Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Sadly, we don't approve!

Last January, in Manila - we finally met my cousin Louie's family for the first time... his beautiful wife - Rina and their adorable little boy - Anton. Only 4 months ago - we were all together, laughing and enjoying our little reunion.


It's moments like these that make me wonder why BAD things happen to GOOD people. How tomorrow could change in a quick moment. To be aware of our surroundings - however, we shouldn't live in fear of what might happen! To continue to pray that GOD's angels will watch over us, protecting us from potential dangers.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; reads “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.


If you asked Anton, "Do you approve?" He would give you a thumbs up and smile this GREAT BIG SMILE and say, "approve!" He was the life of the party when our family got together for dinner at my Tita's house... everyone wanted to hold him! He "approved" and smiled at everyone!

Today is a sad day. TODAY they lay to rest almost 2 year old Anton, a sweet little boy... along with his maternal grandmother, his 3 year old cousin Franco & his yaya (Nanny) Tess (photo of her holding him below). Lives cut too short! A tragedy of an overloaded ferry that capsized in the waters of the Philippine Sea.
Part of the article from the PDI:

Last night, at the wake, a pall of gloom and sadness filled the church as a grandmother and her two grandsons lay in state, one on each side of her. Daisy, a wonderful and caring wife, mother and grandmother, lay in eternal slumber. Franco and Anton, with their favorite toys—bright-colored cars—in their tiny, chubby fingers, looked like they were only sleeping, with smiles on their faces.

One must find consolation and strength in knowing that the boys were not able to feel any pain as they fell into the water, that the Father had safely picked them up and brought them to the shores of heaven, where they now live for all eternity.

Today, as the Eugenios bury, not one, but three family members, we who are left behind mourn their loss, and can only pray that in the wake of this tragedy, a greater meaning to their loss will be found, and that measures to prevent future tragedies from happening will finally be implemented.


Mia with her cousin Anton... this photo just makes me cry! Sweet little Anton - we will NEVER forget you!

I added this video clip below because it's so sweet! As I was tearing, writing this blog and thinking of my family back in the Philippines and the sadness and sorrow they must be going through - my little Mia wanted to see the picture of her and ANTON. I gently lifted her up and told her to say goodbye to her cousin ANTON and together we prayed... afterwards I video taped her and caught her giving Anton a good-bye kiss... honetly, sometimes I feel like my kids are in tune with what I go through and in their gentle way - help me in more ways than they know!


A KISS GOODBYE! We Love You, Anton!

Words & Lyrics to the song,
"PIECES OF HEAVEN" by Go Fish
* to hear the song - scroll to the bottom of the home page
to the music playlist and hit PLAY *

He’s gone, how can that be?
He was just here, it doesn’t make sense to me
Yet, I see you smilin’ and I understand
You’re living proof that his life had a plan

Sometimes it’s hard
Sometimes it’s the middle of the night
Sometimes everything’s wrong
But sometimes everything is right

CHORUS:
I see a piece of heaven
When I look at you
And it shines so bright
After all you’ve been through
It doesn’t seem fair
Things like this never do
But now I see a piece of heaven
When I look at you

People try, but only Jesus could know
The pain in your heart that may never go
Tough questions, they never leave your mind
Easy answers, they’re nowhere to find

Sometimes it’s hard
Sometimes it’s the middle of the night
Sometimes it’s all wrong
Sometimes it can be all right

CHORUS BRIDGE:
You may not see what you’ve been given
With all that’s been taken away
Just remember from the darkest of nights
Always come the brightest days


TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090526-207299/Lessons-from-the-Puerto-Galera-tragedy

Monday, May 18, 2009

A room with a whole different view...

260 days ago - we arrived on Guam. I still remember the next morning... I woke up to a beautiful sunrise & gorgeous ocean view just outside our PIC balcony. I realized how excited I was about another NEW BEGINNING (our 5th in this Navy journey). Little did I know that 260 days ago - I'd step out on the balcony to see this same beautiful ocean view with a bit of a heavy heart...

SAD because I had to say "goodbye" to a friend & her family. Amazed how quickly we bonded as friends... and wishing she & her family didn't have to leave so soon... SMILING and feeling blessed because I knew our families had made life long friendships.
Such is life in our Navy world... we meet new people and eventually have to say good-bye... but once in awhile, you find the kind of friendship that you never ever have to say good-bye... just UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!! And what a blessing that is!
We spent the weekend together - 4 families as a farewell to the Morrison Family... a fun weekend at the PIC... a bittersweet weekend at the PIC!

SATURDAY EVENING - Dinner for 18 at Tony Roma's
Happy 41st Birthday Daddy Dale - WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
You don't look a day over 20! Okay maybe 30...



FUN IN THE WATER


SUNDAY - Christian Life Center
McManus & Morrison Families



SUNDAY - final feast at the Jamaican Grill!


FAVORITE PHOTOS from the WEEKEND:
With my telephoto lens I was able to capture a beautiful moment between little Ryland and his Mommy. Ryland noticed Amy starting to tear during their last church service on island. He stared at her for a moment... and then leaned in to kiss her... what a sweet boy! I find it so amazing how kids are so in tune sometimes!!!



Mia LOVES her RYLAND! We will miss him very very much!!

On our last day - I truly wanted to celebrate our friendship... and the laughter... to cherish the moments God gave us! So very thankful for the time we had... even though it was too short - we know our paths will cross again soon!
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.-- Dr. Seuss
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Thursday, May 14, 2009

A Happy 4-day MOTHERS DAY TRIP

When we first arrived on Guam, my friend Amy told me about an MWR (Morale Welfare & Recreation) Travel Fair that was taking place one weekend. Our family decided to go... a little late, which was good - because that's when they were drawing for door prizes for GRAND PRIZE TRIPS to different locations. The big prize was Australia (the couple that won that just arrived to Guam the night before - lucky dogs!)... another prize was to Asia (won by our neighbor with 5 kids)... and the one we won was to the island of YAP.

The original plan was to fly the whole family to YAP and spend our 4 days together exploring the island. That was until I started pricing out airline tickets to YAP... I was surprised to see each ticket was over $420! Yikes... the calculations in my head knew it was going to be much more than a FREE TRIP!
'
That was almost 9 months ago when we won our YAP trip... so before it expired, I decided to take my friend Amy as a Mother's Day "girlfriends trip". Honestly, I don't think Dale was feelin' the whole YAP trip, so it seemed to work out just fine! Thanks honey!!!


the night before leaving for YAP

MOTHERS DAY SUNSET - we celebrated Mother's Day together on Guam by taking pictures at the Grille at Sante Fe...

We have some amazing husbands to take time off of work to watch the kids so we could go and explore! Amy & her family will be leaving Guam and moving to Tennessee this Monday... so timing of this trip was just perfect!

Continental Airlines picked up our tab for our flight for 2 ($450 per person)
Village View Resort, the only beach front on YAP accommodated us for 4 nights
Beyond The Reef offered us 3 days of diving - although we didn't dive - we did take the boat out a few times to explore the mangroves, O'Keefe's island and go snorkeling.



First of over 2000 photos taken between us... on our way to YAP!

MORE PHOTOS OF YAPPITY YAP...
On the deck outside of our "Room with a View" - waking up to the sounds of the ocean water was beyond relaxing!

I love this photo... I took it in Al's office (he owns the Village View Resort). He graciously opened up his office for us to check our e'mail and connect with family back home. As I was waiting for the dial-up modem to connect to MY WORLD... I snapped this photo of Al relaxing on the bench in the hut that he made. With his keys hanging from his office door and the view of the beautiful ocean outside, I don't know how anyone could get any work done with a view like this one!!

We stayed in Wacholab Village... a beautiful little get-away with a room with an incredible view of the ocean. The Moon Rize Cafe has a wonderful chef Alex (from the Phlippines) cooking simple and delicious meals. Whenever we went out to eat... we were wishing to be back at Moon Rize.
... one of our favorite dishes - Sizzling Chicken!!! It's all in the sauce!

Speaking of Moon Rises - the first night eating dinner at Moon Rize... we were mesmerized by what I would say was the most amazing Moon Rising. The camera just couldn't capture such a beautiful site! Everyone stopped eating and were in complete awe of the fiery moon coming up over the horizon! Obviously this photo does not even come close to what we saw!!!!


We walked along the stone paths that connected different villages... while on the path - it's traditional to be carrying a green leaf in your hand as a sign of respect... an old tradition showing that you mean no harm and that you come peacefully.

Al was so nice to tour us around the island and give us a peek into the Yap lifestyle. We drove through neighboring villages with their stone money adorning their pathways. He took us to a place where they teach the young how to make the traditional Yapese outriggers and boats... and finally dropped us off in the main city - Colonia - where we explored around the area and took time to relax and get a massage at the tranquil TaroLeaf Spa, at the Manta Ray Bay Hotel & eat lunch on the ship (Mnuw) - where we ran into our girlfriends hubby - Nick. Another great day on YAP!


... enjoying a boat ride with JP & Joe from Beyond The Reef


It was a joy to watch the kids at a local school practice their traditional Yapese dancing for their end of the school year graduation ceremony. Al's (owner of the Villiage View) brought us there to watch his kids paractice. What a treat for our eyes & ears to experience this cultural traditon with the locals!
There was a sweet boy named JAMES (photographed next to Amy in above collage) who sat next to us and when we asked him how he knew how to speak English so well, he said, "I watch a lot of TV." Then he added how his mommy gets mad because he watches too much TV. I told him ALL mom's are like that about their kids watching TV!
James was so happy to see his mom at his practice and asked me to take a picture of them together!
I saw James talking to one of the older ladies and saw how respectful he was and how happy she was that he came over to talk to her. Such a sweet boy!
One of my favorite photos of the girls performing sitting down....




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Friday, May 8, 2009

Dare to LOVE...

It was on our flight to Thailand... on a girls trip in February 2009 - when we sat on the airplane in tears watching the movie FIREPROOF. We weren't even away from our hubbies for more than 12 hours and already we were missing them!
Like a bunch of girls - we wiped our tears and talked about the movie & how much we loved it... I looked at AMY and said, YOU & Chris should get married! Have that "wedding" you've always talked about!!! It was something I've heard her talk about... afterall, she married her guy twice... why not make it "third times a charm" deal! She's always wanted to marry him (Chris) in the presence of GOD... and so the ball started to roll...

The idea seemed good at the time... but LIFE seems to somehow get in the way! The countdown to their departure was fast approaching so it was now (on the island)... or later. I knew eventually they would renew their vows!!! So glad they chose NOW!
I was so happy to be able to capture this day on film for Amy & Chris! It was such a beautiful way to end their time here on GUAM...

The focus on the night was truly on their LOVE for each other and renewing their vows in the presence of GOD!

In Amy's vows to Chris - she talked about how two opposites truly complete each other! How she can be messy and he's "Mr. Clean"... how Chris is like the string on a kite and she goes wherever the wind blows while he keeps her grounded!

So... as a symbol of their love... they had four balloon's one representing their marriage and one for each of the boys... they released them up to heaven as a symbol of giving their lives completely to HIM!

It was truly beautiful... outside by the water... on a clear night! Yet, ironically, everything that could go wrong - did... (i.e: uploading of the wrong CD so they couldn't show the slideshow presentation Amy worked so hard on and spent so long on, the $6 beef noodle order, the non-decorated, slapped on white-icing cake, the missing & search of lumpia, flying termites - yes you read that right, stinkin' swarmin' flyin' termites... that was a first for me!) - but everything that should go RIGHT... is! And that would be God's leading in Amy & Chris' lives! And that is truly what matters most!

CONGRATULATIONS once again, Amy & Chris... May you have a beautiful long life together!!! ... and may you always have unconditional love, keeping GOD-centered in all that you do... it's my LOVE DARE to you!
~Don't worry that you're not strong enough before you begin. It is in the journey that God makes you strong. The Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy soul. Isaiah 58:11

Thursday, May 7, 2009

a MELLOW night!


A marshmellowie night, that is! I don't have pictures of the kids sliding down the big Banzai slide (send them my way, Amy!).... but the kids had a crazy fun time while we (okay not me) but AMY cooked and BBQ'd her little heart away! Later we ended the night making yummy s'mores! The kids had a great time breaking in our new patio table... but two little ones weren't happy that they had to watch from behind safe glass doors! We eventually let them out!


Thanks Amy for letting me snag these photos you took!!!

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Play Time, Shoe Time, Nap Time

PLAY TIME
Ryland spent the day with us while his parents had a renewal "HONEYMOON HIKE" - he is such a good little guy to watch - and together these two are the best of buds! They LOVE playing together!!! And lately... getting in trouble together (see enlarged photo above in collage)

SHOE TIME
From the day we met Ryland - he's always been good with shoes... putting them on and trying them on! He taught Mia how to put on her own shoes because he kept wearing hers. He had crocs, she had crocs... no biggie! Well, it's funny how Ryland can find MY shoes and walk in them - even Mia seems amazed! I love how she's hugging him on the bottom right photo...

NAP TIME
After playing all morning, stomping around in high heels and eating pasta & chicken for lunch... it was time to lay down, read a good book and take a nap! Once Mia starts rubbing her hair... and Ryland reaches for his belly button - these two were OUT! Amazingly, these two slept for a little over 2 hours!

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Time flies when you're havin' fun...

We moved to California


VISIT our OTHER BLOG (cut and paste)

http://everyday-joshua1nine.blogspot.com/

Dales return from deployment - WELCOME BACK
July 2010 - March 2011

Our Gift of A Day... in beautiful Hawaii

Our Gift of A Day... in beautiful Hawaii
click on our photo to read about it!

7th B'day


"our growing family"