I came across this upon reading Ali's blog today.

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . .

Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden. It is time to speak your Truth. Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader."

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!"

"There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.

"Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
"The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

"We are the ones we've been waiting for."

-- attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder

Hopi Nation
Oraibi, Arizona http://www.communityworks.info/hopi.htm

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."
- George Eliot

There are times when things do not happen the way we want it to. When I took this photo, it was almost close to 6:00pm when the gates to the reserve closes, T was with me - there was no way to soak in the place and establish a good composition and the food for the evening is still a mystery. There are so many things that I could have done to make this a better photograph. But this will do for now.

Because sometimes, not so perfect is good enough. Sometimes, it is just those few minutes that I get to be here that makes it enough. I needed some time w/ Him...so nevermind if I did not get a great photo, I got what I needed for the moment...and that's all that matters.

"Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves."
- Dale Carnegie

Usually, T and J goes up to my bedroom to wake me up on Sunday mornings. But not today. I woke up earlier than usual to see my SIL and her daughter leave for her volleyball tournament. Too bad we did not get a chance to talk as much as I was out last night when they came to stay for the night. So glad though to see T just playing with his train - can you spot how many Thomas the Trains he has....and that's not all! Oh how he just loves that train! And how we love how T makes Sunday mornings so beautiful.

Great food, conversation and an awesome company of women...thanks ladies for a wonderful evening last night. Straits is definitely on my list of favorite restaurants now. From the salads, to the chicken curry, Spicy Chicken Basil, the Gado gado, Bijang (eggplant) , calamari and the unforgettable "Suky's" Garlic Noodle and my not to be missed Sour Apple martini, I can't wait to go back. I'm glad too that we went to the Cheescake Factory for desserts although I must say I 've put in about 3 lbs after that last bite of mud pie.

Dost thou love life?
Then do not squander time,
for that is the stuff life is made of.
Benjamin Franklin

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Helen Keller

Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will.
Jawaharal Nehru

The geat blessing of mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and like people in the dark, we fall foul upon the very thing we search for, without finding it.
Seneca
(7 B.C. - 65 A.A.)

Govern thy life and thoughts as if the whole world were to see the one, and read the other.
Thomas Fuller

Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous, judgment difficult.
Hypocrites

After the game,
the king and the pawn go into the same box.
Italian Proverb

Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.
La Bruyere

Life is like a library owned by the author.
In it are a few books which he wrote himself,
but most of them were written for him.
Harry Emerson Fosdick

We make our fortunes, and we call them fate.
Earl of Beaconsfield

The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.
Elbert Hubbard

Life's a voyage that's homeward bound.
Herman Melville

The whole of life is but a moment of time. It is our duty, therefore to use it, not to misuse it.
Plutarch

The boundaries which divide life from death
are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where one ends,
and the other begins?
Edgar Alan Poe

One way to get the most out of life is
to look upon it as an adventure.
William Feather

There are no classes in life for beginners: right away you are always asked to deal with what is most difficult.
Rainer Maria Rilke

To live is like to love--all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it.
Samuel Butler

Life is a pure flame,
and we live by an invisible sun within us.
Sir Thomas Brown

As I grow to understand life less and less,
I learn to love it more and more.
Jules Renard

Remembering Kelli Pickler, a former American Idol contestant and her famous calamari speech while having lunch yesterday with friends....

With the cold virus infecting everybody around here, it is so easy to feel miserable. Good thing that we humans have a capacity to cope and always try to make things better, or feel better.

"T"s way of coping with his cold was to wear Mr. froggy. He saw his last year's halloween costume while I was putting things away in his closet and he immediately decided he wanted to be a frog for the day. I was very happy to put it on him and more pleased to see the smile it put on his face. He said Mr. froggy made him feel better.

I just love to visit places that takes me back to the past. Seeing where and how people lived in the past, things they used, houses they lived in, how they celebrated the holidays gives me a sense of peace and quiet joy. Perhaps, it is the lure of the simple life or the wonder of the memories made in the dwellings they left behind... I just find contentment and solace... So I made sure that when we were in Toronto, we took the kids to one of my favorite places in Toronto, the Black Creek Pioneer Village to see what Christmas was like 140 years ago.

A beautiful feast at the table...the fire is going, the room warm..cider, ginger biscuits, laughter, laughter and more laughter....the joy of sharing a meal together as a family - there is no better christmas than this.

While my mind has been busy percolating with ideas, thoughts to write on my blog, my blog remained untouched, empty, blank for some time now. Now, that is a good thing. It only meant that I actually had extra time to spend with the family, relax and enjoy. I did not even take that many pictures even though I got that really nice lens (can u guess?) And not a single photo on my birthday too! wow!

Okay, for mom and dad, here are a few pics from Christmas day. We had so much fun but we missed you terribly. Surprisingly, we had a great Christmas brunch. Jeff and Roxy prepared the ham, I made some pretzel salad, brocolli casserole and cobb salad. The Magboos came in later and brought a ton of food...(which I found out they do quite often since you left).

I hope you are enjoying your long vacation there in the Philippines but pls. come home soon. When I first arrived, the refrigerator might as well have been turned off (no food! except for the expired loaf of bread - why was it in the fridge to begin w/and some takeout containers). But you will be pleasantly surprised that the new year ushered in some kind of baking/cooking inspiration in Roxy (and w/ a little help from me too :) and she will show you a few tricks up her "apron"upon your return. So come home soon and be safe. I love you!