November Birthday Celebrants

imikimi - Customize Your World

imikimi - Customize Your World

imikimi - Customize Your World
November birthdays are here…… speaking of this special day, November 2 and today November 9 are birthdays of three people nearest to my heart. One is the cousin of my husband Chuck(b-day Nov 2), my cousin Imee and the other one is a good friend of mine Jackie (b-day today).Chuck is the first cousin of my hubby on the father side. They are very close that he get hubby as God father of his son. Both had happy childhood memories and until now they still keep in touch. When i came to US and was introduced to them i find him and his family,his sisters and their hubbys to be very accomodating and understanding. I could say understanding because they know that i am still adjusting to cultures and everything and they are very supportive. The reason why i feel at home. I was touched when their welcome hugs assures me that i would be fine and that this is my home with them and my husband. And i thank this man so much. Imee is my second cousin on the mother side. We go to the same school when we are in the high school became classmates. She was my confidante when I had problems. We both have happy memories together going to parties, travelling the nearby provinces, dancing etc. and I was the God mother of her first child. I met Jackie when I applied a job at rrj company. Because her parents came from my province and she knows my dialect we become eventually close friends. She is somewhat a lesbian but I was the tool for her to become a renewed person embracing the belief that she is not a man but a woman when I brought her to a Catholic fellowship EL SHADDAI. From then on she become a regular attendee. She called me her humble soul saver. I think no not yet unless I could bring some he he he. But anyway I am happy if I could bring many sinners to Our Father’s arms. HHmmmnn I don’t want to preach and be emotional here. Once again to Imee and Jackie , how old are you? What???? Louder please.... Sorry folks, don’t want their age to be revealed here ahe he he he,Okey, will not blog it here, whisper it in my ears ha!My wish for both of you: May God shower you with everything that you wish for in life. Many happy returns of the Day. From my family and me our greetings HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Breathtaking Scenic Views on Road to Connecticut

This are just few breathtaking shots from the road going to Connecticut. One cousin of my husband invite us to have lunch with them. I was amazed with this beautiful scenery around me. I feel I am in paradise and you will hear the camera of my cellphone in a never-ending clicking (my husband says will you shut off your phone) I can’t help it I want to get the breath taking scenic view and have it in my phone. If I could only put the whole view together I would really do it he he he. But now the leaves are falling an indication that Winter is approaching. The weather is kinda cold already and for people like us who come from the tropics, this is unusual. I even feel itchy and keep on scratching all over when I feel the cold. And even i feel those colds and itches I can never deny the fact that I am excited to see the snow in front of me. I want to play with it and possible take pictures since this is my first winter here. Before we just see it in the cards, books, movies but not this is the reality infront of me....

Thank God

Once again I thank Yahweh for everthing. All Praises and Glory to HIM. Here is my experience of this morning's AOS interview at the Garden City in New York. We leave the house at 7:00 to avoid the traffic and we reach the place at 7:30. We headed to the guards for security checks, putting our things on the counter, taking belts and jackets, then guard do the frisking like when you check in at the airport. Then another guard lead us to the waiting area (stayed there for 1 hour and 15 mins) we wait for our lawyer (she arrived qtr to 9:00 thanks God) when she saw us told me to go with her to the window and give my appointment letter. We wait for 10 mins. then the officer called our names and lead us again to the waiting area upstairs near the rooms of the Interviewer again we wait for our name to be called while waiting the lawyer told us to review the papers. 1 hr and 15 mins of waiting our names was called by a Black nice and smiling lady greet us good morning and lead us to her room. Told me to sit the side of the table, my husband beside me and the lawyer sits near him. She then ask us to stand and swear to say the truth which we did. Then proceed the questions while our lawyer is handing to her the evidence that we both prepare like credit cards, Telephone Bills, joint bank accounts, health insurance cards, rental contract, electric bills, church envelopes(for our tights), wedding favors, wedding album, pictures when we meet in the Philippines, pictures here in the US(together) certificate from Pre- Canon Seminar, cards that we give to each other, cards that we get from friends, invitation cards, our picture frames at the house, and his TOD which I am the beneficiary.
Here is my bunch of questions:
1. Your address
2. Zip code
3. Ask me questions on the part 3 of the I-184 processing info
4. If my husband has cellphone number(which I said no)
5. What is our telephone number (which said but did not give the area code) so she ask it but I could not understand what she is saying as her English is so slang and hard to understand until she said my area code-914 and I confirm yes.
6. Are you working
7. Where
8. What kind of work
9. When did I get married
10. Do I have children
11. How many
12. How old
13. Did I bring them here.
14. When did I arrived here
15. How many months I’ve been here
16. Where did my husband stay when he visited me in the Philippines
17. If I am not married in the Philippines and ask swear which I say yes.
18. How long have I been married?

For my husband:
1. If he is working
2. How much is the yearly salary
3. Where did he work
4. Why did he decide to marry me
5. If not married too
6. How many children did he have (he said no, this is his first marriage)
7. What do we have in common.

After the questions she take my 1-194 told us to go downstairs and wait for my passport at the waiting room. We waited there for 1 hour and a half, my name was called then the officer told me that my passport was stamp, which is equivalent to a green card, that I would could travel out of country if I want to even if the true green card is not yet in my hand, I could work and she also told me to file a removal of conditions to renew my green card 90 days before it expires and then congratulates us.

AOS Interview

As of this time I am busy preparing for my AOS interview this Wednesday, Nov. 5th at the Garden City, New York. I, hubby and our lawyer prepare our files in folders labeled each. We had pictures of our wedding which I put in an album, our pictures together since I come to the USA up to present. House Rental that has our names in it, Bank statements, Credit card bills, wedding cards that we received, wedding invitations, wedding favors, our blow-up pictures that we display in our home, insurance cards, etc. Although I had all the files intact, there are still last minute checking if everything is okey. We meet with our lawyer this evening discuss the things that we will be needing until the last detail. We are ready for the interview questions if ever bunch of questions will be thrown to us. I pray and hope that this would come out good and that I could have my green card soon. We waited this 6 mos. To my readers, please help me pray. Thank you….

All Saints Day and All Souls Day

All Saints Day yesterday and All Souls Day today, as our tradition in the Philippines we visit the tombs of our dear one’s bringing with us flowers, lighting candles and offering prayers. I was so excited going to the cemetery here only to witness that it was not crowded just like we have in our country. And one thing I noticed is that we can’t leave a lighted candle as they might burn the grasses and would spread the fire. So what we did we just offer the flower, I insist to my hubby that I will light the candle for a few minutes, offer a prayer then we're set to go. It is really sad to know that this 1st and 2nd Day of November comes once a year and yet some of the departed loved ones were not even remembered by their relatives. I say this because I am a witness myself that only few people go there and offer flowers. The only indication that you will know that someone visit the grave is the bunch of fresh flowers that you will see on top of those graves. When we get home I waited for 6 pm to light again the candles as it is believed that there are some lost ghosts who is roaming around the house and trying to convey the living that they exist. I had an argument with my hubby regarding those candles as he said it not in their tradition but I still insist that I will light that at 6pm ‘til 8:30pm. Why 8:00 pm? because it is believed too that 8:00 pm is the time for the spirits of our loved one’s comes to visit us not to haunt us. They visit us because they want us to know they are just there whenever we need them. We may not see them but i feel they are there looking at us. So don't be scare if they sometimes tap you on the shoulder. Their tap is an assurance that they are just there still loving us, protect us and not harm us. Unless its a bad spirits they say. And Believing that God is light, some say that those spirits follow that light, and i think that lighting a candle is just lighting their way. This is just superstitious, there’s no harm in following it as this was handed already for generations. Others may not believe it and find it a little weird but to me for as long as it is not bad I will still follow and go on with the traditions. I believe that our departed loved one is always there to look at us and guide us. Sometimes without your knowing they are there to help us whenever we need them. Lighting a candle and offering a praying for them is my way of thanking them and letting them know that we always remember them. They maybe departed from us temporarily but the connection is still there. They will always be in our hearts because we loved them and they are part of our lives.

HALLOWEEN DAY

Taken at Stop N Shop in New Rochelle
outside the Stop N Shop

There is a big difference how USA celebrates their Halloween than we Filipinos do in the Philippines. In the Philippines we do is dressed our stores in the mall with Halloween stuff and do the treak or treat in there for the kids but not every household does it. In televisions there is a show that we could watch like horrors or people that was possessed as many folks in the Philippines believe that November 1 and 2 is the time where people unseen like ghosts come out from where they come from and mingle with those people that are still alive. Even if they are in a different dimension some say they showed up in a form of light or noise to let the people aware that they really exist.. Some say that they saw a white lady or a zombie, vampire or whatever. For me it is just to show that they need to be remembered (talking for the dear departed ones that leave the world ahead of us) The reason why we go to the tomb and offer flowers, light candles and say prayers. Here in the USA or any parts of the world they feel it to be celebrated. Just like they put scare crew and pumpkin which means they have a good harvest. From inside the house they put decorations too as well as outside the house.
People I say not all but some here are dressed in Halloween costumes and they would buy some candies for those kids who go to their house on the eve of the Halloween day and they received candies or in kind but mostly chocolates as the trick or treat give-aways. As others are almost prepared for the Halloween celebration I happened to pass by this house that has this Halloween decoration in their front lawn.
See pic… and one thing I noticed with the celebration they not only decorated the ins and outs of the house with pumpkins, scare crow and the like at the groceries you could buy paper plates

, napkins
, glasses and etc with Halloween decorations. I bet in their houses too they will prepare food intended for Halloween also….How we celebrate it doesn’t matter if everyone has different beliefs and that we should understand and consider. Cheers… Happy Halloween to all!!!!

Grief for an Aunt who just leave the World

Hey friends been lazy writing my blog as I was busy these days. I got a part time job which the schedule is not fixed yet, we visit 2 Aunts of my husband who is in the hospital. I feel closer to them even if I am just a new member to their family. Having seen them for 8 months. Their welcome hugs made me feel comfortable. Nice treatment made me feel am home with my real family. Aunt Gerty as they fondly call her is one very close to me as I was the one who clean her house every Friday. She cannot do the cleaning that much as she is already 90, alone in her apartment and besides she had a parkinson’s too. After cleaning we had 1 hour of socializing as she fondly call it. We talked and talked about her late husband. Aunt Gerty’s,been in the hospital for 2 weeks already. She’s not feeling that well for days, weak and keep on sleeping, maybe because of her medicines that when she takes made her drowsy. Until one day while she was in the bathroom preparing to go to the party she fell to the floor, she push her lifeline before she got unconscious but no one rescue her. When she regain her consciousness she picked herself up and go to her bed sleep again. When she got up that’s the time that she push again her lifeline and called her niece who called the 911 too and right in there go to her apartment and brought her to the hospital. I am praying that she will be alright soon and that she could get out of the hospital too. Aunt Fran is also near to my heart, she stays with us above our apartment, on the second floor. She’s been feed thru a tube as she had problems with swallowing too. She’s been in the hospital for 2 weeks already. She was 92 years old. She is coughing very hard that’s why her daughters call 911 so she could be in the emergency room. She is not in good condition when I visit her last Saturday. She was put in the nursing home and the doctors frequently visit her and give her a series of tests. She is just breathing thru an oxygen machine, the heartbeat is monitored too. After my last visit I feel uneasy and I ask my husband the other night when is her birthday. He told me that it would be this November 23. The reason why I ask that, is because I had a feeling that she will not reach her birthday with that response that she had with her medications. And true enough last night my husband told me that my aunt’s daughter called her telling him that she had parts of her body is not responding. I just shook my head and said this is it. She will not live that long. And this morning when I came from my work, my husband announced that his aunt leave the world already. I told him she just wait for me to come here, attend our wedding which was last May. She just want to see her nephew to be married. I maybe wrong but I think it’s a coincidence. I feel sad because I remember my grandma that even if she was already gone for 24 years now still I could not move on until this day. I am still sorry for not seeing her. We were not by her side when she died. And to think that I am her favorite granddaughter. I always feel sorry that I was not able to take care of her when she was still alive. I took caregiver course, as I feel that it is my way of caring the elderly, my way of paying back the lost time with my grandma which I was unable to do. But the problem is when I get much involved to the elderly and they passed, I am hurt. That I cried, feel sorry for them. I admit that I am strong with things. I remember that when I get to theraphy of my right arm the therapist is telling me that I am strong no matter how she pull and exercise my hand she never saw me crying while there are lots of patients bigger than me and most are men they cry when she touch the part that is hurting. I told her back that the only thing that made me cry is the drama events, he he he. Put a movie drama in the DVD player or let me attend to the patients who are old and dying in a minute you will see my tears falling down from my cheeks. Anyway, I know that she’s been called by our Lord already. I know that it is already her time to go. Her mission on earth was already fulfilled. Though it is sad that she leave us around I still pray for her, we know that she is happy joining the Lord. We are praying for her soul’s eternal repose. Aunt Fran wherever you are just remember that we love you and you are in our hearts and in our prayers….