Truthful Thursday - of becoming a US citizen

Six years ago I left Canada and moved in with my hubby Jeff to live in San Jose and retire.  I had moved to different country, different city, different province or territories but this one is definitely the hardest.  In 1974 I left the Philippines to emigrate to Canada because we want to be with our parents and start our adult life.  The was a move that was a necessity and a very positive and an upgrade on living.  The other types of moves were all about financial, losing a job, finding a job and relocating your whole family.  When it involves children it was difficult as well because you were taking them away from your relatives, their friends, school and the adjustment is much more harder on them.  This last move was definitely the hardest because I was leaving my daughter, my only family.  It was emotionally draining because through her teen years, I have left her while going through my divorce.  Although she is married to a loving and caring man, who is my favorite SIL, her immediate family is me, her father and my son (who passed away).  The two of them are very close and it would have been easier to leave if my son was around because I know he would always be there for his sister.  There are also so many friends that I have made through my 34 years in Canada and I have to say that most of them still continue to stay in touch and reconnect.  Anyway, I am officially an American citizen.  Do I feel any different? It's too early to tell.  Today was a major event in my life and it will take some adjustment.  

The dozen white roses are from my coworkers at the SJPD

After the ceremony, we had lunch at Rock Bottom Bar & Grill.

Aside from my citizenship certificate, I receive all of these.

 

Supportive Sunday - Just be respectful

In a few more days, I will be taking my Oath of US Citizenship.  Only after five months from the beginning to the final process, I will be truly part of this country.  I am sure when that time comes, there's going to be so much mixed emotions.  It's hard to explain to someone who has not done any type of this.  Some people take it for granted because of where they come from or where they are currently residing.  But today is not about me, today I chose to honor those who have lost their lives in protecting this country.  To those who are currently serving in all levels of the military.  To those families who have lost their loved one and to those who are missing their husband and wives, sons and daughters, hoping that they will be back soon to be with their family.  Every citizen has their own way of giving support but I believe that being respectful to the flag, the national anthem, and to those who protect and keep you safe is an important duty of every citizen.  

 

Friendly Friday - More of childhood memories

A week ago today, I posted about my reconnecting with one of my childhood BFF.  We have been texting, emails and hopefully another chat on the phone this week.  It's amazing that even after 44 years, it just seems like we were really never apart.  When we spoke for at least 45 minutes, there was so much to catch up we only spoke a little on the past.  We shared quick stories but also updated the now life.  I decided to look for one particular photo from that era and for some reason I couldn't find my picture that I cut out.  Maybe I used it one time at work when they were asking for childhood photo of us to be used for a guessing game for some charity event.  Now I am a little upset that I cut it because I can't share it with my BFF.  But this photo that I found would be a great one to recall all our friends in Grade I.

As I remember it correctly we were picked from our class because of our talent in dancing. LOL.  It was part of the commencement exercise when we were in Grade I.  How do I remember this? Because our teacher was Mrs. Perez.  Everyone in our little town knew her because of her strictness and yet we all learned a lot from her.  She was the teacher of my brother, my sister and many others who followed after.  So in the photo below, I am quite surprised that I remember most of them.  The dance we performed was called Itik Itik which was some sort of bird mating dance. It was performed in 1960 at the Itaas Elementary School, Muntinlupa District.

Front Row- Boy, ?, Renato, Nick, Benjamin, Bugoy, Nelson

 

                               Back Row - Baby, ?, Catchot, Marissa, Herlie, Celia ? Me

Washable Wednesday - It's time to donate some free time

Four months ago, I was searching for another quick volunteer project.  If you have been following my blog you would have read about these items that was going to be sent to the girls of Cameroon.  Recently, the lady who is coordinating this project wrote me a very nice reference letter.  I thought I would ask if she needed more and she mentioned that there's a woman visiting from that country and would be here this month.  So I thought it was fitting to make a few more since I already have the fabrics and my MIL has donated her time to cut out all what is required to make more washable sanitary pads.  I started a few days ago but has been distracted or interrupted with other things in my life.  For the next couple of weeks, I will try and complete this project so I can deliver before the visitor leaves to return to Cameroon.  Here's the colors for the second batch.  I might have to buy more fleece since I only have 24 pieces to sew. 

Pad (towel, plastic and knit fabric) on the left for insert and case on the right (fleece)

One completed 23 more to go.

 

Macaroons Monday - Trying for the first time

It's such a great feeling to have done so much by lunch time.  Well, that's what I did yesterday.  Right after breakfast I started making our dinner using my crock pot.  I made pork chili verde except it's not green sauce but red sauce so I think it's called pork chili colorado.  Using the crock pot is such a treat because you don't have to keep an eye on your pot, no boil over and no burnt bottom.  Then I decided to start baking using what I have at hand.  The granny smith apples were ready so I made a mini apple crumble.  Of course when I use the ready made pie crust, there's two in a box and I have to use the other one so I made

mini pecan coconut pie.  It was still mid morning so I knew I had time for at least two more.

The next was the Six Layer Bar which I have not made in a long time.  Checking our pantry I realized I had more coconut as well, so I look for a recipe from the collection of my sister's recipe.  Coconut macaroons - I have not made those since she gave me the book which was many many moons ago.  It was almost one in the afternoon when I completed all the baking.  Ooops, almost forgot.  While I was baking, I had asked Jeff to peel the tiny apples he picked from his tree.  Since he loves apple sauce, I made a small batch for him that turned out really good.  Now let me show you all of these yummy treats I had made.

Coconut Macaroons

Six Layer Bars -still waiting to be cut into squares

Mini apple crumble pie

Mini coconut pecan pie

See how small the apples but a bunch of them equals five jars of apple sauce.

Selective Sunday - Our last harvest

September is here.  The weather is changing.  The leaves are turning.  NFL started their pre season games.  I am sure you know already know where I am going with this.  FALL/Autumn.  Not rushing it, but we just did our last harvest in our backyard.  Actually Jeff want to get the garden ready for the winter crops.  Although there are still some tomatoes, yellow squash that are still trying to grow but not very fast, and maybe some peppers, the end of the summer is only a couple of weeks away.  Yesterday we decided to redecorate our backyard with the new table and chairs that I inherited from my neighbor who is moving.  It's bright and cheerful and it's perfect in our backyard.  

The red cherry tomatoes we great this year.  I was able to make two big batch of red sauce.

Only the tiny apple is from Jeff's tree.  The granny smith is from the neighbor of my friend.

This is the Byddi section

This is the TL section.

This is my Maria corner.

 

Friendship Friday - What an amazing surprise?

Have you ever wondered if you can find a way to reconnect with your childhood best friend?  Where would you start and what if's.  I have always followed my heart when it comes to friendship.  If you don't try or ask you will never know the answer.  So here's how it began.

After coming back from our Vegas trip, I couldn't sleep and all of a sudden a thought came to my mind.  I wonder where my childhood friend is now.  How will I find her since she could have changed her name because of marriage, etc.  I thought I would just start with a simple google and I guess I got lucky.  I found her and decided to send a snail mail to her work address.  In my envelope I enclosed some copies of photos from our Kindergarten and Grade one class pictures.  I also included my recent photo, my business card and a short note with all my information.  The days went by and I got busy with my life, my BFF's visit and my citizenship interview.  Since it has been almost a month, I figured the letter was not delivered or it was not the right person until this morning.  My cell phone rang and I just missed it.  Then my home phone rang and I immediately picked it up because my heart tells me so.  The caller was female and she asked for me then introduced herself.  I am guess you know the rest of the story.  It was truly amazing to speak to someone who you have not seen in 44 years and still sounded like you were never apart.  We hope to get together this month.

That was how my day began.  I ended up calling my two other childhood friends who lives in the bay area (Lito and Rexie).  Later today I received a text from my friends from Toronto (Brock and Margaret) and another friend from Buffalo, NY (Larry).  For dinner with we met our neighbor/friends who are moving to Paris.  We had a great time, shared a lot of stories and had some giddy fits after dinner.  We tried some Boba drinks (bubble tea) and ice cream sandwich from the new place around the corner. It was definitely a day of all kinds of friendship and it was very rewarding and exciting part of being alive.

 

Having a variety makes friendship truly exciting.  It's never boring always trying for something new.

It's important to have friendship that are pure and from the heart.  This is what makes it special.