be PEACE on Earth and let it start with your blogs!!!

Thanks, Mimi, for this Peace project!!!

"I Do, I Do" said Kirby and Hazel

It was a lovely day. The weather was perfect for an afternoon wedding.
I was envisioning a typical wedding chapel....small room with portable chairs and a gazebo or small stage for the minister or judge. How pleasantly surprised we all were when we saw the small cabin-like structure. Is this it? Then we were in for more surprises. The "small cabin" is the famous The Little Church of the West (how literal can one be) which was built on my birth year, had been moved three times and now declared a historic landmark. It deserves the title perfectly! It is simply the perfect setting to tie the knot with someone you love: intimate, romantic, cozy and warm.
For some of the couple's pictures and the church's history as well, I invite you to click on the highlighted words.
Enjoy!

Nothing but Fun, Fun, Fun!!!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE. All opinions are 100% mine.

Every year, when the month starts ending in "ber" , my brain starts going into the "what shall I give" mode. After all, the months that end in ber mean holidays and gift giving. Is there anyone who doesn't agree with me? This year, my code name might as well be PSM (PlayStationMove)!
In fact, I have been contemplating for a drastic change - this year instead of me giving out gifts, I am deciding on asking for gifts instead. Guess what I will ask them (my three sons) to give me: a PlayStationMove! While writing this I am already excited. I can just imagine the many things my family, especially the grand kids, and I, can do together with the system. I can already foresee the competition, not only between my sons and daughters-in-law, but most especially between my grandsons (yes, in addition to my three sons, I have 4 grandsons that is why I am praying hard for at least one grand daughter [chuckle]). I won't suggest a weekly get-together anymore, that I am sure. Another thing that I am excited about is the idea that I can inspire my beloved hubby to give his favorite couch some rest once in a while. That will be awesome!
And before I forget, for all the games and perks, like 3-D sports, Netflix, built-in WiFi, and more, that the system offers, if you already have a PS3, the package will cost you $99.00 only. What more can you ask for?

Signs....

Yesterday, hubby and I invited our sons and their families to join us for a simple dinner at home. We thought, because of their never matching schedule, getting them all together would be short of a miracle. How happy we were to see our three sons all together! They all kne, that the dinner was to welcome Hazel so how they laughed when I told them that, since we can not afford to treat them individually anymore, from now on their birthdays will be celebrated, altogether, once a year only. It was so heartwarming to see my whole family laughing, joking, teasing one another and simply having fun.
When they were all gone, I noticed how our living room was transformed into a race track and a favorite center piece got converted into a jurrassic park. That was a sign that our grandkids had unconditional fun.......and that truly made our day!!!!

Moments!!!

They all worked hard to reach this moment - being able to cook as a group. They worked in groups with members so diverse as the menu they put together. This is one of the moments I will always remember. I will admit, that in time, I will forget most of the names, but those faces will be forever etched in my mind.

Give It the Boost !!!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

"Oh no! Again? Didn't I just send a check?" I heard my son cursing (good his children were not around). Like any dutiful mom (chuckle), I asked him what the problem was. "Nothing, mom. Just these never ending phone bills!" he answered under his breath.
Maybe I should tell him about Boost Mobile, I told myself. With it he can decide the best plan suited for his own phoning style. I very well know that he uses his phone as if it is a part of his clothing that he has to wear everyday and without which he will feel so incomplete. He texts in and out, he listens and leaves messages through his voice-mail and still give calls almost without break, he even tweets. I know he feels naked without his FB opened and he has to send e-mails to, oh, so many people I would not care to know. On top of these, he still finds time to search the web for the latest news while he listens to his choice of music from his Blackberry. I learned and practice multi-tasking but not as multi as he does... I can only do two at a time!
He will be interested to know that any one can select the best plan he thinks will answer his needs and pre-pay for it. By doing so, he will not worry about any bill coming at the wrong time, well, at least according to one's financial schedule. By the way, I might still be able to convince my son to send me a gift - a Re-Boost for my phone. I peeked through his wallet and I know he has cards to pay for it (chuckle again). Or, maybe he will prefer automatic payment which is also acceptable.
Why not visit the site and open an account before my son beats you to it!!!

Neil's Designs

When Neil, my nephew, was barely 5 years old, he would draw all the ninja characters, in action, and would proudly show me to get my nod. When he reached middle school he had a sketch book filled with sceneries and portraits he pencil-sketched- and every weekend that I would spend with his family, he would pull the pad out of his drawer to again show me. I knew he would go far with his talent. I was not wrong. He is now an architect and I am posting two of his designs.
Neil, you've gone a long way from that matchstick drawing you used to show me! Good job!!!
BTW, Neil is in white shirt in the group picture.

Move On!!!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

My friend had to go to her eye doctor for a laser treatment so she requested me to drive for her. While waiting for her to get called I noticed a guy, I assumed the son, dutifully lifting his father in and out of a wheelchair maybe two or three times while, at the same time, minding his two children who were running and squealing around the waiting area. I couldn't help but wonder how he managed to get his father in and out of his car. I am sure he took some lessons on how to care for somebody like his father by the way he handled him plus the safety precaution he observed as he locked the wheels before lifting his dad.
I wish all caregivers like him will take the time to visit the NMEDA site to get informed on how this organization works. By visiting the site, he can even learn, through the members' assistance, how to help his dad to move about independently. The organization is composed of emergency mobility dealers that can advice or assist caregivers or patients who need assistance in deciding what mobility equipment to get, which they have quite a selection of, depending on a patient's need or needs. Members are certificated so that they can give an educated advise to anyone who will contact them.
And to further assure you of the integrity of the organization, they undergo an annual accreditation program to make sure that the mobility equipment industry follows and stays within the guidelines that the industry requires for the safety of its clients. Come on, check the site to see if there is a dealer near you and schedule an appointment. You have nothing to lose.