To Family and Friends Around the World

Though time is fleeting
Love and friendship are enduring
Therefore we send this greeting
To wish you peace and joy everlasting

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Love,
Dan & Michelle, Danielle, Joseph, Mary

Journey to Bethlehem

An excerpt from a conversation Mary and I had recently...

Mary: I'm going to Bethlehem to see baby Jesus. (Mounts her rocking horse and rocks away, then returns shortly).

Me: So, did you go to Bethlehem? Did you see baby Jesus?

Mary: Yes.

Me: Tell me about it.

Mary: I saw a stable. I went inside and the first thing I saw was baby Jesus.

Me: How did you find Him?

Mary: I followed the star. And the star shone down on the stable.

***************************************************************

Our prayer for Mary as she celebrates her 4th birthday:

I pray that, as you grow, your gaze will be cast permanently on that shining star that leads to Jesus. And by so doing, illuminate the path to the "House of Bread" so that others may find the bread of life through you.

Happy Birthday to our Dearest Mary!!

Thanksgiving with the Fosters

Due to our large extended family, we have had the great fortune of celebrating Thanksgiving twice every year. First, we celebrate on Thanksgiving Day with the Martin/Foster clan. Then, we celebrate with the Tigno clan on the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day.

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day at the home of Dan's sister, (Aunt) Linda, and her family of 14: Her husband, (Uncle) Mike; their two boys, Zachary and Graham; Splash, a Rottweiler-mix with a unique pair of eyes (he was the runt in a litter of 12!); Rosie, a 15-year old Australian Cattledog; Honey, the smallest of the 3 dogs whose physical traits suggest she might be a crossbreed between a chihuahua and labrador (as Uncle Mike jokingly pointed out); Sophie, a fluffy gray cat who came to the Fosters as a stray; Chuck, a.k.a. Ram Kitty; Fluffles, a fluffier version of Chuck; Jet, a golden tabby cat; Diamond, clearly named for the diamond-shaped mark on his face; Zephyr, a mustang the color of butterscotch; and last but not least, another horse named Sparkler.

Their property can be best described as picturesque simplicity and rustically beautiful. A welcome respite from suburban living. A wooden gate opens to a long, private driveway up the hill to the garage. Upon entering, one is struck by the rugged beauty and peacefulness of the surroundings. Their home, which Linda and Mike built together, is perched on the side of a hill surrounded by lush vegetation. Carved on an incline, between their house and the horse stable, is a patch of land where, up until two years ago, Linda spent countless hours tending organic fruits and vegetables. There is an undeniable aura of serenity walking through the pathways to Linda’s garden.

For our Thanksgiving feast, Linda and Mike prepared a feast complete with a huge turkey, green beans with mushrooms in creamy white sauce, cranberry sauce, yam casserole flavored with orange juice and topped with miniature marshmallows, delicious stuffing, homemade pumpkin and apple pies, and an olallieberry pie from Gizdich Farms! We came with a big pot of mashed potatoes, a big bowl of green salad, rolls, and our grateful spirits.

More splendid than the surroundings, and more satisfying than the food, was togetherness and time spent talking, laughing, reminiscing, and simply enjoying each others' company. We traded stories about childhood experiences and shared news about family milestones. Outside, the light of the moon permeated the darkness, and the still of the night was shattered only by screams and laughter as our children played “Cops and Robbers” in the cool evening air. As we were leaving, I stopped to gaze at the view from the deck patio. From there, one can see the towns of Salinas, Seaside, and Monterey all aglow in the distance. The horizon reminded me of a Christmas garland festooned with lights, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Including the 5 of us and "Oma" (Grandma Martin), we were 19 all together in celebration of Thanksgiving Day. And what a day it was for giving thanks!

A Birthday Story

November 22 ended as perfectly as it began. On that day, I received gifts sweeter than any confection, more brilliant than any diamond, and far greater than any sum of money: I received love, respect, honor, and fellowship, divinely packaged in the form of Dan, Danielle, Joseph and Mary, family, and community.

It was early in the morning when I awoke to the sounds of silence.

On tiptoes, I eased down the hallway, past the children's bedrooms, and headed towards the living room where I was surprised to find Joseph and Mary. As if on cue, and still dressed in pajamas, they immediately sprang from the couch and began singing the "Birthday song". Soon after, I was gifted with hugs and kisses from Dan and the children. Next, I was led into the dining room where my eyes laid upon a colorful display of flowers, gifts, and homemade birthday cards.

Moments later, Dan prepared a scrumptious breakfast of apple pancakes and sausage for my birthday -- in spite of a painful back injury. The pancakes were quite delicious and simply satisfying! Having breakfasted, we proceeded to make ready for church. Danielle was scheduled to serve as an altar girl, which, in and of itself, is truly special. On that day, however, I had the added pleasure of watching my daughter serve during mass on my birthday! Unbeknownst to any of us, Danielle had spoken to Father Bennett prior to mass about a little birthday surprise. And so it followed at the end of mass, after the final blessing, that Father Bennett summoned me to the front of the church. Seeing the look of surprise and mild awkwardness on my face, he jested, "You have your daughter to blame for this." Together with Father Bennett, the entire congregation prayed over me and anointed me with well wishes. Then, without missing a beat, the crowd segued right into the "Birthday Song". Their prayers and well wishes must have washed away any trace of awkwardness because I felt very much at ease watching the crowd watching me. I was especially touched by the lovable smile on Danielle's face, stretching from ear to ear. Our eyes locked, and instantly I knew what she was feeling. She was happy to see me in the spotlight, knowing that I have a proclivity to shy away from attention. And happy, too, for successfully orchestrating this birthday surprise.

The remainder of the day was marked with hearty joviality as we played games, engaged in light household chores, made beautiful crafts, and finally, a family dinner at our favorite soup and salad restaurant. After the children were nestled all snug in their beds, we settled in and watched a tagalog romantic-comedy (I, as translator) until drowsiness finally took over.

I turned off the television and fell asleep to the sounds of silence.

Run, run, as fast as you can

Mary has wanted to bake gingerbread cookies since summer. Sadly, we just never got around to fulfilling that wish. I suppose the frenetic pace of summer buried that "to-do" item at the bottom of the heap. Or perhaps, it's because the hot and muggy days of summer just didn't lend itself to holiday baking. Now and again, whenever we read The Gingerbread Man, Mary would remind me that we still had to bake gingerbread men. "Oh, yes," I'd reply, "Thank you for reminding me."

Summer drifted into autumn, and there was no sign of the gingerbread man. I could hear him taunting, "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man!"

Last Saturday, we finally caught up with the gingerbread man.

Together with Danielle's friend, Michelle, who was over for a visit, the four of them had a great time playing card games, outdoor games, and hide-and-seek, listening to music, and...baking cute, little gingerbread men! Needless to say, Mary was thrilled.

Before...

After...

Introducing the bakers....

Here's one gingerbread man who won't be running away...

D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s!!!

Chocolate Hangover

Halloween night was drawing to a close and all was quiet again.

The witch that took up residence on our front porch gave one last cackle and stirred her cauldron for the last time.

A glow-in-the-dark skeleton hanging from the eaves lost its luster and retired for the night.

Our Jack-o-lanterns’ happy faces turned sleepy once the porch lights turned off.

The children returned from trick-or-treating, somewhat fatigued, but energized at the prospect of sampling delicious treats. They sat on the floor, scattered their acquisition, and marveled at the mountain of candy before them.

Indeed, they made out like bandits; and I was the self-appointed sherriff. It was my duty to confiscate the goods for further inspection.

That's when temptation reared its pesky head. While they were occupied with the bedtime routine, I snickered at the thought of having my fourth miniature Snickers. Next, a bite-size Almond Joy brought so much joy to my taste buds that I just had to have another. Still next, the satisfying taste of a Baby Ruth was like sliding to home “palate” for the winning score. And how could I resist the package that bears my initials – M&M. Finally, I was undecided betwixt two types of chocolate, but eventually decided to have a bite-size Twix for good measure. It was a calorie-laden night for sure!

For the record, I am strictly a non-drinker and have never experienced a hangover -- except, perhaps, a chocolate hangover. :-)

Have a G-R-O-O-O-V-Y Halloween!!

(Taken during the Fil-Am Halloween Ball at our church social hall)

Reaching milestones one pedal at a time

Last weekend, we packed up the kids and drove 2.3 miles to that Emporium of Excitement, that Factory of Fun, that Holy Grail of Gadgets: Toys-R-Us. After weeks of deliberation, we finally scheduled the time to take Mary on a surprise trip to Toys-R-Us to buy her very first bicycle. She chose a "Barbie" bike complete with a shimmery front pack and a toy plastic bicycle attached to the handlebars, designed to carry a Barbie doll. If Mary so wishes, she can position Barbie on the toy bicycle, and the two of them can ride off into the sunset together. The look on her face was priceless as she perused the bicycle department, wide-eyed and bursting with excitement.

Yes, our little Mary is reaching milestones one pedal at a time.

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Festival, Fil-Am Style (Part 2)

Due to technical difficulty, part 2 of Festival, Fil-Am Style will be posted at a later date.
Check back soon!

Festival, Fil-Am Style (Part 1)

This past weekend, our parish held its 4th annual church festival. The local community came out en masse to partake in the festivities. There was a variety of ethnic fare, game booths for those who dare, vendors hawking their wares, and music and entertainment to take away your cares. In keeping with past tradition, the Filipino-American (Fil-Am) youth group, including Danielle and Joseph, performed folk dances as part of the entertainment program. This year, our choreographer chose to showcase a suite of dances from Mindanao, the second largest island group in the southern-most tip of the Philippine archipelago. Although eighty-five percent of the people in the Philippines are Catholic Christians, Muslims in the Mindanao region make up the largest cultural minority group. Their music and dances are renowned for their mysticism, beauty, and royalty. Filipino Muslim dances are characterized by intricate hand and arm movements, and colorful, shimmering costumes.

The Fil-Am dance program was a runaway success! Much of the credit goes to our choreographer, whose patience, perseverance (and sense of humor) set the standard of excellence. Equally deserving are the Fil-Am dancers who worked tirelessly and selflessly, and devoted every weekend over a three-month period to learning and mastering the Mindanao suite. Amateurs though they were, the Fil-Am youth group performed with undeniable skill, talent, discipline, grace, and professionalism. We are extremely proud of our young dancers.

Among Filipino-Americans, there is an adage: "You can take the Filipino out of the Philippines, but you can’t take the Philippines out of the Filipino." In some ways, the church festival has become, for us, a reaffirmation of our Filipino identity and pride.

Stay tuned for video footage of the Fil-Am dance performances on Part 2 of Festival, Fil-Am Style. For now, enjoy these photos courtesy of Dan Howell Photography.

Back to School

It's time once again to sharpen those pencils, shine those lunch pails, and set those alarm clocks!

Gone are the carefree days of summer for it is now back to school!

I miss them already............

S is for SUMMER..STRAWBERRIES..SUNSHINE

Autumn Announces its Arrival with the changing of the seasons in shades of yellow, orange, red, purple, and brown. Winter Wallops us with Wind gusts and freezing cold temperatures. Spring Slowly Softens and Surrounds us with beauty and grace. But, ah, SUMMER. Its long, SUNSHINY days have a SALUBRIOUS effect on our SPIRITS.

This SUMMER, we:

SOAKED up lots of SUNSHINE
SIPPED lemonade on SIZZLING hot days
SPRAYED each other with SQUIRT guns
SIFTED SAND at the playground
SWUNG on SWINGS

SPLASHED around at Folsom Water Park
SAUNTERED to the ice cream shop
SELECTED the SWEETEST STRAWBERRIES at Gizdich Farms
SMOTHERED them in chocolate
SOCIALIZED with neighbors at our 9th annual block party
SWIRLED, SWAYED, STEPPED at dance practice for our church festival
SPED around the neighborhood on our bikes
SKATED around the block
SANG praises at VBS
SAW beautiful SUNSETS
SLEPT in on most days
SPENT time with family and friends
STOPPED to SMELL the roses

SEIZED the day!

SO long SUMMER! Please come again SOON!

Made with Love

If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes a family to bake a pie. At least in our family, the latter holds true.

The idea of baking a pie came about last Saturday as Dan was finishing up yard work. He brought in a bag of apples from our tree and merrily said, "Here's a bag of apples from our tree. We should bake an apple pie or something." An innocuous suggestion, no doubt, but we already had a very busy weekend planned. With tempered enthusiasm I replied, "Yeah...that's a good idea," trying to conceal my reticence. I assured myself that, somewhere between cleaning bathrooms and taking the children to their various activities, I would find time to bake a pie. To my dismay, however, time quickly slipped by and the bag of apples was left untouched on the counter overnight.

The next day, Sunday, I affirmed my determination to bake the pie. Danielle immediately scoured the internet for the most scrumptious recipe for that most-American-of-pies. She presented her top 5 findings and we reviewed them together. Martha Stewart's recipe for "Old-Fashioned Apple Pie" won by a landslide. Dan proceeded to peel the apples and douse them in lemon juice (fresh-squeezed from our homegrown lemons). I made pâte brisée [paht bree-ZAY], a French term for "flaky pastry," with Joseph and Mary eagerly awaiting turns to help me cut butter into flour. Unfortunately, my goal to bake the pie on Sunday proved to be as allusive as it was on Saturday.

On Monday, our schedule continued its unrelenting pace. That evening, we made plans for my sister, Tita Cleo, to stay with the kids for a few hours while Dan and I attended a parent dinner orientation at Danielle's high school. While we were away, Danielle and Tita Cleo made Martha's apple concoction and filled the pie. When Dan and I reached home, our eyes were greeted by an impressive dome-shaped epicurean delight. We baked it for an hour, and -- voilà! -- a golden, old-fashioned apple pie.

Unbelievably, this apple pie was 3 days in the making: apples picked on Saturday, dough formed on Sunday, pie filled and baked on Monday.

Devoured on Tuesday.

All told, a total of 6 people -- 12 hands, 60 fingers -- lovingly baked this delicious pie. Whoever said "Too many cooks spoil the broth?"

Discovery Canyon

Every summer for the past six years, my children have attended Vacation Bible Camp (VBC). It is one of the highlights of our summer vacation. This year, VBC took place August 3-7 in our church social hall. And, boy, what a week it was! VBC was even more special this year because Mary was old enough to join her brother & sister -- and she couldn't be happier. In fact, Danielle volunteered to be the youth leader for Mary's group. Together, the two girls delighted in some extra bonding time. The theme for this year’s VBC was “Discovery Canyon,” which was made possible by a core group of uber-dedicated people who spent countless hours preparing for this event. Over a two-month period, this group of people worked tirelessly behind the scenes. They hammered, sawed, pounded, trimmed, painted, lifted, visualized, deliberated, designed, and decorated. Until finally, they succeeded in transforming our non-descript, box-shaped, church social hall into a colorful and intricate desert canyon. There were mountains and gullies, sand valleys and boulders, local flora and fauna, roads and blue skies that met at the horizon. Each day of the week, the campers were introduced to unforgettable and extraordinary characters right out of Discovery Canyon. These harbingers of truth came with important lessons to share. On Day 1, Liz the Lizard summoned the children to REJOICE as Miriam did in Exodus 15:19-21 after she and Israelites crossed the Red Sea. On Day 2, Max the Mantis reminded the children that when we PRAY as Hannah did in 1Samuel 1:9-27, God promises to hear our prayers and answer them. With a flutter of wings, Olivia Owl swooped in on Day 3 and heartened the children to ASK Jesus for help just as the disciples did, in Matthew 8:23-27, when they sailed through the stormy sea. Day 4 brought about Felix the Fox who incited the children to TELL about Jesus’ miracles by singing the praises of Psalm 105:2. Finally, on Day 5, Blossom the Burro strode in and spurred the children to SEEK God like the crippled man in Luke 5:17-26 who had to be lowered through a hole in the roof in order to seek Jesus.

For five days, the children became denizens of Discovery Canyon. They sang, danced, rejoiced, played exciting games, and made beautiful crafts together. And I had the pleasure of serving snacks to all 60 of our campers. The songs we learned have such catchy tunes and are fun to dance to. It gladdens my heart to see that, weeks later, my children still enjoy Discovery Canyon songs. The moment we hear the songs being played, we just start singing and dancing. We can't help but be moved by the spirit!

VBC culminated in a final performance by the children during Sunday mass. Here is a video of the VBC campers (yellow shirts) and youth leaders (green shirts) singing their praises. The children were a bit nervous, but I think they did rather well. Which is more than I can say for this videographer (Yours truly)!

The Dynamic Duo!!

Joseph and Forrest are cousins by birth; but they are best friends by choice. Joseph and Forrest love spending time together. From the time they could walk, these cousins have been inseparable. Where one is, you are sure to find the other.

They go together like:

peas & carrots

salt & pepper

ketchup & mustard

fish & chips

bacon & eggs

bread & butter

chips & salsa

pork & beans

macaroni & cheese

cookies & milk

strawberries & chocolate

And, I would be remiss not to mention...

lumpia & sweet/sour sauce

puto & kutsinta

suman & tsokolate

sago & gulaman

...and finally,

halo & halo

Happy Red, White & Blue Day!!!!

Wishing you a firecrackin' and SAFE 4th of July!!!

Love,
Dan, Michelle, Danielle, Joseph, and Mary

Congratulations to the Awesome Threesome!

Congratulations to our dearest daughter Danielle on her graduation from middle school! The event was marked with bittersweet emotion that swelled and quelled with the tune of Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1, more commonly known as the Graduation March. Its orchestral notes tugged at our emotions causing them to rise and fall with each phrase. Tears of joy welled up in my eyes while cheers of joy came forth when Danielle was awarded a special medal for earning a 4.0 GPA all six semesters of middle school. Wasn't it only yesterday that I agonized over Danielle's first day of kindergarten? Eight years later and there we were, standing ever-so-proudly as our daughter made her way across the stage on the last day of middle school.

Danielle's cousin, Joshua, also graduated from middle school-- with honors! More impressive is the fact that Joshua, whose native language is english, did so in a spanish-immersion program. Today, Josh is completely fluent in spanish -- a skill that will surely prove advantageous in the future. His list of accomplishments includes three U.S. National titles in karate, and a burgeoning talent in photography and design. We are equally as proud of Joshua and feel extremely confident that even greater things are in store.

Last, but every bit as noteworthy, our dearest Joseph was given the "Friendliest Student" award during the third grade promotion ceremony. Imagine our joy upon learning that Joseph was presented this award. He may be small in stature, but his heart is grand. He's nine years old, but he is mature beyond his years.

Danielle was right to name him Joseph -- "after St. Joseph!"

As one chapter comes to a close, another begins filled with hope and promise. Inevitably, they will encounter numerous difficulties and challenges as they forge ahead into the future. They will be faced with situations that require certain sacrifice. Through it all, I hope and pray that they will remain steadfast in faith and their beliefs, never compromising their values, and always following their moral compass.

Lastly, I wish to share with them a definition of success that Oprah bequeathed to the graduating class of 2009 at Duke University:

"One of the best ways to enhance your own life is to enhance somebody else's and to stand proudly in your own shoes while you help others stand in theirs. How can I help somebody else move to higher ground? That is success."