B.I.B.L.E.

Our grandson Jacob invited hubby and me to attend their outreach church's opening. He practically begged us to join him, Joshua and his mom and dad. How can one disappoint a grandson? One simply can't!
One of the highlights of their service was when their invited Pastor from San Diego spoke. There were so many points in his talk that kept me listening intently specially when he said that the bible is the only book that is always current, never needs updating, that it holds what everyone needs to know, and that it stands for Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.
He talked about vision and motivation and for one who never had a formal religious instruction, I was motivated, more than ever, to learn more about what is good in my own faith and theirs, combine them, and start reading the Bible!
Thank you Pastor.

Thanks to FB, I found Phil!!!

She's always Auntie Phil to my kids. She's Phil to everyone who had worked with her - whether as a co-teacher or as a member of the choir that she coached.
We last saw each other in 1985. But every time friends from our Nigerian days and I get together, there will always be someone who will mention her name either wondering where she could be these days, or if I have gotten in contact with her. Yes, that was her impact on our group. So, since facebook always "invites" me to look for friends I started playing with the app by typing her maiden name. Wow, she's not the only one. More than a dozen popped up of the same name. I started scrolling down thru the list.. then I saw those eyes, and those lips, and that unmistakable smile! I got excited. Hit her name. Got to her page. Data matched some of what I knew of her. Sent her a message ... and ... after a few days of anxiety .. she confirmed!!!
It was a great unexplainable feeling.......
It is very nice to see you again, PHIL !!!

Baffling, indeed....

I came across this sentence:

Whatever wife lectures the violent baffle.

and I am really baffled as to its meaning. Any thoughts on it?

Another day....

Today is another day of coping. I am thinking of creating a blog just for this. If and when is still to be seen.
There is something happening with hubby. He is, little by little, becoming more aggressive (couldn't find a better word), maybe out of frustration for not being able to say and do what he mentally wanted to at the moment.
Our morning routine for the last two months is - he gets up to take his blood sugar test while I prepare his breakfast. We eat together then he prepares to go to the clinic for his dialysis (he still can drive himself to and from the clinic which is about 2 blocks away). I always ask him how he is and his routine answer is "I am OK" if only to assure me that I have nothing to worry about. Some days, he wouldn't even let me get up from bed.
Today was a little different than usual. After his testing, he sat down by the table. When told that the toasts are ready, with an irritated voice, he said "But they are not on the table yet!" WOW, that was a big FIRST. He had always been calm. After eating, I told him what happened and he had no recollection....
What I am starting to fear is what if I happenned to sleep soundly and missed his cues?

Goodbye, VES !!!

Ves is gone and I still can't believe it.

Last time I saw her was in 2007 when hubby and I visited the family in the homeland. Ves is married to our nephew, Keats. This is my last image of her, and it will be, forever.

Rest in peace and play and sing with the angels, Ves.
We love you!!!

2009 into 2010

Everyone needs an inspiration. Mine is named NANCIE. Whenever I feel like complaining why things don't go my way, I think of her. When a little pain makes me wince, I think of her. When I get disappointed for not getting what I wanted, I sought her page. From her I collect my own courage, strength, understanding, forgiveness, faith and love. I can't feel what she feels but I know I feel much better than she does and yet everything for her is about hope, love, mercy, devotion, generosity and faith.
Thanks, Nancie.

The More Natural, the Better

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

I always admire my husband's dedication to his gardening. We have a very small backyard but every summer we always get plenty of sweet, juicy, plump tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and beans. Oh, did I forget the hot peppers? And chayotes? This year I also noticed that our persimmon tree gave us so many fruits we couldn't seem to finish even after we had distributed them to friends and relatives who testified to their extra sweetness. Want to know the reason why?
After a rain, I noticed a gross-looking gooey mixture in a pot close to our persimmon tree. Not wanting to "disturb" it, I tipped the pot so its content will just pour into the base of the tree. Oh, I can never forget that smell! When I told hubby about it, he told me about his composting technique. No wonder he didn't want me to throw (or even touch) any peelings from the veggies he cooked with. He would keep everything in a plastic bag and keep it in his "secret" place. I also came to understand why he never went to buy any of those chemical fertilizers.
Want to know more about the benefits of organic gardening? Visit saferbrand.com for very helpful gardening tips and advice. It even has it's own library of bugs and insects to help you of which bugs to keep and which ones to let go, without using any chemicals that might be harmful to your own plants. (No, problem, those ladybugs are plant friendly.) Do you know that chemical fertilizers can harm you progressively? No wonder so many, children and adults alike, are getting sick everyday of illnesses that were not here before.
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Come on! Let's go Organic and live healthy and safe.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

WISHING EVERYONE A BLESSED AND PROSPEROUS 2010!!!
I still can not believe that in a few more hours will be a brand New Year. Time flew too fast. I still can taste the faire that was prepared for my last birthday and in a few days, I will start thinking of the menu for this coming year's. Ah, one thing I can not get away from - adding years. Our grandkids will eaach get a year older, too, and oh, I am sure much much "wiser"!
I wonder - what will 2010 bring?

Will they still?

From a community news-magazine:

A man is walking with his young son when the son notices several people coming over to greet and ask for his dad's signature. Always curious, the son asks his dad who those kind people are. "They are my friends and fans, son." To which the son asks back: "When your ink runs out, dad, will they still be your friends and fans?"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!

I Am thankful for:

- my family that keeps me company; - friends that make me feel wanted;
- a job that gives me a break from things I don't want to remember;
- the early morning drive that gives me time to pray and ponder;
- students that make me frown, laugh, shout, giggle, sigh, misty-eyed, etc.;
- students that make me listen, think, review, apply, analyze, change....;
- Jacob, Joshua, Matthew and David (JaJoMaDa) for making me feel and think young;
- FB games that I use as therapy when things don't seem right;
- this blog and the bloggers that I meet through it;
- the trees, flowers, seas, mountains, rocks, animals, insects, etc,; --- they remind me that there is one Grand Creator;
- a million more........

Salad without tomatoes? No way!

Whenever I mention salad to hubby, he knows it must include tomato, tomato of any color, shape or size. Once a year he starts his tomato planting ritual by saving all the peelings and vegetable leftovers from his cooking in a dug-up hole in one corner at our backyard. Then he would visit the stores and greenhouses in our community for his seed or seedling needs, and, mind you, not forgetting the countless catalogs advertising vegetables, fruits, flowers and trees that come with our mails. By mid-summer our visitors can not help but notice that every dish on our menu includes tomatoes in every form imaginable!
If only he knew of an organic tomato growing kit then he wouldn't be worrying so much about how to keep his tomato plants from bending and it's fruits touching the ground. The Stake It Easy included in the Safer brand Tomato and Vegetable Kit would have kept him free of sleepless nights. He wouldn't have to worry, either, of how to keep the bugs from eating the buds and boring holes on the leaves and young fruits of his tomatoes because an organic insect killer is also included in the kit. What he should be worrying now is how to answer his grandkids' questions why there are no more caterpillars that travel along the tomato vines!

Wind of Change

Before leaving for work this morning I had to grab a sweater after feeling the very cold air coming thru the open garage door. As I was moving out of our driveway I noticed the poodles of water on the road. So, it rained in the night and I didn't hear a thing!
When I reached my school's parking lot, the wet steps to my building confirmed the rainy night before.
After lunch, as I was recording my student's grades, I noticed that I didn't have my sweater on and I couldn't remember taking it off. I thought: "what's happening?"
Why the sudden change of wind?
That's when I remember: I am in California!

Hey, Moms, Hear Ye!

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THANK YOU !!!

image courtesy of http://hubpages.com

Through their eyes....

While explaining the different knife cuts to my 6th period class, I noticed two boys so engrossed with something that I was very sure was not related to the subject matter we were in. I slowly tiptoed towards their table and almost everybody was laughing when they were both so startled they instinctively threw the paper they were so seriously working on on the floor. As I was retrieving the paper I couldn't help laughing myself, as I silently uttered to myself: "Well at least I was grinning here!"

We could have felt cooler...

Nothing can be more uncomfortable than losing your car's aircon unit working on a summer day while cruising on a Los Angeles traffic!
It happened to my husband's car and I know what I am talking about, I tell you. We started looking for a mechanic right away without checking around. If only we learned earlier that we could have found auto a/c parts at a great discount with full warranty and free shipping, we could have saved a lot and feel much cooler!

AAAAHhhh, What a Drink!

Halloween's all behind kids' minds now. Costumes had been sent to the dry cleaners or tossed at the recycle bins. Candy bags are past half empty. Looking back at that night, were your kids tricked or treated right?
As moms our concern is to provide our kids the best nutrition we can give them. What can be more nutritious than milk? Milk is the food of life. It is an almost complete food. High in calcium that keeps children's bones and teeth and hair growing. It is a very good source of protein that helps cells grow and repair themselves. But, as important as milk is for children's growth, they can get tired of drinking it everyday, too. But, wait. If your child is silently shouting Trick or Treat Me right, then chocolate milk is the answer. There had been a study proving that a drink of chocolate milk brings back the energy lost during a sports activity. What can be more healthy than that? And correct me if I am wrong: almost every child likes, or loves, chocolate. So, what can be a better combination than chocolate milk?
We moms also advocate a safe environment for kids, so it is but natural for us to consider storing chocolate milk in cartons safe since the raw product is paper which is very low in harmful chemical content.
When your toddler cuddles to you and whispers Twick or Tweet Me, you know what to give him/her - chocolate milk in a carton!

Let There Be Peace !!

Thanks Mimi (Mimi writes...) for sponsoring this event.

TGIMBDR**

I have a phobia of calling parents, moms specially, back. If I initiated the call, it is OK but when I know that I have to call back because a son or daughter didn't do the right thing while in my class, I have the most unforgettable feeling one can imagine. Will somebody start yelling at me from the other end telling me how dare I get her daughter's/son's electronic gadget? That it was not my business? That I now cut the only comuunication she has with her daughter/son while she is at work? That she will call the highest of the highest authority baove me? Although I have not had that experience yet, every new call I have to make makes me feel so, or think so simply because I have heard so many stories warning me about parent calls.
Today was one of those days. I had to play all possible scenarios in my mind before I called the office to connect me to an outside line. After the third ring I was hoping, in fact praying, that no one would answer when a female voice answered and started apologizing for not answering the phone right away. A good sign, I thought. After I introduced myself she started apologizing again and promised me that she would see to it that her daughter doesn't do what she did, ever again. She even assured me that I had all the right to do what I did.
I gave a loooong **Thank God I Must Be Doing Right** sigh of relief, and thanked her for the request she placed to call her.

To Milk or Not To Milk

I delivered three sons and I fed each of them baby formulas. I am an advocate for breast feeding even before I had my babies. Unfortunately, after three weeks of breast feeding, my glands couldn't support my desire to breast feed anymore, even how hard I tried, so I generously supported my babies with food nutrients from prepared formula milk. I never regretted doing so. They grew up healthy. Aside from occasional natural baby sickness (measles, teething fever, colds gotten from classmates) they never suffered from any severe illnesses. In fact they grew up so fast they now have their own babies to take care of.
Now I currently have four healthy grandsons and thir moms supplemented their food requirements with baby formula too. Milk formulas for babies are safe because their production is government or FDA regulated. The nutrients that go into each formula, whether it be for infants or toddlers, are meticulously tested by scientists and nutritionists before they are place on the market shelves. Different formulas for individual baby's needs are scientifically formulated, like having one specifically for lactose intolerant babies, or for babies who can not tolerate the high fat content of natural animal milk. A cousin of mine had a grandchild who developed hives after taking cow's milk. They discovered that soy milk is what could sustain the baby. She is now a very active second grader.
On top of this, when saving is an issue, moms will also notice that she is actually saving on using baby formulas. Come on, I dare you to compare.

Why

Why does it hurt so much if it was because of someone you love?
Why does someone you love and care for hurt you more?
Why is it that that someone you love is the very one who doesn't understand that you care?

Why, why, why?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LESTER!!!

Your character shows!!!

Rachel and Kit had been inviting me to join FarmTown on facebook but I kept putting their invitations on hold simply because I thought I was not a computer game person. But once I gave in to their sweet come ons, I got hooked I can't even dust under my dining table! And to top it all, I am on break from work so I have the excuse to let the initial plans put aside for the later days instead.
Do you know that one's character, if I may describe it so, shows through one's computer?
There is a marketplace that one goes to if one needed a harvester or plower, since hiring someone to do all these would mean more coins/experience points for the farmer. In the market place, while waiting to be hired, one can "converse" with the other farmers. Some get so bored while waiting that they would type anything to attract attention. More often than not, I just type that I am available and wait, ocasionally greeting someone whose name I've become familiar to.
This morning I didn't have to wait long to get "offers" from three big farm owners (chuckle) who offered their whole farms to myself only. (If you are a farmtown player, and wanted so badly to get to the next level, you know what this means !) The last one who hired me has almost a dozen mansions in his farm. Nothing else. WOOOOOOW!! And here I am who can't even qualify to own one and I've been working and laboring for three whole weeks now.
Of course I complimented him on his acquisition and thanked him for "hiring" me. I used the words, may instead of can, excused myself when I thought I was working slow, followed up if I couldn't finish a job because of some computer glitzes, when all of a sudden he asked me from where I am. Told him where. He typed back: you were so polite even for a european or american... (I can't blame him for the insinuations.)
Told him my father made sure I do.
Then he asked me to be his buddy.

G'mornin'

I think there is nothing more inspiring (except hubby, of course) early in the morning than the sight of an orchid in bloom, as this one directly peeping at me through my kitchen sink window.......
A good day to everyone.