After hanging up, I mentally checked if I had everything ready. Except for putting the drinks (for J’s snacks), I knew I had everything taken cared of. But I was still feeling uneasy. “What is it?” I asked myself. Oh, no it’s not what? it’s who? My best friend Cynthia is in town with her three boys. I have to call her so she could come to the house before the mass. It was 730 A.M. when I called her cell phone and true enough, they were still in bed! “Hurry up,” I told her, “somebody’s got to fix J’s hair!”
And so she did when they finally made it. I haven’t seen her boys for quite sometime and they’ve really grown. Janice so happy to see them, I know, because she wanted to play Pokémon amidst the chaos I felt was starting to build up. She had a dress and shoes on alright but her hair is still a mess. I started brushing and attempted to curl her hair with the curling iron but I was a hopeless case. As soon as said hi to the boys, I gave Cynthia the heated curling irons and I pretended to be busy with giving her boys breakfast (yup, donuts and orange juice!). I don’t think I even said hello to her.
We got to the church just in time for last minute instructions from the deacon. While listening, I saw Enad walking in (as usual, we can’t wait for him to get up and be ready to ride with us) followed by the Goode’s. I motioned them that we already have seats reserved for them.
So, the procession was about to start. What was the last minute instruction again? Oh, well… Janice’s nametag said #7. So, no big deal, we’ll just follow #6. However, when we walked in to the church lobby to get in line, Deacon Mike motioned Janice to the head of the line! So, what do we do again? Where do we go? Turn left or right? I discreetly left Janice in line and went to look for Ms. Nancy, Deacon Mike’s assistant. Yes, we turn left and form a U-shape in front of the congregation. “And Ms. Fe”, she said, “don’t blow this, you’re also their teacher, remember?” Funny, but the word teacher magically gave me more confidence. Gosh, I was more nervous than the kids. Back in line, I turned to everybody behind me and motioned all of them to smile and everything will be alright. Yay, the teacher in me! The parent in me was still in chaos!
As we faced the congregation, I saw my brother Eric and family sitting on the second row of section 3. Section 3? Oh, no again! (Are you beginning to count these now?) I have to minister in section 3 for the communion. Was I assigned bread or cup? Oh, yah it’s bread!
I was really glad that I have to serve not just because it’s an honor to be a Eucharistic minister. Before the communion, the ministers joins father Jim in the altar as blesses the bread and wine. When the names of the first communicant were called one by one, I had a good view of all the kids walking from the back to the front to get their first taste of bread and wine. I was so proud of the kids, Janice especially. Yet modesty aside, I was proud of myself thinking that these are my “kids”. I was there with them to practice bowing and saying “Amen”. I instilled in them that Amen means “I believe”. I reminded them left hand on top, right hand to place the bread in your mouth. I was a part of that one special occasion in their life. I was ecstatic! I felt so blessed! I sensed a feeling of oneness with the kids and their parents as well. We were all nervous yet the feeling of calmness was there. I was thankful for this opportunity to teach these kids. I want this feeling! I love this feeling! I felt fulfilled! I’ll do it all over again!
The mass ended with kids and parents marching out with Father Jim. And the endless congratulations and picture takings begun!
The parent in me sunk in when we were told to not congregate in front of the altar anymore. That’s when I noticed we were the only left! That’s when I realized we still have another madness to go through: swim meet!
The goodbyes and thank yous to everybody took another 20 minutes or so. But we really have to go!
Back home, in between changing clothes and munching pizza, Janice said, “That was fun.” She said she really liked her first communion. Oh, she still says that the host tasted like cardboard and the wine needed more sugar. But she’s looking forward to the next Sunday mass. She would no longer just stay in her seat while we line up for bread and wine. She would no longer be just an audience to the rituals we go through in joining the community for the Eucharist. She would now be bowing, too with left had on top and right hand taking the bread to her mouth. She would now be saying Amen because she really believes. She would now be one with us in celebration of thanksgiving as we all share the significance of the Last Supper.
Michi's Sonata
Tears flow down my cheeks
While I do homework during the weeks
Boredom takes over my mind
So much that I become blind
My computer is on myspace
And I'm just wishing that on it I could race
My best buddies are wishing me hi
To share and chat and have time pass us by
Ipod is on, too and the music's blaring
My mom came in and now she's staring
I think... I think...
I'm trying not to wink
I think... I think...
I think I'm ... I think I'm BORED!!!!
Here is what the bible tells us about Palm Sunday:In our school's student assembly today, our administrator read a very interesting "parable of the frogs". The parable basically tells the story of the power of the tongue, thus our administrator alluded to
Proverbs 18:21 ~
Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best
friend of many years. She regretted it immediately and would
have done anything to have taken the words back. But they were
said impulsively in a moment of thoughtlessness, and as close
as she and her friend were, she didn't consider the effects of
her words beforehand.
What she said hurt the friend so much that this good woman was
herself hurt for the pain she caused. In her effort to undo
what she had done, she went to an older, wiser woman in the
village, explained her situation, and asked for advice.
The older woman listened patiently in an effort to determine
just how sincere the younger woman was, how far she was willing
to go to correct the situation. She explained that sometimes,
in order to put things back in order, great efforts must be made.
She then asked, "Just what would you be willing to do to repair
the harm done?" The answer was heartfelt. "Anything!"
Listening to her, the older woman sensed the younger woman's
distress and knew she must help her. She also knew she could
never alleviate her pain by living her life for her, but she
could teach, if the younger woman would first listen and then
learn.
She knew the outcome would depend solely on the character of the
younger woman. She said, "There are two things you need to do to
make amends. The first of the two is extremely difficult.
Tonight, take your best feather pillows and open a small hole
in each one. Then, before the sun rises, you must put a single
feather on the doorstep of each house in town.
When you are through, come back to me. If you've done the first
thing completely, I'll tell you the second."
The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore, even
though the pillows were very dear to her and very expensive.
All night long, she labored alone in the cold. She went from
doorstep to doorstep, taking care not to overlook a single
house. Her fingers were frozen, the wind was so sharp it caused
her eyes to water, but she ran on through the darkened streets,
thankful there was something she could do to put things back the
way they once were.
Finally as the sky was getting light, she placed the last
feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose,
she returned to the older woman.
She was exhausted but relieved that her efforts would be
rewarded.
"My pillows are empty. I placed a feather on the doorstep of
each home." "Now," said the wise woman, "Go back and refill your
pillows. Then everything will be as it was before."
The young woman was stunned. "You know that's impossible!
The wind blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the
doorsteps! You didn't say I had to get them back! If this is
the second requirement, then things will never be the same."
"That's true," said the older woman. "Never forget. Each of
your words is like a feather in the wind. Once spoken, no
amount of effort, regardless how heartfelt or sincere, can ever
return them to your mouth. Choose your words well and guard
them most of all in the presence of those you love."
Author Unknown
Happy Valentine's day!
I actually received the blessings below from our deacon last Christmas.
I feel that it is also appropriate to share the blessings for Valentine's day and any other day of the year. Read on and enjoy!
“May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand.
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with optimism and courage.
Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone.
May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate, and let that love embrace you as you go into the world.
May the teaching of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them.
Remember, those whose lives you have touched and who have touched yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.
May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world around you.
Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself, and not be dependent on an other's judgments of your accomplishments.
May you always feel loved.”
-- Author Unknown
So we did celebrate my honey's birthday! And yes, all that mental planning worked out fine - not perfectly but good enough!
My plan was to cook a real homemade, feel good pancit canton. You know the kind your dad brings coming home from work late at night? (for those of you who don't know what I’m talking about, forgive me but one can only describe the savor of food in limited words) So, I had all the ingredients I always wanted in my pancit canton but aren't all there when you buy it from turo-turo. I had the usual chicken, shrimp, & veggies. Then my hungry imagination brought me back in manila from a long time ago. I added strips of beef liver, slices of fish ball and pieces of crispy chicharon. With so many ingredients, I miscalculated my noodles or shall I say I miscalculated the soup I cook the noodles into. I don't measure when I cook bytheway. My noodles drowned albeit it looked so over cooked. Nevertheless, I still managed to present it decent enough. I topped it with green onions and slices of lemon (kalamansi could have been perfect).
I also planned on dinuguan complete with puto. But as I was surfing the net that morning, I saw a picture of tokwa't baboy. Thus I dreamt of it right there. Suffice it to say, when I went food shopping later, I had all the ingredients for both dinuguan and tokwa't baboy. Hey, they have almost the same meat ingredients anyway. Except for the tofu and the pork blood. So, I prepared the meat and still didn't decide on which one to choose. Lo and behold, my laziness dawned and me, dinuguan won just because I wasn't in the mood to fry the tofu anymore.
For appetizer, I had the salmon poke (Hawaiian term). I wanted to blend in wasabi but I also forgot that during shopping. However, I have different kinds of spicy stuff i.e. red pepper paste, chili sauce, tabasco, red pepper flakes, etc. I mixed small amounts of them all to sesame oil & seed, soy sauce, honey and slices of shallots. Slices of fresh salmon enjoyed that marinade in the fridge while I cook the rest of my menu.
Just in time before my honey came home, Enad and Janice drove to the store to buy balloons for their Papa and hid them somewhere in the house. So the celebrant came home and saw right away that I was busy cooking and didn't take him that long to realize all the commotion was for him. He went back out to get some coronas. He came back smiling, happy to find san miguel at last in VA!
We didn't buy him a cake since Janice wants me to bake a brownie instead. I baked that the last minute but just in time for a nice, warm dessert.
My brother and family came. We had dinner, drank beer, chatted, enjoyed their baby Erica, drank beer, kids shared balloons, watched some videos, drank beer, had brownies, drank beer then it’s time for my brother and family to go. But first, I have to make a "to go" for them.
And I still end up with so much food. I opened the fridge only see that I really don't have that much space. There's still so much left over from past dinners. Bytheway, I love leftovers since I don't really enjoy eating them right after I cook them. Oh well, for whatever and however, I made them fit inside the fridge!
The next day, Sunday, his real birthday we went to church. We usually go out for brunch after church but not this time since I teach Sunday school which Janice also attends to. So Janice and I had late lunch and late siesta. I got up around 5pm and it was time for dinner AGAIN! I promised to take him out to Outback so we went! We're not even done with the appetizer yet and we feel so full already. Yah, yah this food story is getting to be boring! We came home with more leftovers to stuff dear fridge of ours.
So you know what's next with this blah-blah... leftovers for the rest of this week!
| 1. | actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime; |
| 2. | not at leisure; otherwise engaged |
| 3. | full of or characterized by activity: a busy life. |
| 4. | (of a telephone line) in use by a party or parties and not immediately accessible. |
| 5. | officious; meddlesome; prying. |
| 6. | ornate, disparate, or clashing in design or colors; cluttered with small, unharmonious details; fussy: The rug is too busy for this room. |
| 7. | to keep occupied; make or keep busy |
i