One day at Bowman's Bay

I used to surf alot when I lived in Hawaii and that was 5-6 years ago. I think I've already lost my skills. The surfboards I have are too small for paddle surfing, they're meant for catching waves. ;) You have to have at least longer than 9ft board to paddle surf and my surfboards are only 7'3".

But my friend and I still went to Bowman's bay and tried it. Of course, the water was FLAT as in no waves at all. It was also COLD.

I was in the water for a few minutes. The water was too cold for me. I wasn't able to stand up. My whole body was numb. I couldn't feel my toes. LOL

Me trying to stand up

 After getting out of the water, it made me miss HAWAII. Too bad I don't have any pictures of me surfing, jumping off cliff, body boarding and other things. So, i was thinking I need to visit Hawaii again then do the stuff I love to do and take pictures. lol

Here's a picture of a rock in Waimea Bay in Hawaii. I got it online. I remember the day I jumped off this cliff, I was shaking and there were a lot of kids waiting for me to jump off. Lol. I was terrified. It was really nerve wracking. So, I jumped and not only once, so many times I can't even remember how many! You can only jump off this rock when the tide is high but my feet still touched the bottom.

A couple of pictures I took from LAIE POINT.

I was a beach bum in Hawaii. I love going to the beach and I didn't care how dark my skin was.

I don't know why I don't have any pictures of me body boarding or surfing!. Ugh!

I miss Hawaii.....

I miss Tony

I miss my husband. Every Friday night, we try to watch movies in our house or go to the drive-in theater. Or  sometime we go to the store out of the blue and buy ice cream. Lol. My all time favorite is strawberry flavor Haagen-Dazs  ice cream. Well, Tony likes it too. It really addicting.

So, my other favorite ice cream is....... Ben and  Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk. Now, say it 3 times fast. ;) It's a chocolate ice cream with white and dark fudge chunks, pecans, walnuts, and fudge-covered walnuts. Tony doesn't really like it not because it really sounds fattening but because it has pecans and walnuts in it. He loves anything coffee. So before he left for a "kinda" unexpected deployment, I bought some ice cream for us. :)

Well, tonight is one of those nights that I should be very grateful that I got to skype with my husband!!! I am also glad that Arianna got to see Daddy again on the computer. I love him and Arianna so much.

So yeah, I finished the ice cream in one sitting the day I bought it. Tony just ate half of it and the rest is still in the freezer. No one will eat it but him. Well, I have to admit, I was sad that my husband left again and somehow, eating my favorite  ice cream made me feel a tiny bit better.

25 Reasons I owe my Mother

I received this via email. I thought it's funny. Some of them are true about my mother. Like # 7, 11, 14 and 22. Haha!

25 Reasons I owe my Mother

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.. I just finished cleaning.'

2.My mother taught me RELIGION .
'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'

4.. My mother taught me LOGIC.
' Because I said so, that's why .'

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident..'

7. My mother taught me IRONY
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM .
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA..
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
'Stop acting like your father!'

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get home.'

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
'You are going to get it when you get home !'

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes (or making those faces) they are going to freeze that way.'

19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'

20. My mother taught me HUMOR .
'When that lawn mower cuts off your foot, don't come running to me.'

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'

22.. My mother taught me GENETICS.
'You're just like your father.'

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'

I love my mom and I miss her so much!

This photo was taken August 16,2003. The day I left the Philippines to study at BYU-Hawaii. I miss you Mama. Thank you for everything. I am really hoping to see her sometime this year. :) I love you.



Happy Mother's Day!

I had the chance to read the wonderful poem below from this booklet:

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World

William Ross Wallace

Blessings on the hand of women!

Angels guard its strength and grace,

In the palace, cottage, hovel,

Oh, no matter where the place;

Would that never storms assailed it,

Rainbows ever gently curled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,

Power may with beauty flow,

Mother's first to guide the streamlets,

From them souls unresting grow--

Grow on for the good or evil,

Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission

Here upon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!

Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,

And the sacred song is mingled

With the worship in the sky--

Mingles where no tempest darkens,

Rainbows evermore are hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, soon to be mothers, and mothers at heart! I will be forever grateful that I became a mother! 

It's day 3 of being sick

Out of all the days that I could be sick, why this bug chose to be in my body when my husband is on deployment? This really sucks! I just want this to be over.

I haven't gotten sick like this in years. Headache, running nose, I want my ears to explode, coughing, my muscles are sore and my eyes are teary. It's really hard to function when I have a little one to take care and spend time with. I laid on the couch with my thick blanket on but Arianna kept on pulling my hand because she wants to play or she just wants my attention.

I got to skype with my husband yesterday who reminded me not to fall asleep while Arianna is awake. He saw me that my eyes were close and told me to wake up and I said, "I am awake. I am just resting my eyes." Lol.

I never thought that this would be hard. I can't imagine how every single parents out there or every wife/mom left at home with their children while they're husbands are deployed do it all.

Then, everytime my husband is on deployment, there's always, ALWAYS something goes wrong. Like I remember, my stove broke and I had to wait for him to come back from deployment to buy a new stove so I had to settle for a single burner portable stove. The kitchen sink got clogged up so I had to go to home depot to buy this "snake" thing. I had to google or go on youtube how to use this freaking "snake" thing for the kitchen sink. I remember when I was pregnant, husband was deployed and I couldn't start my car. Good thing my sister was with me and a nice guy offered a jump start. Had to go to Les Schwab to get a new battery for the car. Our dogs got out several times and I had to go and get them. Then, recently, when my husband was on his way to the airport, Arianna's bedroom light went out. My goodness gracious! I get nervous dealing with electrical stuff maybe because I always get electrocuted. Lol.  I hate fixing stuff but I have to suck it up and do it. And the list goes on....

Everytime my husband gets deployed, it somehow makes me stronger and wiser. So far, I've learned how to change a lightbulb. Haha! I've learned how to use a lawnmower. I've learned that the gas we put in our weedwacker is different from the gas we use for our lawnmower. I've learned how to use a snake to unclogged the kitchen sink. I found out that I can carry a 50lbs bag of dog food. I've learned how to deal with a sick fussy baby. I've learned how to put a windshield wiper fluid. I've learned how to overcome my fears on needles when Arianna had to get her shots. And the list goes on....

Well, I am still sick. I wanna feel better but dayquil and nyquil are not working so I stopped taking them. I want this to be over because I have a lot of things to do.

This too shall pass....

A kinda sad Sunday

Arianna and I didn't go to church the whole month of March. The first Sunday of March was my husband's birthday so we decided not to go to church and celebrated his birthday before we went to Florida for a 3 week vacation.

So today, we're back to church and I taught my class. I found it sad that 2 of the kids from the class moved out of the island and I didn't even get to say bye to them. I miss their little sweet spirits. I miss how they participated in the lesson. I miss them, period.

On the other hand, I am proud to say that Arianna is getting better at church. She cried for a little bit in the nursery but other than that, she did great! I love how the sisters that are in-charge at the nursery are so passionate and patient to the kids. I am so grateful for them for taking care of Arianna for a couple of hours so I can do my calling at church. I love serving. I love teaching the kids.

I am so behind with this blog. I will post more when I get the chance. :)

Love your children...

I attended the Primary teacher training/ board meeting tonight and I have to say that in an hour and a half, I've learned alot. So thankful for the leaders who put it together.

I love babies/kids even before we had Arianna. I am so grateful that God gave her to us. She is such a blessing into our family.

I believe that babies are angels from heaven. =)

Those are my thoughts for today.

3 Nephi 22:13
    "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children".

Proverbs 22:6
   "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it".

Hand-me-down clothes

When Arianna was born, I told my husband and myself that Arianna deserves new clothes, new shoes and other new baby stuff. I got a bunch of new stuff from my baby shower which I was so grateful for.
Well, a few months later after Arianna was born, I changed my thoughts about hand-me-down clothes. I realized that there is NOTHING WRONG with it. I am so grateful that I have a friend who gives hand-me-down clothes specially dresses for Arianna. I am also thankful for freecycle.org and community clothing swaps. Come on, clothes at no cost? You can't beat that.

"Free is the right price".  ;) just saying....

Called to Serve

Today was a good start of my 2011. I was called to be a Primary worker at church today. (This what I got from subsituting twice. lol. I'm so glad I did.) I will be teaching 4-5 year old kids. I started my first lesson today. I was nervous but I had FUN. The kids have sweet little spirits in them. I know that they will help me grow spiritually. I know that they will learn from me and I will learn from them. :)

On the other hand, I am looking forward to go to the temple again. The temple is the most peaceful place I've ever been in. I can't wait to go there again and feel the spirit and our Savior's love.

A long time ago, before I had Arianna, I used to say that I love kids but not for me. Well, I shouldn't have said that! Yeah, I was once stupid. I love kids and I am so grateful to have my daughter in my life. I am so glad that God gave her to me and my husband. She gives us happiness in our home. She teaches us how to be more patient and more understanding. There's more love in our home, we became more caring. Babies are definitely angels from heaven!

Arianna when she was 5 days old. (photo taken by my friend Angel)

after more than 24 hours of labor, I finally held her. The BEST MOMENT EVER!

Photo taken at the Coupeville Hospital

June18,2009

Arianna at 18 months. She's growing up too fast.

I wanna end this by leaving you a quote from David O. McKay:

 "The home is the first and most effective place for children to learn the lessons of life:truth, honor, virtue, self-control; the value of education, honest work, and the purpose and privilege of life. Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no other success can compensate for failure in the home".





Sadness

Tony left for deployment. He's only gone for almost 12 hours and I am already feeling the sadness.  I will try to be occupied so I won't feel depress. I am thinking, I have to do little projects every week. So watch out.
Here are some pictures I took when I was helping my husband pack his luggage.

She's so funny!

She wasn't helping at all. LOL

She didn't wanna get out of the luggage

Holidays this year will not be as fun as last year. I am still deciding if I will decorate our house for Christmas. Maybe yes or maybe no.

It was too windy outside so I took it inside the car. Arianna was not too happy.

Sadness... this too shall pass.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I apologize for those who may get offended from this post.

Last year there was this game about putting the color of your bra on your facebook statuses to support the breast cancer awareness. I actually participated on that because it did not sound bad.. This time, it's different. I have lots of girlfriends who put on their facebook statuses that they, for example, "like it on the couch". I was trying not to think negative things about it but it bugged me. I was like, "What in the world were they thinking?". That was before I recieved messages from some of my girlfriends who actually participated on the game.

Here's the message:

Last year there was a game that circulated on FB about what color bra you were wearing at the moment. The purpose was to increase awareness about October being Breast Cancer Awareness month. It was a tremendous success and had men wondering for days what the colors on the women's statuses meant. It was so successful that it even made it to the news!

It's that time of year again, and this year's game has to do with your handbag/purse & where you put it the moment you get home. For example, "I like it on the couch", "I like it on the kitchen counter", "I like it on the dresser"...u get the idea! This is what you need to do: whatever your answer is, put it on your status with nothing else. Use the wording "I like it __________." In addition, copy and paste THIS message into all the inboxes of your FB female friends! Don't put it on your wall or status...just in their inbox. Let's see if we can drum up as much attention as last year, and keep the guys guessing about what we're talking about!!! ;)

The bra game made it to the news. Let's see if we women are that powerful again this year!!.

Later today, I read something on facebook which one of my friends shared.

"No need for sexy word games" 

I think the game is immodest. I am not saying that I am so pure and perfect but I am trying to be one. I respect myself by being modest on the way I dress, talk and act. This is my opinion and I stand by it. I would rather participate on running a 5K run to support the Breast Cancer Awareness than playing the "i like it on the couch" game. I've lost friends because of cancer. I know some people who died from it. I fully support the Breast Cancer Awareness but not the sexy game. "I like it on the couch", "on the floor" and the list goes on, obviously sound sexual to me and to many people.

Plus, not just women who get cancer, men do too. How would you react if some men decided to play some game about prostate or testicular cancer awareness? Ugh! You get the point?

We should all remind ourselves that there's different kinds of cancer that we should be aware of too, not just breast cancer. God bless those families who have lost their loved ones because of cancer. God bless those who have survived. God bless those who are still battling from it.

One Month

My sister and her husband visited us before they move to Alaska. Nathan was just here for 2 weeks then left and my sister decided to extend her vacation for 2 more weeks and I was glad she did!

I had one month off on :

*washing the dishes
*watching Arianna(i.e. when i go take a shower, etc.)
*putting the dogs outside
*cleaning the kitchen

but most of all, I had one month of:

*sisters's bonding
*sister's company
*speaking "tagalog" (our language) all day
*getting hooked watching Grey's Anatomy
*watching movies
*and many more...

I am sad my sister left today. I wish her and my brother in-law all the best in their new journey-- ALASKA!

deep sigh......

Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch is a potluck lunch get together activity with the ladies from the church. We get together once a month. I can say that I love going there not because I get to eat different kinds of delicious food but because I get to mingle and talk to other mommies. Plus, Arianna can play with other kids.

We used to have theme every month. But for the last three months, we did potlucks, like bring whatever you wanna bring. But next lunch bunch will be different. The ladies decided to have the theme back. I totally agreed with them. It's going to be "all about fall" theme. Hmm... I have to plan now what food I will bring since I've been bringing Filipino foods like pancit and lumpias. LOL

I brought my sister with me today at lunch bunch. She loved the camarel apple cake Amy made and Dianna's guacamole. When we were in the car, she asked me "Who made the guacamole?" I said: "Dianna. Why?"
Lovely: "because i dont eat guacamole but her guacamole was sooooo good."

Then, when we got home, she saw that we have a yellow cake mix and said "u know that we have the cake mix right?" I said "yeah?" Lovely: "So we can make the cake Amy made." I told her "I just checked the recipe online and we need caramels, apples,vanilla pudding , etc." Lovely: "ok then"

My sister cracks me up! HAHAHA!

I have to say, I love Dana's homemade salsa!
I am glad I kept this calling to be the assigned person for Lunch Bunch. Sister Gheen was right. It's a great way for me to socialize with other ladies from the church. =)

Visiting Teaching

Since I moved here in Whidbey Island, I never had a different VT companion. I am not complaining. I am so grateful for Sister Parker who is a good example to me. She is a really wonderful lady. She always makes sure that we get our visiting teaching done every month. She always calls the sisters we visit to set up an appointment when to visit them and sometimes she bakes or have something for them and she gives the visiting teaching message. Yeah, I am lucky...

A few months ago, the Relief Society Presidency in my ward did some interviews. I went and asked if I have any concerns about the sisters we visit. I said, the sisters we visit seem fine. They are all very nice ladies. I said that Sister Parker is the one who makes the appointment and gives the message. Sister Gheen asked me to try to call the sisters and make the appointments and maybe give the lesson. So I said , I will try.

Last month (July), I told Sister Parker that I will call the 2 sisters we visit and make the appointment. And I DID! The first sister we visited, I gave the VT message. I was nervous. In my mind, I was like, please let me have the right words to say or I should say the right grammar so Sister #1 will understand me. It was my first time giving the message in 5 years. I was relieved when Sister #1 understood what I said. (whew!)

The second sister we visit, I messed up. Sister Parker couldn't go visit teach because she was in girl's camp. It was totally fine with me until I messed the schedule up. I thought I was gonna visit Sister #2 on a Thursday not Friday. Of course, I called her on a Thursday telling her that I couldn't visit her on Friday because I had to take my baby to her doctor's appointment. And she said, "I thought you're going to visit me today." I was speechless. Sister #2 was right. I was supposed to visit her on the day I called her. I told her I was very sorry and gave her my phone number so she can call me whenever she needs anything. I felt really bad. So I made her a card and told her how sorry I was. I wrote the VT message on the card too.

Sister Parker told me, it's ok. She told me, good thing I called Sister #2 and let her know what was going on. I told Sister Parker, I will try not to let it happen again.

I certainly learned some lesson from this experience. I am so thankful for Sister Gheen who asked me to try to schedule the visits. She told me Sister Parker would appreciate it and she did. Sister Parker is one of the nicest lady I've ever known. I've learned to check my schedule, not once, not twice but a billion times so there will be no conflicts and no confusions.

Lesson Learned

Two weeks ago, I forgot to check the pockets of my husband's uniform. When I was about to put them in the dryer, I saw black inks all over Tony's khaki uniform. I immediately sprayed shout to see if it's gonna come off but it didn't. I told him that his uniform is ruined and I started crying. Tony gave me a hug and told me that it's just a uniform and there's nothing to cry about. Yesterday, when I washed his uniform I made sure that there's no pens in the pockets. When I checked the pants, I found 35 cents. So I put it in my coin jar. LOL










I wish I could blame it to the black pens.

BLOGGING

Im going to give blogging a try. Im still in the middle of customizing our blog. Tony doesn't know this yet. LOL. i will make another post later on. ciao!