Always So Thankful...

Thanksgiving Day is here again and as I reflect on all my many blessings, I want to share with you some things I am most thankful for:


1. I am thankful to God for His care, goodness, love, mercy…and His grace which is more than enough for each new day. I am thankful for my faith which enables me to have extreme confidence in all areas of my life, knowing there is a divine plan for everything.


2. I am thankful for the kindness, compassion, patience and unconditional love that I got from two of the most important people in my life - my wonderful parents who taught me everything there is to learn by mere example of their lives.


3. I am thankful for the wonderful family that I have been blessed with...my parents, my brother, my grandparents, my aunts, uncles and cousins from the Flores, Lopez & Aguila sides. We have always been extremely close and I have always felt blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.


4. I am thankful for the family I found when I married Ryan. The De Guzman’s and Mendoza’s have always been supportive & so loving, and are truly a good substitute for my own.


5. I am thankful for getting up each morning to the warm kisses of my husband. He’s such a wonderful man who inspires me daily, works so hard, and loves and understands me no matter what, like no one ever has!


6. I am thankful for my daughters who give me endless happiness and sometimes, headaches. They give me the reason to get up and keep going everyday. I’m thankful for being able to watch them grow and learn, and for all the games, stories, hugs, kisses, laughter and love we share.


7. I am thankful for all the love from family, relatives and friends I experience in my life every single day which makes me see the beauty of life.


8. I am thankful for friends near and far…in real life & online…for the joy and laughter they bring…for all the memories they help create.


9. I am thankful for my creativity, my artistic mind and hands…that bring smiles to my loved ones’ face & heart and even to mine.


10. I am thankful for having my heart broken, so that I can better understand what I have now, what a blessing and a gift love truly is!


11. I am thankful for nature which my family loves...its wonderful color that pleases my eyes... the lake and the sea where Ryan and Clarise could fish...the beautiful flowers, butterflies and birds that give Cherlin delight.


12. I am thankful for the hard times. Hard times keep me on track. They give me great empathy and some wisdom. I learn from them, and they make me proud to see myself growing, adapting, rather than shrinking away afraid.


13. I am so thankful for modern science…for phones…for the internet…for yahoo…for facebook. Keeping in touch with my family & friends from anywhere in the world is a lot easier!!!


14. At this very moment, I am so thankful to my very good friend Carmi for inviting us to spend thanksgiving with her family! If not for her, I'll be so busy today and won't get the chance to write this. (",)


Life is tough, and it is so easy to give in to the stress of daily life and complain about all the things we think are wrong with our lives. We always see what we don't have instead of what we have….bad things instead of good ones. But life is good and God has given us a great deal to be thankful for! We should just open our eyes and learn to count our blessings more than our sorrows, never overlooking the small ones. Remember small ones add up to a bigger one…


I do thank each of you for the part you play in my life. Without you, it would be a little or maybe a lot different.


I love just the way my life is…


Happy Thanksgiving!!! Make EVERYDAY Thanksgiving Day!!!

Clarise is star student again!!!

It's recognition day at Sheffield Primary today...and Clarise is star student again!!!

Sheffield’s Star Student Award is given to deserving students for their Academic Achievement and Good Character. Every nine weeks, two students are chosen to receive this award from each class. A student can only receive this award once a year. I’m so proud that Clarise has always been chosen as one of the 1st nine weeks’ Star Students from Kindergaten up to now. For the past two years, it has been a great motivation for her to give her best until the end of the school year…and I believe that it will be the same this year.

Let me share with you her teachers’ write-up from Kindergarten to present on why they chose Clarise as a star student.

Kindergarten:
By Mrs. Pamela Perkins
Clarise came to Sheffield from the Philippines. She speaks two languages fluently and is a wonderful reader and writer. She is a leader in our classroom and often helps other students who are struggling with completing a task. She loves to learn and is very curious, often asking questions to find out information, Her love of learning, her classmates and her school make her a Star in Kindergarten.

First Grade:
By Mrs. Crystal Owens
Clarise is a very responsible student. She always knows what to do and follows directions. She makes her day every day. Her work is excellent. She is patient and helpful to others. She is a very active listener and participates in class discussions frequently. She asks lots of questions to help her understand the concepts we are learning about. She is also a good friend to all in our class.

Second Grade:
By Mrs. Dorothy Carroll
Clarise is a dedicated worker and is eager to learn new things. She has a great attitude and takes direction well. Clarise volunteers frequently and makes wonderful contributions to the class. She enjoys books and reads extensively. Clarise has many friends and is well liked by her peers. She possesses good self-discipline and is respectful to others. Clarise is capable of achieving anything she puts her mind to! She is truly a shining star!

Clarise has always shown great academic performance since she started school, and as her mother, I’m so proud of her and all her accomplishments. I thank God for the gift of wisdom that He gave Clarise...and I pray that He will guide and lead her all the time. She still has a long way to go...but with God's loving guidance, I'm sure she'll always be in the right path. (",)

Happy birthday, Cherlin!!!

It's Cherlin's 4th birthday!!!

wooohooo!!!

Happy birthday to you...
Happy birthday to you...
Happy birthday, dear Cherlin...
Happy birthday to you...

Wishing you a birthday as special as you are, baby! We love you! Praying that the Lord will bless & keep you all the days of your life...

Happy Birthday to My Dearest Husband...

September 24 is my husband's birthday. It's truly difficult to imagine life without him because he's been in my life for over 15 years. He's been a source of strength, comfort, happiness, protection and of course, endless love. I pray that God will continue to bless this man with good health and grace to guide our family for many more years to come. I pray that he'll be around for another 50 or 60 years so that we can grow old together.


I love you, Rye! Thanks for being you...Thanks for being mine...And thanks for being Clarise & Cherlin's dad.
I must be the luckiest girl alive to have married you...;)

How Fast Time Flies!

Exactly 7 years ago, my eldest daughter, Clarise, was born. I can still remember how blessed I felt the very moment I saw her angelic face. I have loved her since she was conceived…and seeing her right before my eyes was truly a heartwarming moment! The day she was born was and will always be one of the happiest & most special days of my life. It gave my life a new meaning because I knew there and then that I will have the chance to experience the full essence of being a woman – to be a mother who’s strong, dependable, unconditionally loving, and responsible for someone else’s life.

When she hugged me this morning before she left for school, I realized how really fast time flies. It has been 7 years since I gave birth to Clarise. She has grown so much. She’s no longer a baby. Same with Cherlin. They are little girls now…growing daily in my arms. I must admit that there are times when I just don’t know how to accept their growth and their changes because there is a part of me that just wants to keep them cradled in my arms. I want to keep them as sweet and soft as I remember them as newborns. A part of me wants them to always be my babies…I don’t want them to outgrow the hugs & kisses that they willingly give me & Ryan...but I know that growing up is inevitable. And I must be honest in saying that no matter how much I want to embrace my girls’ baby days, I’m happy and relieved that they have grown and 1) changing diapers; 2) washing baby bottles, nipples, sippy cups & lids; 3) baby changing stations in public restrooms & 4) stains from milk, juice, baby food on my clothes are things of my past now. (^.^)

7 years have passed in Clarise’s life…3 ½ in Cherlin’s…but there are still more to come… and I just pray that God will give me the strength to always be by their side to guide them and be the best mother that I can be.

I always look forward to each day that I will spend with my daughters…and I will never stop doing thatl.

To my dearest Clarise, happy 7th birthday! You are so very loved and wished a world of joy and success!!!

WHAT BEING A MOTHER OF TWO HAS TAUGHT ME...

I've been a mother for almost 7 years now…and I may say that my girls brought a lot of changes within me as a person. The way I think and feel about life and the future is totally different now. It’s not just about me. My girls became my focus and admittedly, there are times when I can’t believe how much motherhood changed my priorities and interests! But honestly, I consider being a mother as the best thing that happened to me (aside from finding the most loving & loyal husband of course)! It taught me how to take pleasures in simple things…and that, I realized is something really awesome! Here are, in no particular order, some of the other most relevant things that being a mother has taught me…

1. God’s goodness can easily be seen in ordinary things like seeing your kids wake up healthy and happy each day.

2. Kids just know how to bring their parents on the verge of explosion so patience is the most effective tool every mother or parent needs.

3.Simple smiles, cuddles, hugs & kisses can be so precious! They truly can warm your heart and light up your day.

4.Being a mother doesn’t mean I can have control over everything. To guide rather than force is the best motherhood technique that every mother should master. I cannot make my children into children they are not. I can only help them be their best and be happy with what they’re doing and guide them in finding their way in the world.

5.You can be up all night with your sick child and still be able to deliver a good presentation to your boss, and still be at your best the whole day.

6. In the eyes of a child, walls are a great canvas for their artworks, so beware of permanent markers because they are really permanent! :-D

7. Having children will deepen you & your husband’s commitment to and for each other, because as parents, you will share everything about them. You could never look at your children without being grateful to your husband for helping you bring those wonderful children into this world!

8. To be a mother means being responsible for the life of another person and it truly is not easy but I believe it is the most rewarding job and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

9. It’s only in having your own children that you will feel what your mother really felt years ago and everyday, you will realize that you’re like her in so many ways whether you enjoy the thought of it or not.

10. One of the qualities you would want to pass on to your children is self love and acceptance – to be able to do that, you must have it first. So acceptance of who you are as a person, a woman, a wife, a mother, a sister or a daughter is a must! You should be happy with who you are.

11. Nothing compares to the fulfillment you feel in seeing your children succeed in things they love doing and in knowing that they grow into values and morals that a parent can truly be proud of.

12. A mother spends so much time doing things for everyone else that sometimes, she forgets to do things for herself. The world will not end if you give yourself 15, 20, 30 minutes or even a couple of hours! Get a bubble bath, a facial, go tanning, go shopping, get a massage, paint your toenails…do whatever you enjoy doing! If you do not take the time to care for yourself you can't be effective in caring for anyone else.

13. Having children means not having a spotless home. Don’t be disappointed to see toys here and there - Kids should be allowed to play with their toys! If your children decide to write on the walls, don't fret. Once your children are grown up and out on their own, you will have plenty of time to clean and keep a perfect house.

14. You should embrace every moment in your kid’s life - they grow up way too fast. You only walk this road once and if you don't stop to enjoy the moment then you miss out on so much.The time you spend with your children playing, talking, reading is what will matter most to them. They will not care about your college degree, how many hours you spent at work, how you look, or how big of a house you live in. All they will care about is that you were there for them…you listened…you understood…and you loved them, their imperfections and all.

25 Random Things About Me

1. I have a Christmas birthday…quite hated it when I was a kid!

2. I love cakes and my faves are Red Ribbon’s Mango cake, Figaro’s Sansrival (miss them sooo much)..and Cheesecake Factory’s Dulce De Leche Caramel Cheesecake!

3. I would love to see Pierce Brosnan, David Beckham and Michael Vartan in person.

4. I’m a Registered Electrical Engineer (REE) - never practiced it though!

5. I spent the first 16 years of my life in Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines and almost all Saturday mornings of my early childhood were spent at Suqui beach, but I didn’t learn how to swim! Gosh!

6. I may be the only Batangueña who’s not a coffee drinker…but I do drink Mocha Frap when my taste buds crave for it.

7. I only have one sibling…and he’s 2 ½ yrs older than me.

8. I had my first serious relationship at 13. We broke up 5 years after. My love story with Ryan began almost 2 years after that. Oct. 28, 1993 when Ryan became my bf…and it was exactly 7 yrs after when we got married – Oct. 28, 2000 was our wedding day. Ryan & I were schoolmates in elementary...became good friends in high school...and crossed paths again at UST Faculty of Engineering. I think that's what you call destiny! ;-)

9. I just love cooking! Name it and I’ll cook my own version of it! ;-)

10. I’m really not into singing & dancing since I was a kid…ask me to recite a poem, do monologue, declamation, oration or interpretative reading, but don’t ask me to sing or dance...coz it would be terrible! I sing in the bathroom though…LOL. And I sing nursery rhymes and lullabies to my girls too! ;-)

11. I went to Catholic schools from elementary to college. Holy Infant Academy in elementary & high school…and University of Santo Tomas in college.

12. My father is a native of San Jose, Batangas and my mother was from Malolos, Bulacan. It was in Malolos where my brother & I were born, but we grew up in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. My father was assigned to work there and I was 1 year old when we relocated.

13. I just can’t let close friends’ or relatives’ birthdays pass by without greeting them no matter how far they are. I put all birthdays in my phone’s calendar & set an alarm for each so I won’t forget.

14. I was bitten by dogs 4x when I was a kid! It’s good that I didn’t get rabies…but I think I enjoy eating bony meat because of that! haha

15. I learned how to knit out of boredom during my first year here in Dallas…and within that year, I was able to knit 6 ponchos (1 for me, 2 for Clarise & 3 for Cherlin), 4 scarves for my girls, 1 blanket & 5 pairs of booties for Cherlin, and 2 purses for Clarise. Now, I’m trying to finish a scarf for Clarise...I started it around October last year, haven’t finished it til now. Whewwww…I think I can only do it when I'm bored! (",)

16. I just love Japanese food! How I wish I can go to Japan for a taste of authentic Japanese food!

17. I am a diabetic…but I still don’t deprive myself of sweets!!!

18. I was an instructor for a year at UST Electrical Engineering Department…and Differential Equations, DC/AC Circuit Analysis, Electric Machinery and Electrical Shop Practice are the subjects that I handled.

19. I’m really not into signature stuff…I just love to use & wear whatever makes me feel comfortable and beautiful…(^_^)

20. Perfume is one thing I can’t live without! Lacoste Pour Femme, Estee Lauder’s Pleasures and D&G Light Blue are among my faves.

21. Blue and black used to be my only favorite colors…but now that I have my two girls, I can’t help but like pink and purple too!

22. I don’t remember finishing a book after I graduated from college…except for bedtime storybooks that I read to my daughters…haha.

23. I love collecting angels and refrigerator magnets.

24. I’m a very forgiving person. I always believe that forgiveness is the noblest thing to do which in return will give you peace and happiness. But once a person betrays my trust, it will be too hard to win it back.

25. I seldom watch TV and go to movies after my mother passed away…coz everything just seems to make me cry. 24, House, M.D., Chuck and American Idol are the only shows I watch on TV. When they’re not on, I can stand not looking at the TV even when the whole family is watching.

1st Trophy for my Clarise...

It was October last year when the 2008-2009 National PTA Reflections Program was launched. Reflections is PTA's arts recognition and achievement program for students that allows children to express themselves creatively in any of the six categories: Literature, Visual Arts, Dance Choreography, Musical Composition, Film Making & Photography. The Reflections Program gives students an opportunity to receive recognition for their artistic works which they do on their own without help from their parents and "reflect" what they feel when given the annual theme. “Wow!” is the theme for the 2008-2009 Reflections Program.

The confidence Clarise got in having her chalk drawing chosen as part of the CFB-ISD annual art exhibit in March last year made her decide to join in the Reflections Program’s visual arts & photography categories. For the visual arts category, she submitted a drawing entitled “The Beauty of Nature” where she drew a river with a mountain background and has fishes in it and also showing the river bank with trees and lots of flying birds. According to her, seeing God’s beautiful creation always makes her say wow! Her entry in the Photography category on the other hand is a photo entitled “Ants”. She took a photo of some busy ants. She said ants make her say wow because they are so small yet so hardworking. She submitted her entries to her art teacher at Sheffield Primary in November 6, 2008. We didn’t hear anything after that. Though in my heart, I admire Clarise’s artworks, I just thought that maybe her entries weren’t good enough for the judges and didn’t win any award.

But to our surprise, we received an invitation letter last Jan. 22 from the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Council of PTA’s. Clarise’s entries made it to the District judging…and the invitation said she is going to receive an award. But we really didn’t have any idea which one of her entries will or what award it will be. There are three award levels: Honorable Mention, Award of Merit and Award of Excellence. Entries receiving the Award of Excellence will advance to State judging. Reading the letter truly delighted Ryan & I but especially Clarise. She felt so proud of herself though she didn’t know what award she will get. Yesterday, January 26, the District Awards Presentation was held. Excitedly, our whole family headed to Newman Smith High School Theater 30 minutes before the scheduled time for the Primary Level awardees. When we got to the venue, Clarise & I immediately checked the recognized Visual Arts and Photography entries on exhibit. We didn’t see any of her entries there. I remembered that the invitation letter said “Recognized Visual Arts and Photography entries (except those taken to State judging) will be on display in the Theatre foyer.” That is when I realized that my daughter will be receiving the highest award level for her entry. I was in cloud nine that time…and honestly, I almost cried. I felt so proud of my daughter. I know she’s a truly bright girl…but seeing her as a 6-year old girl with a very strong personality who knows what she wants and has strong determination to see it happen, is something else. I can’t remember myself like that when I was her age. I know I’ve been really competitive in my younger days…but not until I was in 4^th grade. I’ve been into a lot of Academic Contests within school level, Science Contests, Math Olympiads & Oratorical Contests that brought me into provincial level competitions…but I don’t remember winning that much…LOL. At Clarise’s age, she has already brought home a number of ribbons & medals from different contests…plus a number of certificates from her academic achievements in school. And last night, she brought home her first trophy from the Reflections Program. Only one of her entries received an award though…and that’s her photography entry. Her “Ants” photo won her an Award of Excellence. Clarise’s Photography entry is now in Austin, TX for the State Competition. No matter where she places at State level, I am very proud of her and through this post, I want to share with everyone the joy & pride that I have in being her mother…(^_^)