HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY:

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!

Let us all pray and hope this year would be a better one for all of us!!

MAY THE GUIDANCE AND LOVE OF GOD BE WITH ALL OF US IN OUR QUEST FOR HAPPINESS, SUCCESS, AND PEACE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

2010 is almost over. I welcome 2011 with a warm embrace, lots of kisses, and hugs!!!

My sincerest thanks to the God Almighty for all the love, guidance, and light that HE had showered upon me and my loved ones.GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD. HE HAD GUIDED ME THROUGH LIFE UP TO THIS VERY MOMENT. HE HAD HELPED ME SHED LIGHT TO THE PEOPLE I LOVE AND ADORE. WE ARE IN THE RIGHT PATH, FOLLOWING HIS WORDS AND TEACHINGS. Thank you,
GOD, and we continuously seek for love, peace, and success in our lives in the coming days, and years of our lives in this world. I pray for peace in the world, that people will come to YOU and SEEK YOU. WE NEED YOU SO BADLY FOR WORLD PEACE AND HAPPINESS. MAY ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD BOND TOGETHER AS REAL SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

PEACE ON EARTH GOODWILL TO MEN!

IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

YEAH, IT IS ALMOST CHRISTMAS! TONIGHT, I HAD COFFEE AFTER DINNER, AND THAT MUST BE THE REASON WHY I CAN'T SLEEP.... I TURNED ON THE CD IN MY ROOM AND STARTED TO LISTEN TO SOME CHRISTMAS SONGS AND HYMNS ... BY THIS TIME, ROGER IS FAST ASLEEP ... HMMMMM.... I HAVE TO BE VERY QUIET LOGGING TO MY BLOG ....

I THOUGHT ABOUT MY CHILDREN, MY FIVE PRECIOUS CHILDREN AND THEIR RESPECTIVE FAMILIES .. OHMAR, MY OLDEST SON MARRIED TO PORTIA, AND THEY HAVE 3 CHILDREN: SHAB, A FRESHMAN IN ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY, OKI, A 3RD GRADER IN DON BOSCO, MAKATI, AND PRIYA, THE ONLY GIRL AND THE YOUNGEST, PREP IN ASSUMPTION, MAKATI. MY SECOND SON, OWEN IS SINGLE NOW, BUT HAS THREE CHILDREN WITH EX-WIFE LUENE OF ILOCOS; THEIR CHILDREN NAMELY: KATRINA, FRESHMAN IN HS; KRISSA, FIRST GRADE; AND KARL WHO IS IN PREP. ALL CHILDREN ARE WITH THEIR MOTHER IN ILOCOS. MY THIRD SON, ONEILL IS MARRIED TO MYRA, A LICENSED DENTIST IN CALAPAN, OR. MINDORO WITH THEIR THREE CHILDREN NAMELY: JOHN, SIXTH GRADER; NICOLE, THIRD GRADER, AND HANNAH, PREP. ONEILL IS IN LAS VEGAS, MYRA AND THE KIDS ARE IN CALAPAN. IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 2-3 YEARS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO BE TOGETHER HERE IN THE US. OHSKAR, THE YOUNGEST BOY IN THE FAMILY IS BASED IN PLACERVILLE, CA AND A FREE-LANCE COMPUTER WEB DESIGNER AND CLASSICAL GUITARIST. HE IS STILL SINGLE. MARJU, MY ONLY DAUGHTER AND THE YOUNGEST IN THE FAMILY IS BASED IN DULUTH, MN WITH HUSBAND RYAN ANDERSON, AND 3 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AVA ROSE.

ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE DOING FINE PRACTICING THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSIONS. I THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR GIVING ME THE PRIVILEGE OF RAISING MY CHILDREN AND SEEING THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR. GOD IS GOOD! HE IS AWESOME!

I AM THANKFUL, TOO, FOR ROGER WHO HAD BEEN MY LOYAL AND LOVING SIGNIFICANT OTHER FOR FIVE YEARS NOW. HE IS SUCH A COMPASSIONATE,LOVING, AND CARING PERSON.

MORE PICTURES AT TUSCANY

LOVELY MINNETTE (WOW! I have to admire myself!!!) BY THE FIREPLACE ...

GRRRRRRRR... IT'S TOO COLD IN LAS VEGAS NOW...

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND 2010

Roger and I checked in at Tuscany Hotel in Las Vegas to spend the Thanksgiving weekend together. We were trying to catch up for the several months we had not been out due to our job loads.We had a great time listening and dancing to the music of Corro-Van Such, a three-men band at the PIAZZA LOUNGE at Tuscany. They were such a lively,talented, vibrant group of three middle-aged men who play saxophone, guitar, and drums.

THE ANDERSON'S

MORE OF AVA ROSE

AVA ROSE PICACHE ANDERSON

Ava Rose was born on August 23, 2010, 2:05 AM to Ryan & Marie Anderson of Proctor, MN. She weighed 7.1 oz. Ava is a firstborn, my 10th grandchild.

ROCK N' ROLL REHAB CART

THIS IS THE REHAB CART AS DESCRIBED BELOW.

Roger & his "Rock N' Roll Rehab Cart"

This "Rock N' Roll Rehab Cart" is Roger's latest project in the Occupational Therapy World. He rolls this cart to the rooms for his patients' therapy. There is a diverse selection of activities that he can choose from this cart for all his patients. All activities are meant to serve a purpose whether it's increase muscle coordination, improve daily skills living, or simply enjoy the time listening and dancing to the tune of rock n'roll music.Creativity is Roger's strongest asset. He is a man of life,indeed.

Daddy Chris & Baby Maggie

Chris said, "This is my best job ever!"

Chris & Jerin's Baby Girl

The baby is named Margaret, nicknamed Maggie. She was born on July 5, 2010 to Jerin & Chris Cannon, my neighbors at Posadas Las Rosa. I would be her "godmother" when she is baptized. The date is still undecided, but it would be soon.

School is Almost Over, Welcome Summer 2010

We are the three-pair neighbors: Peggy & Jimmy, Chris & Jerin, Minnette & Roger

Peggy & Jimmy just came home from their month-long trip to Minnesota where they visited their children and grandkids; Jerin & Chris had their first born, a baby girl last July 5, Roger is almost done with his first "travelling COTA contract at the Summerlin Heights with Medical Connection, while I am almost done with school in the next three weeks. Then, my visit to Duluth, MN to be with my daughter, Marie who is expecting her first born on August 23, 2010.The baby girl would be my first American grandkid!! Yahoo!! LIFE IS GOOD! GOD IS AWESOME!

ENJOYING MY DAY

The lazy bum in me rose today
Felt sluggish to my bones
Lazy even to stand up
Just bum around and slack.

Yeap, it's crazy to admit
But today is just a myth
One of those days,'wanna sleep
All day long, what a trip!!

The day seems endless now and then
Today is one until it's done
Tomorrow may be a different one
I'd make it sure, it's a better one!!

June 20, 2010 FATHER'S DAY

Roger's Spring

It was a coincidence that we passed through this place within the Lake Mead Recreational Area in Las Vegas, Nevada. Roger and I stopped for a while to get our pictures taken bearing his name in one of those posts. We did not check how far the spring was from that post. We just presumed it was not too far away! I would like to compare Roger to a spring in a way how his imagination emerges from his head. This happens while his mind is rich with a bundle of ideas that can help his patients improve their skills of daily living. Roger is so creative that when he is up to this kind of brain exercise, it is just non-stop.He is a very creative, imaginative, and mindful person that anyone of his clients wouldn't just stop falling in love with him. I am so proud of his achievements at Life Care Center of Paradise Valley in Las Vegas. He deserves all the awards and recognitions the management had accorded him during his three year-stay with them. At this present time, he is venturing on the other possibilities with another company called Medical Connections.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, ROGER !!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Day out at Wynn and Encore, Las Vegas

 

PEGGY AND MINNETTE AT THE HOTEL LOBBY, WYNN LAS VEGAS
JUNE 1, 2010

We "fitted in", didn't we?

 

Fun at Valley of Fire

 

Peggy, my best friend from Camino, CA came to Las Vegas to visit me last May 29-June 2, 2010

Peggy and I on a bench in our park at Posadas Las Rosa

Roger playing snow ... he thought he should act like a young boy one more time ....

 

IT SNOWED IN UTAH! Can you believe it?

 

More pictures in Utah

Roger inside the Wild Life Museum listening to the narration in the hand-held clicker. It gives information about the exhibits. COOL!

Trip to St. George, UTAH April 2010

 

THE DAYS WITHOUT WORK

TRACK BREAKS ARE DAYS WITHOUT WORK
NO TEACHING,NO SCHOOL-RELATED TASK
MIND AND BODY ARE SET TO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR SCHOOL DAYS.

GOOD TO THINK THERE ARE NO DEADLINES
RELAXING, JUST SITTING, AND WAITING
FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN; LIKE A VISIT
FROM A FRIEND WHO LOVES NATURE.

TIME TO TRAIL HIKE, TIME TO RUN
FROM A HUNTER WHO LIKES FUN
FROM AN ENTHUSIAST WHO RUNS AROUND
AMID CIRCLING WEBS AND FANS.

LIFE IS A WIDE CIRCLE OF FUN
WHEN YOU AND I GO ROUND AND ROUND
LOOKING FOR DIRECTIONS UP AND DOWN
LEFT AND RIGHT WE WIND UP DONE.

DAY IS GONE, NIGHT TIME COMES
LOUNGES COZILY WHILE MUSIC ECHOES
FROM A DISTANT BOX IN GRAYISH-BLACK
MELODIOUS TUNE TICKS ME TO SLUMBER.

DREAMS, OH DREAMS OF LIFE'S GLORY
WITHOUT THEM I DON'T GO CRAZY
FEELING REVIVED, FEELING LIFE ANEW
LIFE'S GOOD, FILL ALL WITH LOVE.

JOY IS IN MY HEART

THE JOY OF LIVING

THE JOY OF LIVING

Once in a while in our lifetime
we ask ourselves, "why live?"
Once in a while in our lifetime
we ask ourselves, "why die?"
"why live?", "why die?"
My personal reason, which I have
transposed into a proverb,
"If there's a reason to live,
there must be a reason to die!"

I was summoned to live
From the beginning of my life
I had a call ....

I believe my call was to teach
Teach the impoverished mind,
the willing,and the needy....

I believe my call was to train
Train the blessed ones, who
were willing to spread the
goodness of life ....

People were born for greatness
A purpose that had been made
for each one to do his share...

If only people do what they were asked
If only people follow righteousness,
the light that had been shone before us ..

Our life would have been better
Better than what we experience now
Better than the stars that shine...

We live to flourish the gift of life
Let it flow like the water in a stream
How crystal clear as it quenches
the thirst I feel, deep down the throat
Then, meet the Saviour, prepared to die..

Life, live it as life's best....
Death,leave Earth as Earth's best.

Minerva M. Honkala
May 23, 2010

MORE PICS OF THE FAMILY

GREAT TIME IN NORTHRIDGE, CA

On May 8-9, 2010, Oneill and I drove to Northridge to see the family of Ohmar. They are leaving for Makati, Philippines via Hawaii on May 12. We had two great days just hanging out together at Lulu's house ( Lulu is the first cousin of Oscar, Ohmar's Dad ). On Sunday we attended the children's mass dedicated to their mothers 'coz May 9 was "Mother's Day". It was a nice service which the whole family just enjoyed. We ended our day by bidding adieu, blessing the whole family with a "safe and sound" trip back to Solvang, CA where the family stayed the last three weeks. Ohmar's mother-in-law and family live in that area. You will see several pictures we took in this place.

MY GRANDKIDS AND I

 

NIGHT AT THE OLD LAS VEGAS: A FREMONT EXPERIENCE

THEY'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME!

'Want a bite? ....

There, Ryan and Marju .....

MORE FUN DURING THE VISIT

That's the sideyard. Are we having barbecue tonight? YEAH .....

FUN VISIT-MARJU & RYAN

FAMILY VISIT: April 9-15, 2010

LENTEN SEASON 2010

This is the season to reflect on how I have lived my life the last many years. Living in the US since 1992 had brought me a wide variety of life's experiences. Knowing who I am and how I have made out of myself is something I am very proud to talk about. I have brought up five children, four of whom are boys and a girl who happened to be the youngest of all. The three older boys had been married long enough to have three children each and my Marju is at present pregnant with her first baby, a girl. GOD had been with me all my life and HE had been my best friend from the beginning of my life. HE still is up to now. I am very grateful, thankful, and forever loving HIS presence in my life. HE IS AN AWESOME GOD!!

TO MY FAMILY: I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH! MAY YOU FEEL THE SAME LOVE AND FAITH THAT I HAVE FOR OUR GOD.HE IS MY SOURCE OF LOVE, POWER, AND STRENGTH.MAY HE CONTINUE TO BLESS, LOVE, AND GUIDE ALL OF US IN OUR QUEST FOR PEACE, LOVE, HEALTH, STRENGTH, AND SUCCESS IN OUR LIVES.

MAY THIS LENTEN SEASON GUIDE YOU TO THE PATH OF LIFE WHERE GOD WANTED YOU TO BE!

My High School Friends

From left to right: Bern & Bojie; Minnette; Adelina & Tony; Mila & Rudy

Dinner at home on Oct. 26, 2009

MY HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS

On October 24-26, 2009, my three high school friends with their spouses came to Las Vegas for a reunion:Bern and Bojie Gozon (Georgia, Atlanta), Mila and Rudy Robleza (New Jersey), Adelina and Tony Lopez (San Diego, CA). It was a short reunion, however, we had fun.

It was like the old, old days when we were still at OMHS (Oriental Mindoro High School). The ladies had remained looking young, vivacious, and of course as pretty as ever!! It was such a blast. We stayed at Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, and Luxor for sometime, enjoyed the casino, the food, and music. On Sunday, we were in my house and had a sumptuous lunch, with all the trimmings. We listened to music, danced the crazy moves, just chatted, reminisced all those happy moments through the aid of my scrapbook. I made them watch a video of my TV interview in Duluth, MN ( my 5 minute hall of fame). It was such an awesome moment we were never tired. Towards night time, we went to FREEMONT EXPERIENCE in Old Las Vegas. We had our group picture taken as if we won a million dollars at the BINION CASINO-HOTEL. We walked around those blocks of which the million lights on top of the ceiling were dancing, swaying, and glittering to the tune of great music. Those were fun moments to all of us after almost 40 years of estrangement.
What a nice time!! We thank GOD for all our accomplishments and happiness in life. We believe we are so blessed for the bountiful graces that we have. We appreciate and recognize the power of HIS love.

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY

WHY DO I LOVE FEBRUARY?
FEBRUARY 18 IS MY BIRTHDAY
FEBRUARY 14 IS VALENTINE'S DAY
FEBRUARY 29 COMES EVERY 4 YEARS
IT IS CALLED A LEAP YEAR
FEBRUARY 28 IS THE SHORTEST MONTH
IT IS THE SHORTEST MONTH OF THE YEAR.

WHY DO I LOVE FEBRUARY?
IT HAS 8 LETTERS ALL
THE EIGHT SIGNIFIES NO END
NO END TO WHAT YOU ASPIRE
YOU CONTINUE TO FIND THE WAY
TO YOUR QUESTS, TO YOUR QUERIES
NO "NO" FOR AN ANSWER.
ON YOU GO! ON YOU GO!
'TIL YOU MEET THE GOAL!

FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH
THE MONTH I DEARLY LOVE.