Happy New Year Everyone!

2011 for me has many ups and downs but I am glad I am still here and stood still. I am so happy that my eldest daughter has proved enough for her swimming. In fact she became successful for it and I am so proud of her achievements. Faith has been doing well at her school, she would participate even that means she has to go on the stage. But along those achievements and success, we are still sad because until now we are still not together with my husband. However that would not stop of having a happy new year tonight! And you too, so I would greet you happy new year to each one of you!

Before The Year-End

Before the year end, I would like to show you our Christmas tree that was only put up this month. This Christmas tree has been with us for like years already, 8 years to be exact but still even the test of time could not put it down, it stand by us during holidays. 

This is our home sweet home, it is small, simple but like it.

Kids Nowadays

I had a fight with my eldest daughter again tonight; she was just a pain in the butt lately. When I asked her something she would always tell me "wait". I keep on telling her to cut that out because it is really not good until tonight, I have lost my patience towards her. When she finished her training, she and her friends went to the bathroom immediately to take a shower, we were waiting at the club house, I already told her to hurry up but she did not so since it took her a while to take a shower, we were not able to buy 2 bulbs for two bedrooms because the store was already closed. Good thing the pharmacy still open so I was able to buy my medicine for my cough. Geez, sometimes kids are unaware of their parent’s hard work, they just thought that the things in this life is always the bed of roses. Honestly I get too tired but I know I just can't because they are just kids and that they still need us more than anyone in this world. I just hope they understand why we get mad at them, why we scold and reprimanded them and I hope they would realized that whenever we correct their mistakes, these are all for them so they would grow up decent and well-disciplined. 

You Can Make A Difference: Please Help The Victims Of Bagyong Sendong

There are many homes were washed away by Typhoon Sendong. While everyone was comfortable on their sleeps, many of us were shaken by the flash floods brought by this typhoon. I would cry so hard whenever I saw some families trying to look for their love ones who are missing after the attack of Bagyong Sendong. I tried to look for means to help, even just a little; I guess it will do good for them already. There are many ways to help; you just have to choose any organization that is open for donations for the victims for Typhoon Sendong.

NOTE: This is reposted for the sole purpose of seeking more help for CDO FLOOD VICTIMS 

By: Rovelyn 

Cagayan de Oro is like a home to me. I was actually there a few weeks ago appreciating the beauty of the city, enjoying the festivities of my Alma Mater and loving the warm welcome of my family and friends. But now, Sendong's wrath changed everything. The devastation brought about by Typhoon Sendong have left thousands of families mourning and displaced. As of this time, death toll has already reached more than a thousand and still increasing and more than 276,000 people remain homeless and sheltered by evacuation centers. As a Kagay-anon, it breaks my heart to see my countrymen in such a helpless state. I know that in my own little way, I need to do something to help. The first thing I did was re post in my other blog the call to HELP CAGAYAN DE ORO and I am so happy upon knowing that many of my friends responded. Others called me and confirmed their willingness to donate. During that time I recommended that donations be given to the foundations and groups stated in my blog. Donations in any form will be given to all the victims anyway. Until, this particular blogger friend from the US who wishes not to be named, reached out and send monetary help to my sister in Cagayan de Oro and even encouraged some of her blogpals to donate and help in the cause of providing mats and blankets to 240 families staying at Xavier Heights Gym in Balulang thus "Bloggers Blanket" was given birth. The victims are somehow surviving day by day with the food and clothes from other donors and also from the barangay. What they are asking right now are mats and blankets for them to at least combat the cold weather and the coldness of the cemented flooring inside the gym.

As of the moment, the funds gathered by Bloggers Blanket are not yet enough to give a pair of mat and blanket to all the families in the community. You might wonder, what's the difference between donating to a big agency or to an organized group compared to Bloggers Blanket, I can say that there's a lot. First, you can be very sure that your donations will go directly to the recipients. Second, the only interest and objective of the group is to help the victims directly which means that corruption has no place in the group. Photos and documentation of the activities will be visible through the blog posts of this blog and the blogs of some supporters and finally someone from the group is tasked to account everything and will make sure that every penny goes to the recipients. When you donate, you can help these people rebuild their lives...

These kids are waiting for your support. Please make their lives a little better

Victims of Sendong housed at Xavier Heights Gym in Balulang.

Bloggers Blanket aims to provide mats, blankets and a little financial support to these families for them to start anew. Distribution of relief goods are facilitated by my sister Allyn, her husband Cy and her SIL Cindy. If you want to be a part of this cause, please send your donations via Paypal to: 

marquee_29@yahoo.com 

Your support will really make a big difference in the lives of this people. May the Lord give you back all the blessings you share more than a hundred times. Please be a part of this cause. Share your blessings and spread love and joy this Christmas.

I Received A Postcard!

I was so surprised the other day when my daughter told me I got a card from Japan. This is my first time ever to receive a postcard from abroad and I am so delighted when I read it. Thank you so much Clang of Kizuna of ties and bonds of love for the wonderful message and thank you so much for sending me post card. Really, you brightened my day on that day, thank you so much.

By the way, it was just my luck that when I tried to take a picture of it, the battery of my camera got empty. So on my next post, I would show you the post card I received from Clarissa.

No Apparel

Sometimes I dream to ride a horse, I rode once but it was only for picture taking and a little bit of roaming around. I didn't have any equestrian riding apparel, the in-charge of that horse riding said they don't have any so we really have to be careful if you feel like riding it alone. In my case the in-charge was holding a rope for me and he was the one who lead the horse while walking, it was only like 15 minutes. I did enjoy it but it was not enough because of the time limit and if I would exceed, I will have to pay another 15 minutes again and there was a lot of people who would like to try riding that horse.

Christmas Decorations And My Girl

Right after I put up the Christmas tree and these Christmas decorations for our center table, Faith could not help it but to sing a song "Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell. She really could feel the spirit of Christmas for these Christmas decorations I just put up. Merry Christmas my little girl and remember I love you so much!

Our Christmas Tree Is Up

Finally, our Christmas tree is up, although I just put up the vintage I am still so happy that even the Christmas is already just around the corner, I still have the spirit to put up. Honesty, these past few days I don't feel like putting some decorations for our house. My spirit is just too low to even put one but last night was the night, with the help of my sister I had put it up. Our Christmas tree has passed lots of lots of years yet even so whenever we need it, it still stood up so tall and dignity. I bought this Christmas tree 8 years ago and it still gave us smiles and colors to our home sweet home whenever we put some decorations on it. But maybe by next year, I have to buy another new Christmas tree, I would miss this Christmas tree but I am sure my sister would be delighted to have it by next year. 

The Flashlight and The Hammer

I'd been planning to buy this basic needs for my house, I know it is only a flashlight and a hammer but I don't know why I can't just buy those before or maybe I keep on forgetting about it. And I just could remember it when I needed it. Like for an instance, I need to put up a frame on the wall and because I didn't had a hammer we were looking for a stone just to poke the nails so we could put up our wedding frame and I know then I need a hammer but guess what I just bought it yesterday. Flashlights, my goodness it has been a lot of times I need it here especially during brownouts and when I have to do things in my car and it's too dark. So yesterday, while I was looking for Mj's materials for her project at school, I did not hesitate at all to buy these basic things for our house. 

Two Bedrooms Left

We have done installing the floor mat on my bedroom, now I have two more bedrooms left and we're done. If only we are not lacking of floor mats to be installed, the three bedrooms are okay now. Maybe on Saturday, I will have to buy again another 10 meters for the two bedrooms, for today I will put up our vintage Christmas tree. 

New Floor Mat For Our Rented Home

My body and legs are aching right now; I am really not feeling well. The other day I have to drive down to the mall after I sent Mj to her school and after I had my car wash, I went to the mall because I really want to buy a floor mat, I bought 10 meters and when we arrive home, my sister and I installed it right away. I didn't know it was lacking about 5 meters but I bought 10 meters again yesterday for the bedroom. The living room is okay now, we have the floor mat installed completely, we just have to finished the remaining floor mats in the 2 bedrooms I hope it could still occupy 3 bedrooms.

To Keep You Warm

We really can't deny it; Christmas is just around the corner. You could feel the breeze of the air that is so cold, the snow is pouring down in the yard that you could even need a North Face jacket to keep you warm. That is if you're living in the states but in our case here, my goodness you will get a pneumonia especially if you are driving in the middle of the day without an aircon. Just like this afternoon, I nearly get a heatstroke even the windows of my car is open I am still dripping sweats. And I think I can't bear this any longer, I really have to go to the car aircon specialist on Monday, I really have to otherwise I would get sick in no time. 

Before They Would Go Out In The Country

I love to go to the massage spa for massage, but I am wondering why their staff gets fewer this time. One said that some of their therapists are looking for Message Therapist Jobs abroad since it is in-demand nowadays. I am not wonder at all because with the salary that they will get from there, I am sure it could support their family here. I mean, I'd been hearing all their complaints of their salary in that spa, they could not even buy something for their own because it is not even enough to support them for their daily expenses. Anyway, good luck to them, I hope they could still spend their Christmas this year together with their family before they would go out in the country.