Spring Awakening

A Prayer in Spring
by Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

Happy 1st day of Spring!!!

Holy Tamale!!!

One month after Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos, we co-hosted Dia de la Candelaria (Caldlemas Day) with another family who also found baby Jesus in their Rosca de Reyes (King's cake). Together with the same group of friends, we celebrated Dia de la Candelaria with a twist! It was more like Dia de la Candelaria del Superbowl. And just like the New Orleans Saints, we scored a winning touchdown with tamales.

Mmm...Tama-licious!

Hope Abounds

A columnist for SJ Mercury News wrote about his musings on the advent of springtime. The columnist ended his narrative with the words “Hope abounds”.

Those very words capture the sentiment of a momentous occasion that was nothing short of a miracle. On January 27, Darlene Etienne, a 16-year old Haitian girl was “pulled ALIVE from the rubble of a building in Port-au-Prince by a French rescue team...TWO WEEKS after the quake” pummeled Haiti like a wrecking ball. In this story, hope and deliverance came in the form of a French search team “that refused to go home when others did.” Indeed, hope abounds for Darlene’s mother, a poor rice-and-vegetable peddler, who prayed unceasingly for her daughter’s rescue. In her words: “I never thought she was dead. I always thought she was alive.” When asked why, she replied, “It’s God.”

Days before I learned about Darlene Etienne’s story, Mary and I were sitting at the table when she remarked, “God sure has a lot of homes. He lives in heaven. He lives in the church. He lives in my heart. He lives in your heart. He lives in everybody’s heart!”

There's no doubt as to WHO sustained Darlene Etienne during her harrowing ordeal.

So it is, my dear sweet girl. Even in the confines of a crumbled concrete graveyard, in complete and total darkness, devoid of food, water, and human contact, He Lives and Hope Abounds.

Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos

We're one week into January, yet embers of Christmas continue to glow in homes everywhere. January 6 is, afterall, the Feast of Epiphany and the 12th day of Christmas. In many Christian homes throughout the world, January 6 is a major celebration. In Mexico, Spain, Latin America, as well as the Philippines, January 6 is known as "Three Kings Day", commemorating the day the wise men arrived in Bethlehem with gifts for baby Jesus. In honor of Three Kings Day, I always wait until after January 6 to take down our Christmas tree and holiday decorations. It is one of several traditions we practice during the holiday season.

Traditions are important because they give us a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging, and understanding. I love learning about other traditions, particularly cultural traditions. This past weekend, we were pleased to attend Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) hosted by our good friends. Together with several other church families, we feasted and celebrated. But the highlight of the evening was Rosca de Reyes (King's cake), a traditional sweetbread, and Mexican hot chocolate, a spicy chocolate drink made with chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, chilies, anise, and other spices. The Rosca's round-shape signifies a king's crown. Baked inside the Rosca are several miniscule plastic babies representing baby Jesus. As tradition dictates, those who find baby Jesus in their slice of Rosca will be vested the honor of hosting a Tamale party to celebrate Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas Day), which occurs each year on February 2. This special occasion commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple.

Mary, being the youngest, went first. She carefully deliberated where to cut the first slice. Everyone was eager to see if Mary would find baby Jesus inside her piece of Rosca. As luck would have it, Mary found baby Jesus tucked at the bottom! Joseph was next, only to choose a baby-less piece of Rosca. In due time, the rest of us each had a turn. Amazingly, Danielle, Dan, and I each found baby Jesus in our Rosca. All in all, the Martins found 4 out of 5 plastic babies hidden in the Rosca! With each discovery, everyone gasped and laughed in disbelief. Chalk it up to beginner's luck....

Until next time, I'm off to make Tamales!

The Present

Year 2009 was full of many joys and many blessings. Happy times ebbed and flowed like gleaming ocean waves, while sad times were like the crashing of waves that disturb the tranquility of our lives. In our own homes and families, we experience highs and lows while traversing the peaks and valleys of life. Whether on a global or personal scale, year 2009 witnessed a host of victories and challenges. There was that historical moment in January when our great nation inaugurated its first African-American president. There were calamities like Typhoon Ondoy that ripped through the Philippines, submerging homes and upending lives. And nary a person I know that hasn't been affected by our soured economy. There were hardships endured, sorrows contemplated, failures regretted, plans thwarted, and mistakes corrected. There were fears conquered, lessons learned, successes celebrated, wishes granted, fences mended, and relationships rejuvenated. There were promises fulfilled, blessings bestowed, gifts pondered, and truths revealed. There were prayers answered!

Year 2010 marks the beginning of a new chapter. In the classroom of life, we are the students, the past is our teacher, and the future is our test. Salvation is our diploma.

And so, as we forge ahead to 2010, I end with one of my favorite quotes:

Tomorrow is a mystery
Yesterday is a memory
Today is a gift --
That's why it's called "The Present"

Here are some of our memories of yesteryear: