HOORAY... It's Christmas soon!

So let me share my thoughts for Christmas Eve and the following days:

I intend to make the most of the special days ahead. I want to enjoy every second that I have with my husband, kids, and the rest of the family and friends. Too often during the course of the year, we forget what the real priorities are and focus on the superficial.

The last couple of months made me realize how precious life is and how much I am thankful to still have many people that I love around me.

I have embraced the chaos that sometimes shows up in my life, because now I realize that with chaos comes hope and second chances.

The chance to tell my kids that it’s ok to fail at times as long as you keep on trying and that no matter what you will love them above all, the chance to be a better wife, the chance to show your parents that you are grateful for all the support and love they give you, the chance to tell your best friend that her kindness and wise words mean  the world to you, the chance to tell your big brother that you will always need him in your life even if you are now a grown up too, a chance to be a better Christian and live by the principles that you are teaching your children, a chance to give back the same blessings that you receive all year long…

It’s also a second chance to let go of all bitterness and to forgive and really forget… I just want to be able to look back one day and smile on God’s work in my life.

Christmas is a time to rejoice, count our blessing, and show everyone that we love how much we care about them.

Merry Christmas to all and may the year ahead bring you peace, love, a good health, and all God’s blessings…

I hope Santa has got Internet access...

I know I told the kids that you wouldn’t be coming by our house, but just in case, here is my letter to you:



Dear Mr. Claus,


I hope all is well with you and that you are not behind schedule preparing all the gifts for Christmas. I know you recently received many kids' very extensive and detailed list of demands, but I'm wondering: What about the parents? Don't we get to ask stuff? Listen, Santa (I hope you don't mind me calling you Santa?), my friends and I, we harbor desires no mere mortal could fulfill. You, however, are clearly no mere mortal. If anyone can do it, Santa, it's you! (Yes, I am kissing up to you and I’m sure You probably get that a lot.) So here you go.

All I would like is a joyful holiday for everyone, and a happy new year, and actually while you're at it could you eradicate all sadness?


Love and Merry Christmas to you too!


Joy

PS: I have been really good this year so if you have more time to go shopping (and this is where Internet access could help – you know shopping on-line is totally OK, you don’t need to go out for me to show you care), here a few things that have been on my Wish List.

Link can be found: HERE

(This would just go perfectly with my new sequin skirt :o)

Link for this one is HERE

(Well, because I'm simply not getting any younger! Can you believe I'll be turning 31 next year?!)

Link: HERE

(Yeay, this would be so Sex & The City!!!)

Link HERE

(Because one can't have too many shoes and these would be perfect for next season!)

Hopefully, I won't get this answer in my mail:

My heart breaks…. PLEASE HELP…

My heart is crying and I will probably not find the right words to say how profoundly sad I am for the Philippines (my home country). The typhoon that struck Mindanao over last week has killed many and left almost a thousand homeless…

I am very thankful that my family  and I are safe here in Belgium and some others in different parts of the world. My heart and my prayers go to my fellow Filipinos who are really going through a tough time. It is even harder when you think than in less than a week it will be Christmas, a time to rejoice and have hope…

I feel powerless but will still try to do something about it, so here is the link to the redcross of Philippines:

http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate

A simple gesture even the smallest one might give a child, a family, a little bit of comfort. 

Many of us are complaining that we do not have all the we want in our lives, and shame to me, I do that too from time to time. But this whole situation puts everything into perspective. I have been blessed with so much, it is time for me to give back… It’s the least I can do…

Will you do the same too?

Well, well, well...

… I have found the perfect picture to stick on the toilet door at my office !!!!

Do you remember the post where I talk about the fact that I am profoundly annoyed by people who are too damn lazy and stupid to be able to change a toilet paper roll? If not you can click HERE and you’ll know all about the beef I have with these type of weirdos…

Anyway, I’m sure sticking this picture below won’t bring me new friends but at least I hope the message will go through this time :-)

Et puis je fume... lalalalala

Hi everyone!

I don’t know about you, but I had a really nice week-end. We did not do anything special, we simply enjoyed each other’s company…

I also tried to practice these three attitudes...

So which words would define these two last days?

- Slow dancing in the kitchen with Other Half

- Cuddling up with kids

- Fun Christmas shopping

- Dancing crazy with the kids

- Nice family dinner

- Birthday celebration

- Red velvet brownies with white chocolate icing

- Love, sweetness, and a lot of laughing

- God

So yes it is Monday today, and this morning as I was dropping the kids to school, my daughter tightly embraced me and told me how much she loved staying with me, I would have given everything to make her wish come true. I take patience and look forward to the next week-end and re-doing it all over again…

Have a nice week everyone!

This song made me smile this morning and I thought was just appropriate for today… ENJOY

9 years today...

9 years ago today,  my Other Half fell in love with the girl behind this picture:

and me with this picture…

After a few e-mail exchanges and a lot of courage, I finally agreed to meet the guy in the picture (if you want to know all about it in details, you can click HERE)

This is us 9 years later:

Time sure does fly when you're having fun...

… or compromising.  Same thing or almost. Right?

Anyway, there are things that haven't changed after all these years:

My Other Half is still...

... the cheese to my macaroni

... the horizon to my sky

... the bacon to my eggs

... the laces to my sneakers

... the jelly to my peanut butter

... the gravy to my mash potatoes

... the smile to my face

... the bubbles to my bath

... the hot chocolate to my cookie

... the ink to my pen

... the mayo to my fries

... the icing on my cake

and LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

Happy anniversary to the best compromiser I've ever known.

I love you My Other Half !

“A 'Great Marriage' is not when the 'perfect couple'c omes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.”

I have no words!

A 20th child ???????

Oh My God ! Really Oh My God!

I can’t find anything else to say! I am speechless, I can't put my brain around it. I'm even shy to admit I want a 3rd child, so 20 kids?! I think I'm being reasonable right? LOL

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

No Santa Claus in this home, sorry...

Last night, as I was tucking Arthur into bed, he asked me to pray with him…

It was really sweet because at the end he said:

Before I say Amen Lord, I want to sing you a song…

He sang his song saying he was sad that he could not see the Lord but that He’ll continue praying hoping that one day he’ll sit next to him.

I was profoundly touched of how genuine Arthur’s feelings were. And before I kissed him good night I told him that I was really proud of the young man he is becoming.

Then he asked me this question, you think he’ll like my song enough that Santa will come in our home this year?

Last year, I told the kids that Santa would not be coming over and I told them that it would be the same case this year.

In a bit more than a month it will be Christmas… And as a Christian, I am trying to find ways to explain to the kids what the true meaning of Christmas is…

We have never celebrated Santa Claus at home, simply because I don’t want Christmas to be about him (Oh dear!!!! I can know hear the judgmental opinion of everyone – but I’m ok with it).

My Other Half and I agreed not to tell them the truth about Santa just yet, and just to stay vague on it. We’ll simply tell the kids that Santa doesn’t come to our home as he goes to the families that need him more…

But I can’t prevent the other kids to be talking about Santa at school and I had to give a careful thought to how I would answer the dreaded question: who puts the gift under the Christmas tree then?

So this is how I have decided to explain it to the kids:

Dear Arthur and Morgane,

I know you are wondering who put the gifts under the Christmas tree every year and there is one simple answer to this: it’s me.

I am the person who chooses, wrapes, and places the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her. (And yes, Dad helps, too.)

I imagine that someday you'll do this for your children, and I'm you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You'll love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.

I could tell you Santa did this but I would be lying and I promised myself I would try never to do that.

Instead I’ll tell you that God has been good to our family and has helped Mommy and Daddy to find ways to put a few gifts for you guys under our tree.

You see, Jesus is bigger than any person or Saints like the one we call Santa Claus, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch.

It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, your friends, your talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you cannot measure or even hold in your hand. By this, I mean "love", this great power that will light your life from inside out, even during its darkest, hardest moments.

Jesus is a teacher, and I have been his student. The best lesson I’ve learned is that the most important thing during this time of the year is to love one another. Gifts or no gift, what we need to do is believe in Him and be grateful for all we have. In our home, there is no Santa going down the chimney, but a Mom and Dad who love you more than anything and with the Grace of God are able to provide for you a home, food, toys and a loving a family…

With full hearts, people like Dad and me take our turns to help Jesus do a job that would otherwise be impossible – by reminding everyone the true meaning of Christmas – the birth of our Savior and the reminder that up there someone loves us more than anyone else..

I love you and I always will.

Mommy

And this Mom will teach her children about God...



The start of a new week = positive thinking!

So these are my thoughts for this week :

HAPPY MONDAY TO ALL OF YOU! MAY THIS WEEK BRING YOU A FRESH START AND IF IT IS NOT THE CASE,  JUST REMEMBER THAT BRIGHTER DAYS ARE AHEAD….

On this Sunday...

This is what I wish to tell the world :

Wishful thinking for now, that’s why I’m looking forward to this evening, when the kids will be tucked into bed, and when I’ll be able to put my feet up and enjoy this movie and hopefully have a good laugh before another crazy week starts all over again…

Hoping you guys are enjoying your Sunday!

As for me, I'm enjoying another cup of coffee and then going back to doing some laundry, cleaning up the mess, and cooking - yes I know, I have such a fascinating life isn't it ;o)

I am so Happy!!!

Just as I was pressing the button « publish post » for the last one, I got a text from My Dear Brother telling me he’s getting out of the hospital this afternoon!!!!

Oh My God! Oh My God! Oh My God! I am SO SO SO HAPPY!!!

So now I can be my normal self again and just start annoying him again!!! OK, OK, I’ll be good for a while (just enough time for him to fully recover), then this is what I’ll tell him:  

I AM SO HAPPY I COULD PEE IN MY PANTS!!! SERIOUSLY !!!!

Brighter days are finally ahead…

Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been MIA (aka Missing in Action) lately. The reason for this is that My Dear Brother had caught a very serious case of pneumonia and has been in the hospital for the last 3 weeks and for the 2 first ones the doctors had to induced an artificial coma to help him breath as he could not do it on his own anymore.

Suffice to say, I was scared and worried sick so all I could do was to try to keep myself sane and not go into desperate mode all that time. All I could do is visit him twice a day for an hour and keep on praying that the Lord would hear me and give my Dear Brother back to me… The doctors wear really not positive about the outcomes and they were really surprised of how fast My Dear Brother recovered. I’ll  hang on to my Faith and firmly believe that My Dear Brother’s strength to fight on his illness even if he was in a coma and the power of all our closes’ ones prayers has helped his speedy recovery.

I am so grateful to have him back. It is the worst feeling to see the one who always had your back be in such bad shape, lying in a bed with a tube in his mouth and feeling powerless against all the situation… Thinking about it just now just brings back the tears in my eyes and would never wish this situation even to my worst enemy…

So to you My Dear Brother:  I love you so much and I can’t wait for you to get out of the hospital… I know you are complaining that you want to go home but honestly I would rather see  you stay at the hospital  as much days as the doctors think necessary than to see you again in such horrible state.

Don’t forget the promise we made to each other when we were younger: that when your Better Half and my Other Half would grow tired of us and leave us, we would live together like old hags in a house and laugh together of all the joyful and crazy memories we would have had together back in the old days…

You like scaring me but this one was no fun, no one could comfort me from the sadness and loneliness I felt while you were asleep, not the kids, not my husband, not mom and dad. I will always need you…  I turned to God and He kept me going but the sound of you voice when you woke up was the best gift you gave me and your niece for her birthday…

So for those of you who have no clue about who is this Dear Brother I am talking about, hereunder is a repost from last March…

***

Sometimes we look in all the wrong places and to all the wrong people to get the support we need. It's taken me a while to learn that friendship can be found closer than you think, even in your own home. Growing up, I realized quiet fast that I had a great friend in my brother. Besides the biological connection we share, there's the common ground and shared history that has kept my brother and me bonded.

There is nothing in this world that I would not do for him. I trust him with everything I have, and everything I am. I believe that he know this... and that he has known this for a long time.

We had—and still have—a strong bond. My pain or heartache never needed a context or an explanation. That is a feeling I experience so rarely in my life these days—feeling completely understood without even speaking. More often than not, my path feels lonely. But I've realized that discovering my own aloneness is even more of a reason to cherish a sibling I can relate to and confide in. Sometimes that is all one has, and it can be a most precious and enduring resource.

He has always been such a wonderful protective and supportive person to me... He has been with me and been there for me all through the years. He was there for me when I fell in love, in pain, in confusion. He has more faith in me than I have ever had in myself... and I am endlessly grateful for that. He has provided me with an anchor of support, if not always sanity.

I count myself among the luckiest souls in the universe for having him in my life.

Dear Brother (9 years old) and me (2 years old)

Him and I during our first trip to the US

Us now... Still kids at heart...

Thank you KUYA for being here for me.

I have loved that over the years, you were always the person I could turn to. I felt I was able to talk and share anything with you, we are that close. And that has meant the world to me. I can only pray that my kids will be able to experience the same bond that you and I have, knowing that no matter what, they will always have each other… Often, we pretend to bicker but the truth is that I am glad that you are never far away…

I LOVE YOU! YOU OLD HAG!!!

Health tips...

This made me laugh and therefore I am passing it on...

Q:  Should I have a baby after 35?

A:  No, 35 children is enough.

Q  : I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?

A:  With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q  : What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?

A:  Childbirth.

Q:  My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.

A:  So what's your question?

Q?:  My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but  pressure. Is she right?

A:  Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air  current.

Q:  When is the best time to get an epidural?

A:  Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q?:  Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in  labor?

A:  Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q:  Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?

A:  Yes, pregnancy.

Q:  Do I have to have a baby shower?

A:  Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q:  Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?

A:  When the kids are in college.

Today you are 4!

Dear Morgane

I will always remember the day the doctor told me that I was expecting a little girl. It was a mix of joy but also fear. I felt joy because I was looking forward to dressing you up but I also felt scared because how on earth was I going to raise a little girl when I had been a pain in the butt for my parents?!

But it all turned up just fine and I am so proud of the big girl you have become.

You still ask me this song from time to time and maybe one day, you’ll sing it to your baby too…

You love to sing and dance,

You can be girly but you can also be a real tomboy (in fact there hasn’t been a whole month when I haven’t seen you with a bump on your forehead)

You adore you big brother even though you take much fun in torturing his mind at times,

You are Hello Kitty’s number 1 fan,

You give your Lola and Lolo so much love and happiness

And to your Daddy and me you are the sunshine of our life!

You loving, sweet and fun spirit makes it impossible for me to stay mad at you for more than 10 seconds!

You will always be my baby even if I can’t stop you from growing up. You make me so proud and you give me the motivation to be a better mom each day.

6 days old

8 months old

11 months old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

HAPPY 4^TH BIRTHDAY!!!!

WE LOVE YOU MORGANE MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY!!!!

My kids and their weird conclusions…

It all started a while ago when my kids ask their Dad why he was bald. Other Half jokingly answered that he lost the first part when Arthur was born and Morgane just helped for the last part by driving him insane.

Then in the car this morning, I started listening to their conversation, and this is how it went:

Morgane: You know, Tito Em (being my Dear Brother) is bald like Dad

ARTHUR: yeah, it’s normal, he had mom as his sister…

Morgane: What do you mean by that?

Arthur: well, if Dad says we drive him mad, and he also says that we get our crazy character from Mommy, then Mommy drove Tito Em mad long enough so he lost all his hair too!

Morgane: yes but Lolo (that’s how we call the grandfather in the Philippines) is losing his hair too!

Arthur:  well mommy started the work, and will finish it when he moves in with us!

Morgane: How about Tito Rik (my Dear Brother precious Better Half)

Arthur: well, because mommy taught Tito Em how to drive people crazy, he has done the same with Tito Rik and now he is all bald too…

Oh dear, this kids have a huge imagination!!!!! Wonder where they get THAT from!

I promise...

… That if my gym organise this type of motivation, I will ride my bike every single day lolol

ENJOY!!!

This day wasn't so bad afterall...

I was in a "panic" mode this morning as I had taken a day off last Friday, which meant that work had piled up on my desk and in my mailbox. I manage to do go through 6 bullets out of 10 on my to do list, which makes me pretty proud of myself.

On top of things, my boss who arrived in the office quiet grumpy almost instantly changed his mood once we started working together… I’m not going to bad mouth him on my blog, I’m tempted but I won’t do it. Why? Because one of my cousin reminded me that even though he seems to have everything in his life to make him happy, he is missing one HUGE part: Faith.

This is what she wrote to me after I explained to her that I was having a bad day, and that dealing with a difficult person was a bit part of it:  "Material things can not fill their longing, only God can. Be lovable to them, not by choice but do it because it pleases our Lord. Even better, pray for these people--- you can not hate them if you are praying for them you know? Try it--- it works!"

And it does work! I don’t know why I didn’t think of that as soon as I got in the office, as most of days, I’ll start my day with a prayer, why not today? Because I let myself get caught with the stress of the world instead of following my faith and its principles… Focus on our Lord and let Him deal with the rest…

Tomorrow is another day, and I promise myself that my first words will be for the Lord… I have no doubt that whatever comes my way, I will face it with courage as I know that I am not alone…

Until then, I am grateful for my wonderful Other Half, who manage to take a few hours off to pick-up the kids and relieve me from the worries of not getting on time at the kids’school this evening. I’m looking forward to a nice family meal and a relaxing eveing with my Other Half catching up on our favorite series and probably falling asleep in his arms…

I hope you Monday has been good to you, and remember tomorrow is full of possibilities…

It's Monday! Oh dear....

I usually try to be positive on Mondays but I have to admit feeling under the weather has an effect on my mood…
On top of all, I have tons of work to finish for… well, yesterday and I have a big party dinner to organize for Saturday. Other Half is working almost all week, which basically means I’m on “drop and pick-up kids” duty (and that means getting up at 5:45 every morning! How can life be so cruel????). Add to this some groceries shopping, laundry to be done by Wednesday evening, working out [insert HUGE SIGH here], oh dear, oh dear, oh dear…

So I hope this big cloud on top of my head will move on… Until then I wish you all a joyful week!

Guess who is taking a day off tomorrow?

Nobody else than MOI (*insert Evil laugh here*)

Can you guess my mood this morning?

Yup, nothing more to add… Sigh…