A Love Song....

With You (Maricris Garcia)

I could take what the world has to give
If I’m with you, I could face each day
With a heart, that doesn’t know how to stop
Hold my hand then take me to anywhere
I’ll follow your lead
You can bet I’ll be there, baby
There is nothing I wouldn’t do, for you

Oh, nothing’s too high
Nothing’s too low
Nothing’s too hard
When I’m with you
If your arms around me
I could take anything
You know this is true

What’s there to fear, when your love is near
What’s there to be scared of?
When I’m, Oooh.. I, I, I, I’m with you.
When I’m with you ooh.

Every once in a while, there’s a storm
That comes to my life
I will face each one with a smile
Knowing you’re right beside me

I’m not afraid in the darkest of night
Cause’ I know you’ll be there
And you will be my light, baby
There is nothing I wouldn’t do, with you.


There is no way I would run from any battle I’m in
There is strength when you’re holding my hand
There is no way I would give up a fight
I’ll go on, with you
you, you, you, you.

(REPEAT 2X)
Nothing’s too high
Nothing’s too low
Nothing’s too hard
When I’m with you
If your arms around me
I could take anything
You know this is true

What’s there to fear, when your love is near
What’s there to be scared of?
When I’m, Oooh.
I, I, I, I’m with you.
When I’m with you ooh.

Noong araw.....

guess who?

In remembrance of me.....

I recently took on a Rehab Director job for one of the bigger rehab companies that provide therapy to long term care facilities in the US. Let me tell you, never a dull moment in my facility.... residents arguing over who moved the TV in the lobby, when it was there all along... who is Jerry? "He is not my son."... residents heading for the door saying "I have to go home.", when home for them has been the facility for so long....residents who go thru loads of laundry because they have changed for the nth time today, and it's only lunch time.... "bug-a, bug-a, bug-a bug-a ".... who said it was April 17,2009 when it is July 19, 1984..."Who the hell do you think you are?"... "Get out of my room, you a**h*** b^^^ from H***!!!" This is the nature of dementia. Everything that you know or remember and love(Ok, maybe not everything) is being taken away from you.... You loose control of everything that has made sense... now, all of a sudden, you are lucky to remember who you are or to even breathe or be able to swallow. Is this what I look forward to when I get older? I shared this with JA (in little people's terms), and she said, "That's ok Mommy, I will remember for you."
Splash!!! (cold water on mommy's face) My little girl is only about to turn 6 and already, she is full of wisdom.... because really, it is not important what I remember about myself.... it is what my loved ones remember about me... it is about the memories I made with them while I was able to... it is the fact that I made a difference in someone's life enough so that it is remembered. If you are reading this... will you remember for me too?

I sought and I have found...

Hmmm... I don't quite know how to start this post because my heart is full of mourning, disappointment, and then as I process through what me and husband J are going thru right now, I become more amazed.
How proper that we (husband J and I ) are experiencing this during the Lenten season. Husband J and I are going through a spiritual journey course... we have committed to getting to know Jesus more and to bring Him back to the center of our lives. I did not realize what we got ourselves into. I guess I could look at this several different ways. I choose to look at it from the positive side... In not so many words, we are mourning the loss of a friend... in this way, we are going thru our own agony much like Jesus did in Gethsemane. It was hard to see this friend go... and what's even harder is the manner in which he chose to leave. Sure, we have our faults and shortcomings, but nothing we did was intentionally aimed to hurt or destroy. I have quickly come to notice the human condition, to act and protect... whatever I own, my status in life, my stand and the need to be right. This was my first instinct. We thought of stopping our spiritual journey. But as I look back, I once again, learned the value of humility, patience, and prayer. That although we are limited by the human condition, this should not limit our ability to love. Then, it dawned on me, that God answered my prayers. I asked to know Him more, and now He revealed Himself to me in the person of my friend and whatever or whoever it is that had caused pain to our friendship. And here I am, human condition and all, can not accept this side of the face of Christ. God has never failed me in my prayers and He blessed me with more.... so we keep persevering in our prayer life and in serving others. I have to say that I am amazed that God had gotten us this far. That even before I asked for the grace of understanding and healing that He had already made the pathway for me and to plenty others who are hurting including our friend. I choose this path. I choose to be happy. I choose to love. I choose to serve. I choose to live. I choose Christ.

Happy Easter to everyone!!!!

I love bread!!!!!

6:30 a.m. 

Pot pot.... pot pot.... pot pot....

"Ay , Atul, nitan lay Benet... naka ta mangala kay sampulo ed si Kuyam ta mangaliw kay pandesal."  says my Mang to the house help. "On Atsi!" cried Manang Linda back.

This is a typical morning in the Mari household in La Union where I spent a number of my summer vacations... away from the hustle and bustle of city life in Manila and the walls of St. Theresa's College. 

So I would like to share with you my attempts to replicate Benet's Pandesal. My husband gave me a bread machine for mother's day 2 years ago... thanks to my friend, Liz who dropped very obvious hints so that it's very clear to husband J what it is I want.  Anyhoo, I am now the proud owner of a Sunbeam Bread Machine that I finally decided or had time to use.  My first recipe is Oatmeal Bread... which was a hit to JA and husband J.  My little JD has texture issues and I resolved myself to the fact that he is not a big fan of bread. 

Here is the recipe... 

• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon dark molasses
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 large egg , lightly beaten
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons yeast, sprinkled over flour

Put oats in a mixing bowl, pour boiling water over the oats.  When the oats have cooled but are still a bit warm, add remaining ingredients to bread machine according to manufacturer's manual.  Bake on light setting.  Makes 1 1/2 lb loaf.

I am trying out Pan de Sal but have not perfected it yet... "Awww, it can't be that bad", you'd say... to which I'll respond... "Oh but it is... so bad, that JA asked me why I was baking rocks."  

March Away....

Julianna's Pom Pom March.... be entertained!

Ay, Mali!

Act 1:
Characters: JA, a four year old and Mommy
Setting: Ruidoso, New Mexico Museum

Narrator: JA and her mommy was walking inside a museum learning about the rich culture and history of a town in New Mexico. JA was being shown by her mommy the basic things that people used in their every day lives such as a high chair, silverware, plates, clothes, weapons, pots, pans .... she was learning about antiques......
and then they came across a.....



JA: Mommy, what is that? (pointing to a hearse circa 1870)
Mommy: In the old days, they did not have cars, hospitals, good doctors and medicine that they give to the sick. Sometimes when people and children get sick they can't get better because they don't have a doctor to look after them, or they don't have medicine to give to them. If they can't get better, sometimes they go to Jesus.
They use this hearse to take their bodies to the cemetery after they go to Jesus. There, they bury them.
JA: Why?
Mommy: Because when they are with Jesus, they no longer need their bodies. Their spirit goes to Him.
JA: Oh, Ok. But if I get sick, do I have to ride that?
Mommy: Of course not! We have good medicine now. Your doctors will know what to do if you have a cough or fever so it does not get worse.

Act 2

Characters: JA, husband J, Mommy (Lola T and JD in the background)
Setting: In the car from the museum

Mommy: JA, tell Daddy what you learned in the museum.
JA: I saw very old things.
husband J: oh yeah, like what?
JA: I saw.... what do you call that again? The one where they bring bodies to the cemetery?
Mommy: Hearse. ( with a hint of pride. Mommy actually taught JA something and it stuck!...scary too because this was the one she actually remembered)
husband J: A hearse?! that's interesting.
JA: Uh huh! .... So when children get a cough, they put their bodies in a box, they put the box in the ... what do you call that again?
Mommy: (waiting to see where this conversation is headed) ummm... a hearse?
JA: right. and then the children are still coughing inside the box in the hearse and they take them to the cemetery and they bury their bodies.
Mommy: (with eyes wide open) Sweetheart, that's not what mommy said. What have you been watching when we're not around?
husband J: (laughing his head off) Honey, we need to clarify that.
Lola T: Ano daw?


Moral of the Story: ahhhh.... the things kids come up with. We need to be age appropriate when talking to our kids. Apparently, this one went way over JA's head so she made up a story she can relate to. She does not understand the concept of death yet.... she's only four people!... too abstract.