I have loved you for a Thousand Years

I'll love you for a thousand more...

I watched Breaking Dawn...ALONE! hahaha

LSS made me look for my HDD and scour for these photos...wala lang :)

How important is your Spouse?

Last night in church, the priest was sharing about importance of our spouse.  The message was mind boggling.

Paulit ulit sinabi sa Bible...

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.


Matthew 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?


Mark 10:7-8 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.


Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Here is the situation posted by the priest:

To a WIFE: you are in a sinking boat with your husband AND your mother.  Who will you save?

Katabi ko si Mama sa church...sagot ko "My Mother" pero talagang in my heart and sagot ko ay si Mama ang i-save ko.  I can find another husband in the future, but I'll never be able to replace Mama.

Halos buong simbahan Mother ang sagot.  Tawa and Pari.

Second scene: You are with your husband AND your 6 year old daughter.  Who will you save?

My answer: I'll save Audrey sabay hug sa anak ko.  She looks at me and says, "I know how to swim Mommy, you need not save me." Oh my innocent child....
Really, I can live looking at my daughter and see in her my husband.  But I don't think I can live in peace with my husband thinking that I chose to let my daughter die...

Pero sabi ni Father...God commandeth husband and wife to be one.  Above all else daw, superior ang relationship ng mag-asawa over any other relatives.

Ganon? Ganon talaga? hahaha

Of course patawa lang ang Pari...there are many explanations of the verses above.  But at that point, talagang napa-isip din ako. 

Third scene: You are with your husband and MIL, sinong se-save mo....tawanan buong simbahan.  Kawawa daw talaga ang mga MIL.  Loko tong Pari, he's rubbing it in.  Ano naman feeling ng mga nasa congregation na kasama ang kanilang MIL? Hay patawa!

Nasa Children's chapel si Luigi taking care of Aeden, so hindi nag-usap ang aming mga mata during the sermon...I'll surely ask him what would be his plan if he were in the situation.

Last for the Road, Crown Hotel Yantai

Gosh, August pa yung trip ko pero anong petsa na eto parin ako at nagboblog about it.  I have been not so busy these past days but I'm too lazy to write.

Although the last leg of my two week business trip to China is the most tiring, I loved my hotel.  But not instantly.  I was given sea view room at the 15th floor.  Nice! very spacious.  I did not take any photo of the view as I thought I had 3 days naman. 

Time to sleep...nak nang! ano yong ingay na yon? ang lakas naman kung yung dagat.  I had a nagging headache (epekto ng kabababiyahe) and had similar experiences before.  I'm sure I won't be able to sleep with that noise.  So I called the operator and requested for another room.  OK, they gave me a city view room, pero delux...sumaya ang lola :-)

Mabilis lang sa room then nag lunch nako sa lobby.  I enjoyed this lunch.  Ang sarap ng food.  Akala ko mulberry yung nasa gitna ng salmon appetizer.  When I looked closely, caviar pala. Antutchal! Their tagliatelle was heavy in cream, kinain ko lang yung mga seafood.  Cheesecake was good too.  I noticed one staff na pinapanood niya ako kasi kumakanta ako with my earphones on, medyo malakas siguro.  But we smiled at each other.  I saw her every morning and her smile made my day!  I went back on my last day to give her some chocolates pero hindi ko siya nahanap.  She really made me feel at home, I feel sad not to be able to say goodbye.

Gabi na nakapagpicture sa Sea View room. 

halata na ang pagod sa aking ngiti  :-(

dahil maingay, upgrade to a delux room.  may opisina ako, may sala, at sing laki ng room ang toilet and bath.
funny thing, di ko napansin ang sliding doors ng T&B.  Nasa side sila ng LCD TV.

nakadalawang self portrait dahil hindi ako makasmile ng hindi maasim...oh well...pagod na nga eh.  dahil di ko nakita ang mga sliding panels (tan GA kasi), i did all my business "without" doors.  eh mag isa ko naman! actually I also left the drapes open.  33rd floor naman, sinong titingin? at hanggang tingin lang naman...LOL baka nasuka lang sila....

Due to exhaustion, my supplier urged me to rest for the morning and continue audit in the afternoon.  Di ko narin talaga kaya...nakakakita nako ng mga sparks... so late ang gising and then ordered room service.  salmon parin, the sushi was overloaded with mayonnaise, loved the mushroom soup.  Earl Grey tea...sarap.

 
I wish maisama ko pamilya ko sa tuwing bumabiyahe ako.  Hubby can bring the kids out while I do my audits :-( wish wish wish.

Sad for my Friend

e-mail ko kay hubby....

hala daddy a very sad thing happened.



alam mo yun friend ko na mommy, nagpupump parin ng milk dito sa work.


meron siyang small room na kinover din niya ng paper like I did.


this morning, napansin nun MD dito, e bukas ilaw.


tinry daw buksan pero naka-lock.


tumawag ng facilities at pinabukas…so nagsalita siya na andito ako sa loob sandali lang.






pinabaklas daw ni MD yung cover na papel.






tapos sinabihan siya ng HR na nagalit daw si MD…tsk tsk di man lang dinefend ng HR ang heartless hearless…naiyak siya na magshare sa akin. so sinabi ko nga rin maraming beses nangyari sakin na may pasok sa room…ask nila bakit naka-lock…pero grabe nangyari sa kanya!






no choice siya sa toilet nalang daw sabi ng HR…may banat pa HR, bilisan daw niya magpump. so sad :(


GUSTO KO SUMIGAW AT MAGWALA!!!

Holiday Inn, Qingdao, China

Napapagod nako ha! Linggong-linggo, kelangan maaga gumising at punta sa airport para lipad na naman sa ibang lugar. haayz!

Home away from Home in Qingdao is Holiday Inn.  Kala ko nun cheap ang Holiday Inn, kasi may holiday supermarket malapit sa barangay namin dati.  Super lumang building hehehe.  I've stayed once in Holiday Inn in Tianjin and my initial thought is totaly wrong.  Totyal din pala ang Holiday Inn...



Lobby



The Pillows had SOFT and HARD tags on them



I enjoyed this warmly lit wash basin



huh? bakit ako may ganitong picture? windang na kasi....



Scenic Elevator, parang roller coaster ang feeling



refreshing view, narelax ang aking pagod na mga mata



Qingdao City Area, daig pa ang Seoul


Qingdao is a Sailing city.  It has hosted the Sailing competition of the Olympics.  Dito original ang word famous Tsing Tao beer which tastes good.  During summer daw, yung mga tao dito bibili ng beer at ilalagay sa plastic at iinumin using straw.  Parang softdrinks sa Pinas.  There used to be many Germans daw dito.  Para ka ngang nasa Europe pag nasa China ka.  Hindi lang luxury brands ang kinokopya nila...mismong bansa or famous cities.  True, I have seen Rome Metropolis, ongoing construction pa siya pero ang mga bahay, talagang European. 

This is Jiaozhou Bay Bridge which just opened in June 2011.  It is currently holding the Guinness World Record for Longest Bridge over water.  It's not where our vehicle is but the one on the horizon.  Iba talaga sa China...I have never imagined ganun ka advanced sa China.  Kasi panay ang nakikita ko lang sa news about China is the poor, dirty and forsaken places. 

A Walk Around Baijia Lake

I have a two week schedule in China.  I have one free Saturday to spend for myself.  Sunday would be spent flying to the next city :-(.

If I were in Taiwan or Korea, I would have planned a good Saturday exploration.  However, until now, after many trips to China, I still confine myself to places nearby my hotel.  Reason being....I can't speak Mandarin! 

So on my free Saturday, I just roamed around Baijia Lake.  I had great quiet time but I really miss my family.  Spent the whole morning walking and just slept the whole afternoon.


Sosyal ang mga bahay sa tabing lawa





This is the vast 3 Phoenix Park



Booming China

I saw Cat's Tail, Lovely

Ugly Caterpillars...soon to be Beautiful Butterflies



Nice...Kids were roller blading (I miss my Audrey mooooore)

Loving Parents and Grandparents with the Kids



Sunog!

 As I mentioned in my previous entry, I would post the photo of my super 20 minutes Ham and Egg sandwich.  You ordered Ham and Egg, so there! It has Ham and Egg! No tomato, no lettuce, no pickle, no mayonnaise, no ketchup.  Just your burned bread with ham and egg.  Thanks to the Chef, he made my gloomy Saturday more fun! hahahaha

Shuixiu Garden Hotel, Nanjing, China

Para akong nasa Baguio nung magstay ako sa hotel na ito. 

Hitik ng cones and Pine Tree sa labas, maraming halaman, siyempre Garden Hotel nga naman.

2nd floor lang ang room ko, 4 floors lang ata ang hotel na ito. 

Ang toilet ng hotel dapat sosyal.  Bagsak! may amoy.... dito pa naman ako magspend ng free saturday ko. tsk tsk

Anyway, panalo naman ang breakfast ambience.

 I super duper love the tall calla lilies.  Paborito kong flower yan, reminds me so much of Baguio.  May tanim na ganyan si Mama sa likod ng bahay namin dati.

 Second fave flower ko ang tulip.  Pero to-date, IISANG PIRASO palang ang natatanggap ko...malapit na ang anniversary :-)

Outside the Western Restaurant is a lagoon.  This hotel is near Baijia Lake.  It's raining...di ba parang Baguio talaga.  This Rose has a sad story.  On that day I was in China, my husband told me about the condition of our friend from Hitachi, si ma'am Tonette, may stage 4 breast cancer daw siya.  Although I am not so close to her as compared to my husband, I know her well kasi ka-batch ko ang kapatid niya and her Mom was my Physics teacher.  Ma'am Jimenez shared her plight as a young mother.  She had to get the kids to sleep early so she can wake up later at night and then study.  Kasi napaaga ang pag-aasawa niya.  She would tell her stories to us to encourage us to be serious in our Engineering course.  Na-sad talaga ako, di ko napigilan na humagulgul sa iyak...but this incidence has prepared me.  I often pray na huwag muna ako kunin ni Lord hanggat maliliit pa ang mga anak ko.  But I realized that I can leave my kids to God's care.  Besides, I don't own my kids, He just lent them to me to take good care.  If he ever decides to take them away from me, it is His own will and I should just follow.  Love you God! You are AMAZING!  Thanks for preparing me.

While nagmumuni muni ako, napansin kong 20 minutes na yung order kong Ham and Egg sandwich.  I called the attention of the waitress.  Ang sabi ba naman "Please wait for a moment. Our Chef is very busy"  Nanlaki ang mata ko kasi literally, ako lang ang customer nila at that time.

Sa next post nalang yung photo ng aking 20 minute Ham and Egg Sandwich. 

Hotel Hopping

As my job requires me to travel at least twice a year (sana walang recession), nakakaexperience akong mag stay sa mga maganda at di kagandahang hotel.

Here is a looooooong post (tutal naman madalas wala akong time mag blog) on my recent travel cribs.  Hotel lang ang maisusulat ko kasi walang pasyal na nagaganap pag nagbibiyahe ako :-(

Chalon Hotel - Jiaxing, China
USD $60
I wasn't expecting much for this value but I was impressed when I entered my room. 

I think there are two buildings for this hotel, my room was in the new building.  The only odd thing is that the elevator is quite far from the reception/lobby.  The free breakfast was so so, the place is quite old and run down, must be in the old building. 

I like the view from my room.

Ang bathroom ng hotel dapat sosyal. Pasado!



bakit may glass? para makanood ng TV?

laging maganda ang feeling ng nagsasalamin

lovely japanese doll poster above the loo

After a long day of auditing, magdidinner pa!  Need to entertain pa ang mga Presidente, Bise Presidente...lahat ng kausap mo Manager...hirap ng trabaho ko ha.

Time to rest.  Walang amoy ang mga pillow, patay ang AC dahil maulan at malamig sa labas, tahimik...ZzzzzZzzzz.

i love the reading lights

Sobrang haba na pag dadagdagan ko pa.  Another post nalang yung other 3 hotels.

** bakit ba ayaw umayos ng alignment ng mga pictures ko? lahat naman nakacenter...

1 Year, 1 Month, 1 Week and 1 Day

I have successfully surpassed my Breasfeeding Goal!
I aimed to full BF for six months and mixed feeding until one year.

Aeden truly enjoyed breastmilk for his first six months.
Last March I had to travel to Beijing.  He has been on once a day formula by then.
I did not like the idea of freezing my milk so I had no stock.  Baby needed to swich to full formula for the week I was away.  He had no trouble thank goodness.

Upon my return, milk supply has reduced because I could only pump once in the morning and then at night.  Ouch..pain pain pain.  So I decided to breastfeed at night only.

Until now, Aeden my boy would be so excited on my arrival each afternoon.  It's so rewarding to see his smile and total excitement.  He already knows where the milk is "kept".

I do regret reducing my breastmilk production but it is really very tiring.  So, SALUTE to all Mom's who work and still express BM for their babies.  And to all Mom's who breastfeed!

Thanks to my Husband who has complemented me for this achievement.  He is now a Breastfeeding advocate.  Pinagyayabang niya na nag BF ako even when I am working.  Love Love Love it!

My Breastfed Baby is a Happy Baby

Busy

Auditor in action in a Blank Factory in Yantai, China

Aeden's First Birthday

First birthdays are special and barbecues are fun.

Please join us to celebrate as AEDEN turns one!

 

Barbeque on the Eve of August 12, Friday

at the Aloha Loyang Resort Garden Terrace B

 

 
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
 

Don't be Angry, you're invited to AEDEN's First Birthday Party!

Families and Kids at Heart

August 13, Saturday

 
 
 

Don't forget to bring your swimwear!

HOW TO GET TO ALOHA LOYANG RESORT:

There is a shuttle bus at Pasir Ris MRT. Please note the schedules below.

The nearest bus stops and landmarks are noted in the maps.

A whole year full of laughter and joy.  It's hard to believe, it's already the first birthday of our little boy!

See you there :-)

Paborito ko ang Sio Mai

Hen Lin ang paborito kong Sio Mai noong college.
Sa session road may maliit silang maliit na cart.  P20 something yung isang dosena.
Grabe naalala ko palang naglalaway na ako.

Ewan ko bakit kahit gustong gusto ko iyon ay hindi ko matandaang kinain ko talaga ng madalas.  Di tulad ng McDo Quarter pounder na hanggang ngayon ay nasa weekly cravings ko.

I was in Taiwan beginning of the month. May sio mai dito!
Pero walang sing sarap yung Hen Lin, kahit nag attempt akong gumawa, wala...siguro isang kilong Vetsin ang sangkap nun kaya masarap.

A few years ago, sinubukan ko yung DimSum Buffet treat sa aking tinutuluyang hotel.  WOW SARAP! kaya taon taon tuwing may biyahe ako doon, lafang the dim sum!

ang soup na nakakapaso sa init, sio mai, sio mai ulit, sampling of everything and dessert

Pangalawang gabi ko, treat ako ng supplier ng dinner.  I opted for Japanese food. Busog pa nga ako sa dami ng kinain ko sa buffet.

Third night, kahit nag offer ng dinner ang supplier, sabi ko papahinga ako.  Pero ang totoo...gusto ko ng Sio Mai :-)

sio mai siyempre, seafood naman, sea coconut, dessert, tea
while contemplating if I should have another round, the chef approached me and gave me COKE...sweet!

Off all the food I've sampled, yung sio mai lang ang masarap.

I moved to another hotel so good bye Cantonese Dim Sum...see you again (sana soon na).

For a change, I was craving for some pasta.  Buti Italian resto daw ang sa new hotel ko.  When I headed to the restaurant, it was Chinese Hot Pot! Damn, ayaw ko ng amoy.  Na sad ako.  So I went strolling outside looking for my pasta.

Found it!

Dante's Coffee
Super mura ng food
Panalo yung Mango Cheesecake at Coffee
yung pasta...magluluto nalang ako ng carbonara pag uwi

Isa sa mga perks ng pag biyahe ko ang pagkakataon na matikman ang mga kakaibang pagkain.  This round, I had a chance to eat shark meat and bettle nut flowers.  The shark looked like pork but tasted like tsinelas.  Bettle nut flowers tasted like bamboo shoots, yummy.

Bakit may weighing scale sa mga hotel?  

Back to School Na, ANG SAYA

This year, the Lord has greatly blessed me. (Every year naman eh)
April ang bigayan ng increase ng suweldo namin.

I have prayed for a specific amount na sana maabot ng sahod ko at ibinigay talaga ni Lord. Sakto walang singkong duling na labis o kulang.

Bilang pasasalamat sa increase at pagdiwang parin ng aking kabuwanan, ipinadala ko yung dagdag sa sahod ko sa aking pamangkin para bumili ng mga school supplies para sa nangangailangan naming kamag-anak.

Here's a look at our Back to School Charity Stint:


Mga Pamangkin Ko - Solikawkaw and Kimi
Ngarag na ngarag sila sa kakulitan ko.
Busy sa school at sa work ang mga dalaga
pero they were so nice to help me.

School Supplies for one Grade 2 and one First Year High School

when I saw this photo...naiyak ako.

My Father is old na...kasi naglalagi lagi sa kanyang farm.
Here he is instructing his apo...araw araw ka magpalit ng panty ha hehehe
eeew

Another helper, si Itong pamangkin ko din.

Simpleng kawang gawa na sana maulit pa at mapabongga in the future.

Sana masabi ng dalawa kong pamangkin, Back to School na, ANG SAYA!

For YOU are simply AMAZING...