Cheers to a Great Father!

January 1 is not just an ordinary 1^st day of the year but it is my father’s day too. It’s been two years since he celebrated his birthday without me and my sister I know he misses us as much as we miss him.

When I asked on the New Year’s eve about his plans on his birthday, his reply seems so lonely (I know there is no emotion in text messaging apparently he’s not using emoticon as well J) but I can feel it. Little did he know that my other siblings and their families were already in my brother’s place 1 kilometer away from my parents’ house preparing for a surprise birthday party for him.

He was surprised when they came home serenading him. They also prepare speeches which make the family emotional according to my mother. Although not complete as he wishes but they surely made his special day a memorable one. Hopefully, next year I’ll be home for his birthday.

Cheers to a Great Father!

To our role model, 

who never failed to give us teachings in life.

To our great provider, 

besides hardship in life you were able to 

find ways to give us what we need.

To our loving and caring father, 

you might not be showy to your feelings

 but don’t worry we know you love us.

To our great father.... 

my gratitude for everything.

Happy birthday and I love you!

... cheers to you!!!

Reminiscing Christmas

I was browsing some Christmas pictures in my FB account hoping that I captured one of the decorations in our house - a ceramic angel with dress made out of ribbon. I am planning to make similar to it since I found a ceramic head and hand in the local thrift store.

I totally forgot about the angel because I was so engrossed browsing at the pictures of my family. I felt homesick looking back our yearly Christmas party at home. But I can’t help smiling when I saw pictures of my nieces and nephews. It was just like yesterday.... time goes so fast. They were so little and innocent then, now they are all grown up, even bigger and taller than me.

This year would be my second year celebrating Christmas without them. And Christmas won’t be the same without my family... I do hope I’d be able to go home next year.

By the way, I finally found the pic of the angel I mentioned, unfortunately it’s blurred. I have to play my imagination for my project.

Beiber Heart Pillow

Just a clarification, I am NOT Beiber fan; I blogged about it actually. It’s my niece who is so crazy with him. Before I came here in Ca her wish is to have a Beib’s memorabilia thinking that Beib is from Canada. LOL.... Thus everytime I chatted with her I teased her that I met Beib and even hug him, which of course unbelievable.

Anyways, I bought this Beib’s heart pillow through an Avon dealer. I didn’t hesitate buying it as soon as I saw it in the brochure though it’s costly. I know she’ll like it though she told me once that she’s no longer a Beib fan. But I believe receiving this pillow will remind her that she was once inlove with Beib.

Unfortunately, we already sent the “balikbayan box”. And mailing it will just cost more not to mention that the service of post office back home is not good. Just imagine we sent pictures and it took more than three months before it arrived. So most probably we’ll send it next year when the boxes are full or when I go home. Hope she didn’t outgrow her love for Beib.

Thankful...

It’s Thanksgiving Day! Well for me everday is a Thanksgiving Day. There are many blessings that we received that we should be thankful about. But sometimes we forgot to see little things because we are overwhelmed with so many pressures in life: work, family, friend, future, etc.

For this Thanksgiving Day, I thank God for all the blessings and challenges that came in to my life. But there’s one thing that I am so grateful of...

Two weeks ago I received a text message from my mom about my sister who is sick and probably will lead to cancer. When I learned about it, my whole body was trembling. My sister suffered a lot, especially emotionally because of his irresponsible husband leaving her with 8 kids. I can’t imagine how her children will take this news.

Two weeks was a very long weeks for us. After several tests, her laboratory exam finally came out [the day before Thanksgiving Day] and it’s negative from cancer cells. Though she needs to undergo medication, I still thank God for answering our prayer.

June 17: My Parents’ Wedding Anniversary

My parents’ is celebrating their wedding anniversary today…

My mom asked my father that they’ll spend overnight at the beach but my father opt to celebrate their wedding anniversary at home; she’s hopeless romantic and he’s the “kill joy” type….. LOL…

Though they have differences but still they manage to keep their relationship strong. In fact they are celebrating the 33 beautiful and blissful years as husband and wife today!

Happy wedding anniversary!!!!

xoxo

Sony Bravia LCD from Sister Jeia

My sister, Jeia, surprised my parents with 40” Sony Bravia LCD with the home theatre package. Both my parents can’t sleep on the day they received the gift: my frugal mom was shocked with the price (LOL) and my father on the other was super duper excited.

My techy brother installing the LCD TV

Everybody is super excited… especially my father in yellow polo shirt

Mama just arrived from their reunion and was surprised when she saw the TV

Actually, it’s my sister’s gift for them on Mother’s day, Father’s day and their Wedding Anniversary on 17^th day of June.

My generous sister actually saved money for this, especially when she learned that our old Heier TV shows only half of the screen. We are so grateful with her; living with my parent’s means I can also enjoy the TV. (*wink*) …

Thanks JEIA... xoxoxo

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Last Week’s BC Blogger Participants:

Digital Catharsis * I Live to Eat * Darkanjel’s Life Musings * Sassy Chef * Pinoy in the South * My Thoughts in Letters * My Everyday * Mirage * Daily Notes * Mum Writes * It’s Me and Beyond * Elghrasya * Mommy Diary

The Pink Cherub

My 1 year old niece loves the angel wing of her older cous… She loves wearing it and not bothered with the weight of it…..

So cute… so chubby… soooo cherub… LOL

Life Must Go On…

I would like to thank you all especially those who drop by to say their condolences and prayers for my aunt who just passed away.

Today is my cousin’s birthday. I know it’s hard for her to celebrate her birthday especially that the body of my aunt is still in their house. I pray that may God be with her and strengthen her as she face the new challenge in her life as she take the responsibility of her three younger siblings.

Heartbreaking Experience

Last night I went to a hospital to visit my aunt who was confined at Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A lady in front of us was crying, I don’t know the exact situation of their patient but I know it’s critical. I didn’t expect that a few minutes we’ll experience the same heartbreaking emotion.

(Photo source)

When I arrived I thought my aunt will be okay. Until we noticed that the doctors and nurses are hurrying and running inside the ICU, I think that’s what they called cold blue. A few minutes the doctor looked for my uncle and told the sad news… My aunt’s heart stops beating… But the doctor gave us a hope that the patient may survive if she’ll respond after 15 to 20 minutes… I think it’s the longest 20 minutes I had experienced…

20 minutes passed. Another doctor approached the whole family and told us the real situation. My aunt was clinically dead. It’s only the machine and medicines that kept her alive… how long? Maybe minutes or hours… it’s only miracle if she’ll survive.

It’s the most heart breaking situation when the whole family broke their emotions…seeing my uncle trying to be strong for his children… seeing my cousins crying... hearing one of them asking who will accompany her on her graduation. It’s hopeless and helpless case. Only God knows the answer….

This morning when mama’s phone rang, we already knew what it means… My aunt didn’t make it…

 

P.S. Please pray for her soul and her family….

On Tatay’s Birthday

Tatay turned 71 last New Year…. and we are counting more years… we’re praying for that: longer life that is healthy - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

On New Year’s eve we only had a cake and a bottle of wine since we’re still full out from our sumptuous dinner.

To celebrate life and New Year we attended mass at 8:00 am then proceeded to our house hopping. We took our lunch to one of our siblings. The kids prepared the candles formed into number 71. How thoughtful isn’t it?

 

 

With his grandchildren.

New Year Rituals

1. Putting God first. Amidst the noisy background, our family chose to stay still and silent while offering prayer to God 5 minutes before 2010 ends. Unlike Christmas there were only three of us left in the house since my siblings celebrate New Year in their respective homes.

2. Lighting seven different colored candles. Seven is a significant number to my mama… Yay! I forgot to ask.

Under the candles are prayer intention of my mother. If I only knew then I’d probably taken picture of it.

3. When the hour hand strikes to 12, mama and tatay rolled coins and 12 kiat kiat fruits from the main door, symbolizes more graces to come for the whole year.

4. Of course New Year celebration is not complete without the 12 round fruits. I love arranging fruits!

NO more jumping. LOL… I’m old and I know no matter how I jump high my height wouldn’t increase.

Anyway these are just rituals. We still believe that the success lies on our effort: hard work, perseverance plus prayers.

Tatay

If there’s someone who was super surprised last Christmas… then it was my father.

He jokingly announced to the family that he wanted a pair of Adidas shoes. Little did he know that my brother, his manito, really bought what he wished.

 

So when he opened the gift, at first, the Adidas shoe box doesn’t make sense at all. He thought it’s only the box. But when he opened it, he was really shocked. I saw his surprised face, sooo cute! If only I captured it… he didn’t expect for it.

Later he admitted that he was a little bit embarrassed. But we assure him that we would really love to give him what he want. We love him so much!!!

Well the pair of Adidas shoes is also a gift for his Birthday. Hey! New Year is also his birthday!!!

Happy birthday tatay… We love you!!!

 

By the way HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

We Love Pink!

Pink – is our motif for this Christmas 2010. Everybody participated except for my brother in-law who thought that we’ll wear the usual red, my uncle – a surprise visitor, and me nephew who forgot his pink shirt at their home. Anyway whatever color of the dress we wore that night doesn’t matter.

 

My parents with my uncle

 

My sister Jeia surely miss this event

 

Picture taking by family

 

    

The Super excited kids under the Christmas tree

 

Gift giving

 

 

 

Exuberating with happiness while playing

Pre-Christmas Celebration

Christmas is also our family reunion. And everybody is looking forward to this big day. As mentioned in my previous post, we had pre-Christmas celebration last November 29.

The kids were busy decorating the Christmas tree. Before I was hands-on with decorating and a little selfish (…LOL…) because I want to decorate the house all by myself. As I grow older I realized doing such as activity is merrier when everybody is participating. My role now? I am officially their photographer.

Baby, Hannah was so eager to do her part…… throwing the balls. LOL..

After lunch, mama facilitated the drawing of names for the exchange gifts. We started the exchanging gift last year. Kids are given budget to buy gifts for their manito. The purpose of this is to teach them the value of giving.

Supposed to be it’s a secret, but these young ladies can’t keep it. Too excited perhaps. LOL

10.10.10

…. and probably 10:10 in the evening when our beloved Cheeky, our pet dog,  passed away. I could not say any other words but I’d like to thank him for giving us a unique kind of friendship and joy  that we could never forget. May his soul rest in peace.

We will miss you Cheeky… Send our regards to Taochi and Bugoy… 

Cheeky with my sister, Jeia

Our Source of Joy

It’s been four years since the last time we had a baby in our house. That’s why when Hannah Grace was born last February 1 this year, everybody was super duper excited. She brings so much joy to us…. especially when she shows her toothless smile…

Taken during her christening last August 29

Lost and Found Eye Glasses

I was looking for eyeglasses in the internet, because my mom needs a new one. I stumbled in an online store for eye glasses, the zennioptical.com, where you can find different styles of eye glasses from very simple to sophisticated style. And each was intricately designed, chic and classy.

Looking at the eyeglasses reminds me of one incidence, just happened recently...

We’re almost late yesterday morning because my sister’s eye glasses was lost and wanted to trace up it to the store where she had gone on the other day. She’s a little bit dismayed because it was newly purchased and its quiet expensive. But her kids were more dismayed because every stop means losing a single minute for them to catch up school before the ring bells... LOL

Unable to find it, she’s decided to purchase a new one since she needed it badly. It’s here partner since her teen years. And as if she can’t live without it. Surprisingly their working student found it in the shoe rack this morning.

I think it’s a proof that my sister is really getting older. LOL… (shhh…) And she honestly admits it! Good thing she found it timely or else my sister might spend another thousands pesos for her eyeglasses.

Father's Day

The whole family gathered (except for my sister and some in-laws) last Sunday in our parent’s home to celebrate the father’s day at the same time post celebration of my parent’s wedding anniversary. My mom’s original plan is to have an activity with the grandchildren, a sort of goal setting and after that a game called “Know Your Tatay (grandfather)”. But the kids insisted that they wanted parlor games like what we usually do during Christmas. Of course mama cannot resist them here’s some pics of the parlor games....

Newspaper Dance

Lemon Dance

The famous "hep hep hurray" game of Wowowee

The kids of course prepared greeting cards for my father (I forgot to take a pic)… and a cute gift, a pair of toothbrush with a heart in it, for their wedding anniversary (June 17).

Couple's Toothbrush

I love the cute heart in it