“The light of a distant star
continues to reach the earth
long after the star itself is gone.

In the same way, the light and
love this dear loved one gave will
continue to shine in many hearts.”

At this day, my cousin… my friend has finally given up her battle of cancer.  She was indeed a warrior.  She stands for what she truly believes in and challenges other people.  She will be remembered by that courage, that strength, that smile and most of all that angelic voice that she possessed.

I’m gonna be a grandma and at the same time an aunt!  My sister in law – Trissica and my niece – Ella are both having a baby!  Hearing that news was very overwhelming.  I love babies and the more me and my sisters continue to talk about the coming baby in the family, I get really excited and started browsing through baby’s stuff.  I admit that I want to have a baby of my own too.  But it’s just not ideal for me and TS these days.  At least, not yet.

Babies fascinate me a lot.  From the colors and scents that are associated with them, to specific products like baby cribs, baby bedding and baby toys, they bring so many good memories with me when we were raising my nephews and nieces.

Someday, I am going to be a mother.  And by that time, I can definitely fulfill my fancies for my baby and his/her room.  I can’t wait to walk in the room and smell the fresh scent of the baby powder or baby cologne.  Of course there will be sleepless night but from all the mothers I’ve known, they always tell me that it’s all worth it.  I’m also looking forward to that day that some tiny creature will be calling me “Mama” and it’s not Cougar. hehehe!

It was the day of our 3rd Wedding Anniversary and the snow storm just started.  I woke TS with a breakfast in bed.  It was nothing fancy really.  I only prepared bacon strips, scrambled eggs, bagel with Philadelphia Cream Cheese on it and a glass of orange juice.  I made sure I got up earlier than him so I can somehow surprise him a little bit other than the presents that I already gave him the day before.  Since I made more than enough breakfast for TS, I ended up sharing it with him in bed.

The snow was falling heavily outside.  TS kept on checking on the weather news and made sure it is safe for us to go out without getting stuck along the way.  I had no idea where he is taking me and was totally clueless.  I had been guessing and attempting to squeeze some info from TS but I was unsuccessful.  It was only when we arrived at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, MN that I realized that we are going to see the Vatican Splendors!  This is indeed one great gift from TS.  He had not only kept me in touch with my faith but he also brought me to the Vatican without enduring the long and expensive flight.

The Vatican Splendors showcases artworks dating back to the third century.  From the venerated relics (bone fragments) of Saint Peter to items from the election of Pope Benedict XVI, this exhibit comprises one of the largest Vatican collections ever to tour North America. Many items have never before been on public view.  Since pictures are prohibited inside the exhibit, I had my intellectual memory to work its wonders and grasp the splendors in mind.

I remember one time when my real good friend (I consider her as my bestfriend these days) – Melody asked me to vote for her daughter – Kaitlyn in one Cute Baby Contest.  Of course without a doubt I went to the website and I voted for her not only because Melody is my friend but also because Kaitlyn herself is so cute bringing her water bottle.  There are also other cute babies in there and I must admit I wanted to take part and show off my baby.  But my baby doesn’t meet the criteria so I didn’t bother.

Luckily, there’s a website that gives me the chance to show off my baby – Cougar.  I joined the site and entered for the FREE Pet Photo Contest! My dearest Cougar will be challenging other cuties out there to get the highest number of votes for a chance to win some cash. Anamigo.com, the site which hosted the contest, will be giving away $300/week for pet who got the most vote.

I am asking you to vote for my baby and or you can also let your pet join in the fun and let me know when you do, so I can vote for him/her too!

Is your pet cute enough to win you $300?
Enter the Anamigo Pet Photo contest and find out.
Entries that get the most votes will win daily and weekly cash prizes.
You could win:

• Daily prize of $25. (You have 7 days to win!)
• Weekly prize of $125

Get your camera out and email your friends. Your furry friend could bring you in cash!

IF
by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!

My sister- Rema found this beautiful and meaningful poem and she asked me if I could do something with it so she can print it as a poster, frame it and hang it on the walls of his boys’ room.  She discovered the poem during one epic tennis match -Wimbledon 2008 Finals that the BBC has screened.  Two epic tennis rivals – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer read the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling before they start to beat each other to win the title.

I have done the best that I can and I hope that my skill has done justice to the beautiful picture of my cute nephews and the meaningful poem of Rudyard Kipling.  If you want to print this image as a poster, feel free to do so.  If you click the image above, you will be directed to the higher resolution of which is best if you print large images.  I will print this myself and will hang it in one of the walls in our place.  A reminder that even if I don’t have a child or son, I already have my BOYS!

He has always been different.  Even before when he was still a baby, he has manifested the qualities of being smart.  It makes me smile to recall that at an early age of two, he already know who invented the telescope, the monetary unit of japan and 20 more trivias like that.  Not only that he possesses sheer intelligence; he too is very talented.  He can sing, dance and yes act.  He has the looks to back it all up.

He finished his elementary at Holy Rosary School of Pardo and studied in Pope John XXIII Seminary in Mabolo for his secondary education.  He has developed his confidence without being braggart.  In the surface, he’s shy but cool.  But he knows what he is capable of and he knows what he can achieve.

Even when we were young, she has always been the person that I look up to.  I have been a witness to her journey in life.  When she was in Kindergarten, Nanay and I would bring her lunch.  As she continued with Elementary, her performance turned out to be my own benchmark.  Ifollowed her footsteps.  I too became an achiever like her.  When she was in High School, she discovered a hidden talent.  She started writing and she was very good at it.  She can give you a perfect visual of the story, poem or composition that she wrote.  It is at this point that I realized I can’t be like her.  I attended different High School which made us away from each other.  But even then, I never stopped being her #1 supporter.  Before anyone could read her composition, I get to read it first.  When she attended College, she didn’t stop writing.  She wrote more poems inspired and dedicated to her crush-Stoner.

This is our tribute to the men who dedicated their lives to their children… who stood by them through thick and thin… whose steadfast and dedicated love endures… because we love you and all that you’ve done for us.  To our Father… our hero! A tribute to Tatay Leno, Daddy Noel, Papa Hen, Kuya Paul and Opa Pie.  You are loved!!!

My apologies for disappearing during the conference. things just happened so suddenly.  I was away attending to the laundry when the power just went down for awhile but it went back again.  When i tried to turn my pc back on, i just couldn’t connect it to the internet. there i realized that my internet server is down.

I decided to do my chores and took a nap and will just try to reconnect again for the second session.  Unfortunately, i still could not connect. not only my internet server was down but my host server too.  I know i missed a whole lot of fun. but i was helpless.

In the next coming days, I will be busy doing my responsibilities as a maid of honor since it’s only 11 days before Manang Rorie’s Weddign Day.  My parents are already here and Manang Rema and her family too.  Pardon me if i won’t be able to reply to your posts. i will try as much as possible to squeeze some time to do it.

Thanks for understanding and may you have a Merry Christmas!!!

Things have been pretty busy with me for the past weeks since that week of Thanksgiving. I had a very wonderful time with my sister-Rosarie visiting us here in Jacksonville. Each moment was precious. From cooking breakfast with her to St. John’s Town Center to simply laying in bed talking about anything and everything… it was just amazing being reconnected to my sister again. Now I get to realize the great and wonderful feeling to have someone to share everything with. With her being around, I get to put make-up on my face once again, dressing up nicely and being confident. But most of all, showing off my cooking skills was the big part of it. hehehe! The three-day period of us being together was short but it was definitely worth it. I am looking forward to spending more time with her. When she left, all that’s left was me and Travis. The condo seemed quiet and the stillness of the place is very much nnoticeable. Of course, I have no one to giggle with as we all know TS is a serious person. Although I share loads of laughter with my hubby, the laughter you share with a sister, a friend is very much different.