DS is AHS 1-O 2nd Honor Again

DS once again, received a certificate from his school, for garnering a GPA equivalent to being 2nd honor in his semi-honors class section, the second time around this schoolyear. 

But not only that; he is also a consistent honor student in character (Kostka Award).  How grateful we all are for this blessing. 

  

 

We are truly proud of him, and thankful that despite his very busy schedule and involvement in many school activities, he can still manage to juggle his time wisely and well.

 

  You are my sonshine. 

Author Unknown

 

Another Bestie Meet-Up

Another night-out of endless chat and updates with long-time bestie, Teena...

 

 It is truly a blessing that old friends like her still manage to have time to see me every year, even though we are almost 10,000 miles apart.  :)
 

 

 There are big ships and small ships. 
But the best ship of all is friendship.
Author Unknown

Post New Year Dinner

My "days-after-the New Year dinner" with the Hubs and Kids  :)

 

 

We meet today
To thank Thee for the era done,
And Thee for the opening one.
John Greenleaf Whittier

 

My Vet Friend

Met-up with a dear, old friend in Figaro this afternoon.  We haven't seen each other for so many years, but the warmth and lightness of heart in exchanging pleasantries did not change.

 

 Lulu was also our veterinarian many years ago (and was also the one who adopted my Shih-Tzu, Sushi -- my most beloved pet that I was forced to give up because back then, my DS was thought to have an allergy from dogs.), before moving to Australia and marrying her Aussie husband.

 

I thank this century's gift of having the technology of being able to find and bridge people/friends together.

 

The most beautiful discovery true friends make

 is that they can grow separately without growing apart. 

Elisabeth Foley

 

 

 

Happy 2013!

Our mantra for the year 2013 ---

 

We will open the book. Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity
and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce

DS's 18th Piano Recital

Our son just finished participating in his 18th Piano Recital.  We are very proud of him, and admire him for being so self-motivated in learning and improving his craft.  Here are the details of his recital, and videos of the classical pieces he played...

The 180-Degrees Project: Concert II
"World Cup of Piano Music"
November 24, 2012
Mini Hall, College of Music
University of the Philippines Diliman

1st Piece: (Germany) Intermezzo in B minor Op. 119 No. 1 by Brahms
 2nd Piece: (Russia) Etude in C-sharp minor Op. 42 No. 5 by Scriabin

        In love's godlike breathing, there's the innermost aspect of the universe. Alexander Scriabin

I Love These Kids

These children are God's wonderful blessings to me...

 

Grade 6 Daniel

 

 

 Grade 5 Solomon

 

Grade 3 Jeremiah

 

2 Teach is
2 Touch lives
4 Ever
Author Unknown

 

Milkshake's 3rd Birthday

It's our darling baby girl's 3rd year with us!  Oh what a joy she is to the family, especially to our DS and DD.  Yes, three years and counting; but this lady still looks like a baby... :)

 

 

A dog is the only thing on earth  that loves you more than you love yourself. Josh Billings

 

DS's 14th Year

Today marks my DS's 14th birthday.  He is now definitely a budding and intelligent teenager.  I praise you, dear Lord, for our son, who is a big blessing to us.   Continue to help us along the way, to raise him according to Your will, and to follow the blueprint that You have created long ago for him.  Please prepare me and DH, to help and guide M achieve his purpose in life, to glorify and honor you with the work of his hands...  always and forever.

 

  May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Irish Blessing

Another Year

My nth birthday! 
Thank you, Lord, for another year with my family...  :)

 

 

One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life...
Psalm 27: 4
 

Lorax And Smurfette Are Here

And by that I mean our Hermit Crabs are! 

 

Dancing Queen and I purchased them last Saturday evening from the Mall of Asia's Lucky Hermits Kiosk.  We had the driver with us, because the boys (DH and DS) were in the Ateneo for the school's victory bonfire party (Blue Eagles Basketball team's 5peat champinoship win).

 

Well, DD and I had a fun time choosing the accessories we needed for the crabitat, and also choosing the best crabbies we saw.  We brought along our smaller pet critter keeper (sent not so many years ago by my sister in NJ) so the hermies won't be stressed on our drive way home.

 

Since most, if not all the crabs looked alike, we decided on picking one with a green shell, and another with yellow.  The kind store clerk was cooperative to help us sort out the green ones, and we chose an active boy hermie with the Lorax design on his shell.  Next up, a yellow active girl, with the Smurfs design on her shell.

 

We have read many times that painted shells are a no-no, because the paint chips off, and is, of course, bad for the critters.  Seems most hermie stores have their crabbies shells painted for added attraction for kids, so we didn't have any option.  But we did purchase two natural empty shells to later on encourage Lorax and Smurfette to change theirs.

 

DD named them, of course, and is too excited to take care of them.  She bathed them too, before putting them in their new, clean, crabitat!  Courtesy of sniffercatfreak in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHYzEALyZm0 

 

They had pellets for dinner during their first night with us.  And had pears, bananas, and rice in the next.  Will try to give them a variety of good, natural meals everday, so as not to bore them, and to make them healthier.

 

And so as not to lengthen the suspense, here are several photos our crabitat, with Lorax and Smurfette of course...  Hope you enjoy viewing them!  :)

 



  

Walk straight, my son -

as the old crab said to the young crab.

Irish Proverb

New Pets Coming

Dancing Queen and I are out to get two Hermit Crabs to take care of.  We are excited because it is a new thing for us.  We are currently reading a lot of stuff about how to take care of these critters, and so far, we've  been learning a lot from co-bloggers, and watching videos via YouTube.

 

We just purchased a 15-gallon glass tank, and filled it up with about four inches of beige sand this week.  We also added a few decorations to make it more interesting, and voila!  we have this new "Crabitat" to tend everyday.

 

 photo from http://hermitcrabpetcare.com/

 

Hoping this Sunday we could get two nice hermit crabs from the Mall of Asia, and let them thrive happily in the crabitat waiting for them at home.  DH is not really too keen on it, expressing that dogs are still better.  I agree of course, that nothing could steal away our hearts from loving our little Maltese, Milkshake.  She is still, after all, the "Queen of Shred" in the household.  But just saying, adding other creatures in our lives is  a welcome "distraction".  :)

So heads up we go, as we take on this new adventure of "Crabbing" our hearts away!

 

 Animals are such agreeable friends -

they ask no questions; 

they pass no criticisms.

George Eliot

 

DD's Royal Academy of Dance Certificate

Our DD received her RAD or Royal Academy of Dance Certifcate for this year and she received a Merit!  We are so proud of her.  Way to go, G!  :)

Plie is the first thing you learn and the last thing you master. Suzanna Farrell

DS's Chess Varsity Tournament

DS earned another feather in his cap when he made it to his school's Chess Varsity team. 

So proud of you, M, and your new varsity shirt! 

 It's ONE BIG FIGHT!  :)

 

 

Chess is everything - art, science, and sport. Karpov

 

Back Again

 

After many months of not being able to write, here I am finding this oh-so-good, precious time of being able to update this blog. I missed writing, and this moment is one of those memorable ones that I am thankful for -- those things that happened in the past, which placed me here for a purpose -- in front of my laptop again.

I have quit my job a month ago, and I am just so grateful I did. It is the second worst job I've had in my entire life, that which prevented me from being myself, and which stopped me from writing and doing all the things I just loved doing.

But call it divine intervention --- the last week I spent in that terrible workplace,  or a Friday to be exact, I received a text message from a previous employer who I turned down working for last summer. They offered me the job I am handling right now.  I am currently on my 1st month today with them.  I am ever thankful, really.

The kids I am teaching may not be the best, but their hearts are pure, and what's not to love in them, if they are made this way...? I am praying I will last long in this school, as I find the people kind, simple, and just pure normal.

My last job was utmost horrible. My gay boss was pure evil. I cannot stop myself from using these words, so forgive me if I am raw, and use vile words for this entry. I have removed my DD from that school too, and I thank God for being able to do so.

Right now, we are homeschooling her, and it is just like coming home to a sweet, familiar, comforting place... Glad to know our DD likes to homeschool too...

Meantime, I perform my duties as faithfully as I can, and pray this is the job I have long been praying for. So please help me, God...

While there's life, There's hope. Marcus Jullius Cicero