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:

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!