One Brave Little Angel

This morning, I experienced grief, sadness, loss, and inspiration. All these from a story of a family and their darling little boy who caused me to cry for a long time. His story reminded me that life is so precious, every moment we spend with our loved ones must be cherished. It's a story of a boy who at 2 years old became paralyzed, blind and mute because of the KRABBE DISEASE. His joyful and contented spirit reminded me that the trials and difficulties in life could not take away what is in our hearts, those things cannot take away the smile and laughter if we have God in our hearts. Even in his painful situation, he still continue to bring life and love to everyone around him. The little boy only lived less than 3 years but the life he lived will surely be remembered by everyone who knew him. In fact it is true that it is not the quantity of life we live that counts but the quality of life we lived. I hope you will find inspiration and learn to trust God like his parents did as you read about his story and see his videos.

This is Judson's youtube video

THE STORY OF JUDSON

God bless all the children.

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

Shining, shimmering, splendid were the words to describe my weekend. (grin). My husband brought me to his favorite festival - The Renaissance Festival in Kansas City, KS. It's like being back to the period of kings, queens, pirates, elves, etc.

I went to London to visit the Queen!

Even the dogs are dressed for the festival

Fair Ladies

The damsels in distress

I finally met Captain Jack Sparrow!

Nose Bleed

Ber months are here. It means cooler breezes and nosebleeds. Last night my nose bled and it scared hubby so much. (poor hubby). So why does we get nose bleeds? Nosebleeds happen due to many reasons and one of them is too much dry heat or cold.

Nosebleeds can occur spontaneously when the nasal membranes dry out and crack. This is common in dry climates, or during the winter months when the air is dry and warm from household heaters.(http://www.medicinenet.com/nosebleed/article.html)

My friends told me that an air humidifier or a nasal spray will help a lot as it helps moisten the air we breathe. In substitute for a real air humidifier, the mist from a boiling pot of water can also help moisten the air thus help lessen the nasal membrane irritation and nose bleeding.

Stolen Purse

On my first few months here in USA a terrible experience happen. Last week, my husband and I stopped by to pick up a friend from her house. We left the car running (and stupidly my purse too) as we were in a hurry. We were not gone for even 1 minute and when we return to the car - my purse was missing! Thankfully, my passports and other important documents or cards were not in it, only some girl 's stuff and souvenirs from Philippines. There are always bad people anywhere in the world sometimes we grew too trusting we forget that these people exist. Here are some reminders i got from a website about crime prevention.

• Make sure that all of the car doors are locked whenever you leave your vehicle.
• Always lock the doors and leave the windows rolled up.
• Never leave purses or anything valuable in the car or or keep it from full view.

My stolen purse is a gift from my mother and I feel so bad losing it. I feel that they also stole the memories attached to the purse. I am still hoping that one day I will find the purse in the dumpster somewhere, In the meantime, I am just thankful that nothing important was stolen, the car was not stolen and no body got hurt. We learned our lesson well and next time no matter how quick we will be out, we will always lock our car door.

Bargain Shopping

I am a cheapskate and I love to shop. Who doesn't? I love shopping for the most affordable and  quality stuff. I love clearance sale, I love 90% discounts, I love renovation sale, midnight sale and all other price off sales :)





Thought I would never find sale galore here in USA - until last sunday
when we went to TJ-MAXX.

I got a Guess Little Black Dress for $3,
A knitted top for $3 and a pair of jeans for $1!!!

It is important how to handle money wisely. People can wear the most expensive clothes and still look crap. It all boils down to style - how to carry one's self. Fashion like all other commodities in life, need not be expensive :)

Nelson-Atkins Museum

Last Friday, Shaun and I visited Nelson Art Museum in KC. We had a great time looking at the giant Buddhas from Thailand, sculptures from Egypt and Rome and Italy, paintings of known and unknown artists, and other stuffs under the name of art. It was a memorable experience but the most memorable of all - is our dinner in the Italian-inspired restaurant inside the museum. The ambiance, the smell of food, the lighting and the water fountain was so perfect we thought for a moment we were in Italy. 
There is one thing there though that Shaun and I love - the beef noodle vegetable soup. We love it so much that we plan to go there every Friday now :)

My San San

Fleas jumped in and out of her fur as the lady handed her to me.  

She was a chubby, black ball of fur, white furs wrapped her dainty little feet like socks. I knew i was in love the first time I laid my eyes on her.

She was a month-old baby owned by an old lady who lived near my grandma's house. The lady wanted to give her to grandma to look after her garden. But for 100 pesos i got her for myself. I paid 350 pesos just to transport her on the ferry from my grandma's to my own place in another island. I named her sansan. 

My family loves her as much as I do. I remember my sister staying late at night to tend for sansan while she was whining due to painful vaccination. I remember walking with her on the cool dewy mornings and hot summer nights chasing big dogs. Some people said she is an ugly mutt, but for me she is the most beautiful puppy - because i bought her with my own money, we spent lots of time together, we are the best of friends.

One year passed, then the time came for me to leave her. I have to go to the USA to be with my sweetheart. Leaving sansan is the last thing I want to do. I cried so many tears thinking about me leaving her. I gathered my luggage and said my byebye to everyone except sansan. She crawled under the bed and curled her legs when I tried to reach out for her. It broke my heart as much as it broke hers. Tears were streaming down my face as I knelt n front of the bed looking at sansan and saying my goodbye to her. I told her to eat well, to take care of her future puppies and that she will always be my sansan bop. She looked back at me as if to say she
understands. Then i got up and left. Just before I went out of our door, i felt a nudge on my legs - there was my beloved sansan giving one wet nose kiss and I know she will be waiting for me until I see her again.

Are You Blessed

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle,

the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation,

you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator,

clothes on your back, a roof over
your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change
in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare,
especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand,

hug them or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways
you may never even know.

-author unkown-

The Music Man

Last Sunday, August 03, 2008, Rose - a very nice lady friend of my hubby invited me to watch a musical - The Music Man at the Starlight theater in KS (my first time to watch a musical show)

It was a melting temperature I have to fan my legs to keep them warm! The music were wonderful but it makes me miss home and my own country's wonderful songs too. When the Old Barber's Choir sang the Star Spangled Banner - my first time to hear the USA national anthem being sang live and saw the US flag on the display screen, it finally dawned on me that I am here in the US soil.

Rose and Eugene Rose

Starlight Theater